Chad Johnson has said that he would like to end his career "the right way" despite missing the 2012 NFL season.

The wide receiver, who was previously known as Chad Ochocinco after legally changing his name, has been without a team since being released by the Miami Dolphins last August.

The 35-year-old told ESPN: "I'm going to be OK. I'm OK now, but I put myself in this situation and I have to deal with everything. With life, I'm at peace with everything. I would love to finish my career off the right way. If it happens, I'm not sure. But I would like to.

"I'm in a position where I have to prove myself again that I can still play. Can I still do it? I'm at the bottom again, like having to prove myself when I first came in [to the NFL] and I was hungry.

"I got complacent at some point in my career. I thought I had it right. I thought I had made it and figured it all out. I lost the game that I loved and played for years."

Johnson previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots, reaching the Pro Bowl on six occasions.