The No. 15 jersey worn for the Bengals by the late Chris Henry will be present on the sidelines during Sunday’s game between Cincinnati and San Diego.
But Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco says that he probably will not be wearing Henry’s shirt.
“I don’t want to be a distraction,” Ochocinco told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.
The news that Ochocinco could be exercising restraint comes on the same day that the NFL Players Association vowed to pay any fine that Ochocinco might incur. Given our suspicion that the union stuck its nose into this situation for P.R. and/or grandstanding purposes, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the union made its intention clear only after being told by Ochocinco that he doesn’t plan on doing anything that might result in the imposition of a fine.
“we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the union made its intention clear only after being told by Ochocinco that he doesn’t plan on doing anything that might result in the imposition of a fine.”
When has Ochocinco ever turned down the opportunity to do something that might get him fined.
How about putting his jersey across the bench where the offense huddles on the sideline? Chris would be there in spirit.
I want him to wear the jersey. Seems like a wonderful gesture to him. It would be a better fine for him then wearing a poncho and sombrero.
I think he should wear it for the first drive, then switch to his own after that.
Good for him. How about just scoring 3 TD in his honor instead.
Hell, he ought to just wear it since they offered to pay the fine. Or maybe he just likes being fined and that would take the fun out of it for him, I don’t know.
Much more intelligent decision – let your PLAY be your homage to Henry.
Dont wear it. Maybe just wear it during warmups, but to honor slim is to beat the freakin chargers. Knock that stupid ass smile or smirk or retard face off of rivers and get closer to lock up the #2 seed that would honor slim somewhat. Maybe have a wr other than ocho catch a pass, that could honor him too.
Sure…what fun would it be to wear the number of the Number Two embarrassment of the NFL in the past decade (Pacman will always be No. 1) if you don’t get the credit for the fine?
Makes sense to me.
Maybe if Hitler had been around nine more months he might have redeemed himself, too?
He should do it. No one is cetainly perfect, but it really sucks when someone so young dies. That is the real sad part about this all. So young to die, with so many small children. To bad he could not get his head around the value of his own life.
Your intrepid reporter might have mentioned that the league office doesn’t allow third parties to pay a player’s fine.
I wanted him to wear the jersey. That gesture is totally appropriate and it’s a #$@#$ shame that his good intent is being subverted by cynics.
“I don’t want to be a distraction,”
Since when?? Chad Johnson is bum… he’s a loser and as long as he’s a Bengal, no one will ever take them seriously. He’s a clown… I loved watching his head get blasted last weekend. In Minnesota, that stuff doesn’t fly… and he was shown first hand as his face was driven into the turf. That was the difference between “shucking and jiving” and dominating a football game. The better men won that game.
Of course Chad Johnson would use a death of a teammate to attempt to elevate himself above everyone else… that’s a sucker move from the BIGGEST SUCKER in the NFL.
Enjoy being the NFL version of whore… you show off like one and at the end of the day, you end up losing your dignity like one.
I hate Chad Johnson and anyone like him.
I think he should wear it under his own jersey and take his off when he scores a Touchdown I think that would be pretty cool.
He should wear jailbird pinstripes and a name tag showing the mug shot that he’s so proud of.
It won’t matter, Bengals will still come up short. Despite any gesture by him to ignite the team to try to defeat the hottest team in the NFL besides the Colts. Chargers will win by 10, 24-14 or 27-17.
Sheffer or what’s his name at the Patriots Sports Network mentioned the NFLPA could not pay the fine, since they are forbidden too.
“NFL rules prevent the NFL Players Association from reimbursing Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco for any fines he might incur should he decide to wear Chris Henry’s No. 15 jersey Sunday.”
“The organization has already established a memorial fund for Henry and plan to match any fine for Ochocinco to that fund and/or the Players Assistance Fund.
But the NFLPA is prohibited from reimbursing the fine money that would be automatically withheld from Ochocinco’s paycheck by the league.”
Ahh, Schefter.
I think after you talked to Greg Aiello word got to Ocho that a suspension would follow with a heavy fine. He doesn’t seem to mind being a distraction, but missing a game while his team is in the playoff hunt would be too much.
Really can’t think of any other reason for him not to.
this is his just his latest idea for how to draw the most attention to himself, and personally i find it really offputting…don’t any of you bengals fans have a problem with this?
Thats wonderful to hear, now I can go take a dump.
I live and die to see Chad’s moves are.
