INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL’s long-awaited and much-hyped schedule release didn’t go off without a hitch locally.
The Indianapolis Colts posted, then deleted, a "Minecraft"-themed video Wednesday night because the organization didn’t receive the necessary approval from Microsoft and it included an "insensitive" clip of Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill. A few versions still live online.
The Colts released a statement Thursday morning.
"We removed our schedule release video because it exceeded our rights with Microsoft and included an insensitive clip involving Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill," the team said. “We sincerely apologize to Microsoft and Tyreek."
The clip with Hill depicted him as a dolphin in the water being approached by a Coast Guard vessel. It made light of an incident last year in which police detained him during a traffic stop before the 2024 season opener.
The Colts’ clean-up work from their mess included issuing an apology to Hill through agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to ESPN.
Hill showed a sense of humor on his X account.
“Should have left it up @colts, this was funny,’’ he posted Thursday afternoon.
Oddly enough, the Los Angeles Chargers also turned to "Minecraft" for their schedule release video. Their version, however, began with a disclaimer noting "Minecraft" was used with permission from Microsoft, which acquired the game's development studio and intellectual property in 2014.