No Fun League fines Ocho Cinco
So the No Fun League strikes again and fines Chad Ochocinco $20,000 for his "bribe" on Sunday. This while hitting Tommie Harris with a mere $7500 for slugging a defenseless player.
Priorities are screwed up here.
Ochocinco has announced that he'll match that fine and donate it to charity.
Cutler was also fined $20k for last Sunday's game after he argued with an official about a non-call. Apparently the league thinks that arguing with an official amounts to "abusive behavior".
about 2 years ago
smileyman
96 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
This is ridiculous
I can understand fining Ocho Cinco, but the fact that punching a guy is worth 1/3 of a joke bribe?!?!? I love Ocho Cinco and think the NFL really needs to lighten up. This type of thing dampens my enthusiasm for football.
I agree with the Ochocinco fine
The league really has to stop his attempts of turning the NFL into a comedy, and I think this was the step they needed to take. The guy is just asking for it when pulls a stunt like that. The 20 grand is well deserved, and I’m glad to see he’s matching the fine and donating to charity. I just wish he wasn’t such a goof ball.
What is absurd is that Tommie Harris was fined just $7,500 for his actions, and not suspended a game. Yes, he missed a majority of the game vs. ARI, but did he lose that game cheque? Not to my knowledge. Harris should at least lose one game cheque for his actions, and I’m pretty sure that’s more than $7,500. Are you sure it wasn’t a $75,000 fine?
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 1:52 PM PST reply actions
Turning the NFL into a comedy?
Man, the dude is joking around and having fun. So what if he’s got a gigantic ego and comes off as a pompous ass sometimes, it’s a GAME and he has fun.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
Ochocinco
I have to disagree. This is a game after all and it’s not like Chad is hurting anybody on the field. I actually enjoy having a player who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
by David Fucillo on Nov 13, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions
I’m ok with him not taking himself too seriously, but there’s a line that Ochocinco refuses to acknowledge. I know his intentions aren’t hurtful, and it could be a lot worse, but I still don’t appreciate his shennanigans.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
No, it was 7500
and I think the Ochocinco fine is ridiculous. Chad is fun to watch and he’s actually a really good guy. Every fine he takes he donates an equal amount to charity. He treats the fans in Cincy great.
2 or 3 weeks ago the Bengals were facing a local blackout. The team wasn’t stepping up, so Chad and one of his sponsors stepped up and bought 1200 tickets, which they then turned around and gave to any fan who showed up.
He’s got a great sense of humor and is actually a very smart man (though he sure does’t talk like it).
I'm not saying Ochocinco isn't a good guy
I’m saying he’s a goof ball when it comes to antics like trying to give the ref a dollar bill during the game. I’m glad he donates to charity and is a good member of the community, but the antics in game are ridiculous in my opinion.
The game is all about Chad, it’s about every one in the NFLPA. And if everyone in the NFLPA tried to “joke” and give refs bribes, the game would in fact end up being a laughing stock.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:15 PM PST up reply actions
Chad is all about Chad
Don’t ever be fooled that he does these things for fun. It’s all attention.
He just released a book where Chad talks about how great it is to be Chad, the world should center around Chad.
I just haven't heard any of the same things you're talking about
And I know lots of people who critique a book without having read it.
I don't see any harm in it
The guy clearly loves the game and loves to have fun. I’d rather have that than thugs who knock around defenseless players.
again
I’m not saying Harris shouldn’t be suspended or fined a truckload of cash. I just think the fine to ochocinco was much deserved. I understand that players are playing a game and should have fun, but they also make millions of dollars to have fun.
If a kid walks up to a ref in a peewee football game and as a “joke” hands the ref a dollar to bribe him, I’m not sure that ref is going to find it funny, or that little kid’s coaching staff.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:20 PM PST up reply actions
Why?
He’s not hurting anyone. He’s having fun. If that makes the other team try harder, great. It’ll be a better game. If not, great. It was entertaining for a moment and it will be forgotten.
