Best April Fool’s Day Pranks In Sports: Tom Brady, Other NFL Stars Trick Fans On Twitter
In the full spirit of April Fool’s Day, some of the NFL’s top players pulled off several pranks Wednesday, with some elaborate and others maybe going a bit too far.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady briefly scared the daylights out of loyal fans after he posted a picture of himself in a full body cast from a hospital room on his official Facebook page.
The obviously photoshopped picture, seen above, included the caption: “Jordan’s crossover is no joke!”
Brady was referring to the video that went slightly viral earlier this week showing him playing a pick-up game against NBA Hall of Famer and Charlotte Hornets order Michael Jordan, with Jordan even caught talking some of his famous trash to the Super Bowl MVP.
Other lighthearted jabs came from the Indianapolis Colts, as well as former Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings receiver turned free agent Greg Jennings.
The Colts got the Indianapolis Star in on the prank, by tweeting a picture of their newest alternate jerseys.
#WHITEOUT WATCH: http://t.co/6MW8svAfge pic.twitter.com/tXW6mZM10P
- Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 1, 2015
The white-on-white design, featuring tight end Dwayne Allen, certainly caught a few fans off guard.
Jennings' gag was a bit more of a long con. Beginning Wednesday, one day before the annual prank holiday, he started tweeting about how his stint in the free agent market was about to come to an end and that he would announce his latest team on Twitter, according to Yahoo Sports.
After a series of tweets, Jennings followed up with a short video featuring his kids at what looks like a theme park.
After much discussion, I've decided that this fall I'm taking my talents to... https://t.co/VXmkwLyBiu
- Greg Jennings (@GregJennings) April 1, 2015
Then there was Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin, whose prank seems to have offended a number of Twitter users. The NFL has dealt with a number of players facing serious to minor legal charges, and evidently that’s what the 27-year-old Super Bowl champion was hoping to joke around with, tongue-in-cheek.
Before this hits the media I just wanna apologize to my fans and the @Seahawks organization once again. I made a terrible decision b driving
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
After I had a few drinks. I will do everything to get ur trust back and will become a better person after this.
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
How many of yall thought I was serious ?! Haha April fools!!!
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
Irvin hasn’t removed the tweets from his official page, but he was apologized in several, saying he meant no harm. He also called a few Internet trolls.
Ok it was a joke didn't meant to disrespect anybody. Damn relax
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
I apologize to all the 12's and my wvu fam if I offended u didn't mean to at all. So yea that's pretty much all the people that matter.
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
I'm banning myself from Twitter the rest of day. U trolls have fun killing my mentions i got work to do
- Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 1, 2015
While this year's efforts are laudable, these pranks seem to fall short of some of the more elaborate ones in sports history. NPR broke down a number of the biggest and most thought out gags ever devised, with none coming close to Sports Illustrated’s 1985 profile of legendary baseball prospect Sidd Finch.
The tall tale mixed some believable “facts” with outlandish claims to be taken seriously, saying the pitcher Finch wore a hiking boot on his right foot, that his throws were clocked as fast as 168 m.p.h., and that the New York Mets planned to sign him.
Another one involved New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle and Long Beach Independent back in 1961. Essentially the paper reported Mantle was to be traded to the Los Angeles Angels for a million dollars, several players and half interest in local radio station KMPC.
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