The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons $350,000 after a prank call incident involving Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft.
The league announced Wednesday that $250,000 of the fine will be paid by the team, while Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will personally pay $100,000.
During the second night of the draft, Sanders received a call from someone pretending to be the New Orleans Saints. The caller was later identified as Jax Ulbrich, son of the Falcons’ defensive coordinator.
The Falcons issued a statement accepting the punishment.
“We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it. 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 relation to last week’s matter.”
Jax Ulbrich publicly apologized to Sanders after the incident became public.
“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake. Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish,” Ulbrich wrote.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized the incident strongly on air.
“I sincerely hope he whipped his kid’s a**. That’s an a** whipping. That is a required a** whipping,” Smith said.
The NFL specified the fines were for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to clubs before the draft.
Both the team and Ulbrich family have indicated they’re ready to move forward from the incident.
