Chad Ochocinco Fined $20,000 by NFL for Facetious Bribery Attempt

During last Sunday's Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens game, Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco made a facetious bribe attempt to pay off an NFL referee in order to ensure that a penalty would be called in his team's favor. He grabbed a $1 bill from an individual standing on the Bengals sidelines, approached a referee and attempted to hand him the dollar as a tongue-in-cheek bribery joke.

Ochocinco made the joke while the referees reviewed the validity of a reception that he made at the sidelines. The play was initially ruled a completed catch but after further review, the referees overturned the call and ruled it an incomplete pass. Not only was Ochocinco denied the reception but he has also taken a hit to his wallet as a result of a fine levied by the NFL on Friday.

USA Today is reporting that the National Football League has fined Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco $20,000 for his facetious bribery attempt. While it was incredibly obvious that Ochocinco was making a joke instead of legitimately instigating a conspiracy to fix the outcome of a game, the NFL decided to fine the star wide receiver anyway in order to discourage future acts of bribery.

Ochocinco has been fined on numerous occasions throughout his NFL career as a result of excessive touchdown celebrations. A few of the receiver's most infamous run-ins with the league include when he made a fake marriage proposal on the sidelines to a Bengals cheerleader after scoring a touchdown and when he held up a sign that read, "PLEASE don't fine me AGAIN!!!!!" following a score; the NFL proceeded to fine him $10,000 for his actions.