I really don’t see the problem.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
Agree
That’s not a topic to joke about if you want people to take your league seriously. I know, it sounds like a stupid statement when you look at the context but people are stupid and don’t look at the context. 15-20 years from now some bitter Browns fan would use that Ochocinco photo as evidence of some sorta top level corruption.
If they want to have the league taken seriously
they need to fine the guy who hit a defenseless player as much as the guy who offered a “bribe” in fun.
I agree on that
they certainly need to fine Harris as much as they fined ocho, but I think they should’ve fined him even more than ochocinco.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:12 PM PST up reply actions
Harris fine was too low but there are rumors he can still be suspended or receive further punished. One theory I heard was the league didn’t have enough time before Thursday game to properly review the incident and determine a resolution.
I doubt it
The NFL already handed down punishment on him. They don’t want to look like they made a mistake the first time around, because in Goodell’s world the league’s decisions are never wrong.
R U Serious?
That was very entertaining. I may be wrong but I would assume (without asking) that you are a fan that understand that fans make this league work. And if anyone loves to have this sport be entertaining would have to love Ocho Cinco and what he brings to the NFL, it’s simply ridiculous, that players can’t celebrate or be silly when it’s an available time to. There was no delay and it doesn’t make the league look bad, the fine does. There should be a 7 second cock in the endzone after the celebration and the endzone needs to be cleared by then and whatever happens happens, just nothing profaine and no props, this league is very sour.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
I'm a fan of the NFL
and I’m entertained by the sport of football, not the act of comedy or celebrating. I like to watch the players play the game, and I like integrity involved in the game. I’ve got no beef with the way Ochocinco runs his routes, talks crap in the media (for the most part), I just think his actions are silly and don’t add anything relevant to what a football game should contain. simply an opinion, and I never ever remembered football having moments where it’s time to be silly and “joke” bribe a ref with a $1 bill.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 7:48 PM PST up reply actions
Didn't slow down the game (If that was thought as something serious, I think you're being uptight)
Some celebrations are entertaining and a lot of his are. I see nothing wrong with a team or teammate celebrating. Excessive celebration should be across the board and not just on TD’s. This stupid rule is aimed at touchdowns when players celebrate first downs, big tackles, sacks, and big plays. Then ift’s up to a referee’s discression as to whether it’s taunting or excessive celebrating. I remember the penalty in the Vikings game that was called taunting against the niners, there should be a penalty every time Allen celebrates a sack then. i have a problem with the issues with joking around and celebrating since it’s aimed at individuals that get media publicity. Celebrating is apart of football, if not than, get rid of players that celebrate and make the League full of robots which is not entertaining!
If it’s about integrity, do you want to throw out every celebration of any player? How about we just make everyone robotic and forget that these are individuals and that every player is gonna be different. What exactly should a football game contain if celebrating a score is not one of them. Some players work hard to reach the endzone, they go through two-adays and TC and OTA’s like everyone else, their body can take the punishment so why take away the antics, all of them are harmless and none of them are bad against the NFL.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
I don't have a problem with celebrating
but I don’t watch the NFL to be entertained by celebrating. It was in response to this comment you made:
And if anyone loves to have this sport be entertaining would have to love Ocho Cinco and what he brings to the NFL
I’ve got no beef with a player celebrating he scored a TD, whether it be spiking the ball or leaping into the arms of fans, or doing the cabbage patch. I just think silly antics like trying to “bribe” the ref as a “joke” are unnecessary.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 8:25 PM PST up reply actions
wow
The NFL is becoming something else… Now a days you cant hit the qb or hit a wr too hard… Its becoming a girls sport… Every big hit there is now theres a fine.. its becoming rediculous. And the roughing the passer called on Tom Brady earlier in the season was a joke.. Let the players play and let the players have fun. I dont know why everyone hates ochocinco. He has fun. He isnt like roger goodell running around misserable, trying to make everyone elses life misserable.. He is trying to put some humor in the game. I disagree with the fine…. And i hope chad keeps doing what he does. (pissing goodell off)
Here's a great point from blog Shutdown Corner
But the Commish doth protest too much, methinks. Really, did anyone think this was serious? Were people going to make the connection between a clear Ochocinco joke and a conspiracy to fix games? The only reason we’re still talking about this is because the NFL extended the conversation by levying the fine. This story had cycled out of the news by Monday morning. Now it’s cycling again and will probably be discussed on sports blogs and on PTI today and on Sunday morning pre-game shows. By fining Ochocinco, the NFL did exactly what it didn’t want to do: bring attention to gambling.
