The Falcons said Sunday that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son “was responsible for a prank call made to NFL draft pick Shedeur Sanders." In a statement, the team said Jax Ulbrich “came across the draft contact phone number” of Sanders on “an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home.” Though Jax Ulbrich “provided the number, he was sitting beside an unidentified friend who actually made the call to Sanders.” In the call, Jax Ulbrich’s friend “identified himself as” Saints GM Mickey Loomis and “told Sanders he had been drafted by the Saints before ending the call.” Jax Ulbrich “apologized to Sanders on Sunday,” while the Falcons also “apologized to Sanders” (AP, 4/27). The Falcons “will not take any action against Jeff Ulbrich,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (ESPN.com, 4/27).
Jax Ulbrich’s actions aren’t the responsibility of the Falcons or Jeff Ulbrich, but -- “fairly or not” -- it does “reflect on the Falcons and owner Arthur Blank, whose franchise has a growing collection of embarrassing moments." They “don’t need to be issuing another statement volunteering its willingness to cooperate with the league office.” Given that the Falcons have missed the playoffs seven seasons in a row and “actually have been subject to league investigations,” it “only adds to the picture of a franchise that continually trips over itself” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/27).
