Fanatics is sneaky, man. Well… not really. They’re actually quite heavy-footed in the way they blatantly stage every promotion they do to go as viral as possible. Someday we’ll learn exactly how much Joe Burrow was paid to yank all these pitches.

That NFL legends welcoming rookies into the league video didn’t pop off the way Joe Burrow’s bizarre pitching exhibition did, but I see what you’re doing Fanatics. You’re not slipping an ‘NFL Legend: Cooper Dejean’ video past Barstool Sports without us giving it more attention by way of a blog. Good try, idiots. 

That was mean to do to Cooper Dejean. He didn’t ask to be put in that group. He didn’t ask to be referred to as an “NFL Legend”, and be put on a list with Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, etc. Although when he found out he was going to be gifting his signed jersey to a former college rival in Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel. An incoming rookie who’s 5 months older than him. That probably made the video worth it. That’s a win for Cooper. Iowa and Iowa State hate each other. Jaylin Noel is a wide receiver. Imagine he gets locked down, or laid out over the middle by Cooper Dejean in a big game. Iowa fans (and Eagles fans) now have this in their arsenal…

As mean as that was to Cooper Dejean, it was even meaner to Jaylin Noel. I’m sure he has a healthy respect for Cooper and all, but Jaylin Noel can’t hang that jersey on his wall. At least he was smart enough to hold up the jersey facing forward. That screenshot would be significantly worse if with the DEJEAN name plate facing the camera. On the flip side, if Jaylin Noel ever manages to put up 100 yards and 2 TD’s on Cooper Dejean, he has a great opportunity level the playing field by signing his own jersey and tossing it to Cooper Dejean at midfield after the game. 

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Fanatics also knew exactly what they were doing including Justin Herbert in that video. Arguably the most polarizing quarterback in the NFL, in terms of “He’s complete dog shit” vs “He’s actually a top 5 QB in the league”. 

Fucking, Michael Rubin… Of all people to set up like that, what did this random 79th overall pick out of Iowa State ever do to you? I hope Jaylin Noel has success in the NFL. As a 3rd rounder, he’s by no means a sure thing. But at least if he flames out, he’ll forever have that signed jersey of his college rival who actually did make it to remind him of his time in the league.Â