The USFL aims to separate itself from the countless spring leagues that attempted to attain relevancy during the NFL's dead off-season period. From using drones to follow kickoffs and field goal attempts and the tracking technology in footballs that hasn't exactly been a hit with players to using three-point conversions, the USFL is doing everything it can to stand out.The players are too. In an act that turned out to be a genius PR move for the league, former Florida State Seminoles linebacker and NFL veteran Reggie Northrup, now on the Houston Gamblers, went full-blown Paul Crewe from the Longest Yard and had a cigarette in his mouth during practice. Or so we thought. Northrup revealed to Saturday Down South that it was a prop cigarette:“Alright everybody, I know all y’all are wondering where the cigarette come from. But listen, I do not smoke cigarettes, first and foremost... But this cigarette is a prop cigarette, it’s not real, but it’s an attitude. It’s a symbolism and an attitude. It’s an attitude that I come out here on this football field and it’s time to work today.”Northrup's unusual reasoning for having a fake cigarette in his mouth predictably set off a social media firestorm.One fan was charmed by the stunt:BonesKnows@Bones_Knows_Reggie Northrup quickly becoming my favorite USFL player @TheColbyD @NC__NicK @USFLGambling63Reggie Northrup quickly becoming my favorite USFL player @TheColbyD @NC__NicK @USFLGambling https://t.co/SU3bNzFshuMeanwhile, this Twitter user was already a believer in Northrup's skills before seeing him flex his attitude:Robert Diaz@954DiazReggie Northrup. This dude will make every tackle too no 🧢 twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.34349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRReggie Northrup. This dude will make every tackle too no 🧢 twitter.com/barstoolsports…Northrup has left enough of a legacy already to have people call this a 'Reggie Northrup' thing:Struck@TheRealStruckFSU legend Reggie Northrup out here doing Reggie things twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.447524349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRFSU legend Reggie Northrup out here doing Reggie things twitter.com/barstoolsports…Another fan went as far as calling him the G.O.A.T through an emoji.:Nick Stofanik@basednoleReggie Northrup twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.447554349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRReggie Northrup 😂😂🐐 twitter.com/barstoolsports…This fan wondered why De'Veon Smith was cut from the Maulers for refusing cafeteria food when Northrup's antics were allowed on the practice field:Goop_Daniel@Goop_Daniel24Mans out here with a pote in his mouth at practice but a man can’t get a pizza and get cut. 🤣🤣🤦🏾‍♂️ twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.447554349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRMans out here with a pote in his mouth at practice but a man can’t get a pizza and get cut. 🤣🤣🤦🏾‍♂️ twitter.com/barstoolsports…These fans caught the Longest Yard reference:Nick@NickHay_But pizza is where they draw the line twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.14349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRBut pizza is where they draw the line twitter.com/barstoolsports…romero@BredmanRomeroFam, this man is the real life version of the safety from Longest Yard twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.14349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRFam, this man is the real life version of the safety from Longest Yard 💀 twitter.com/barstoolsports…The USFL can't be upset about this if it has added a few fans...Air_rarri@air_rarriThis is a league I’m interested in twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.14349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRThis is a league I’m interested in twitter.com/barstoolsports…MidwesternClass@MidwesternClassI might start watching twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.447584349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRI might start watching twitter.com/barstoolsports…However, not everyone was impressed.GodUniversalLuv@GodUniversalLuvThis is why he's in the #USFL Instead of the #NFL twitter.com/barstoolsports…Barstool Sports@barstoolsportsThe USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice.447594349The USFL is DIFFERENT.They got guys out here smoking cigs mid practice. https://t.co/utrAjXIEtRThis is why he's in the #USFL Instead of the #NFL twitter.com/barstoolsports…Reggie Northrup's Gamblers take on Stallions on USFL Saturday night footballFor fans who may want to see how the linebacker/MMA fighter follows up this stunt, they'll have a chance to catch him play when the Houston Gamblers take on the only true home team of the start-up league, the Birmingham Stallions, on Saturday at 7 pm ET.