Sneak a peek at Ochocinco's pro soccer tryout

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After his morning of reinvention, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco stared at the throng of cameras before him a humbled man.

The first day of a four-day tryout with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday produced what he thought would happen. He said he "ate the humble pie" before realizing a childhood dream.

Yes, he whiffed on a few pass attempts. Yes, most of his uncontested shots sailed over the crossbar and into a grassy area behind the practice field — situations that made eager fans chase after the errant balls like those who jockey for position in foul territory at Kauffman Stadium.

"The only thing I'm probably good at," Ochocinco said after the 90-minute workout, "is being fast as hell."

Labor uncertainty that grips the NFL made this spectacle possible. Ochocinco, 33, was a striker in his youth in Miami, and he still considers soccer his first love. He stopped playing the sport after 10th grade, but earlier this month he accepted a Twitter invitation to train with the buzz-hungry club.

Ochocinco's performance showed how much his soccer skills must develop to match his football talents. Fans screamed, "Gooaall!" after he scored following a series of unguarded misses. At one point, he dropped to one knee and received high-fives from teammates.

"I was a little winded, being that I haven't ran at this pace or at this level since the end of our season," said Ochocinco, who has 751 receptions in 10 NFL seasons. "I didn't expect to come in here and be Superman."

He wasn't Superman, but Ochocinco insists he is serious about rekindling a soccer career. He said he has no need for money, even with the NFL at a standstill, and that he came to Kansas City for nothing more than to feed a passion.

Sure, the stunt was Ochocinco being Ochocinco — eccentric and unpredictable, untamed and undeterred. Yet, at times, there were flashes of sincerity behind his mischief.

"Would you play for free?" someone asked during the media session.

"Yeah," Ochocinco said, "can I?"

The scene was jarring, a reminder of the strange environment the NFL finds itself. Whatever his intentions, Ochocinco blazed a new path as players and owners remain at an impasse over the future of their $9 billion industry.

Will Ochocinco's reinvention last beyond Saturday? Does it matter?

Even if he returns to his former life soon, Ochocinco said he will have tested his body more than most who wade through the NFL's uncertainty. He emphasized soccer shape and football shape require different demands, and he is confident he will benefit from being versatile.

"He was a little hesitant early on, a little tentative," Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes said. "But now, I think, he has a good feel for what a day goes like for us."

A good feel for something is better than most involved with the NFL can say now. A morning of reinvention gave Ochocinco a new beginning, even if only for a limited time.