NFL Players Falsely Advertised as Cast Members on 'Naked and Afraid' Special

The Discovery Channel created a stir after advertising three NFL players as cast members in an episode of its survival-oriented Naked and Afraid series.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, Tennessee Titans running back Leon Washington and New England Patriots defensive end Andre Carter were promoted as being part of a December special:

Smith, Washington and Carter were quick to deny their involvement with the show:

The network later confirmed to TMZ that the players will not be featured on the series:

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But a rep for the Discovery Channel tells us...it simply ain't true—it was just a poorly executed joke from the social media team because the players are all big Discovery Channel fans...and it wasn't meant to insinuate the guys would appear on the show. 

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Justin Arbogast of Sports-Kings.com outlines some of what the series entails. A typical episode features one male and one female contestant who are stripped of their clothes and given the choice of one survival tool each. From there, they are driven to a remote location and abandoned for 21 days, left to fend of themselves and overcome whatever they encounter in the wilderness. 

The series is known for its extreme physical and mental demands, and has proven to be a stiff test for past challengers. One pair of contestants from the first season ended their journey early after the male competitor suffered a medical emergency.