Fortunately for me, it’s appropriate to put her photo up given the subject matter: the season finale of HBO’s Hard Knocks was on TV last night.

Aug. 17, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; An Arizona Cardinals fan holds a sign relating to Chad Johnson and ex wife Evelyn Lozada and Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

In no particular order, here’s what struck me:

Chad Johnson really is a “real man” after all. How can that be, you ask? He head-butted his WIFE!!

Yes, that’s true, he did. And he may have already been cheating on her as well. However, towards the end of the show, they did a segment on him. He’s working out on the beach, with the sand strengthening every leg muscle because of the soft nature of the footing. He’s running with parachutes, he’s standing waist-deep in the ocean with a medicine ball over his head, trying to force/walk through the surf. He’s doing everything he can to get into top shape for anyone who might decide to take a chance on a 34 yr old WR whose already shaky reputation has taken its own slap in the face – all because of the decision he made in a fit of anger one night not long ago.

What really got me was the close-up shots of his face as he sat on some high-school football field bleachers admitting that everything that happened was his own fault.

“The Dolphins, I let them down,” Johnson said. “I messed up. I got to suffer the consequences. I made that bed, I got to lay in it. So basically, I got to start all over.”

An emotional moment for sure, but it wasn’t the only sob story. Defensive tackle Isaako Aaitu was cut on the final round when the teams all had to get down to their 53-man roster by last Friday night at 9 pm. He was devestated. Furthermore, he was picked up by the New York Jets…where he tore his ACL and MCL in his very first practice and was waived.

Talk about “Hard Knocks!” Ouch.

Only a week ago, Chad Johnson’s life was looking up. He had just been married a month and after having been cut from the New England Patriots, he was still living his dream with the Miami Dolphins.

Less than a week later, his life is falling apart all around him and he’s got nobody to blame but himself.

Now, he’s facing charges of Domestic Violence from his now-estranged spouse. Today, Evelyn Lozada filed for divorce. Ironically, she’s also in the entertainment business as the star of a reality TV show called “Basketball Wives.”

Perhaps Chad has a career playing semi-pro basketball now? Somehow, I doubt it. After the week he’s had, he’ll be lucky for any NFL team to take a chance on him even once injuries begin piling up in the regular season. Chad Johnson AKA Chad Ochocinco AKA Chad Johnson again has a long reputation as a “diva” wide receiver and a team distraction, but has never been arrested in his 11-year career – until Saturday.

One brainless, adolescent, and angry move took everything down. In the half-second it took him to head-butt his wife, he threw it all away. His career, his marriage, and what remained of his reputation – gone.

In another bit of irony, last Tuesday’s HBO season debut of “Hard Knocks” had one scene that is now of particular interest that I also mentioned last Thursday when I posted a review of the premier.

It was when the Miami Dolphins’ players had a “players day off” and as he was leaving, Johnson said “Hey Stu…Stu…I promise to get arrested while we’re off.”

Talk about a scene the editor was glad he left in…it was downright prophetic.

This should be a reminder to us all that no matter how angry you might get, think before you act.

It doesn’t take long at all to destroy everything that it takes such a long time to build.

The troubled 34 year old will likely have great difficulty in finding a new team due to several factors, not the least of which is that his wife intends to press charges.

Johnson, who had 15 catches with the New England Patriots last season, was released by them and picked up by the receiver-poor Miami Dolphins in an attempt to shore up the position somewhat. Neither of last year’s starting WRs have been present. Brandon Marshall was traded to Chicago in order to head off exactly the sort of thing Chad Johnson wound up bringing – massive off-the-field distraction and negative publicity.

Brian Hartline has yet to play any due to a calf injury and will probably miss the next preseason game against the Panthers, so Chad’s absence from the team leaves them with Legedu Naanee at one outside position, experienced and crafty but physically limited veteran slot receiver Davone Bess, and little else.

With project TE Zac Efron’s blocking struggles, Miami Head Coach Joe Philbin might entertain moving him to wideout, where he’d have a size and weight advantage against corners while having 4.4 speed. Interesting idea, but we’ll have to wait and see if that’s in the cards.

In the end, Chad Johnson may very well have another chance to make a roster somewhere, but probably not until after the season starts and injuries begin to hit. In any case, the legal part is going to have to play out before anyone will probably take a chance on him.

Statistically, Johnson has had a nice career and was one of the league’s most dangerous threats starting in 2001 until just a few years ago. He’s had 6 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from ’02-07 and one more in ’09 – all with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He’s had 766 receptions for 11,059 yards for a very respectable 14.4 yds/rec average and 67 TDs over his career.