Bengals deactivate receiver Ocho Cinco

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was deactivated for Thursday's contest at Pittsburgh for a violation of a team rule.

The team didn't disclose details in a tersely worded statement Thursday morning from its downtown hotel and said there would be no other announcement until after the game.

Brad Johansen, the Bengals' radio play-by-play man, said on the team's Web site that he spoke to Ocho Cinco by phone from what sounded like the airport and the receiver told him he "begged and begged," Coach Marvin Lewis not to sit him after he overslept and missed a team meeting Wednesday night.

The volatile eight-year NFL veteran was the center of attention much of the last offseason when he lobbied for a trade and threatened to sit out if he wasn't dealt to another team.

He abandoned his quest after the Bengals refused, and later, reported to minicamp.

In nine games, he has scored four touchdowns on 41 receptions for 383 yards.