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NFL We have started offering single-purpose mobile phones to selected draft prospects, but that has become a problem for players, teams, and yes, the league itself.
You know about leaks Chedur Sanders telephone number. It was very public and in the end it was easy to resolve.
Sanders phone provided by the NFL
It had social media and Atlanta Falcons defense coordinator Jeff Ulbric with Sanders’ number and was fed to him by email from the NFL, which somehow ended up in the hands of his 21-year-old son Jax, and then promoted a viral plank call to Sanders.
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October 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalo quarterback Chedur Sanders (2) faces the Arizona Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Usa Today Sports)
What you may not know is that the call Sanders called was not himself. It was provided by the NFL a few days before the draft.
Even Sanders said in one of his released videos of the incident that the phone was “not my name.”
Added Sanders: “I just got this phone yesterday.”
That’s true because the NFL offers calls so teams can quickly reach Sanders and other prospects and not pass the lines of communication.
The NFL offers telephones to support television
The kickers are: The NFL provided these single-purpose phones to ensure that draft television broadcasts do not get awkwardly interrupted or uncomfortable with calls that didn’t reach players.
So essentially, the league offered calls for selected prospects to ensure that the phone would pass at the moment the team needed, and television partners wanted to make calls in the air to keep the broadcast humming.
October 19, 2024. Tucson, Arizona, USA. Colorado Buffalo quarterback Chedure Sanders before his game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Immagn image)
The NFL provided phone calls and then provided figures via email to an estimated 2,000 NFL and club employees, multiple sources confirmed.
If this is not an inefficient method NFL Draft Broadcasts provide iconic prospect moments and consider the following facts:
Sanders is one of the double-digit leads, with some not publicly identified.
The NFL should investigate its own role
Besides saying the NFL is investigating, he was a mother on the subject.
That’s ironic because we assume that NFL research must start from outside the NFL itself.
Did the league send numbers to a wider group unnecessarily? That’s possible because not only did the general manager, his staff and coaches get the numbers, but the secondary education staff and some media outlets do as well.
Therefore, it is possible that even public relations officers, non-football executives, some equipment managers and training staff have obtained a list of delivered numbers.
The league may need to fill up a list of people who have got numbers on a single purpose phone in the future.
And one of the reasons why the NFL doesn’t like this issue is because it’s been made public.
In this draft alone, the list of players who received a prank call before being selected is listed below. Giants Edge Rush Abdul Carter, Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham, Colts tight end Tyler Warren, commander offensive lineman Josh Connelly, Bills offensive lineman Chase Land and Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord.
Former NFL star Steve Smith SR faces lawsuits over alleged cases under unusual state law: Report
The NFL Commissioner points out Edge Rush Abdul Carter to New York Giants fans after the Giants chose Carter on their third pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The draft will run until April 26th. (Tork Mason/USA Today Network-Wisconsin)
Source: Affected double-digit leads
According to sources, there are other.
“From the numbers 609 and numbers 215, I got a few prank calls earlier in the day, so when I got the 215 call, I thought it was another prank call,” McCord told Philadelphia area reporters. “But I picked up the phone and held it [general manager] Howie [Roseman] On the contrary, it was pretty cool. ”
McCord actually received multiple prank calls before the draft began. There were a lot when a valid call came Eagleshe expected it to be another naughty.
“To be honest, I didn’t think it was legal, obviously because I received a bunch of 215 calls that led to the draft,” McCord said. “And you obviously want to sit there and see what area codes pop up, but that was 215.
“So I don’t think I know who it will be. And then I picked up the phone. I said ‘Hello.’
Prank calls are as old as making calls.
It’s also nothing new for the NFL.
Pranks aren’t new, they’re more problematic
In 2013, two 20-year-olds somehow acquired it Bills general manager at the time Budinix and then Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik were on a conference call. And, surprisingly, during the call, two GMs began discussing a six-minute free agency plan.
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October 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) warms up before his match against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinzfield. (Mark Konezny-Usa Today Sports)
Yes, it’s funny, but not primarily for the players discussed: quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
However, the 2025 NFL Draft appears to be a boiling point for a league of mischievous calls.
Former league employees are hoping for some changes in how they handle the distribution of numbers.
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