An ill-advised prank will be an expensive one for the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator.
The league announced this week that it would be levying a fine of $250,000 on the team and another $100,000 for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich over a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during last week's draft. The Falcons and Jeff's son, Jax, apologized over the incident, which occurred due to Jax finding the draft phone's number on an iPad at the Ulbrich home.
The caller identified himself as Saints GM Mickey Loomis and indicated the Saints would be taking the QB, only to tell the player he'd have to wait longer. Sanders, once thought to be a potential top 10 selection, had a widely publicized draft slide into the 5th round before the Browns took him at No. 144 overall.
"We appreciate the NFL's swift and thorough review of last week's date exposure and the event that transpired due to it," The Falcons said in a statement responding to the fines.
"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 organization. We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff whether on or off premises. Additionally the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relate to last week's matter."
Related
Ulbrich is in his first year as the Falcons DC after multiple years with the Jets, taking over as the interim a year ago after the firing of Robert Saleh and leading the team to a record of 3-9.
In the call, Jax Ulbrich’s friend identified himself as New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and told Sanders he had been drafted by the Saints before ending the call.
“It didn’t really have no impact on me because it was just like, OK. I don’t feed into negativity or I don’t feed into that stuff,” Sanders said Saturday after being drafted. “... This is what it is. I think, of course, it’s childish, of course I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody do childish things here and there.”
Jax Ulbrich apologized to Sanders on Sunday for what he called “a tremendous mistake.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report