Mohamed Sanu NFL Draft Prank: Rutgers WR Got Fake Call Saying He'd Been Picked By Bengals

Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (6) stretches for a pass during an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Rutgers won 20-3. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

UPDATE: Mohamed Sanu was drafted in the third round on Friday night by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 83rd overall pick.

During the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the selections were being announced on Twitter faster than on the ESPN television broadcast. Prominent among those tweeting the picks in real time were Adam Schefter of ESPN and Mike McCartney, a player agent and former NFL scout.

@Tali43
Adam Taliaferro

Adam Schefter is killing all the suspense in the draft...He probably tells kids what they're getting for Christmas a week before Dec. 25th.

April 27, 2012 2:16 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@richardisfresh
Richard Olekanma

I love how @MikeMcCartney7 knows the picks before @espn does #smh

April 27, 2012 2:12 am via txt Reply Retweet Favorite

The advanced tweets proved to be true with one heartbreaking exception. Shortly before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the selection of the Cincinnati Bengals at the No. 27 spot in the first round, McCartney tweeted that former Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was about to come off the board.

@TheBlueScreen
Ralph Vacchiano

Wow. Rutgers WR Mohammed Sanu, from his agent ... RT @MikeMcCartney7: SANU to Bengals!!!!!!

April 27, 2012 2:33 am via Sulia Reply Retweet Favorite

A few minutes later, Goodell stepped to the podium at Radio City Music Hall and called out the name of Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler. McCartney was raked over the coals on Twitter for his apparent mistake but the reason behind the incorrect tweet was more complicated than a case of an agent merely being overeager to promote his client. Sanu had received a prank call from someone posing as a member of the Cincinnati front office.

@MikeMcCartney7
Mike McCartney

Very cruel prank call to a Sanu tonight - very sad that someone would do that. My apologies to the twitter world for my tweet.

April 27, 2012 2:41 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@MikeMcCartney7
Mike McCartney

Tough night. We all get knocked down in life and we gotta get back up. I believe in Mohamed Sanu as a player and person! @M0SAnu

April 27, 2012 3:09 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

On Friday morning, Peter King of Sports Illustrated shed some light on prank, noting that Sanu's draft party "exploded" with excitement after the call. According to Chris Littman of The Sporting News, the prank call originated from a New Jersey area code.

According to a mock draft put together by Wes Bunting of the National Football Post, Sanu could finally be taken by the Buffalo Bills with the 41st overall selection (2nd Round).

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Comments

[rhodesmatswift]

08:20 AM on 04/28/2012

Maybe these guys should cool down their expectations rather than banking so heavily on being 1st round picks, awarded mega-million $$ contracts, etc. Then these types of pranks would roll off their back the way water does off a duck's back.

[cmantz]

02:36 PM on 04/28/2012

rhodesmatswift, I will assume positive intent on your part and not make any judgments about you based on your comment.

I will tell you that my family in NJ, who befriended Mo throughout his HS and college years, know that he is a man of outstanding character who will not allow those malevolent and boorish people to influence him.

You and others here should also know that his parents sent him to live with relatives in NJ so he could get a good education, even though they could barely make ends meet. Not only is his draft into the NFL a reward for his extraordinary dedication as a football player, but it's an opportunity for him to finally earn a paycheck and help repay his family for their sacrifices. I hope he gets everything he deserves, which is far more than he humbly expects.

[rhodesmatswift]

10:07 PM on 04/28/2012

My comment wasn't specifically about Mr. Sanu since I don't know him. I think athletes generally get pumped up and develop inflated egos though certainly there are exceptions. It sound like Mohamed doesn't have as much of of an ego and is appreciative of his opportunities. In that instance, I'd think that any prank then would be received relatively calmly and that he'd be happy whenever he was in fact eventually picked. Thanks for sharing. In any instance, I wish these athletes the best of health as well as the best of luck.

[benji85]

07:48 AM on 04/28/2012

This should be updated, he did eventually get drafted by Bengals in the 3rd round.

[ludichris212]

05:32 AM on 04/28/2012

Nobody has ever accused anybody from New Jersey of having any class before this, why start now?

[Meerkatx]

03:15 AM on 04/28/2012

Sanu was taken by the Bengals in the end. He's going to do really well with Green on the other side to free him up to make a lot of clutch catches for first downs.

[Jamal Spencer]

09:27 AM on 04/28/2012

I like this Bengals draft-a lot.

[David1957]

11:55 PM on 04/27/2012

*Yawn*

[packerbacker82930]

10:13 PM on 04/27/2012

it was probably Limbaugh making another one of his self described jokes jokes

[sunnyokanagan]

08:45 PM on 04/27/2012

"Journalists" publishing a story without ANY corroboration of the facts offered. Instantaneous propagation of BS. The way it is today.

[duckfan00]

08:26 PM on 04/27/2012

Sanu is a solid receiver and will have a good NFL career....meanspirited but just a temporary blip for Sanu....any NFL team would be lucky to get him....

[Bandini]

08:11 PM on 04/27/2012

the NFL draft is stupid. Why can't the players sign with any team that wants them?

[leftheaded]

07:40 PM on 04/27/2012

Professional sports is a waste of time and money. Read more.

[Oregonlib]

10:20 PM on 04/27/2012

Except that they have been around for a very long time. Longer than science by far, it’s something to think about: Why?

[MoscowMoo]

10:48 PM on 04/27/2012

Because there are many people in the world who can't do science. That's why.

[Leond]

11:29 PM on 04/27/2012

Everything's a waste of time and money, if you really think about it.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

12:55 AM on 04/28/2012

Leond, You are right. "Maya, Maya, all this world is but a play. Be thou the joyful player.' (Incredible String Band) :))

[Fido0311]

07:34 PM on 04/27/2012

Damn!!! That is harsh! I think I will cheer for this guy for that reason alone.

[Bruce vain]

07:23 PM on 04/27/2012

41st means the third pick in the second round....not to shabby...congrats man lots of people won't even get he call remember that

[Duzula]

06:59 PM on 04/27/2012

The tweets all say 2:30 A.M. and stuff but Zeitler was drafted at like 10 P.M.

I Don't Get It. ????

[lilbunnyfufu]

06:56 PM on 04/27/2012

That is cruel!

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

06:53 PM on 04/27/2012

All these weinnes that try to guess who will go where first are nothing but self-aggrandizing fools. And those who listen to them and act on their info are bigger fools.