Chad Ochocinco's Name Change Documents Claim 'No Ulterior Purpose'

The documents related to the name change of a certain Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver are now online, and the first thing we learn is that Chad Johnson didn't change his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. He changed it to Chad Ochocinco. One word.

We also learn:

--The request and the final judgment awarding the name change say there is no "ulterior purpose" for this name change, which is obviously absurd: The ulterior purpose is to make money from selling merchandise that says "OCHO CINCO" without having the NFL fine him for wearing it during games.

--The former Chad Johnson has four children. One is named Chad Johnson; another is named Chade Johnson.

--Ochocinco was convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2000, and charged with trespass and obstruction in 1996.

Mike Florio asks some interesting questions about what kind of precedent this sets: If Nike pays a player to change his name to "Nike" or "Swoosh" or "Reebok Sucks," will the NFL allow that player to put those names on the back of his jersey?

At some point, the NFL is going to have to deal with those questions. But right now, they're set to allow Chad to wear his new name on his back.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-06-2008 @ 9:48AM

amapatsfan said...

It will be hilarious when he gets traded to a team that already has someone in a number 85 jersey!

9-06-2008 @ 10:03AM

negotiator said...

what does his past legal problems have to do with his name change???

9-06-2008 @ 10:15AM

planolawyer said...

Everything. One of the elements you have to prove typically to have your name changed is that you are not changing your name because of an existing criminal record. The purpose of this is that the court has to decide that the name change is not only in your best interest but also in the best interest of the public. Typically, it's hard to see that it is in the public's best interest to have convicts running around with new names. So, while his motiviation is obviously for marketing purposes, his criminal record does clearly have "something to do with it."

9-06-2008 @ 2:27PM

The Stig said...

Playing the race card in Ocho Cinco's defense = EPIC FAIL.

9-06-2008 @ 2:45PM

Anonymous said...

Does he even realize that 85 in Spanish is not Ocho Cinco? It's ochenta y cinco. He probably should've considered getting the correct translation of 85 before he changed his name. Just my 2 cents though.

9-06-2008 @ 3:04PM

Who cares? said...

I notice SOME of the black guys in here are playing the race card real quick. Man, you guys couldn't wait. I can't wait until guys grow up and realize your ignorance. It is YOUR ignorance that keeps that crap alive. I do not give one ounce of shit that this fool has changed his name. He has acted the fool many times on and off the football field, and ANY request AUTOMATICALLY requires a background check. Even if your name change is to 50 cent or some other stupid name. What so many people find interesting is the need to change his name in the first place. Why forsake your family name; the name of your children. I know that plenty of Black people...and Hispanic, and White, and Indian, and on and on are wondering why this idiot changed his name to something so very stupid. If he changed it to Jones, or anything with a "black" sound, or anything that has a resemblance to anything making any kind of sense that would be one thing, but he didn't. Now go throw your race card away and grow up. Society has grown up around you, and you are to stupid and blind to see it.