So, the news … the NFL has fined Chad Ochocinco $25,000 for tweeting on a game day during the time when social-networking is banned by the league.

He is not the first professional athlete to get dunned for posting on his Twitter account. And I can understand why it’s generally not a good idea.

But I believe the NFL and NBA and MLB, at the least, should allow tweeting under certain circumstances.

To wit:

When the guys are genuinely entertaining.

Ochocinco certainly reaches that threshold.

His second tweet, which fell just inside the “end of game blackout” period read as follows: “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.”

That’s not laugh-out-loud kinda stuff, but it gives us insight into how NFL receivers think. No, they do not like getting hit. Some of them concede that. And he makes a valid point about how it’s just wrong for somebody to light him up in an exhibition game. “Hey! Back off!”

His response to the NFL fine, however, reminded us that he is a clever guy.

First, he tweeted that he had been fined, and it went like this: “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.”

And in his apology to the league, which he also tweeted, he wrote:  “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.”

Again, amusing, and revealing. It’s not just $25K to Ochocinco … it’s two Bugatti payments. Now there’s another look inside a pro football player’s head.

Anyway, here’s my plan:

Each league designates a certain number of guys who are allowed to tweet. Say, 5 percent of all active players. This would be negotiated with the various players unions.

Some guys can handle tweeting and playing. I’m convinced of it. And some also can learn the lines of demarcation for the dissemination of information. Like, not tweeting about a tactical change coming out of halftime. The fight in the lockerroom. Things like that.

Guys would try out. Comedy writers would serve as judges in blind tests. Players could apply, they would watch videotape of a game and then get two minutes to tweet. Guys judged the most entertaining by professional comics win, and get official permission to tweet … whenever.

Anyway, think about how good some players would be at this. Ochocinco. Keyshawn Johnson, back in the day. Other goofballs.

In the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal would be great at this. I would be a follower, if he could tweet during games. Ron Artest. Stephen Jackson. Steve Nash.

In baseball, Russell Martin would be fun. Scads of relief pitchers would be, too. They have nothing to do for hours at a time, down there in the bullpen. Chewing and scratching … that can’t always keep a guy occupied.

I think this could work.  I think Chad Ochocinco should be allowed to tweet as much as he and his team agree is appropriate. This shouldn’t be an NFL issue, as long as he is one of the officially licensed tweeters. If he can squeeze out 140 characters while on the sidelines, and the Bengals don’t notice or care … go for it. Lots of commercial timeouts, you know? Let’s fill it with some tweets!