The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 after Ulbrich\'s son made a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft.
The league stated the penalties were imposed for \"failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft.\" The confidential information appears to have been prospect contact information stored on Ulbrich\'s iPad.
Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of the Falcons coach, admitted responsibility in an Instagram post Sunday. He acknowledged accessing the number from his father\'s open iPad while visiting his parents\' home \"to later conduct a prank call.\"
\"I\'m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish,\" Jax Ulbrich wrote. \"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.\"
The Falcons issued a statement accepting the discipline while noting their cooperation throughout the investigation.
\"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.\"
The organization added that \"the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week\'s matter.\"
A video circulated on social media Friday showing Sanders receiving a call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, claiming they would select him with their next pick. The confused quarterback asked those gathered at his draft party, \"What does that mean?\"
The NFL continues investigating other unrelated prank calls made to draft prospects, including Abdul Carter.
Sanders, who was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns, downplayed the incident\'s impact.
\"It didn\'t really have an impact on me... I don\'t feed into negativity, or I don\'t feed into that stuff,\" said Sanders.