Jets Accused Of Trying To Pummel Mexico’s Top Female Sports Reporter
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The NFL is investigating an incident at the New York Jets practice Saturday in which players and one coach are alleged to have tried to run into female reporter Ines Sainz of Mexico’s TV Azteca during a passing drill.
“When we first heard of it, we immediately started the process of looking into it,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told USA TODAY on Sunday. “It’s troubling. We’ve had contact with the team multiple times and are moving very aggressively to establish the facts.”
Aiello said Commissioner Roger Goodell was aware of reports of the incident. “He feels the same way and wants the facts,” Aiello said.
Later Sunday, Aiello e-mailed USA TODAY: “We are continuing our fact finding. We will be speaking to Ines today (Sunday) as part of the process.”
Update: The Association of Women in Sports Media (AWSM) requested the NFL look into the incident of behalf of Sainz, who was attending practice to interview Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for Mexico’s TV Azteca.
“AWSM, the NFL and Jets have been in contact since Saturday evening regarding this situation. Both the NFL and Jets were responsive to our concerns and are investigating the matter. We are awaiting the results of the investigation and further action from the NFL and Jets. AWSM remains steadfast in its long-standing committment to ensure all women in sports media are treated respectfully, equally and professionally while working in the locker room. We will remain on top of this situation.”
Pro Football Talk reported Sainz was greeted in the locker room by catcalls and hooting. When a reporter approached Sainz to see if she was OK, lineman Kris Jenkins yelled, “This is our locker room!”
Members of the Jets public-relations staff were present and did not discourage the behavior, according to PFT.
Sainz discussed the experience on her Twitter account:
“I die of embarrassment!” she wrote in Spanish.
“I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look to anywhere!”
Update: Bruce Speight, senior director of media relations for the Jets, released the following statement:
“The New York Jets believe that reporters have a job to do and it is our obligation to provide them with proper and professional access. Woody Johnson spoke with Ines Sainz of TV Azteca today to discuss the time she spent covering the team yesterday. He stressed to Ines that he expects all members of the Jets organization to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. We will continue to work with the League to gather the facts and take any appropriate steps necessary to maintain a respectful environment for the media.”
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