Indy Sports News

Indy Sports News

NFL Wide Receiver Denies Rumor That He Killed A Bald Eagle

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Orange County, CA – July 05: While the male bald eagle is out hunting for food, a tagged female parent bald eagle takes flight from a branch high in a tree not far from its nest containing two juvenile eagles in April in north Orange County. The blue 85 tag indicates it is part of the Institute for Wildlife Studies project to rebuild the bald eagle population on the Channel Islands, was hatched in 2013 at Santa Rosa Island and given the name La’i. This pair of bald eagles is among a growing number of the majestic raptors reclaiming ancestral habitat in portions of urban Southern California. This is the sixth year these eagles have raised eaglets in the nest that was taken over from hawks. Scientists say these eagles are examples of the species’ ability to adapt to extremes of urban sprawl including residential development and the roar of traffic and toxic emissions along a nearby stretch of the 91 Freeway. They are also regarded as special guests by adjacent homeowners who keep a close watch on them. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Allen J. Schaben/Getty Images

We have an early front-runner for strangest sports tweet of the year.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie was suspended for the final three games of the regular season for unspecified “conduct detrimental to the team.” A bizarre conspiracy theory surfaced that he and cornerback Tony Brown got disciplined for hunting a bald eagle.

The 28-year-old set the record straight Monday.

“It’s 2024 so let start fresh,” McKenzie wrote. “First things first I did not kill a bald eagle. That story is false.”

It’s unclear how that rumor started, but it made the rounds among gullible X and Reddit users. 

McKenzie would have more to worry about than a three-game suspension if that claim was true. Killing a bald eagle can lead to a $100,000 fine, up to one-year imprisonment, or both.

After five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, McKenzie joined the Colts in 2023. He’s caught 11 of 14 targets for 82 yards while returning 23 punts for 204 yards.

Despite his limited receiving role, McKenzie had played in every game through Week 13. The Colts made him a healthy Week 14 scratch before issuing the suspension.

McKenzie watched Indianapolis stay in the playoff picture with a 23-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. At 9-7, the Colts currently hold a tiebreaker over the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

The Colts can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Texans this Saturday night. They would then claim the AFC South if the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

It’s unclear if McKenzie and Brown would get reinstated for the playoffs.