CINCINNATI - Chad Ochocinco's pretend $1 bribe is going to cost him a lot more.
The Cincinnati Bengals receiver says he has been fined $20,000 for taking a dollar bill onto the field during an officials' review of one of his catches during a 17-7 win over Baltimore on Sunday. Ochocinco held the dollar in his right hand at his side but didn't give it to the official, who motioned for him to stay away.
The NFL has cracked down on players using props during games. It also prohibits insulting gestures toward officials.
"As I told Chad when I heard what occurred, you don't fool with the integrity of the NFL," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after Friday's practice. "You don't cross that line. I think he crossed that line. I told him that and obviously the league felt so. We're not WWF. This is a serious game for serious people. You can't do that. He realizes he made a very big error in judgment. He's sorry for it. Hopefully, some good will come out of it. The league can't have copycats. I think the league made a very firm statement and there will be no copycats."
Ochocinco wasn't available for comment after Friday's practice. Ochocinco acknowledged the fine on his Twitter account but didn't seem repentant for his action.
"Wait till you see what I do in Pittsburgh," Ochocinco said in a Tweet. "Remember I set aside fine fund before the season started. I'm just starting!!!"
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