Lloyd Picks Up His Retro # 85

Not exactly groundbreaking news but Chad Ocho Cinco's 85 had been vacated since his release from the team.  Brandon Lloyd has donned multiple numbers through ought his career including 80 (Bears), 83 (Rams), 84(Broncos) and 85(San Francisco/Washington).  Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Ebert has jersey number 80.  Everyone knows 83 is taken by Wes Welker and 84 is taken by Deion Branch.  The number 85 was taken by Chad Ocho Cinco but now that he is no longer with the club the number 85 was released into circulation for players to choose from.  There was speculation that Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez who initially relinquished the jersey to welcome Chad Ocho Cinco to the team last season, may want to take back the number 85.  That proved to be UN true. Aaron Hernandez wanted the number 81 initially; however, Randy Moss was on the team at the time and occupied it.  Aaron wore the number 81 throughout his collegiate career in Florida so it worked out in Hernandez’s favor when Moss was no longer with the team and Ocho Cinco was picked up.  People often look at a jersey number as just a number but to players a number can mean a multitude of things and can be much more meaningful than that.  Players identify with their jersey's number. Brandon Lloyd wore the number 85 when he was in San Francisco and Washington for the first 5 seasons of his career in the NFL. Brandon had previously been wearing jersey number 88 throughout offseason workouts with the Patriots. Maybe the retro number will help Lloyd to feel as young as he did the last time he wore the number 85.  Lloyd is set to turn 31 on July 5th.