JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chad Ochocinco has not played a down of football in nearly a decade, but he added a new fan this week.
Ochocinco, originally known as Chad Johnson, on Friday left a $963 tip to a server at a Miller’s Ale House restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida, WJAX-TV reported.
Formanek just returned to work this week, as the coronavirus kept him unemployed for nearly six months, WJAX reported.
“It’s definitely going to help Christmas, definitely going to help pay a couple of bills, and I’ll probably take mom to a nice dinner,” Michael Formanek told the television station. “It was a blessing and it’s definitely going to help a lot.”
Ochocinco, who played 10 seasons at wide receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals and one with the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2010, ran up a $41.80 bill at the restaurant. The suggested 20% gratuity was $7.81, but Ochocinco went way over that amount.
He added $963 to bring the total tab to $1,004.80.
On the bill, Ochocinco wrote, “Always play Uno on dates to decide who pays the bill.”
Johnson, in tweeting about the check, added Proverbs 11:25 -- “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
“This was a very big lesson that’s going to help me in more ways than one,” Formanek told WJAX.