The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Deals are few and far between in the salary capped world of the NFL, but that doesn’t stop fans and media types from getting duped by the occasional tweet from fake Twitter accounts like Adarn Schefter or Incarcerated Bob. But this year, ESPN is adding to the confusion with a poorly planned social media play.
ESPN stokes fake Doug Martin trade rumor
Be careful what you read and retweet.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL Trade Deadline is today at 4pm ET. Send in your trade ideas using #MyNFLTrade -- We'll RT a few of our favorites.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 28, 2014 They started to retweet trade proposals from their followers, and that caused some confusion among people who probably should know better.
@ESPNNFL #mynfltrade miami trades a 5th rounder to tampa for Doug Martin
— Jon Scharfman (@JonScharfman) October 28, 2014 That one got a RT. Which led to this one from a fantasy football show host on SiriusXM.
Doug Martin has been traded from TB to Miami
— George Kurtz (@GeorgeKurtz) October 28, 2014 Miko Grimes, the wife of Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes, is all in on the Martin rumors too.
RT @JonScharfman: @ESPNNFL #mynfltrade miami trades a 5th rounder to tampa for Doug Martin
— Miko Grimes (@iHeartMiko) October 28, 2014 Already done RT @DolphinsFever83: @iHeartMiko @NCPANTHERS1 you think were getting him?I would take (cont) http://t.co/27TlsrZCco
— Miko Grimes (@iHeartMiko) October 28, 2014 George Kurtz later clarified where he got his scoop.
@D123W the source was an ESPN tweet
— George Kurtz (@GeorgeKurtz) October 28, 2014 Be careful what you read ... and tweet. Remember that Brian Hoyer for Andre Johnson swap rumor back in August?
Also, another round of applause for the social media interns at ESPN. I hear US Airways is looking for help in that department, so maybe there’s a cross promotional social media strat swap to be had here.
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