I hate the NFL for making me defend Ocho Cinco.

[Zavulon]

In case anyone missed the news, if the wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson wants to wear his new LEGAL last name on his uniform, he has to buy all of the ones Reebok made with "C. Johnson" on the back. It'll cost him millions.

What the fuck? I think Ocho Cinco is an asshole, but it's his name now. The NFL is going to make him wear something other than his actual legal name just so that Reebok doesn't have to eat some jerseys?

Some points to consider:

1.) Reebok could ship those jerseys to a third world country and write them off. This would actually help some poor people (at least to some extent) and make the company look good.

2.) Reebok would have made a killing in Ocho Cinco jerseys.

3.) It's not as if the "C. Johnson" jerseys are going to sell anyway.

Is the NFL front office looking like a bunch of assholes here? To make someone like me (a hater of loudmouthed athletes and their endzone celebrations) sympathize with Ocho Cinco takes some real doing.

[nickgutierrez]

1. I'm an unabashed supporter of loudmouthed athletes.

Especially in the NFL. This is typical of them, trying everything possible to suck all semblance of personality out of the game.

Key word: game. As in, supposed to be fun. Chad Ocho Cinco makes it fun, Roger Goodell and Reebok want to kill it.

[crimsonblue]

2. This is hypocritical bullshit by the NFL

First, they require all players to wear their last name on their jersey. Then Chad Ocho Cinco wants to wear his last name on his jersey, and they refuse. Hmm... I wonder if it were Brett Favre changing his name to Brett Bacon, if the NFL would have the same tune.