Yahoo Finance Chad Johnson reportedly cancels XFL kicker tryout
Last week, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson tweeted that he planned to try out as a kicker for the XFL.
On Sunday, he informed the XFL that he had changed his mind, and he missed the previously scheduled tryout for the fledgling league at its Houston training camp on Monday, ESPN reports.
Johnson, 42, has been active on Twitter, but has not publicly addressed his reported decision to skip the workout as of the time of this post.
Johnson was excited about tryout
The report comes as a surprise after Johnson sounded excited for the chance to kick in the league that kicks off after February’s Super Bowl.
The opportunity to kick in the XFL has presented itself, i must tryout Monday in Houston, I’m excited as hell & I’m sure all will go well 🙏🏿
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) January 14, 2020
Johnson wrote about long-shot hopes of an XFL stint leading to a chance to kick in the NFL.
Pretty far fetched but imagine me being consistent during an XFL season & getting a chance at a 53 man roster in the NFL, even i don’t make it just being able to compete for a spot at a entirely different position will be so riveting 🙂
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) January 14, 2020
Johnson played 11 seasons in the NFL at receiver from 2001-11 — 10 with the Cincinnati Bengals and his final season with the New England Patriots. He made six Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro twice while with the Bengals.
Johnson’s love affair with soccer
Johnson has long made known his love of soccer, telling Boston.com in 2011 that it was his first love as a child before football. He tried out for Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City in 2016 and visited with Real Madrid during the NFL lockout in 2011.
He played for semi-pro team Boca Raton FC in Florida in 2019 and is an avid fan of the FIFA video game, where he regularly challenges fans to games.
He appeared ready to translate his soccer skills to the football field, posting a video of himself kicking a field goal to Instagram in December.
But it appears that Johnson kicking in the XFL in 2020 will not happen.
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