Playing the role of Ochocinco … Darnell Jenkins

FOXBORO — Darnell Jenkins isn’t going to be watching “The Ultimate Catch,” but when it comes to doing what he can to imitate Chad Ochocinco, he’s willing to do almost anything else.

The 27-year-old practice squad receiver and former Miami product has been asked to serve as a decoy version of Ochocinco this week in practice to help the New England defense do as much as it can to prepare for No. 85. Jenkins, 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, is three inches shorter than Ochocinco, but is roughly the same weight, and will be running the same routes as the Cincinnati receiver as part of the scout team.

Jenkins, who said he spent time around Ochocinco when the two were younger, said dealing with his own responsibilities as well as handling the work that goes into being Ochocinco isn’t that hard.

“It’s not really difficult — I study my plays day in and day out,” he said on Wednesday morning. “I concentrate and focus more in meetings and everything to get the basics down. I’m still learning the fundamentals of what we go over because they emphasize it daily. That’s basically what you have to do and what you have to know.

“Just know our system and what we have to do and everything else will take care of itself,” he added. “As far as practicing, showing the defense a good look … that’s nothing compared to what we have to learn.”



(weei.com)