Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:07 am EST

NFL fines Ochocinco $20,000 for joking about bribery

By Chris Chase

Chad Ochocinco(notes) is going to need 19,999 more dollar bills to pay off the fine resulting from his attempted bribe Sunday during the Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens game.

According to Chris Mortensen, the NFL fined Ochocinco $20,000 for his tongue-in-cheek attempt to alter the outcome of a replay review that was looking to see whether he had two feet in bounds on a play ruled a reception. Ochocinco's use of the word "bribe" in a post-game press conference was said to have played a large role in determining the amount of the fine.

The fact that the NFL levied a fine isn't surprising. This is a league that devotes pages in its rulebook to regulate how much players can celebrate after scoring a touchdown, so that it showed no sense of humor was to be expected. And while the fine is way too high, we understand that the league wanted it to act as a deterrent so the appearance of impropriety won't become an issue again.

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.

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Related: Chad Ochocinco, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

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1273 Comments

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  1. alex m
    1. Posted by alex m Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:28 am EST

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    What's that Chad Ochocinco? You want to give money away? Ok give the NFL $20, 000.
  2. Scott E
    2. Posted by Scott E Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:35 am EST

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    I suggest he use the dollar to play any one of the many NFL Team lottery games. He could win up to a millions, I believe, in the Maryland Ravens Lotto game. Certainly could make up the $20K. Hypocrisy, the only consistency when dealing with the NFL.
  3. joonlee
    3. Posted by joonlee Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:37 am EST

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    Nice one about Pacman Jones with 20000 ones rofl!
  4. Mike
    4. Posted by Mike Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:39 am EST

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    No Fun League strikes again.
  5. Mike
    5. Posted by Mike Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:40 am EST

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    No Fun League strikes again.
  6. Matt
    6. Posted by Matt Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:01 pm EST

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    Chill the f''k out people. This stunt was funny and the spelling is considered(not concidered). As Mike states "No Fun League strikes again" Goodell is a joke and a hypocrite. Lets mess with players joking with a DOLLAR but not do jack s''t about Tom Cable and that whole mess. Why did they fine Mike Smith of Atlanta for throwing a punch but not do anything about that dude in Oakland, who really does have the look of someone who has been in prison or deserves to go there. Seriously this Roger Goodell needs to pack it up and let somebody else do that job. The leaders of this league are more corrupt than the players it seems. Actually Chad should pay the fine in pennies to stick it even further up this NFL league. Here you go RG, 2,000,000 pennies. lol
  7. Instant Money
    7. Posted by Instant Money Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:07 pm EST

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    Thanks "God"dell for taking all of the fun out of the league. I hope the league strikes next year and they come back with a stronger players' union. This is ridiculous with all of the roughing calls and the Brady rule. Lets just put red flags on the QBs so they won't get hit. These players are giving the fans what they want, entertainment. This isn't college let the players have end-zone celebrations for "God"dell's sake. Players aren't programmed like ruthless power/money hungry soulless commissioners, they like to have fun and play football. The league and you, Mr Commish, are nothing without the blue-collar fans and players.
  8. Danny W
    8. Posted by Danny W Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:13 pm EST

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    20,000 ones is a bit too much, but I would OK with 10,000 2-dollar-bills.
  9. Flemingo
    9. Posted by Flemingo Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:17 pm EST

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    @ Rey
    Wow, I am guessing Ocho burned your favorite team.
    Or your just and uptight jackass
  10. NFLRULZ
    10. Posted by NFLRULZ Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:20 pm EST

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    Football is Serious Business
  11. Anton
    11. Posted by Anton Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:29 pm EST

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    Chad should bribe Goodell with good behavior. lol
  12. Hitman
    12. Posted by Hitman Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:31 pm EST

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    Ocho Stinko needs to make up his mind- is he going to take his job seriously or not? He is just a publicity junkie and thinks he is cute. Stick to trying to play football.
  13. Daniel K
    13. Posted by Daniel K Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:32 pm EST

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    Love 85. I'm sure the 20k was worth it, because like the author said we're still talking about it. And for Chad's sake, were still talking about Chad.
  14. Douglas
    14. Posted by Douglas Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:34 pm EST

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    I know as the day goes along more and more people will say the NFL has no sense of humor- because if they did the fine would have been $20,001- but there are two words why the NFL takes this seriously: Tim Donaghy. Not because they fear their officials can be bought for $1 but the thought that their officials can be bought at all isn't funny. I suspect if this happened in the NBA, the fine would have been higher because it happened there. If Tim Donaghy hadn't happened maybe the NFL wouldn't have issued such a big fine. NFL game officials make mistakes in games (and who among has never made a mistake at work?) but no one has ever suggested they've been bribed to make calls. The NFL would like to keep it that way.
  15. Walker46
    15. Posted by Walker46 Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:46 pm EST

