Sanu thought he was being drafted by the Bengals at No. 27 overall.
Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu was prank called during the first round of the NFL Draft, thinking he was being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals.The NFL Draft is supposed to be a joyful occasion for players selected, particularly those who have the honor of going in the first round. For Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu, it seemed that moment had come on Thursday night with the Cincinnati Bengals picking at No. 27.
But the call he received at his draft party in South Brunswick, New Jersey was not from anyone representing the Bengals. It was from a prank caller, and instead of hearing his name called, Sanu saw NFL commissioner Roger Goodell step to the podium and announce Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler as the pick. Jubilation turned to silence at the small gathering.
Sanu's agent, Mike McCartney, posted on Twitter "Sanu to Bengals!" only to later post the following: "Very cruel prank call to Sanu tonight - very sad that someone would do that. My apologies to the twitter world for my tweet. 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."
When reached by phone Friday, McCartney told Sporting News that Sanu was in good spirits and had even texted to tell his agent that today was a new day, and it was going to be a great day.
"He was knocked down, but he will get back up," McCartney said by phone. "He's a winner. It's not going to faze him."
The perpetrator of the prank call, which originated from a New Jersey area code and not Cincinnati, apologized but did not identify himself.
Sports Illustrated's Peter King added his take on the prank in his ten thoughts after the first round after he had a chance to speak with McCartney: " Sanu told McCartney after the draft not to worry about him, he'd be fine, and some team will draft him and get a good player. McCartney's right. Sanu must be a good kid, to respond to something that hurtful with an attitude so hopeful."
Sanu, who had 115 catches, 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011, is expected by many draft experts to be selected in the second or third round, so the ex-Rutgers wideout will not have to wait for his real NFL destination. And after showing this kind of positive attitude in the face of adversity, teams are probably taking a second look as Day No. 2 begins.