Photo: AFP
The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons US$250,000 (NZ$420,000) and their defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 (NZ$170,000), after Ulbrich's son prank called quarterback Shedeur Sanders on the second day of the NFL Draft.
Jeff Ulbrich's 21-year-old son Jax apologised after a video showed Sanders, who was once expected to go in the first round but was later drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth, taking a call from someone who said they were the general manager of the New Orleans Saints.
The NFL fined the Falcons for allowing Sanders' private information -- his cell phone number -- to be leaked, and Ulbrich for his failed oversight of a tablet his son used to swipe the information and make the prank call on Saturday, when the second and third round were completed.
Jax Ulbrich dialled Sanders while the son of former Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders waited anxiously for his name to be called and in the midst of an unexpected fall out of the top four rounds.
Jax Ulbrich pretended to be Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and initially told Sanders he would be the Saints' next pick only to tell Sanders was going to have to keep waiting.
"It's been a long wait, man," the voice of Jax Ulbrich was captured saying to Sanders in a video of the call. "We're going to take you with our next pick, man, but you're going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that."
When the pick never came, Sanders remained undrafted into the fifth round and was selected by the Cleveland Browns with pick No. 144.
He said in a media teleconference the prank call had no impact on him.
"It was just like, I mean, OK, like I don't feed into negativity or I don't feed into that stuff," Sanders said. "You've seen on Deion 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."
Jax Ulbrich said he used his father's unlocked iPad to retrieve Sanders' information. In a statement, Jax Ulbrich said his actions were "completely inexcusable" and thanked Sanders for taking a second call from him to apologise.
The NFL said it opened an immediate investigation and handed down the punishment on Wednesday, a sum nearly equal to the total of the signing bonus received by Austin Booker (Bears), the 144th pick in the 2024 draft. Booker's four-year contract included a US$349,140 signing bonus.
"We appreciate the NFL's swift and thorough review of last week's data exposure and the event that transpired due to it," the Falcons said Wednesday in a formal statement after the league handed down the fine.
"We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organisation. We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasise adherence to them with our staff whether on or off premises. Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organisation to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week's matter."
Jeff Ulbrich was interim head coach of the New York Jets at the end of last season and played linebacker in the NFL. He also apologised, adding that he would not appeal the fine.
"I would like to publicly apologise to Shedeur and the Sanders family for what occurred," Ulbrich said, also apologising to the organisation. "My actions, my actions, for not protecting confidential data were inexcusable. My son's actions were absolutely inexcusable. And for that, we are both deeply sorry. ... We take full responsibility, my son and myself."
He was hired in January by Falcons head coach Raheem Morris to become defensive coordinator, replacing Jimmy Lake.
Before the Colts used the No 14 overall pick to draft Penn State's Tyler Warren, he said he was also victim of a prank call. According to reports, the league was informed of Browns first-round pick Mason Graham, Steelers quarterback Kyle McCord and other prospects receiving similar calls while waiting to be drafted.
- Reuters
