Chad Ochocinco already has been hit with his first fine of the new NFL season -- nearly three weeks before the games start to count.
The NFL fined Ochocinco $25,000 for two violations -- possessing an electronic device and posting messages on Twitter -- during the Cincinnati Bengals' preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 20.
NFL players are not permitted to post messages on social media websites starting 90 minutes before kickoff and until postgame media obligations are fulfilled.
Ochocinco posted two messages -- one at 6:50 p.m. ET and another at 9:53 p.m. ET. The game kicked off at 8:07 p.m. ET.
His tweet at 9:53 p.m. was regarding a hit he absorbed in the game.
"Man Im sick of getting hit like that , its the damn preseason [expletive]! 1day I'm gone jump up and start throwing hay makers , #Tylenolplease," he wrote.
Ochocinco commented on the fine and apologized to the NFL on Tuesday -- through Twitter, of course.
"I've been fined by the league a substantial amount of money for tweeting, 1st time twitter hasn't made me money but cost me money," he wrote.
In his apology he said he "won't do it again."
"Dear NFL I apologize for tweeting during the game but that was 2 monthsof my Bugatti payments you just took from me,I won't do it again," he wrote.
Ochocinco wouldn't discuss the fine with reporters on Wednesday, but addressed it on his Twitter account, where he apologized to commissioner Roger Goodell.
"Dad again I apologize 2 you for my tweet, as my father I understand you've to discipline, can we try timeout next time please :)" he tweeted before practice.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.