NFL talks to female reporter about Jets' behavior
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After a summer in the spotlight, the Jets are under scrutiny again.
The "Hard Knocks" stars are being investigated by the NFL for the way Jets players and coaches carried on when they were visited by a female reporter from a Mexican TV network during the team's practice Saturday.
Ines Sainz, of Mexico's TV Azteca, said on her Twitter account Saturday that she felt "very uncomfortable!" in the Jets' locker room, where a few players let loose with some "Whooo-weee!" catcalls as she waited with two male co-workers to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is of Mexican descent.
"Of course you feel it when you are being stared at and when you are being spoken of in a certain way," Sainz told The Associated Press. "I opted to ignore it ... I tried to not even pay attention."
She tweeted in Spanish on Saturday night that she tried "not to look anywhere!!"
"It was an uncomfortable moment because you are in the team's dressing room and they are obviously changing clothes, showering - doing what they do every day in the locker room," Sainz said. "So being a woman, obviously it was a bit uncomfortable."
Sainz also thanked supporters Monday on Twitter for their concern.
"I already spoke to the NFL and it will be up to them to decide whether or not there will be consequences!!" she tweeted.
Sainz was at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Monday night and had a seat in the press box for New York's 10-9 season-opening loss to Baltimore. She was not seen in the Jets' locker room after the game.
"No. 1, we never want anyone around our team to be uncomfortable," Jets coach Rex Ryan said after the game. "We're cooperating with the NFL and we'll get down to it, so I don't really want to comment more than that on it."
During defensive back drills on Saturday, Jets assistant coach Dennis Thurman seemed to deliberately throw to players near where Sainz was standing on the sideline. Even linebacker Jason Taylor, who normally doesn't participate in those position drills, went out for a pass.
At the end of the drill, Ryan threw a pass to Thurman, who caught it, ran toward Sainz and appeared to speak to her very briefly.
"Obviously, we know about it and I understand the league is looking into it," Taylor said, "and we'll wait and see what they talk about."
When asked if he thought what occurred in the locker room was offensive, Taylor said: "We'll let the league figure this out and talk about it later. I really can't speak on it."
The Association for Women in Sports Media said a board member spoke to Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Sunday about the reports. Also, team owner Woody Johnson spoke to Sainz, telling her "he expects all members of the Jets organization to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times," Jets spokesman Bruce Speight said.
Sainz said she talked on Sunday with NFL officials.
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