Sports
Jeff Ulbirch’s Kid Should Face Some Consequences for Shedeur Sanders Prank Call
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Former Colorado Buffaloes player Shedeur Sanders during his number retirement ceremony before the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Former Colorado superstar quarterback and NFL Draft survivor Shedeur Sanders had to deal with a pretty public prank call during his dramatic slide this weekend.
Sanders, who was projected to be a mid-to-late first-round draft pick, fell into Day 2, where he still wasn’t selected. On Friday evening, during a livestream, Sanders was prank called in a viral video that was clipped and widely shared on social media.
For whatever reason, the prank callers elected to share a video of their stunt online. It took internet sleuths all of five minutes to identify one of the individuals in the video as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Geniuses.
At 21 years old, you’re typically past the prank-calling age. But enough soapboxes for now.
Sunday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the NFL would be looking into the prank call, as the league had issued private phone lines to draft picks so only teams could contact them.
Less than five hours after that report, the Falcons confirmed what the rest of the internet already uncovered — that Ulbrich was behind the gag.
According to their statement, Jax accidentally came across the phone number while using an open iPad while visiting his parents. Likely story. The defensive coordinator was supposedly unaware of the data exposure, ensuing prank and was not aware that any of it had happened until after the fact.
Does the iPad not have a self-timer lock?
According to several reports, multiple NFL Draft prospects were subjected to prank calls on their dedicated phone lines. First-round picks Mason Graham and Tyler Warren were pranked in the green room. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord also received a call. One anonymous draft pick was reportedly called and told he was being traded shortly after being selected.
This issue stretched much further than Sanders, and the NFL should still be investigating, regardless of the statement released by the Falcons.
Jax released a statement of his own, apologizing to Sanders for the viral error. He asked Sanders for forgiveness and acknowledged that he spoke to him via a phone call to apologize. In the statement he released via Instagram, Shedeur’s first name was spelled incorrectly before he edited it and reposted.
After being selected in the fifth round, the newest Cleveland Browns quarterback acknowledged that the call did not bother him, as he prefers not to focus on negativity.
“Of course I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there,” Sanders said.
Sanders handled this whole situation like a pro, despite being only two years older than his prank caller.
It’s a bizarre situation, regardless. But it will become even crazier if Ulbrich was linked to the other pranks, or if more perpetrators are unveiled.
Either way, it feels a little icky that these young men had the best moments of their lives interfered with by some entitled kid who is old enough to know better — and he likely won’t be facing any sort of consequences.
Sports
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
Feb 28, 2026; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Shapi Suleymanov (93) controls the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at Children’s Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Diego Rossi scored in the 82nd minute Saturday night, allowing the visiting Columbus Crew to salvage a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City.
Rossi took advantage of a failed clearance by defender Wyatt Meyer, who tried to head a crossing pass out of danger but instead deflected the ball right to Rossi. Given time to settle the ball and fire, Rossi wired a dart by goalie John Pulskamp and into the left corner for his second goal in as many matches.
Wassou Abou Ali also tallied for the second straight game for the Crew (0-1-1, 1 point). Dejan Joveljic registered a brace for Kansas City (0-1-1, 1 point), giving it a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute when he gathered in a loose ball in the box and threaded a shot through a defender’s legs that rolled into the left corner.
Joveljic brought his team level in the 48th minute, finishing a beautiful counterattack. Jacob Davis fed him directly in front of the net and Joveljic toed a shot that goalie Patrick Schulte (two saves) had no chance to stop.
After a slow start, Columbus finished the match with slight advantages of 10-8 in shots and 5-4 in shots on frame. The Crew possessed the ball 52.5% of the time and attempted 16 crosses, 11 more than Kansas City.
Both teams opened the season last weekend with road losses. Columbus gave up a late goal to fall 3-2 against Portland and Kansas City experienced a lapse just before halftime, giving up two quick goals in a 3-0 defeat against San Jose.
