FanHouse Ickey Woods

TAMPA, Fla. -- A harsh dose of reality was injected into the festive atmosphere of the Super Bowl this morning when about three dozen retired players met with the media to promote the Gridiron Greats, an organization that provides financial assistance to retired NFL players who left the game with serious injuries.

Everyone who follows football knows that players often leave the game with permanent disabilities, and that even the lucky ones can usually point to a knee, hip, elbow or shoulder that bears surgical scars and still causes them pain. But seeing all these former players gathered in one room brought the point home: At one point during the press conference, the ex-players were asked if they were in physical pain just sitting there. Almost all of them said they were.

The NFL fined Chad Johnson $5,000 on Thursday for coming out onto the field with the words "Ocho Cinco" on the nameplate of his jersey.

You really have to wonder why the NFL has such a huge stick up their ass about something like this since Chad didn't wear the nameplate during the game. I know that the uniform rules and regulations are extremely detailed (remember the Kitna cross flap from a few years ago?), but there are times when common sense probably should over.

I'd love to think that the NFL will eventually realize that Chad Johnson's antics (and similiar theatrics from other players) are good for the NFL. Ickey Woods had a fairly short and unmemorable career, but he played on a Super Bowl team and danced, and for that he'll be remembered forever in Cincinnati. It'll be the same way with Chad, and that's not a bad thing.

More: Chad Johnson to cough up $5K for 'Ocho Cinco' stunt - ESPN.com