Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson was one of the most colorful personalities the league has seen in recent decades, and the performance “Ochocinco” has seen from New Orleans Saints All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas has him wanting to put his pads on again.

Johnson responded to a tweet from Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in which Bridgewater mused, “Claim it and you’ll make it.”

“I claim I’ll be starting opposite of Michael Thomas this season,” Johnson replied wryly. Johnson has been paying rapt attention to Thomas and his career arc since the latter was drafted by the Saints in 2016. Johnson has reached out to the 26-year-old superstar, and the pair appear to have some sort of friendship; Johnson attended the Saints’ 45-35 regular-season upset of the Los Angeles Rams last season on his invitation, a game in which Thomas struck the finishing blow on a captivating 72-yard catch-and-run score late in the fourth quarter.

It’s tough to see Johnson winning the starting job next to Thomas, especially at 41 years of age and having not played a down since 2011, when Thomas was a senior in high school. But his energy is admirable, and no one can fault him for wanting to get involved in the heated rivalry with the Atlanta Falcons, which he just learned about last year.