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04/30 12:04 CDT NFL fines Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich
following prank call to Shedeur Sanders
NFL fines Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich following prank call
to Shedeur Sanders
By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000 and defensive
coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been fined $100,000 as the result of Ulbrich's son
participating in a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft.
The NFL confirmed the fines on Wednesday for the roles by the Falcons and
Ulbrich in failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information
distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.
The Falcons, who disclosed the role of Ulbrich's 21-year-old son Jax in the
prank call as Sanders was waiting for his name to be called in the draft, said
they accept the discipline from the league.
"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 in a statement.
"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."
The Falcons also said the Ulbrich family "is working with the organization to
participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week's matter."
On Sunday, the Falcons said in a statement that Jax Ulbrich "unintentionally
came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad
while visiting his parent's home and wrote the number down to later conduct a
prank call."
Jax Ulbrich was sitting beside an unidentified friend who actually made the
call to Sanders on Friday, the second day of the draft. Sanders, a standout
quarterback from Colorado, is the son of Buffaloes coach and Pro Football Hall
of Famer Deion Sanders, who began his NFL career with the Falcons.
Sanders, who entered the draft expecting to be a first-round pick, was selected
Saturday in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
The Falcons said Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or the prank
until after the fact. The team offered "sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders
and his family." Jax Ulbrich also posted a public apology on social media.
The NFL continues to investigate prank calls made to other players during the
NFL draft. The Associated Press reported Tuesday the call to Shedeur Sanders
wasn't related to the other prank calls.
Tyler Warren, Kyle McCord, Mason Graham and Chase Lundt also have reported
receiving prank calls.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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