The Cincinnati Bengals receiver acknowledged on Wednesday that he leaned into coach Marvin Lewis and gave him a peck on the cheek during a 31-22 loss in Dallas. He said it was the first time he'd ever kissed a coach.

"It was probably the last," he added.

What brought this on?

The Pro Bowl receiver was struggling through another afternoon of double coverages and missed chances on Sunday. He had only three catches for 43 yards as the Bengals fell to 0-5. When he came to the sideline at one point, Lewis reminded him to stay positive.

"He whispered something in my ear that I really liked, so I kissed him," Ocho Cinco said.

The receiver leaned in as if he was going to say something into Lewis' left ear, then planted a quick one on his cheek. It was reminiscent of the way former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter kissed coach Bill Cowher after he returned an interception for a touchdown during a game in 2006.

Ocho Cinco said the inspiration for his peck came from an exchange with Lewis after a play.

"He just said, 'Keep your head in the game, stay focused, blah blah blah,"' the receiver said. "And he said, 'Smile!' This little thing coach Lewis and I have: When things aren't going right, he just looks at me and says 'smile.' Whatever's going on, it goes right away.