The NFL fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 on Wednesday, April 30, in response to the prank call made to quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft. A few hours after the NFL announced the fine, Ulbrich held a press conference to apologize publicly.
Why is the Sanders prank call such a big story?
Sanders was considered a top pick by many pundits and draft experts after throwing for 4,100 yards and 37 touchdowns last season at the University of Colorado. He became the story of the draft after falling all the way to the 5th round before being picked by the Cleveland Browns.
As he waited for his name to be called on day 2 of the draft, a video surfaced on social media of Sanders receiving a call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. After listening to the caller, a confused Sanders asked the people at his draft party, “What does that mean?”
Who is apologizing and why?
Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son later admitted to the prank call and apologized in an Instagram post on Sunday, April 27.
“I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish,” Jax Ulbrich posted. “I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life, and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Jeff Ulbrich, back with the Falcons after five seasons with the New York Jets, also took responsibility during a news conference Wednesday, April 30.
“My actions of not protecting confidential data were inexcusable,” Ulbrich said. “My son’s actions were absolutely inexcusable, and for that, we are both deeply sorry.”
Why were the fines so big, and how did the phone number leak?
In a statement, the NFL said the fines were for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.”
The Falcons said Sunday, April 27, that Jax Ulbrich wrote down Sanders’ number from his father’s open iPad while visiting his parents’ home and later made the prank call. Ulbrich said he was not aware of the call until after the draft, then informed the Falcons and called the Sanders family to apologize. Shedeur’s father, Deion Sanders, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and began his 14-year playing career with the Falcons.
“It’s difficult, but like I said, it’s something that I brought upon myself and my son brought upon himself, so it’s one of those things,” Ulbrich said. “We gotta take this on the chin, and we absolutely are doing that, taking full responsibility, and I’m hopeful we’ll grow and be better because of it.”
Which other players received prank calls?
At least a half dozen prospects also received prank calls over the draft weekend, which the league says are unrelated. This list includes first-rounders Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren and Mason Graham. The NFL is reportedly investigating the dissemination of player numbers. The numbers of the top 15 players in attendance at the draft, along with select others, are usually placed on a distribution list for teams so they can reach that player or his agent during the draft.
Agents typically handle most calls from team representatives, but Sanders is representing himself. After the Browns took him on Saturday, April 26, Sanders told reporters he wasn’t bothered by the prank.
“It didn’t really have an impact on me,” Sanders said, “because it was just like, I mean, OK, like I don’t feed into negativity, or I don’t feed into that stuff. You’ve seen on Deion [Sanders] Jr.’s YouTube video my reaction to it. I don’t… it is what it is. I think, of course, it is childish. Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there.”
