Fansided

ESPN duped by fake account on Olivier Vernon signing

By John Buhler

Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; ESPN announcers from left to right Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen, Suzy Kolber, and Bill Polian are on set broadcasting live during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; ESPN announcers from left to right Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen, Suzy Kolber, and Bill Polian are on set broadcasting live during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN made their first goof of the 2016 NFL free agency period, getting tricked by a false source on Twitter about the signing of defensive lineman Olivier Vernon.

Even the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” can make a mistake on national television. ESPN was fooled by a fake Twitter account believing that it was Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, claiming former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Olivier Vernon was going to North Florida to sign with the AFC South’s Jacksonville Jaguars on a four-year deal worth $75.5 million.

Unfortunately for the cast of NFL Live, that Tweet wasn’t Jay Glazer’s, but @UncleChaps. Vernon is still considering Jacksonville as a possible free agency destination, but ESPN just got Chapsed!

Who at ESPN didn’t verify the Twitter account? Maybe a text to Jay Glazer would have avoided this 2016 NFL free agency embarrassment?

Regardless, ESPN’s Adam Schefter looked beyond infuriated for being given a false source. Somebody at ESPN might not have a job tomorrow. Just look at Schefter’s face once he finds out that he gave a false report on national television.

One has to believe that the NFL Live staff had to have been trained for trolls on a huge media day such as the beginning of the 2016 NFL free agency period. Even though it was only about five minutes of pure undeniable awkwardness on the set, ESPN’s desire to break as much major news as possible left the network with a bit of egg on its face by wrongly announcing Vernon’s signing to the Jaguars.

Though he could very wind up in Jacksonville, ESPN will know think twice about breaking any more Vernon-related news today. They’ll take their time. They’ll check their facts. Schefter will make sure of that.

For more NFL free agency news, please check our NFL free agency hub page.

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