Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty found himself a target of the widespread prank call epidemic plaguing NFL prospects, a disconcerting trend that overshadowed the excitement of the draft process. The former Heisman Trophy finalist revealed in a recent podcast appearance that he, too, received a hoax call, albeit after his name had already been called by the Raiders.
The prankster, in a cruel twist, informed Jeanty that he was being traded to the Dallas Cowboys, a prospect that would have been a dream come true for the Texas native. The audacity of the prank and the timing of the call, coming after the culmination of Jeanty’s hard work and anticipation, made the experience all the more frustrating.
"Some dude called me who was like, ‘Yeah… we just traded with the Raiders, and you’re coming to the Cowboys,’" Jeanty recounted on the "Stacking the Box" podcast. His immediate reaction was one of disbelief and annoyance. "I just hung up, bro. I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’"
Jeanty’s disappointment stems from his deep-rooted connection to the Dallas Cowboys. Growing up in Frisco, Texas, he harbored a desire to play for the team. Before committing to Boise State for college, the prospect of donning the Cowboys’ star was a powerful motivator.
In an interview with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth back in January, Jeanty expressed his fondness for the Cowboys. "I would love to play for the Cowboys," he stated. "It’d be like a dream come true. Obviously, I used to play in their practice stadium, and all our home games in high school, even my freshman year when we came down here for the Frisco Bowl, we practiced there again. So, it would just feel like I’m at home, honestly."
He also recognized the historical significance of the running back position for the Cowboys, adding, "I ain’t going to say too much, but Dallas, they’ve always had a good running back, and when they’ve got a good running back, they play a lot better."
While the Raiders weren’t his first choice, Jeanty recognizes the opportunity he has with the team. "The Raiders were the next best option," he acknowledged.
Jeanty was not alone in being victimized by these pre-draft prank calls. The most notorious incident involved Shedeur Sanders, who experienced a slide in the draft to the fifth round. The individual responsible for that call was later identified as the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
The Falcons organization faced severe consequences for the actions of Ulbrich’s son. The team was fined $250,000, and Ulbrich himself was penalized with a $100,000 fine. The incident highlighted the seriousness with which the NFL views these types of pre-draft disruptions and the potential for such actions to negatively impact players’ draft stock and overall experience.
The prevalence of these prank calls raises questions about the security of players’ personal information and the motivations behind these malicious acts. Whether driven by a desire for attention, a misguided sense of humor, or something more nefarious, the prank calls created unnecessary stress and anxiety for players already dealing with the pressure of the draft process.
The NFL has taken steps to address the issue, including issuing warnings to teams and players about the potential for these types of scams and working with law enforcement to investigate the incidents. However, the challenge remains in identifying and preventing these calls from occurring in the first place.
The incident involving Jeanty and Sanders serves as a reminder of the darker side of the draft process, where the dreams and aspirations of young athletes can be manipulated and exploited. While the NFL has taken action to deter such behavior, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect players from these types of scams and ensure a fair and equitable draft experience for all.
The impact of these prank calls extends beyond the individual players affected. They also raise concerns about the integrity of the draft process and the potential for these types of actions to influence team decisions. While it is difficult to quantify the exact impact of these calls, they undoubtedly create uncertainty and distrust among teams and players.
As the NFL continues to grapple with the issue of pre-draft prank calls, it is essential that the league takes a proactive approach to prevent these incidents from happening in the future. This includes educating players about the potential for these types of scams, working with law enforcement to investigate reported incidents, and implementing stricter penalties for those found to be involved.
