Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco is taking the NFL’s fine for his latest touchdown celebration as a challenge to do more.
Ochocinco was fined US$30,000 for briefly donning a mock poncho and a sombrero next to the bench following his touchdown catch during a 23-13 win over Detroit on Sunday. That’s US$10,000 more than the fine he got for pretending to bribe an official during a game a month ago.
The receiver said on Wednesday he was not sure why the amount went up so much.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“That’s OK,” he said. “They keep jacking them up, I’ll keep jacking up the celebrations.”
Earlier in his career, Ochocinco was regularly fined for his celebrations. Some of his most memorable included doing a river dance, pretending to perform CPR on a football, and using the end zone pylon as a golf club. He also donned a mock Hall of Fame jacket on the sideline.
With receivers competing to top each other’s celebrations, the league cracked down, making it illegal to use a prop on the field or have a rehearsed celebration with teammates.
Ochocinco scaled back on the celebrations earlier this season as the team kept winning and moved into first place in the AFC North division. There had been no chance to celebrate a touchdown lately.
Ochocinco went four games without one before finally getting into the end zone against Detroit. Asked if the brief celebration — he wore the hat for only a couple of seconds — was worth the hefty fine, he said: “You’re damn right it was. That was fun.”
Ochocinco said he would keep doing things that cross the league’s line.
“I play to have fun,” he said. “I don’t play for the dollar amount. Maybe that’s why they take so much money, because they think we play for the money. Maybe they’ll get the point — I play to have fun, not for the money.”
On a conference call with Minnesota Vikings reporters, Ochocinco said he would try to find and blow the Vikings’ horn if he scores a touchdown in Sunday’s game.
“Man, I’m going to have some purple fun. I’m so excited for this week,” he said.
Later, Ochocinco was asked if he’s ever been threatened with a suspension by the league.
“Come on now. What are you going to suspend me for? Having fun? I’m not that bad,” he said. “‘Breaking news: Chad Ochocinco suspended for too many celebrations.’ How would that sound? I’m not hurting anybody. I’m very respectful with everybody I play against.”
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