National Football League

NFL sends message amid Sainz scandal

Published Sep. 16, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The NFL reminded all 32 teams Wednesday about the right way to treat women reporters, following complaints about the behavior of some New York Jets players.

Ines Sainz of Mexico's TV Azteca was at a practice session Saturday doing a story on quarterback Mark Sanchez, and it is alleged one coach and various players tried to run at her and throw balls at her during a passing drill.

Players also allegedly made catcalls and hooting noises in the locker room towards her after practice.

Wednesday's memo reaffirmed NFL 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."

An earlier Jets statement said the team was working with the league "to gather the facts and take any appropriate steps necessary to maintain a respectful environment for the media."

At the request of Jets brass, the Association of Women in Sports Media is hosting an "educational session" with the team in the next week because of the locker-room incident.

"If Jets players, coaches and staff ... are found to have acted in unprofessional and harassing behavior toward Ms. Sainz, we expect and demand reprimand and punishment by the NFL and Jets," the group said.

Sainz said Monday night that she considered the on-field antics "a joke, so I didn't pay attention to it." But she said she took the locker-room catcalls more seriously, noting, "I felt very uncomfortable."

"Women should be treated professionally, and they deserve to be treated with respect," she said.

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