As for paying off the fine, Ochocinco should totally send a box full of 20,000 ones to the NFL offices. If he needs help getting that large an amount of bills, I’m sure he can get Pacman Jones’ phone number pretty easily
that I would have a problem with. that would be funny, and mainly because it’s off the field funny, not during the game funny.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
That would be funny as hell.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
I would fly out to Cincy to help him accomplish this.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 13, 2009 4:25 PM PST up reply actions
That was BS
Fine him 250k for alleged cheating in the NFL’s biggest game and then destroy the evidence, Goodell is a fraud.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
cutler isn't white
he’s a black guy with diabetes.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I lol'd
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 13, 2009 4:25 PM PST up reply actions
if I give you a dollar
will you laugh?
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 7:52 PM PST up reply actions
lol that was my point
while the joke i made was in rather bad taste, it was harmless and not intended to hurt anyone. I volunteer in my community, I make donations to charity, and I generally am an overall nice guy. That doesn’t make the joke any more funny to someone who doesn’t find it funny/entertaining in the first place.
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 13, 2009 8:27 PM PST up reply actions
It was harmless
The “where’s your integrity?” was a joke as well!
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
agreed
wasn’t trying to say you were offending, just wanted to clear up my whole stance on the subject, and I was referring to my “cutler isn’t white, he’s a black guy with diabetes” joke (which I admit was rather awful).
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 14, 2009 5:26 AM PST up reply actions
Who are you saying he should have suspended?
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 13, 2009 6:59 PM PST up reply actions
Arrests
On July 10, 2008 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jones was arrested at gunpoint and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance.2
Jones and one other former Arkansas football player, Jared Hicks, along with another person, Benjamin Cook, were inside a vehicle that was searched by police. The police found a plastic bag filled with six grams of a white substance that tested positive as cocaine and a jar with possible marijuana residue. Officers questioned Jones and he acknowledged the white powder was, in fact, cocaine, the report said. This incident led to Jones acquiring the moniker, “Phil Coke.”
Jones’ dad, Steve Jones, refuted the allegations that his son was involved in any wrongdoing, releasing a statement which was posted on the web site of a Fayetteville television station, KNWA-TV: “We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs, but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt.”
On October 8, 2008, an agreement was reached between Jones and the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutor John Threet agreed to send the case to drug court on October 13, 2008. Prosecutors said the felony charge would be dismissed if Jones completes the drug program. A hearing in drug court, rather than in the regular criminal system, allows Jones to keep any conviction off his record.
The NFL suspended Jones for three weeks for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was in the lineup for Week 8, pending an appeal.3 On December 9, 2008, the NFL upheld Jones’ three-game suspension which caused him to miss the rest of the season.4
On March 9, 2009 in Washington County, Jones was arrested again after failing a drug test which showed that he had alcohol in his system. This violated the condition of his probation5. He was held in jail after he asked to be imprisoned rather than sent to a six-week residential treatment program that would have interfered with the beginning of training camp. He was released on March 14, 2009 after his latest arrest, but will be back in court on April 13.6
he pleaded for a lesser charge i think
i thought he was suspended then released
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
My take on Ocho..
