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Chad Ocho Cinco, AP

The Cincinnati Bengals deactivated Chad Ocho Cinco for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, saying the wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson violated team rules. Reports are starting to trickle in about what happened. From the NFL.com's Adam Schefter:

Got a call early this morning that Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson got into it last night with someone in the Cincinnati organization and left a team function.

A report from Bengals radio play-by-play announcer Brad Johansen differed. From Bengals.com:

Chad Johnson will be deactivated from the game tonight for being late to an 8:30 p.m. meeting last night after arriving from Pittsburgh. Chad told the coaches that he overslept and begged Marvin Lewis to play this evening but was told that he has to be abide by the same rules that everybody else on the team has to abide by and that when rules are broken there are consequences.

Later in the day, FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer offered yet another version. From FoxSports.com:

A few local reports have surfaced that alleged that the receiver overslept and arrived late for a team meeting Wednesday night at the Bengals practice facility. Late or not, sources confirmed Ocho Cinco was extremely groggy. After taking his seat, Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski told Ocho Cinco to sit up straight in his seat. After the receiver refused, Bratkowski again repeated his demand.

At that point, Ocho Cinco stood up and walked out of the meeting altogether. After shouting at his player to return, Lewis chased him down. After several heated words were exchanged between the two, Lewis finally told Johnson to go home.

• Johnson deactivated for tonight's game (NFL.com)

• Sleepless in Pittsburgh (Bengals.com)

• Ocho Cinco deactivated for walking out of meeting (FoxSports.com)

Tony Romo, IconSMI

Does Jessica Simpson know about this? Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo went to the movies recently with an individual that wasn't his pop star girlfriend. From DallasNews.com:

A homeless man who goes by Doc was cashing in change at a Cinemark Theatre in Dallas when a guy walked up and offered to pay his way into the movie. He planned to spend his day passing out fliers and accepted a rain check before realizing that he recognized the generous gentleman.

"Was that Tony Romo?" Doc asked the worker behind the counter.

It sure was. Doc, who requested that his real name not be used, hustled across the street to the consignment store that paid him to occasionally pass out fliers and requested the day off. By the time he got back to the theater, Role Model had already started.

Romo, who confirmed the story but didn't want to elaborate, waved Doc over to sit by him and his friend. Doc sheepishly mentioned that he hadn't showered in a few days.

"Don't worry about that," Romo said. "I'm used to locker rooms."

And so the $67 million quarterback and a man who doesn't have $6.70 to his name sat next to each other and shared laughs for 90 minutes or so.

• Dallas Cowboys' Romo gives break to homeless man (DallasNews.com)

Edgerrin James

Veteran running back Edgerrin James, who recently lost his starting job to rookie Tim Hightower, was reportedly ready to cut ties with the Arizona Cardinals. From ProFootballTalk.com:

We’re told that running back Edgerrin James asked the team to release him in the wake of his recent benching.

To little surprise, the team declined. 

If he had been cut, he would have been exposed to the waivers system, and could have been claimed by teams like the Lions or the Bengals. ...

James currently is being paid a base salary of $5 million, and he’s slated to earn a base salary of $5 million in 2009, the final year of his contract with the team.  Barring a catastrophic injury to new starter Tim Hightower, it’s highly unlikely that the Cardinals would bring James back, at any salary.

The problem is that James joined the team in the final season of the Dennis Green era.  New coach Ken Whisenhunt decided in the middle of the season to go in a different direction; undoubtedly, Whisenhunt’s strategy will result in James being released in the offseason.

• James asked Cards to cut him (ProFootballTalk.com)

Adam Jones, AP

When the NFL suspended Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones earlier this season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he would review the ban after four games. The fourth game Jones sat out was last Sunday's win over the Redskins. From ESPN.com:

Jones has completed the requirements for alcohol counseling, as mandated by the NFL following his latest violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

Jones' attorney, Worrick Robinson, said Jones has returned to Dallas and is awaiting a ruling from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the possibility of reinstatement.

I have been in contact with the commissioner's office since last week, and they are reviewing Adam's unique situation. There is no timetable for a decision. He is glad to be back in Dallas," Robinson wrote ESPN's Ed Werder in a series of text messages Tuesday.

"Adam is feeling good about himself and his ability to contribute if allowed to return, but he has used these several days to focus on his personal issues. But he's anxious to return to his friends and family with the Cowboys. I'm cautiously optimistic because he has done everything he was asked to do by the league and his treatment providers," Robinson wrote.

Jones' latest violation of the league's personal conduct policy stemmed from an alcohol-related scuffle Oct. 7 with one of his bodyguards at a private party in Dallas.

• Attorney says Jones has finished alcohol counseling, awaits decision (ESPN.com)

In the aftermath of Week 11, the NFL has been criticized for the bizarre ending to the Steelers' 11-10 win over the Chargers on Sunday. Video of the play in question can be seen here. What follows is the NFL's official explanation of what happened: