It is a big snake but they did the typical put it in a pole and hold it 6 feet closer to the camera than the man angle. I would love to see a tape measure next to the snake.
The snake in the picture is an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus. This is apparent because of the black and gold diamond-patterning and, of course, the rattle. This species does not reach eight and a half feet long.
Living Alongside Wildlife: About That Giant Dead Rattlesnake E-mail You Got... (Updated 5/2/13)