Ocho Cinco won't play tonight
By Mark Curnutte
November 20, 2008
Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco will not play in the Bengals' game tonight at Pittsburgh because he violated an undisclosed team rule, the team announced this morning.
The Bengals will play at 8:15 p.m. in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.
Bengals play-by-play announcer Brad Johansen said on WCKY-AM today that Ocho Cinco told him that he overslept for an 8:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday. Johansen also said that Ocho Cinco told him that head coach Marvin Lewis told Ocho Cinco rules are rules.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Ocho Cinco was 45 minutes late to the meeting and then, according to the story on ESPN.com, "He and coach Marvin Lewis then got into a verbal disagreement," and Ocho Cinco was sent home.
"Chad is very disappointed that he's not playing, but he respects coach Lewis and the team's decision," agent Drew Rosenhaus said on ESPN. "He's not going to make this a controversy or a circus. We're going to keep it in-house between ourselves and the team. He's got five more games to go. This is unfortunate that he's not playing. Chad lives to play."
Chris Henry is the likely replacement for Ocho Cinco in the starting lineup opposite wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
The Bengals had placed No. 3 wide receiver Antonio Chatman on the season-ending injured reserve list Wednesday with a back injury.
The team will have only four wide receivers active for tonight's game.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team would have no additional comment until after the game about Ocho Cinco's benching.
Ocho Cinco is the team's second-leading receiver with 41 catches this year for 383 yard and four touchdowns.
In the offseason, Ocho Cinco repeatedly said he wanted to be traded.
LINK
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...311200057/1066
Ocho Cinco deactivated for violating team rules
Ocho Cinco deactivated for violating team rules
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