On Sunday, Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco made a superficially innocuous gesture during a win over the Ravens. With the referee looking at replays of a catch that Chad thought he had made on the sidelines, Ochocinco tried to give a one-dollar bill to another member of the officiating crew in a joking effort to influence the outcome.
He also used the term “bribe” when describing the move after the game.
Though many brushed off his actions as Chad simply being Chad, the league disagreed. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the league has asked Ochocinco for that one-dollar bill -- and $19,999 more just like it.
Chad is taking it all in stride. Said Ochocinco on his Twitter page, “Child wait till you see what I do in Pittsburgh, remember I set aside [a] fine fund before the season started, I’m just starting!”
He also has tried to get the President to help out the cause, and Chad has responded to the suggetion that he was scooped by ESPN by pointing out that he knew about the fine since Tuesday.
So, really, the most amazing aspect of the situation is that Chad somehow managed not to say anything about the fine for three whole days.
As to the fine itself, we can understand the league’s position. Certain things should not be the subject of humor -- especially at a time when many NFL fans are quick to point to corruption when their favorite teams lose. To the Steelers.