The NFL has decided to fine Cincinnati Bengals wide out Chad Johnson $5,000 for his Velcro nameplate: “Ocho Cinco”, that he wore in pregame against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday.
While I think the NFL is being extreme in this case (he only wore it in pregame) and normally laugh at Johnson’s antics, I think the league is right to do this. Call me traditional, but I’ve always liked when athletes acted professional both on and off the field. I like Barry Sanders’ touchdown celebration of just handing the ball to the ref. And I like the fact that the NFL is not trying to act nothing like WWF or NWA or whatever that male soap opera is calling itself these days.
While I don’t think the “Ocho Cinco” act was malicious (goofy yes, but malicious no), the NFL is such a copycat league and who knows what these players will do to one up each other next. Joe Horn pulls a cell phone from under the goal post, followed by T.O.’s cheerleader act and Steve Smith’s baby wipe dance.
Leave it at home fellas – the game is fun enough as is.
