Washington Redskins RB Clinton Portis’ comments on female reporters irk league, team
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Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis wasn’t familiar with the way some members of the New York Jets allegedly treated female reporter Ines Sainz over the weekend, but that didn’t stop him from expressing an opinion on the general topic.
“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,” Portis said in response to a question about the Sainz situation during his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan.
He went on to look at the situation from a female reporter’s perspective.
“You put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody got to be appealing to her,” Portis said. “You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she’s going to want somebody. I don’t know what kind of woman won’t, if you get to go and look at 53 men’s [bodies] … I know you’re doing a job, but at the same time, the same way I’m going to cut my eye if I see somebody worth talking to, I’m sure they do the same thing.”
Judy Battista of the New York Times tweeted this response from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello: ‘The comments are clearly inappropriate, offensive and and have no place in the NFL. We have contacted the Redskins & they will discuss the matter directly w/Mr. Portis.’
The Redskins Insider tweeted: ‘Skins are very aware of Clinton Portis’s comments today on the radio. Statement expected this afternoon.’
[Updated at 1 p.m.: Portis has apologized in a statement issued by the Redskins, saying he “was wrong to make the comments” and that he respects the job reporters do. The team added that it ‘will take the necessary steps” to remind players about acting in a professional manner.]
Jets Coach Rex Ryan said NFL representatives are at the team’s training facility to talk to specific players about the treatment of Sainz and that Ryan also volunteered to talk to the investigators, the Associated Press is reporting.
Sainz 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 for Mexico’s TV Azteca.
It was also reported that an assistant coach seemed to deliberately throw to players near where Sainz was standing on the sideline during practice.
-- Chuck Schilken
