Settle down, Boston: Jimmy Garoppolo trade announcement was a hoax

March 10 Jimmy Garoppolo's early morning farewell to Boston was a hoax pulled off by someone other than the Patriots' backup quarterback Friday.

A post a 4:26 a.m. from @jimmypolo10, the verified Instagram account of Garoppolo, read "So grateful for my time in New England. Peace out Boston."

Multiple outlets reported before sunrise on the East Coast that Garoppolo was not aware of the post, meaning his account was hacked or someone in his inner circle accessed Instagram using Garoppolo's information. The post has since been deleted.

Garoppolo is a target of the Cleveland Browns and other teams chasing Tom Brady's backup. Garoppolo can be an unrestricted free agent in March 2018. He is being groomed as Brady's successor, but Brady said in February he plans to play several more seasons.

Cleveland reportedly is willing to trade a first-round pick in a package to acquire Garoppolo. The Browns have 23 draft picks the next two years.

The Browns added a 2018 second-round pick on Thursday in a deal for Brock Osweiler, but the former Broncos and Texans quarterback could again be on the block as Cleveland seeks to pad its stash of picks, bolstering a trade offer for Garoppolo.

With the first pick in the draft, Cleveland is expected to draft Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, but the Browns also have the 12th pick via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.