Lamar Jackson has signed with the Denver Broncos.
If you didn’t know better, that sentence might give you pause or make you do a double-take. That certainly appears to be how a lot of readers took it when they saw Tom Pelissero’s Tuesday tweet announcing that former Chicago Bears defensive back Lamar Jackson, had signed with the Broncos practice squad.
Lamar Jackson is joining the #Broncos.
Jackson, the former #Bears defensive back, cleared waivers and is signing with Denver’s practice squad, per source.
Lamar Jackson’s new team faces Lamar Jackson and the #Ravens on Sunday.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 29, 2022
Pelissero knew exactly what he was doing with the cheeky tweet and the brief panic it would cause so many Baltimore Ravens fans, not to mention how many Broncos fans had perhaps the only moment of pure joy they’ll experience all season.
Coincidentally, the Ravens and Broncos play this Sunday, providing the NFL Network insider with a nice capper on his shady tweet.
NFL insiders have certainly done way worse than this and it was all in good fun, but if Pelissero was hoping to get a reaction out of his colleagues, he accomplished it.
Tom.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2022
“Tom,” said NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport simply.
My stomach just dropped on the plane after reading that first line, and not because of the turbulence.
Thank you, Tom. Happy Tuesday.
— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) November 29, 2022
“My stomach just dropped on the plane after reading that first line, and not because of the turbulence,” said NFL Network commentator Taylor Bisciotti. “Thank you, Tom. Happy Tuesday.”
had us in the first half, not gonna lie https://t.co/300mn53ML6
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 29, 2022
A.J. Green was inactive Week 8 last year and, sadly, couldn't face A.J. Green. https://t.co/d9wVRYmGNw
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) November 29, 2022
And plenty of media folks outside of NFL Network felt the shock of the cheeky tweet, too.
Just plain cruel. https://t.co/n9g2vd82w5
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) November 29, 2022
I SWEAR TO GOD. https://t.co/XW2vCkPH2J
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) November 29, 2022
Tuesday afternoon jump scare incoming! https://t.co/T8Z4SIEWOe
— Madison Williams (@madisonwsports) November 29, 2022
Lord knows there are too many reasons not to trust what you see on Twitter these days that we don’t need trickery adding into the mix. But it was also a very good test to determine who actually reads the whole tweet before reacting.
The lesson? Next time one of the Josh Allens or Mike Williamses changes teams, maybe look to Rapoport for the details on that.
