Cincinnati Bengals

2:15 PM PT -- Lachey has issued a statement about the situation on Twitter ... saying, "For the record, i was not kicked out of the chargers game for excessive 'trash talking'. no, that honor belonged to the guy in front of me!"

He added, "i simply don't appreciate someone turning around and putting their finger in my face. call me crazy, but that deserved a reaction."

Lachey also praised Chargers fans ... saying, "aside from a few exceptions, i had a great time hanging with Charger fans all afternoon. honestly, some of the nicest fans around."

Nick Lachey -- a HUGE Cincinnati Bengals fan -- was escorted out of the stands at the San Diego Chargers football game this weekend ... after security decided his TRASH TALK crossed the line.

It's unclear exactly what Nick said to piss off stadium security ... but after he was ejected, the former boy-bander actually BRAGGED about getting the boot, tweeting:

"Just got kicked out of the chargers stadium and couldn't be prouder! Go Cincy Bengals"

A short time later, AFTER Cincy defeated the crappy Chargers, Lachey tweeted again:

"Bengals win again. i'd talk trash to everyone in SD, but what's the point? you already had me kicked out of the stadium and you still lost."

As for the kid in the Chargers gear in the photo with Nick, he was just a random fan -- and after the game, the kid's dad fired off a tweet to Lachey:

"Thanks for taking the pic with my son and being cool to us. Congrats on the Bengals win!"

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson (left) is now the target of a massive drug investigation -- after police confiscated a mind-blowing 8.5 POUNDS of marijuana from his Kentucky home.

To put this in perspective -- casual pot smokers typically purchase by the gram ... and there are over 453 grams in a pound.

According to reports, cops searched Simpson's home after snagging a package that was shipped to his house -- containing 2.5 pounds of Mary Jane -- and then found another 6 pounds of weed, packaging materials, scales, and smoking devices.

A rep for the National Marijuana Initiative -- which coordinates marijuana enforcement operations around the country -- believes the house was set up as a "potential distribution network."

Bengals tackle Anthony Collins (right) was also present when police raided the home -- and he's being investigated as well. Police detained the two players during the search, but neither was arrested.

After throwing down 3 chicken wings, a waffle and some yams and greens on the side ... Ochocinco strutted out of the place and told us that his ribs are still "broken" from some brutal hits he took on the field.

FYI -- if you're wondering why Chad was in Los Angeles on his day off, dude tweeted earlier in the week that he was flying in to surprise his son.