Kansas City had the run of play for most of the first half-hour before Pulskamp made a shocking mistake in the 33rd minute. He tried to play the ball off the ground and offered up a nonchalant pass that Abou Ali was able to intercept, giving him an easy right-footed kick into an open net.
That play aside, Pulskamp (three saves) might have been the difference in enabling Kansas City to at least earn a draw. Columbus generated enough quality chances to log 3 1/2 expected goals, according to the league’s statistical service.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Henri Veesaar, No. 18 North Carolina hold off Virginia Tech
Feb 28, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) and Virginia Tech Hokies forward Amani Hansberry (13) fight for the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Henri Veesaar matched his career high with 26 points as No. 18 North Carolina pulled away from Virginia Tech in the second half for an 89-82 victory on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Seth Trimble put up 20 points as the Tar Heels (23-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for the fourth time in their last five games without top scorer and rebounder Caleb Wilson, a star freshman who is out with a broken left hand.
Reserves Jonathan Powell and Zayden High added 15 and 12 points, respectively, as the North Carolina bench outscored its counterparts from Virginia Tech 32-13.
The Tar Heels shot 55.8% from the floor (29 of 52) as they remained perfect at home, marking the first season they’ve won their first 17 home games since the Dean E. Smith Center opened 40 years ago.
Veesaar also pulled down seven rebounds to help North Carolina to a 34-22 edge on the boards and an 11-2 margin on second-chance points.
Neo Avdalas supplied 19 points and five assists for Virginia Tech (18-11, 7-9), which came up short of gaining its third Quad 1 victory in its pursuit of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond scored 16 points apiece and Amani Hansberry provided 11 points in 19 minutes before fouling out for the Hokies, who have not won at North Carolina since 2007.
After a 3-pointer by Virginia Tech’s Jaden Schutt tied it 57-57 with 13:51 left, North Carolina took the lead for good with a seven-point run.
Veesaar triggered it with a two-handed slam off an alley-oop feed from Powell, who followed with a 3-pointer. Trimble finished off the burst, spinning free off his dribble for a driving layup that made it 64-57.
A 3-pointer by Veesaar with 6:22 left gave North Carolina a 76-65 lead, which matched its largest of the game.
In the first half, the teams traded nine-point runs and finished a fast-paced period tied 44-44.
The Tar Heels’ run came midway through the half and was fueled by reserves including Kyan Evans, who drilled a 3-pointer to cap the burst and give North Carolina a 21-16 lead.
Powell later made a triple to give the Tar Heels the biggest lead of the half at 30-22.
But the Hokies answered with a 9-0 spurt triggered by a 3-pointer from Schutt.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers C Joel Embiid (oblique) out at least 3 games
Feb 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts while clutching his body after a play against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed a strained right oblique and he will miss at least three games before being re-evaluated, the 76ers announced.
Embiid, 31, was injured during Philadelphia’s 124-117 home win over the Miami Heat on Thursday, when he still played 31 minutes and totaled 26 points and 11 rebounds.
A seven-time All-Star with a history of injuries, Embiid will be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the host Boston Celtics as well as back-to-back home games against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
The 76ers are 33-26, and Embiid has played in 33 games (all starts) this season, averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 31.2 minutes. Philadelphia is 21-12 with him and 12-14 without him.
Embiid was limited to 19 games last season because of an ailing left knee and had surgery in April. He began this season on a minutes restriction because of the knee, and he was out for five games in February because of knee and shin issues.
For his career, Embiid is averaging 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 blocks and 31.8 minutes in 485 regular-season games (all starts).
He also has averaged 24.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 35.3 minutes in 59 playoff games (all starts).
Embiid was the league’s Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season and was voted All-NBA first team in 2022-23 and second team four other times. He’s a three-time All-Defensive team second-team pick. Philadelphia made him the third overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft out of Kansas.
–Field Level Media
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
Henri Veesaar, No. 18 North Carolina hold off Virginia Tech
