NFL threatens fine NFLPA promises to pay fine

Mike Florio at NBC's Pro Football talk notes Chad Ochocinco wants to wear fallen teammate Chris Henry's jersey in the Bengal's game against San Diego. He's done it in practice. The NFL likely will fine him if he does. The players union has now said it will "cover" any fine. Florio correctly assesses that this is about the union attempting to score some P.R. points. One has to wonder how union funds can be remitted to cover an individual players fine without creating problem. The collective bargaining agreement specifies fines are to be collected from the player's salaries, and one would assume the Bengals and the league could figure out how to extract payment of the fine from Ochocinco. That would leave the union the option of reimbursing Ochocinco, but does it have the authority to do that? I'm pretty sure that's going to be governed by the union's internal documents and policies.