Chad Fined for Attempted "Bribe"

by IFChris on Nov 13, 2009 10:54 AM EST in News Comment 17 comments

Want to offer an official a one dollar "bribe" so maybe he'll make a call in your way -- or just to do so in a playful manner? That'll cost you. A lot, in fact. Just ask Chad Ochocinco, the proud new owner of a $20,000 fine, courtesy of King Roger Goodell and his band of enforcers. Apparently, when Ocho used the word "bribe" to describe his actions, his fate was sealed.

Granted, the bribe was just another shenanigan in a long line of Chadisms, something he acknowledges by saying, "I was just being me. I wasn't going to do it for real." Obviously, that matters little to Goodell and company, who plainly don't want anyone to think NFL referees are anyway influenced by players or particular game situations.

With that in mind, does anyone know the spread for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh?

One more note about Chadwick's fine -- apparently, he knew about it before today and was told not to tweet about it, which brings up a follow-up question: Why the subterfuge? What does Goodell have to gain by telling Ocho not to say anything about his fine? Why is it so important the league office breaks the news? Seems like a case of excessive micromanagement to me.

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i’m sorry, but this is a stupid fine. Like an official would change a call in the NFL for $1. Seriously? $20,000 fine?

Roger Goodell is an ass-hat.

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Nov 13, 2009 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. That’s weak.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Nov 13, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He NEVER handed the bill, or attempted to hand it to the Ref

but it’s a moot point, as $20K isn’t enough to even put up an effort.

by UpStateMike on Nov 13, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

apparently eric mangini has become nfl commissioner. just another way that roger can emulate stalin.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Nov 13, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He could’ve been told not to by Marvin, who would maybe not want him to appear to be mocking the league or some such.

by Todd G on Nov 13, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Damn it IFChris!!!

You took my words right out of my fingers. I was going to fanpost this early this morning but couldn’t get to my computer. Looks like I’m going to have to fanpost about something else. I do want to express my feelings on this subject. Though Chad does like to have his fun, Roger GODell had to fine him. I personally feel there was no harm done here, and it was a crock of shit, but just like in the case of the kid in school and his haircut, rules are rules and there should be a panel or committee that should decide these things. The No Fun League is getting out of control with real situations here. This is ridiculous, as to taking things too seriously. Or maybe Chad should chose his words more wisely! Roger GODell won this one again.

by WHYUS!! on Nov 13, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, man.

Sheepish grin

Great minds think alike. ;)

by IFChris on Nov 13, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the No Fun League strikes again!

Sad thing is, I’ll bet Chad (of whom I am still no official fan after the ’08 offseason and the HOF 20?? jacket) would have been fined even if he had tried to pass Monopoly money to the ref. This. Is. In. SANE.

How do we write to the Chancellor about this? Really…this is crazy.

by TheWalrus1971 on Nov 13, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why so sensitive about the “bribe” word? Ever happen before, except more than a dollar?

by Pastor Allen on Nov 13, 2009 1:11 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

No kidding! As much as I read the “shutdown corner” I’m not really a fan of theirs as I think they are way too full of themselves and pretty moronic to boot… But this time, they hit it out of the park.

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.

by FriarBob on Nov 13, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd send two million pennies instead.

I’d also have an armored car deliver it their Manhattan offices.

by IFChris on Nov 13, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nice

The Ocho says the company that came up with his iPhone application is matching the fine with a donation to charity.

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Nov 14, 2009 2:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This system of punishment really needs reviewing

Chad (one of my favorite players despite me not being a Bengals fan) has a little joke and he gets fined $20 000. For one this is less than he would tip at a restaurant so the NFL is just trying to make it look like it is coming down hard on him, when we all know a player of Ocho’s quality gets paid so much that 20K is nothing. Second, Flozell Adams trips Justin Tuck and injures him, causing a fall in Tucks effectiveness, and gets fined 12 500. I went on rants at the time it happened that he was really getting away without punishment, but now Chad is being fined MORE for making a funny joke than Adams was for injuring one of the Giants best players through use of foul play.

It would save the Giants Defence a lot of time if QBs just stayed down!

by ChuckyofNorris on Nov 14, 2009 2:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I can assure you, 20k is not pennies to these guys.

They make millions, but a 20k fine really pisses them off and is supposed to send a message, even if that message never really makes sense.

I think Chad went the wrong way- he should not have used real money, he should have had a fistful of monopoly money, which would have been funnier and probably would have drew less of a fine.

Did you see his body language in that video? It suggests that he was apprehensive about the ‘joke’. I think he knew that it was one of those things that could blow up in his face. Otherwise he would have held the dollar way above his head or something. He seemed to be hesitant about whether or not to go through with it.

by SteelersVT on Nov 14, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well im not making that kinda money

and I probably never will, so I really dont know how much it is worth to them, but everyone over at Big Blue View seemed to agree that Flozell Adams’ fine was nothing to him.

Some may have given up on the Giants this season, but they WILL make the playoffs.

by ChuckyofNorris on Nov 14, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs