INDIANAPOLIS — From where I’m standing, at the perimeter of the human mass surrounding Chad Ochocinco, a boom microphone is more valuable than gold.

Chad Ochocinco is surrounded by reporters during Media Day. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)

From here, Ochocinco’s hushed responses to reporters’ questions are whispers lost in the wind. His diamond earrings shimmer below the stadium lights. Somebody has an elbow viciously lodged in my back.

At one point, the pile shifts violently to the right. The Red Sea parts, and in walks Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars running back hired as an anchorman for the Ochocinco News Network (OCNN). MJD proceeds to roll off a 10-minute, intimate one-on-one with the Patriots receiver.

Somebody decided Ochocinco didn’t warrant a podium at Media Day. He tells us it doesn’t matter. He has his 3 million Twitter followers whenever he feels like dropping a sound bite.

We’re then interrupted by NFL Network’s Deion Sanders shouting over heads: “Ochocinco, step into my office!”

The pile shifts again. We are men and women on the Mayflower. No land in sight. Questionable odors becoming a factor.

Ochocinco slips from the crowd, embraces Prime for what feels like an eon, and they move into deep conversation.

Time for that one-on-one with a lonesome Ryan Mallett.

– Marc Sessler

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