A larger playing surface and more players on the field aren't the only adjustments Chad Johnson has had to make since moving north of the border to play for the Montreal Alouettes.
Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowler who last played in the NFL for the New England Patriots in 2011, has also had to learn how to read French. And so far, that hasn't gone so well.
Johnson tweeted that he's already racked up 15 parking tickets in Montreal, complaining that the street signs are all in French. The wide receiver sent this message to Montreal mayor Denis Coderre in hopes of help:
@DenisCoderre Denis, I love you but I'm having trouble with parking tickets, most of the parking signs are in french, I've 15 tickets. Help
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 8, 2014
Coderre, an active tweeter, quickly responded:
@ochocinco Wanna talk Ocho?
— DenisCoderre (@DenisCoderre) July 8, 2014
Yes sir, no rush though, just wanted to converse a bit over Starbucks, McDonald's or cigar of your choice RT @DenisCoderre: Wanna talk Ocho?
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 8, 2014
@ochocinco ok we will meet. Meantime we will give you a crash course to understand our parking signs so you don't catch a ticket... again
— DenisCoderre (@DenisCoderre) July 8, 2014
Rather than learn to read French, Johnson has started taking the subway, and that too has been quite an experience:
I just kissed a lady on the metro and shes blushing but knows no English...
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 8, 2014
I'm glad I left home early because I boarded the METRO (subway system) going the wrong way, meetings aren't till 9 so I've time...
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 8, 2014
As Johnson spends time in Montreal (he signed a two-year contract with the Alouettes in April), we can only hope for more of these moments.
