NFL talks to Jets in probe of conduct toward reporter

NFL security officials visited the Jets' facility Tuesday to interview coaches, players and reporters as part of their investigation into the treatment of a female TV journalist during and after practice Saturday.

Rex Ryan, who was among the coaches interviewed, said he was not in the locker room when some players directed suggestive hoots at Ines Sainz of the Mexican network TV Azteca.

But Ryan was on the practice field earlier when some coaches and players playfully ran routes near Sainz on the sideline to get closer to her.

"Everybody should be comfortable and that, to me, is who we are," Ryan said. "We're an open team, probably as open as anybody. We try to provide access to all our players and coaches.

"I think every reporter should be comfortable, and that's the way it is. It's a workplace for every reporter here, as well as the players and everybody here.''

Asked if the team would take sensitivity training, Ryan said: "It's something we'll look into. Bring people in that maybe will help us provide that kind of environment. We're certainly open to that.''

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said it was "premature" to say whether there will be any league-issued sanctions. "We don't have all the facts yet," he said. "[Jets owner] Woody Johnson has already taken steps to ensure proper conduct in the workplace."

After speaking to several media outlets - including Newsday - before and during Monday's Jets game, Sainz appeared Tuesday on the national morning shows of CBS, NBC and ABC.

She continued to describe an "uncomfortable" atmosphere and to defend the right of women in locker rooms to have a respectful work environment, but she also has expressed surprise at the amount of attention Saturday's incident has received.

The debate over Sainz took a strange turn Tuesday when Redskins running back Clinton Portis weighed in with his take on female reporters in locker rooms.

Speaking on Washington's 106.7 The Fan, Portis said it is difficult to expect women not to take note of "guys walking around naked" and of players not to take note of attractive women in their presence.

"You put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody's got to be appealing to her," he said.

The NFL said Portis' comments were "clearly inappropriate, offensive and have no place in the NFL."

Later in the day, Portis issued a statement through the Redskins, apologizing. "I was wrong to make the comments I did, and I apologize," he said.