Report: Bengals Receiver Chad Ochocinco Interested in Playing for Patriots, Bill Belichick

The rumors about a potential reunion between Bill Belichick and Chad Ochocinco are flaring up again.

According to the Boston Herald’s Ian Rapoport, Chad Ochocinco has indicated that he’s interested in joining the New England Patriots. He sent a tweet to Rapoport that read “PePe and Bill #EPIC.” PePe is one of the receiver’s many nicknames.

During Week 1 of the 2010-11 season, the unlikely pair revealed their mutual respect for one another leading up to the Bengals-Patriots matchup. Belichick caught his first glimpse of Ochocinco (then Chad Johnson) during his collegiate days at Oregon State. The Patriots head coach got an even closer look at Ochocinco when he coached the wide receiver in the Pro Bowl.

“I like Chad — I like him as a player. I like him as a person,” Belichick said. “I like his enthusiasm and the fun he has with football, and I like how he competes on the football field. I have a lot of respect for that.”

Ochocinco also gushed about his relationship with the Patriots’ coach back in September.

“It became a relationship beyond just a football player and a coach. He became a friend of mine,” Ochocinco said. “He has a lot of respect for me in my game and I have a lot of respect for him in everything he’s done as a coach.

Last season Ochocino had 831 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

If Tom Brady could resurrect Randy Moss back into an elite receiver, he may be able to do the same with Ochocinco in New England. However, Ochocinco will need to convince Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez for the number-85 jersey or change his last name, again.