NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport recently announced that he would be “off-air” for the next two weeks. He did not indicate the reason for his suspension but mentioned that he posted something on social media “without clearance from NFL Network, which went against its guidelines.”
According to SportingNews.com, “New York Post media columnist Andrew Marchand later reported that the ban was for Rapoport posting an ad for the Manscaped Lawn Mower, a razor designed to trim male pubic hair.”
As expected, the Twitter universe bombarded Rapoport with memes regarding the suspension:
— Adam (@TheFeenMachine_) October 10, 2020
Real smooth.
— Andrew Nordmeier (@AndrewNordmeier) October 10, 2020
Major League Baseball reporter Mike Petriello and USA Today writer Bradley Gelber also joined in on the conversation:
Article Continues Belowthought that product was to help keep you from getting nicked
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 10, 2020
This is… bush league.
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) October 10, 2020
Ian Rapoport started out his career in media when he worked for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger in 2004 and covered an NCAA Division I team in the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He moved on to The Birmingham News in 2006 to cover another football program in Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide squad.
He then applied for a job with the Boston Herald which primarily covered Bill Belichick and the rest of the New England Patriots. He subsequently served as a Patriots beat reporter for the Boston Herald for three seasons starting in 2009 until he joined the NFL Network in 2012 where he still holds a post until today.
The media personality is an often reliable source for news related to the NFL specifically via Twitter. Rapoport did not say whether his suspension will also cover staying off from social media or for him to not report for NFL.com in the meantime.