Chad Ochocinco: Patriots WR Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Traffic Charge

The bad week for the Patriots and their players continues. According to the Associated Press, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor traffic charge in Ohio stemming from a July traffic stop. 

Ochocinco reportedly pleaded guilty on a charge of failure to display a valid driver's license. Ochocinco was originally charged with driving with a suspended license and a window tint violation. He was ordered to pay a $200 fine and $104 in court costs.

What It Means

This is extremely minor, so very little. Given his poor season this year with New England, it doesn't exactly bode well for his NFL future, but don't expect it to have any real negative backlash either.

From the sound of things, Ochocinco is in the clear now. These charges are not serious enough to make anyone wonder if it will be a long-term thing. These are technically legal issues, but they happen to just about everyone from time to time in every city in the country. 

What's Next?

The legal issues change nothing. It is hard to see the Patriots having any interest in bringing Ochocinco back. He had a terrible season and his skills are too similar to Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to imagine his future in New England going beyond the 2011 season.

But in terms of the rest of the league looking to bring him in, we can go forward with our expectations as though nothing happened. 

This kind of thing is only newsworthy because Ochocinco is a celebrity that has battled the diva label in the past. 

It sounds like his legal issues are in the past now, so he can carry forth with his NFL career.

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