No wonder America is falling.
Welcome to Rome in its last days.
This is a little too trivial probably.
On local Cincinnati sports-talk radio, a caller asked a great question: what if the NFL calls Chad’s bluff and doesn’t just fine him, but suspends him? How’d that go over right before a potential playoff run?
I suspect that discussion found its way back to #85 and or his coaches/teammates and that prompted this latest update.
KD
I am going to preface this by saying I am not 100% serious and don’t in any way think it’ll happen, but how cool would it be if Chad scored 15 points to honor Chris. He is their backup kicker and we saw him kick an extra point in the preseason. What if he got 2 TDs and a chance to kick a FG. 15 points, that would be cool. But like I said it won’t happen….I just thought it would be cool.
its always has to be drama drama drama just like TO all though bribing the reff was like LOL funny
come out with a 10man huddle on the first play … just a remembrance to their missing teammate
Chad is great for the league and is a great person. In honour of Chris Henry I think he should wear his jersey. The NFL shouldn’t fine him, and if they do the NFLPA said they’d pay the fine, which is an honourable thing, even if there are hidden motives..
Florio’s quote:
“we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the union made its intention clear only after being told by Ochocinco that he doesn’t plan on doing anything that might result in the imposition of a fine.”
Well, that’s a hell an assumption by you Mr. Florio, and by the way, who’s ‘we’?
Yup, Chad hates being a distraction. Whatever.
For once this guy comes up with an antic that is actually clever and something you can root for … and than opts not to do it.
Uno Cinco… RIP
Go bengals. Play with pride, play with an added intensity, play for #15, even if ocho doesn’t wear the jersey. This Vikes fan will be rootin for ya.
Again the cold heartedness of you people amaze me. A man has died. Have some compassion.
Doughboy: You moron. Chris Henry killed nobody. How could you compare him to Hitler? He had 5 charges and turned his life around starting two years ago. He died in an accident during a domestic dispute. He and his fiance were fighting over money. Lots of people do that.
You are a jerk to compare him to Hitler. And it shows your absolute stupidity and lack of knowledge of history. Hitler killed millions and millions of people. He was evil incarnate. Henry was a troubled young man who was turning his life around.
You are probably one of the stupidest people I have ever encountered.
WashingtonRedstorms: America is not failing because Chad Johnson decided to honor a friend who has died.
Why not wear it for the coin flip only??
Even when a team mate dies, Ochocinco has to make the story about himself.
your quote: GIVEN OUR SUSPICION THAT THE UNION STUCK IT’S NOSE INTO THIS SITUATION FOR P.R. AND/OR GRANDSTANDING PURPOSES… that sounds like ROGER GODDELLS job description,… the Union and this Comissioner would be better served tackling the serious issue of the health & well being of these players, after there playing days are over {GOOGLE DAVE PEAR, RAIDERS for yet another story that ought to be embarrassing & disgusting, and make your stomach turn, the league AND the union should be hauled in front of Congress about this]… it was ROGER GODDELL who called himself THE NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN, I just didn’t realise he was patterning himself after BARNEY FIFE from the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
This site needs more people like BonnieD instead of most of these idiots, WashingtonRedstorm and the rest of you that think Chad Johnson is what is wrong with the world I would like to know if you give to any charitable organizations the way all these athletes do. We are so quick to judge the small portions of what we know about these people. Why don’t we hear more about the great things they do? Not because Florio doen’t want to report it,Because most of you just want to hear the negatives maybe your what is wrong with this country
Steve,
O.J. Simpson, Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, Terell Owens, etc. have all been very charitable people as well. Does that make them immune to personal responsibility in abiding by the same laws, rules, and regulations that everyone else does?
No.
Did Henry really turn his life around, Bonnie?
I wonder what his Fiancee driving the truck would have to say about that?
I think Chad’s doing the right thing. As it is everybody is talking more about Chad Ochocinco wearing the jersey more than they are talking about Chris Henry. If he wore the jersey all anybody would be talking about is Chad. That’s defeating the purpose of wearing the jersey. I think the union should have stayed the hell out of it because honoring a fallen friend is a horrible thing to use to try and gain an advantage in collective bargaining negotiations.
BonnieD:
You are absolutely correct about me!
While you are espousing your intellectual acumen and enlightening us all on the key points of history, would you please put on your English teacher’s hat and help us understand what “satire” is?
I’m too ignorant to get it!
Please help!