I love the guy. I think he’s great, he manages to have a ton of fun and talk some smack without being detrimental to his team or his locker room. He is a great guy and a great player. However, the NFL is a richly established organization and certain things shouldn’t be done. If after the game he didn’t actually use the words “I was just trying to bribe him a little and get a good call,” then he’d be golden. Integrity needs to be maintained, league decorum upheld. He used the word bribe and therefore he needed to be fined. Now, the amount of the fine is completely ludicrous. Or even instead of being fined, I would have much prefered a statement from Goodell along the lines of warning Ocho not to do things of that nature anymore since it was clearly a joke.
I’m stuck somewhere in between being very entertained and wanting to follow the rules. I just wish Ocho didn’t set out to break the rules every time he has fun, I think he can be a great entertainer and not get the fines.
The problem with him is that it’s all good and fun—until every damn player in the league starts being like him, that’s why he gets fines.
That being said… Child please.
You can never resist the game... nor could I... we're the same, so don't even try.
+1
until everyone else tries to be like him…chad is great because it’s chad. if it was chad and this guy and that guy and we had stuff going on all the time it woudl turn into what they dreamed for the XFL to be (anyone remember when WWE met NFL?)
So...
Cutler gets fined for arguing with an official about a non-call, I swear Tom Brady should have been fined after every game this year then because the little pansy that Brady is complains if he barely gets touched in a game
He gives the refs this weird stare every time someon touches him.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 13, 2009 4:27 PM PST up reply actions
Priorities are screwed up here.
Johnson has a bunch of kids that he sees maybe a few times a year because he “doesn’t have time”. He’s too busy making commercials, and being an ass as big as he is takes up lots of time too. "Priorities screwed up….. ". He deserves whatever he gets and more.
If Bochy coached the Warriors Bengie Molina would start every game at PG.
I have seen something like this
mentioned on ESPN or a special on Ochocinco. He said he doesnt want to see his kids during the season because he wants devote himself 100% to football. I remember when the reporter asked him if his kids understand it, he responded in some fashion or the other “They have to understand this is my job. I have to be dedicated to this and one of these days they will understand”. I really liked him because of his joking manner on the field, but ever since i saw this TV special or whatever it was (i want to say it was on ESPN E60 or something similar) i lost total respect for him.
That's funny.
Considering all this season Ocho has been posting new pictures and tweets of him with his kids, trips he’s taken during the bye week with them, and frequently talks about being around them. So it’s not really true.
You can never resist the game... nor could I... we're the same, so don't even try.
by James Brady on Nov 13, 2009 5:27 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
After Sing is done in SF
I nominate hm for commish, then we see a real champion make football football again
You have to think about though
That the biggest priority of the league is to make sure none of the games and up being fixed in any way, which is why Chad got such a hefty fine. That’s not something to mess around with.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 13, 2009 7:00 PM PST reply actions
He wasn't messing around with that
EVERYONE KNEW IT WAS A JOKE
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
So in other words
He was messing around with it. That my point, that’s not something you joke about. The integrity of the league is probably the most important thing for the commissioner to maintain, you can’t really even let players joke about bribing officials. What Chad did was pretty stupid.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 13, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions
If Goodell wants integrity
There’s a bunch more he could do. He could’ve suspended Belichick for cheating and not destroyed the evidence. He could release the NFL’s rulebook so that people other than league officials can see how they determine what constitutes a penalty. He could make sure that flags are thrown consistently (i.e. throw roughing the passer flags for no name QBs as often as you do for the stars).
This isn’t the place for Goodell to draw the proverbial line in the sand.
He fined Belichick $500,000 and took away their 1st round pick
I’d say that was a pretty strong punishment.
As for penalties, your always going to get different rulings. The refs have to make calls on the fly, they’d don’t get replays from 50 different angles like we do. There’s not much he can do about it.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 13, 2009 7:47 PM PST up reply actions
Not a strong punishment
Considering they don’t use 1st round picks and 500,000 is nothing in comparison to the money a super bowl win brings. He is full of it.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
They don't use first round picks?
