He is playing harder than I ever saw him playing with Dallas (and for sure BUF). Looks inspired and seems to have a great relationship with Ocho (and Palmer?).
It's a shame the Bengals are not doing better this year, but he's still playing hard.
No offense, but you probably haven't been watching many of his games. TO rarely takes a play off. He knows his role on running plays. He's very aware on the field. For better or worse, the guy is extremely competitive and prideful - that drives him. In Buffalo he was widely regarded as a "good soldier" despite a terrible team and situation [though he put up respectable #s]. In Dallas there's a highlight reel of him running 90 yards - in the other direction - to tackle a defender who was looking at a pick 6. TO hustles more than just about any other wideout I've seen play in recent years.
Don't confuse "mediocre output" or "locker room cancer," with "not playing hard."