FOXBOROUGH, mass. — The Patriots released wide receiver Chad Ochocinco on Thursday.
The former Chad Johnson spent one unproductive season with the team, even though the Patriots went to the Super Bowl. He had 15 receptions for an 18.4-yard average and one touchdown, but rarely was a key part of the offense.
“I’m healthy n living life, I’ll be fine,” he wrote on Twitter, where he had changed his job description to “UNEMPLOYED BLACK GUY” and posed a photo of himself sitting on a suitcase at the airport, hitchhiking.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he is “in the process of gauging interest from potential teams.”
Meanwhile, the Patriots signed tight end Bo Scaife, a graduate of Mullen High School who played six seasons with the Titans after being selected in the 2005 sixth round out of Texas. The Denver native had 36 receptions for 318 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Saints make new offer to Brees • NEW ORLEANS — The Saints have made a new contract offer to record-setting quarterback Drew Brees.
No terms were available.
The Saints have placed their one-year franchise tag on Brees, barring him from negotiating with other teams. Brees has said he wants to remain in New Orleans but has skipped voluntary practices and this week’s minicamp while holding out for a long-term deal.
Brees has until July 16 to agree to a new long-term deal. Otherwise he will have to either play under the franchise tag that would pay him a little more than $16 million for one season, or sit out.
Also, the NFL tentatively has scheduled June 18 for commissioner Roger Goodell to hear the appeals of four players suspended for their roles in the Saints’ bounty program.
The league and the players’ union are awaiting an arbitrator’s decision on who should hear the appeals by Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita. That decision could determine if the June 18 hearing is held.
Banks offered minicamp tryout•RENTON, wash. — Brian Banks’ NFL dream is alive for one more week, if he chooses to accept Pete Carroll’s offer.
Banks, recently exonerated of rape charges after serving more than five years in prison and another five on parole, was given a tryout by the Seahawks. Afterward, Banks stood before a bank of television cameras announcing the Seahawks have invited him back for their minicamp next week.
“This is by far the second-best day of my life — May 24, my day of exoneration, and today,” Banks said. “Just being out here on the field and working out with the Seahawks and to be given an opportunity to have a tryout, I don’t really have words for it. It’s a dream come true.”
Footnotes. Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes pulled himself out of practice during organized team activities because he was in for “too many reps” after missing some of the voluntary sessions the past few weeks. … The Jaguars released oft-injured defensive end Aaron Kampman. … Scores of lawsuits involving thousands of former players touched by concussions and brain injuries have been consolidated into one master complaint in Philadelphia, setting up a massive and potentially costly case for the NFL. … Eagles president Joe Banner stepped down as team president and will take on an advisory role while he pursues other opportunities in the NFL
