"Chad Ochocinco broke out with his first touchdown pass as a member of the Patriots on Sunday. He broke his media silence two days later.

Speaking publicly for the first time in roughly two months, the mercurial receiver told the Herald yesterday, "It was cool" to reel in the 33-yard bomb from quarterback Tom Brady in the win in Denver against the Broncos. Yet when asked if the experience helped him cope with a disappointing year, Ochocinco wanted to correct that line of thinking.

"The year's been great," said Ochocinco, who filled in for an injured Deion Branch against the Broncos. "We're 11-3. That's it. Everyone continues to look at it from an individual standpoint. I embrace the role I have here. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, I'm working hard. We're 11-3.""