Carl Crawford and Chad Ochocinco: A Study in Scarlet Sox

If you want to know the difference between two organizations heading in opposite directions in Boston, you only need to take a look at the Red Sox and Patriots.

The emblematic symbol of each team is a big name star that has gone the wrong way in terms of team hopes.

The Red Sox overpaid for another left-handed hitter during the off-season, signing a free agent who was certainly not free.

The Patriots paid six million for Ochocinco, which was a heavenly price.

Of course, baseball contracts are fitted with cement overshoes.

Football has the free agency in which it can dump a player from week to week.

This past week owner John W. Henry has more money than Thurston Howell III, but less humor. He may be just as obtuse. Henry noted on a blab radio show that he didn’t really want Carl Crawford, but his baseball people overruled him.

Patriot owner Robert Kraft signs the paychecks for his players, but he seems to know what he is paying for and seems to have the smarts to keep his mouth shut.

Chad Ochocinco, a fun person and genuinely good person, has been the white elephant at Gillette Stadium this season. For reasons that may never be known, he simply seems lost in the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady system.

Reports circulating suggest that Crawford was in hell and hated Boston. Ocho professed he was in heaven and loved Boston.

Crawford was afraid to speak out to his lax and lazy teammates, whereas Ocho seems to work hard and has his detractors not afraid to speak out.

Whether the Red Sox change their socks or the Patriots cast off their heavenly mantle, only time will tell. And time is running out.

William Russo's newest book is now out, ready for your tablet, your smartphone, your Kindle or Nook. Read RED SOX 2011: A WHIMSICAL AUTOPSY to find a month-by-month examination of the team, showing all the signs of trouble that most sports media missed. His other sports books are SEX, DRUGS, SPORTS & WHIMSY and RAJON RONDO: SUPERSTAR!