What? How much more should he have punished them? All they did was use illegal camera angles, it’s not that huge of a deal.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 14, 2009 12:01 AM PST up reply actions
So the Patriots are suppose to have cheated on the NFL's biggest stage and the commissioner gets rid of the evidence?
That’s BS and now he also wants us to drop tampering charges? The commissioner is full of it? When Manning or Brady have an injury or complaint then the rules change or are more thouroughly enforced and this same commissioner cares about integrity, when DL for plenty of years have the most dirtiest plays against them.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
Whatever
It’s not really that big of a deal, he punished the Pats harshly and the rule changes go for the protection of all QB’s, not just Brady and Manning. I don’t feel like the Niners or any other team is being slighted.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 14, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions
You don't feel, ok but you're not on of the teams
Money to a superbowl winner is nothing (let me say it again).
Whatever? SO it isn’t the case? If you are gonna say that there isn’t bias for those two QB’s you’re not being realistic.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
Still bitter about week 2?
How about V Davis production vs Carlson?
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
I think you mistook who I replied to.
by Fearless Frog on Nov 13, 2009 11:08 PM PST up reply actions
What does Week 2 and Vernon Davis have to do with the league's integrity in making sure games aren't fixed?
by Fearless Frog on Nov 14, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
the reply was about bitter and nothing else
It was spawn from the I’m still bitter comment, it had nothing to do with what you were referring to.
"Optimist Prime"
I'll say it over and over Crabtree was not the pick we NEEDED, at least until he scores with 100yds receiving.
Never said it was a fixed game
But that’s the topic your dealing with.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 14, 2009 12:02 AM PST up reply actions
That shit was hilarious
By the way I love the idea of Ochocinco sending the league 20,000 one dollar bills that would be great.
Goodell loves stepping on young rich black men
Gives a warm fuzzy feeling to a fair portion of the NFL viewing audience. His rulings and statements have been consistently ridiculous since day 1, imperious, inconsistent, unjust.
Where's the evidence for racism?
Really, I don’t get all the racist comments. When has he gone more lenient on white guys than any other race? It’s pretty harsh to acuse Goodell of being a racist, you better have some proof to back it up.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 14, 2009 12:04 AM PST up reply actions
goodell is white
that’s not enough proof?
by Andrew Davidson on Nov 14, 2009 5:27 AM PST up reply actions
Racism?
Where do you get that from? (stoned slacker) I don’t think there is any racism, just bias to teams with money or teams that are doing well year in and out. I don;t know if it’s Goodell making changes on the rules or not, but I know refs are bias. In the case of the Patriots destroying evidence and making them pay fines was not the way to go, at least I didn’t agree. It’s hard for anyone to have an opinion since the evidence was destroyed.
"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
Racism - knee jerk
Who said Goodell is a racist? Its business. I appreciate your thoughtful and original response though. I would accuse him of being a soulless corporate hack, but racist? No.
I won’t try to bother with proof, all I see is a pattern. Goodell has let the media and squawkers try some of these guys. His punishments have more been based on how much publicity a case gets, and public reaction, than any sort of justice.
Now if you want to deny that middle America has always had a touchy relationship with rich young black men that don’t “play the game”, then feel free.
Chad:
Win a super bowl and I might crack a smile at your ‘jokes’. Otherwise, shut up.
Yes rlott#42, Crabtree...needs to hold onto the ball
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Giants to be honored with commemorative NY license plate; some would rather see a 9/11 plate
- The hidden play of Super Bowl XLVI: Justin Tuck’s third-quarter sack
- Report: Chad Ochocinco will become Chad Johnson once again
- Video: Bill Belichick implores his defense to make the Giants throw to Mario Manningham
- Training Day: Learning the 40 with an Olympian
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
