Chad Johnson was arrested Monday for violating probation. (Broward County sheriff’s office)

Former Patriots wide receiver Chad Johnson turned himself in to police and was arrested Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on charges that he violated probation. His bail was set at $1,000.

An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month after Johnson failed to meet with his probation officer and did not show proof of enrollment in a domestic violence education class. He has another hearing set for June 3.

Johnson, 35, is serving a year of probation following an altercation with his now ex-wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada. Johnson, who was known as Chad Ochocinco during his brief and unsuccessful tenure in New England, allegedly head-butted Lozada during an argument last August, one month after they were married. Lozada filed for divorce shortly thereafter.

Johnson was released by the Dolphins after the incident and has not played since.

Chad Johnson

A warrant has been issued in Florida for the arrest of former Patriots wide receiver Chad Johnson, according to TMZ.

Johnson reportedly failed to report to his probation officer, which violated the terms of his probation. Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, was on probation following his domestic violence conviction against his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada last summer. If a judge determines that he did violate the terms of his probation, Johnson could face jail time.

In his one season with the Patriots, the 35-year-old had 15 catches for 276 yards and one touchdown.

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Brandon Lloyd was all smiles Thursday talking about his first shot at the playoffs. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — When Brandon Lloyd signed in New England, he admitted Thursday, it was all about making the playoffs.

He entered the NFL in 2003. He’s played with the 49ers, Redskins, Bears, Broncos and Rams. But this season, his first with the Patriots, he’ll finally be getting a taste of the NFL playoff when he takes the field on Sunday.

But joining the Patriots and having success with Tom Brady can be two different things altogether. Just asked Chad Ochocinco, aka Chad Johnson.

Lloyd had 74 catches for 911 yards and four touchdowns, far more production from this No. 85 than its predecessor in 2011. Still, Lloyd heard all season about getting comfortable with Brady. Now that the regular season’s over, what has it been like?

“It’s a work in progress,” Lloyd said.

The question was repeated. Still a work in progress?

“Yes,” Lloyd said.

This is the third year in a row where he’s caught at least 70 passes. Has it been a different process than in the past or relatively the same?

“It’s been different than the past just because of the organization,” Lloyd explained. “It’s been different than the past because of Tom and his style of preparation, but it’s been similar in the sense that we have to put the work in during the week in all the weeks and during the camps, and then we’ll go into the game and that’s where we’ll really find out about one another. That’s what makes it similar.

“In playing with the less experienced quarterbacks like in St. Louis playing with [Kellen Clemens], it would be different. When he was thrown into the staring lineup, it was more of a situation where I was like, ‘Where do you want me to be? I’m not going to tell you where I’m going to be; you tell me where you want me to be and then I’ll do my best to get there.’ With Tom, we have a little bit of give and take. Some plays, I have that freedom and there are some plays where I can say, ‘Hey, I want to be here’ and then he’ll work it out. Other plays, he’ll say, ‘You need to be here and that’s the way the plays go. It’s similar and it’s different, but it’s equally rewarding.”

But, as Lloyd himself pointed out, the most important factor this year may have been Josh McDaniels, the offensive coordinator he’s worked with the last three seasons. How much has that relationship with helped bridge the relationship with Brady?

“I think the bridge with Tom is Josh because Josh gives me credibility,” Lloyd said. “Being with Josh the last three seasons, that’s what gave me the credibility to come here and be accepted as a productive member of this team.”

Here is the remainder of Lloyd’s transcript from Thursday’s press conference:
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Deion Branch

Patriots receiver Deion Branch joined Mut & Merloni Monday morning to discuss training camp, the crowded Patriots wide receiving corps and his conversation with former teammate Chad Johnson. To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

Starting next Monday the Pats have three games in 10 days, so this week of practice “is probably our most important week,” Branch said. “All the stuff we’ve been implementing on offense, defense and special teams we have to put it all together right now.”

At 33 years old, the 11-year veteran has sat out a number of practices during training camp but said there are no serious injuries and he’s feeling well.

“Everything is fine. You know, I think the most important thing in my job is to come in and do everything the coaches ask of me, and that’s what I’m doing,” Branch said. “And that goes for everybody down the roster. If you come in and coach says to you, ‘Take the day off, do half a day,’ that’s what we have to do. So, there’s no complaints. I’m always in the meeting room, I’m always paying attention to what’s going on on the football field, and I’m always trying to get a little work in on the side as well, but if coach [Bill] Belichick says to chill, then that’s what I have to do.”

With a receiving corps so deep and full of players familiar with the offense, Branch said training camp has been great but a bit crowded.

Given the depth at receiver, Branch laughed when asked whether he’s been in touch with Troy Brown about learning to play defensive back. “If coach Belichick wants me to do that, then that’s what I’ll do,” Branch said. “It’s not hard for them to go see that film from high school and college when I played defensive back.”

