An article saying that the Cleveland Browns fired coach Mike Pettine after less than a day on the job is from a satire sports site, but some apparently believed it.
The article generated more than 35,000 shares on Facebook on Friday.
It was published on ProFootballMock.com, which only publishes satire NFL stories. The site includes stories such as “Protesters Demand Indianapolis Colts Change Name To ‘NativeAmericanApolis Colts’” and “Report: Pop Warner Coach Declines Browns Head Coaching Offer.”
It states that Pettine--the former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator who was hired on with the Browns--was let go after only a short period of time.
“Claiming that the organization needed, ‘a fresh new approach,’ the Cleveland Browns today announced the firing of Mike Pettine, the former defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills whom the team hired as their new head coach sixteen hours prior to his termination,” it reads.
The article appears to be poking fun at the Browns’ inability to retain head coaches. After this season ended, the organization fired Rob Chudzinski after less than a year on the job.
On Twitter and Facebook, a number of people appeared to believe it.
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