The Dolphins, who have given thought to adding a veteran receiver, plan to audition former Bengals star Chad Ochocinco next week, according to a source close to him.
The Dolphins would not confirm the workout, which was first reported by CBS.
Ochocinco, who attended Miami Beach High, was released by the Patriots last week after the worst statistical season of his career. He caught 15 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown in 15 games, was inactive for the AFC Championship and caught one pass for 21 yards in the Super Bowl.
Ochocinco, 34, has told friends he would like to sign with the Dolphins and his camp is optimistic that there’s genuine interest. The Dolphins have signed some of the players they worked out this offseason but passed on several others.
If Ochocinco impresses Miami enough to earn a contract offer, he would join a receiver group including veterans Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Legedu Naanee; largely unproven veterans Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace, Julius Pruitt and Clyde Gates; and five rookies.
Ochocino has 766 receptions, 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons, the first 10 of which he played for Cincinnati.
He caught 67 passes for 831 yards for the Bengals in 2010 but was traded last offseason for a fifth-round pick in 2012 and a third-round pick in 2013.
Ochocinco, a second-round pick in 2001 out of Oregon State, has been selected to the Pro Bowl six games and named an All-Pro three teams. He holds numerous Bengals records, including receiving yards in a season and all-time.
One of NFL’s most colorful characters of the past decade, he legally changed his name from Chad Johnson to Ochocinco, which is Spanish for his jersey number (85), on Aug. 29, 2008. He previously appeared on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, in 2010, and was one of the final four contestants to be eliminated.