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    In five years Ocho Cinco will be broke and looking for that $20K. I want comedy, I go to a comedy club. Try winning something 85.
  16. Den
    16. Posted by Den Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:55 pm EST

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    hahaha that's a good one ocho cinco
  17. Law1951
    17. Posted by Law1951 Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:02 pm EST

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    My thoughts are that it "WAS" a joke!!! I thougt it odd for Ocho to even do it and could be seen as class-less. Did we expect anything different from Chad? It's easy to see that it was a planned stunt. Who really carries a single dollar bill on the field anyway? The Commisioner is wayyyyyyyyy too tight on this one. He also has banned the Captain Morgan pose because he says no player can have anything to do with commercial advertisements while on the field?
    Even when it was designed to put money in the retired player's support fund everytime a player does it!! Hmm,, since the NFL isn't making money on it, it isn't allowed. Far be it for the league to support the Retired players fund when they aren't getting paid!!
    Riddle, NIKE, REEBOCK, GATORADE and other soprts gear "commercial companies" pay the NFL so I guess they are exempt from this clause? What a condescending position!
    I hope there is a strike and a condition of resolution by the Players' Union is to replace the Commisioner!! He's an I D - 10 - T...
    WHO DEY!!!
  18. el diablo
    18. Posted by el diablo Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:05 pm EST

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    #15 your a idiot, take a joke, he has plenty of fun while taking his job serious, if he didnt take it serious he wouldnt be one of the top WRs around
  19. fairplay
    19. Posted by fairplay Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:08 pm EST

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    I thought it was funny, but I can see Douglas's point above that it could be insulting to the officials insinuating that they could be bribed. It would be like handing an official a pair of glasses after a bad call. Fining him that much is ridiculous. I know that it hurts him a lot less than it would most of us, but the punishment should fit the crime.
    They should make him do a couple hours of charity work or something like that. Whatever happened to punishing players on the field with penalties?
  20. Oliver Klosov
    20. Posted by Oliver Klosov Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:15 pm EST

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    Mucho Stinko is an idiot and I hope he never catches a pass again...but this is the NFL proving that it is the No Fun League... stupid crap..
  21. tommyk
    21. Posted by tommyk Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:16 pm EST

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    i think the fine no matter should have been $x,xx1.00, just show some humor and talk a single onto whatever round number they were gonna use.
  22. swanson_71
    22. Posted by swanson_71 Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:19 pm EST

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    The guy who made the IRS is stupid! OF course you get jail time for bribing the IRS but i'm sure you would use more than a dollar! If it were anything more than a dollar than yeah I understand the fine, but this was just a dollar bill being used! This isn't the 50's where a nickel gets you a coke and a pack of gum it's 2009 and a dollar isn't that much! Last year I thought Chad was a joke because of how he acted with the team and his attitude, but now he's back to his old self having fun and enjoying the game! Think back to when you played back yard football...when you scored a TD you liked to rub it in a bit, but it was all fun and games!
  23. Isaac M
    23. Posted by Isaac M Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:35 pm EST

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    Bullcrap fine. It was a damn joke. Lighten up, NFL.
  24. the truth
    24. Posted by the truth Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:35 pm EST

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    RG is going to keep taking the fun out of football for the fans. This is not college football but the NFL. These are grown men that often have not grown up and we as fans understand that and most of us would trade places with these men faster than I can say "switch". Chad performed what he thought was a joke. I found it funny along with most people with a sense of humor. To look at it any further than that means you have an issue, and not Chad. You would more than likely go to a comdey club and get upset about a joke. If you don't like it, turn it off, leave the game, make cookies with your wife. Life is rough enough, let the rest of us find humor in the simple things. Did anyone look at the score board at the time this offense was committed. Chad did not need the catch that badly. The game was out of reach for Baltimore. I hope the players strike and the player union gets some balls so that they can get RG under control. Fine the players for dangerous hits (helmet to helmet), and off the field things that can damage the league (wife beating, driving drunk, sex with a minor, etc) but otherwise let the boys be boys and play the game.
  25. Don Squeek
    25. Posted by Don Squeek Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:37 pm EST

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    I pray for the Day Roger Goodell Resigns or gets run out of town. Which ever comes first. He has truely done NOTHING but ruin football. Not a single positive change has been made with him in charge. What does it take to get this guy gone?

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Chris Chase, Doug Farrar, Blair Johnson, Kevin Sullivan, Kerry Rhodes,

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