CHAD OCHOCINCO FINED FOR IN-GAME TWITTER UPDATE

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is known as one of the most tech savvy players in the NFL.  He has his own iPhone and iPad application and is a frequent user of the Twitter social network.  His Twitter usage has now landed him in trouble with the NFL and taken a hefty bite out of his wallet.  Ochocinco was fined $25,000 by the league for sending ‘Tweets’ during the August 20 preseason game between the Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL has strict guidelines over players’ use of social media services before, during and after games.  Players are prohibited from this activity 90 minutes before games and after games until media obligations are completed.  Furthermore, players aren’t permitted to use cellphones or computers—‘electronic devices’ in NFL terminology during games.  Ochocinco violated both guidelines sending Twitter updates at 6:50 p.m. ET and another at 9:53 p.m. ET.  Kickoff time of the game was just after 8 PM Eastern.  Ochocinco’s in-game update was a reaction to a hard hit:

"Man Im sick of getting hit like that, its the damn preseason [expletive]! 1day I'm gone jump up and start throwing hay makers , #Tylenolplease”

As is his habit, Ochocinco got the last laugh—he apologized via Twitter and said he wouldn’t do it again:

"I've been fined by the league a substantial amount of money for tweeting, 1st time twitter hasn't made me money but cost me money.”

Of course he couldn’t leave it at that, making reference to the fine preventing him from making payments on his $1.2 million, 1000 horsepower Bugatti Veyron sportscar:

"Dear NFL I apologize for tweeting during the game but that was 2 months of my Bugatti payments you just took from me,I won't do it again.”

It remains to be seen if Ochocinco stays true to his promise to stay mum during games.  The Bengals play the Buffalo Bills in their next preseason game, and since he’s not expected to see much playing time there’s plenty of opportunity to get in trouble.  Cincinnati is a -2’ point NFL betting favorite in that game with the total set at 35.  They’ll get the 2010 NFL regular season underway on September 12th on the road against the New England Patriots.  The Bengals are a +4’ road underdog with the total set at 43.