With his future on the Patriots in question, Chad Ochocinco is trying to do good by anyone he can -- in this case NYC -- dropping nearly $8,000 on a massive fried chicken dinner last night ... for 200 local fans.

In case you don't follow him on Twitter -- the football stud sent an open invite to anyone in the New York area ... offering a free dinner to the first 200 people to show up at the famous Sylvia's soul food restaurant in Harlem.

Needless to say, hordes of people came -- just check our video for proof -- and sources tell us, Ocho treated the hungry mob to a full array of Southern-style deliciousness ... including BBQ ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, and red velvet cupcakes.

Sources at the restaurant tell TMZ, Ocho spent $7,914 on grub altogether -- but they wouldn't specify how much he tipped.

Now if only Ocho could make more than 15 catches a season ...

Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada have signed their deal to do a "Basketball Wives" spinoff show with VH1 ... and they each have 300,000 reasons to celebrate ... TMZ has learned. 

According to our sources, filming on the new show will begin in the next few weeks, right after taping for  "Wives" ends. We're told the show will focus on the couple as they get ready to exchange vows this summer. 

Our sources say negotiations finally wrapped last week and the two will each take home $300,000 for about two months of work.

As TMZ first reported, when Evelyn re-upped her contract with "Basketball Wives" last year, part of the deal called for VH1 to give her and Chad their own show.

The show should be officially announced this week.

Evelyn Lozada and Chad Ochocinco (soon to be Johnson again) are busy formulating their wedding guest list -- and Evelyn says that while Chad's superstar teammate Tom Brady is invited ... she doesn't sound so sure he'll attend!

We caught up with Evelyn in NYC yesterday where she said paring down the guest list and deciding who sits near who has been the toughest part of the planning process.

Evelyn said she's only inviting some of her "Basketball Wives" co-stars (we're told Jennifer Williams won't be invited), but she did extend an invite to Tom and Gisele. She told us, "They are invited. I hope they come. They have a busy schedule."

Translation -- either way, she'll get a sweet gift.
 

Say goodbye to Chad Ochocinco ... the Patriots star is telling friends, he plans to change his last name BACK to Johnson in time for his wedding this summer -- because he doesn't want his wife to have a made-up last name.

Ocho's wedding to his "Basketball Wives" fiancee Evelyn Lozada is set for July in Florida -- and sources tell TMZ, the wide receiver plans to legally change his last name back to the one he was born with before he ties the knot.

Despite hedging last month, we're told Evelyn doesn't care what name she ends up with -- Johnson or Ochocinco -- the choice is entirely up to Chad ... but it appears he's already made up his mind.

Too bad ... we literally JUST bought his Pats jersey.

Chad Ochocinco may have pulled his engagement to Evelyn Lozada out of the fire, but she's still on the fence about taking his last name when they walk down the aisle.

Evelyn was out in LA this week, and fully over her cheating fears about Ocho, saying ... "*hit happens and we worked it out."

As for changing her name -- sounds like Evelyn still needs some convincing.

We suspect Chad has bigger concerns, for now ... such as beating Tim Tebow and the Broncos tonight.

Chad Ochocinco has saved his relationship with Evelyn Lozada the old fashioned way ... with a lot of groveling ... and the wedding is back on, this according to sources close to the couple.

As TMZ first reported, Lozada put their wedding plans on hold after she suspected Ocho was stepping out on her. 

But according to our sources, Ocho broke down this week and apologized. We're told Ocho said he would do whatever it took to win her back and suggested the two go to couple's counseling. 

Our sources say Evelyn agreed and they will seek help to work out their trust issues. 

Through a rep, Evelyn tells TMZ, "The strain from both our busy schedules started to take a serious toll on our relationship. Yet after spending some much needed quality time together, Chad and I are in a good space."

Chad Ochocinco's famous fiancee has slammed the brakes on the couple's wedding plans, TMZ has learned ... all because she suspects the NFL star has been messing around behind her back.

Sources tell us ... "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada recently confronted Ocho after she became suspicious about his behavior ... and she isn't convinced he's been faithful. 

The two are set to be married in the summer -- and while Evelyn hasn't "officially" cancelled the wedding yet, we're thinkin' the priest should start making other plans.

Plus, Chad and Evelyn were supposed to begin shooting their new reality show in just three weeks ... we're told that plan is also up in the air.

Calls to Evelyn's and Ocho's reps were not returned.

We've heard it all before -- but this time Evelyn Lozada says NO AMOUNT of money can bring her back for season 4 of  VH1's "Basketball Wives."

Sources close to Evelyn tell TMZ -- Lozada made up her mind yesterday, after VH1 posted a blog implying Evelyn may have cheated on Chad Ochocinco with his former teammate Terrell Owens.

We're told Evelyn is furious -- claiming the rumor is simply UNTRUE -- and she feels betrayed by the network. VH1 has since pulled the blog -- but Lozada has already decided enough is enough ... and she's told producers she won't be returning.

Sources tell us Evelyn is now looking for other opportunities -- and will focus on planning her upcoming wedding to Ochocinco.

Chad Ochocinco is whole again -- because Aaron Hernandez relinquished his number 85 ... FOR FREE.

Ocho (seen above at practice yesterday) was willing to fork over some bucks for the number, but Hernandez did him a solid as a "welcome to the team" gesture. Hernandez told reporters, "Chad Ochocinco came to the team and he’s a great player and I had a chance to get my college number back and he obviously wanted 85, and it wasn’t a problem."

Ochocinco joked that he would let Hernandez drive his Toyota Prius on weekends ... and might toss a few McDonald's coupons in.

Chad Ochocinco is fired up about moving to New England now that he's a member of the Patriots ... but he's not exactly ready to make a long term commitment when it comes to buying a place.

Sources close to the wide receiver tell TMZ ... Chad plans to rent a townhouse for now and wants to see how this year goes with the Patriots before he plunks down a chunk of change on anything substantial.

According to our sources, Chad doesn't need anything too fancy and would rather spend his time traveling back to Florida to see his fiancée, Evelyn Lozada.

Plus, he's gotta save up ... seeing as he might have to fork over some big bucks if he wants to keep his #85 jersey.

He's been traded to a new team ... but Chad Ochocinco DOES NOT want a new jersey number -- and sources close to the NFL star tell TMZ .. he's willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to sport #85 for the New England Patriots this season.

Problem is .... the number currently belongs to Patriots STUD tight end Aaron Hernandez -- who rocked #85 in 2010 ... when he DOMINATED all season long.

We're told Ochocinco -- who CHANGED HIS LAST NAME to match his jersey number a few years ago -- wants to PAY Hernandez to give up the digits ... and sources say Chad feels "no number is too high."

FYI -- jersey numbers don't come cheap -- it cost Clinton Portis a cool $18k to buy the #26 from a teammate when he was traded to the Washington Redskins a few years ago.