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When in Cincinnati, Hue Jackson let Chad Johnson be himself.

FOXBORO — Raiders coach Hue Jackson isn’t suggesting Chad Ochocinco start taking over camera duties like he occasionally did in Cincinnati on the sidelines, but he does have one bit of advice for Bill Belichick: “Let Chad be Chad.”

In a conference call with Patriots media Wednesday in Foxboro, Jackson reminded everyone of his close ties to the Patriots receiver. Well before joining the Raiders coaching staff in 2010, Jackson was the receivers coach with the Bengals from 2004-06, when the then-Chad Johnson became a rising star with Cincinnati.

“Chad Johnson is [like] my son,” Jackson said of his relationship with the Patriots receiver. “I know you guys probably have a hard time with him. He’s kind of colorful. But he is a tremendous young man. I really adore him, but I won’t on Sunday.

“I helped raise that young man in Cincinnati. He played for me, did wonders for me. He is a tremendous competitor and a doggone good football player. On Sunday, I’ll look across [the field] and look at him but he knows that this is about winning and he understands that.”

It was with Jackson as his coach and Carson Palmer as the quarterback that Johnson became one of the premier receivers in the NFL, help leading the Bengals to AFC North titles in 2005, and again in 2009.

“I think we grew. When I came to Cincinnati, he was really early in his career. He was right on the cusp of becoming a great player. What I tried to do was push him, and take him to where he truly wanted to go. He wanted to be one of the best in the league and at that time, his time with me, there’s no question in my mind he was. He really worked at it, the way he studied videotape, the way he prepared. I let him have his own personality because that’s Chad. You have to allow him to be him to get the most out of him.

“That’s what we were able to do. We forged a bond that’s been the same since my time in Cincinnati. I always check on him. I haven’t checked on him too much this year since I’ve been so busy but I do have a lot of respect for the player.”

And what about the frustration Ocho has had in the first three weeks of the 2011 season, as he gets accustomed to the Patriots’ way?

“I think a lot of players are that way,” Jackson said. “When you’re used to having success and things have gone for you the way his career has gone up to this point, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But one thing I know about him, he will continue to work. He’ll do everything that’s asked of him. He’s a tremendous pro. I’m sure he’s working at it. And eventually, it will come off right for him. I just don’t want to happen this week.”

Chad Ochocinco said Tuesday that he’s changing his name back to Chad Johnson. Appearing on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” the receiver said the name change was fun, but it’s time to switch back to his original moniker. “I don’t have a choice right now,” Ochocinco said. “I’ve done enough with the Ocho thing.” The receiver initially changed his name from Johnson to Ochocinco before the 2008 season in order to wear his nickname on his jersey.

FOXBORO — Once upon a time – in a land far, far away – Michael Shayne Graham was simply known as “Money” Graham.

That was when he was nailing 28-of-32 field goals and all 47 extra points and his team – the Cincinnati Bengals – was capturing the 2005 AFC North with an 11-5 record. And on top of it all, he earned a Pro Bowl spot on the AFC squad in Hawaii.

It comes hardly as a shock that the then-Chad Johnson gave him that nickname when he drilled a 37-yard field goal on a chilly and windy December day at Paul Brown Stadium on the game’s final play to help the Bengals inch closer to a division title.

Chilly, windy and division titles all ring true in Foxboro, which is part of the reason the Patriots felt very much at ease signing him this week to fill the shoes of Stephen Gostkowski, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday with a thigh injury.

“It’s definitely big shoes to fill but I feel that I’m going to be able to play my best and hopefully the team won’t skip a beat and hopefully the team won’t miss a beat,” said Graham, whose face and red hair will remind locals of a certain forward who used to play for the Celtics named Brian Scalabrine.

Graham has had his harrowing moments that can scar a player for a career. Arguably, his most forgettable moment wasn’t even his fault. It was a snowy Christmas Eve the next season in Denver when -with 46 seconds remaining in regulation – long snapper Brad St. Louis sailed the PAT through holder Kyle Larson‘s hands after the Bengals had seemingly tied the game on a dramatic touchdown, only to have the game and the playoffs slip through their hands. Graham had nailed 158 straight PATs before that aborted chance.

Then last year – as the Bengals won the AFC North again – he missed two very makable field goals of 28 and 35 yards in a 24-14 playoff loss to the Jets. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Graham had “demons” he was dealing with and felt it best to let him go as a free agent.

“I’ve only got to play in two playoff games in my career, and one of those games was probably one of the worst games of my life but I don’t think it had anything to do with what kind of game it was,” Graham said. “It was just one of those days for me. I can’t wait to have that chance but at this point I’m looking forward to Pittsburgh, just getting my first game out there and getting my first field goal of the season and getting the confidence of my teammates and building my own confidence is what I’m looking forward to.” Read the rest of this entry »