Chad Ochocinco & Sporting KC

Chad Ochocinco Will Try Out For Soccer Team During NFL Lockout
by Joel Thorman • Mar 16, 2011 1:07 PM EDT

The NFL lockout means players are technically unemployed and free to do what they want. For Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco, that means joining Sporting KC, Kansas City's MLS team.

Seriously.

Sporting KC officials confirmed to us that, indeed, Ochocinco is coming to Kansas City to tryout and train with Sporting KC. The dates, according to Grant Wahl of SI.com, will be March 22-26. Sporting KC plays on March 19 and March 26.

It's unclear what the extent of the tryout/training session is but Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes is apparently serious about it, as is Ochocinco, who confirmed the news via Twitter.

A Sporting KC official said of the news: "This is not a publicity stunt." Maybe it's not and they can prove that by actually letting Ochocinco into a game, perhaps on March 26 agains the Fire.

Sporting KC made the news last week when it announced its new stadium would be called Livestrong Sporting Park. Lance Armstrong's foundation did not pay for the naming rights -- instead Sporting KC will donate to the foundation in a one-of-a-kind partnership.