NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL sent a memo Tuesday reminding all 32
teams of its equal access and conduct policy toward the media
following a TV Azteca reporter's comments that the Jets made her
uncomfortable in their locker room last weekend.
"Women are a common part of the sports media," the memo said,
and included the policy. "By law, women must be granted the same
rights to perform their jobs as men. Please remember that women
reporters are professionals and should be treated as such. "
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello also sent an email to the Association
of Women in Sports Media restating league policy.
Reporter Ines Sainz, who works for the Mexican network, said she
was uncomfortable Saturday in the Jets' locker room, where a few
players made catcalls as she waited with two male co-workers to
interview quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is of Mexican descent. An
assistant coach also seemed to deliberately throw footballs to
players near where Sainz was standing on the sideline during
practice.
The NFL also reacted Tuesday when Clinton Portis, the outspoken
running back for the Washington Redskins, said in his weekly
appearance on a radio: "I think you put women reporters in the
locker room in position to see guys walking around naked, and you
sit in the locker room with 53 guys, and all of the sudden you see
a nice woman in the locker room. I think men are going to tend to
turn and look and want to say something to that woman."
Aiello said the comments were "clearly inappropriate,
offensive, and have no place in the NFL."
Then the Redskins issued a statement by Portis, who said he was
"wrong to make the comments" and that he respects the job
reporters do.
The Redskins said they "will take the necessary steps" to
remind players about acting in a professional manner.
"I didn't address it with the team, but I did talk to
Clinton," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday. "I think
everybody read Clinton's apology, and my conversation with him is
private, but I think he said what he needed to say."
League policy further states that women reporters are "assigned
to cover NFL teams for the same reasons as their male counterparts
- because they are professional reporters with an interest in
sports. When female reporters are in your locker room, they are
there in a professional capacity."
AWSM said it was in contact with the NFL about Portis' remarks
and appreciated the league's swift response.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said league representatives spoke to
specific players on Tuesday as part of its investigation into what
happened. He also volunteered to talk to the NFL.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
