A small group of sports bloggers wearing Patriots jerseys and face paint were arrested Tuesday afternoon after they handcuffed themselves together inside the NFL's New York headquarters and refused to leave unless permitted to speak with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about Tom Brady's four-game suspension.
We're not joking.
The four men are employees of Barstool Sports, said Louis Roberts, who manages advertising at the website. He identified them as David Portnoy, the site's owner; Paul Gulczynski, John Feitelberg and Henry Lockwood.
The men began their "protest" -- which we are putting in quotes here because this was very much a stunt -- by marching in circles and carrying signs that read "Free Brady!" and "Fire Goodell!" outside the league's headquarters at 345 Park Ave. in New York City.
Patriots supporters have arrived at the league office. Chanting "Free Brady..." pic.twitter.com/KErSZzqDlp— Tiffany Blackmon (@tiffblackmon) May 12, 2015
They soon moved indoors and handcuffed themselves together as a small crowd gathered nearby. One man complained about the handcuffs being too tight. Another lamented getting too much sleep on Monday; predicting a long night in NYPD custody, he wished he hadn't slept so that he'd be able to get a good night's rest.
Patriots protesters have handcuffed themselves together in lobby of @NFL offices. Expecting police arrival. pic.twitter.com/Tc5ah9XkyK— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015
The men yelled out to no one in particular, demanding to speak with the league's commissioner, while they live streamed the stunt using Periscope. The nearly 6,000 people who tuned in heard an NYPD officer threaten the men with arrest. They said they wouldn't budge.
One asked the cop if he was a Jets fan. He replied that they should leave, and the men refused. The officer then called in a van, arrested the men and removed them from the lobby.
The men were then seen handcuffed and being loaded into a black van outside the building and taken away to central booking.
@moneyries @Patriots via @jtalden11 pic.twitter.com/xNx5DmXEW2— Matt Lugo (@WWMLD) May 12, 2015
#Patriots fans taken to Central Booking in New York City. They will be kept overnight for their stunt in #NFL lobby. pic.twitter.com/lrZVRbLqKQ— Lisa Kraus Edwards (@LAKEdwards) May 12, 2015
Writing on Twitter shortly after the arrest, one of the men -- Barstool's Portnoy, appealed for money to make bail.
I don't want to beg but a gofundme for our bail would be nice. #defendthewall #freebrady— David Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 12, 2015
Roberts confirmed they were, in fact, arrested.
An NYPD spokesperson told Mashable they were still gathering information about the incident and could not confirm anything about the incident.