Inés Sainz — the 32-year-old Mexican TV reporter who was allegedly harassed by members of the New York Jets during a practice over the weekend, sparking an investigation by the National Football League — told the “Today” show’s Meredith Vieira that she “did not hear anything sexual” during the incident, but other female reporters told her they heard things that were “rude for a woman.”
“The line is being fragile between one or the other,” Sainz said — in broken English — when asked whether she was a victim of sexual harassment or just plain harassment.
Sainz, who attended the Jets' 10-9 season-opening loss to Baltimore on “Monday Night Football,” said the “environment was uncomfortable.” On Monday night, she did not enter the locker room at Giants Stadium, watching the game from the sidelines and, according to NBC, the press box.
She said that Jets owner Woody Johnson called her to apologize on behalf of the team, and she does not plan to press charges or sue. “Whatever the NFL decides,” Sainz said, is fine with her.
Sainz — who appeared on the “Today” show following a segment on teen “robotripping” — reiterated that her attire at Saturday’s practice was appropriate, and defended what Vieira called “provocative” photos posted on both her personal website and page on TV Azteca’s.
“I'm not trying to be provocative,” Sainz said about those photos. “I’m trying to be attractive.”
She added that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez — who Sainz was at practice to interview — was a gentleman.
Sainz, a former Miss Universe contestant, was reportedly subjected to catcalls and juvenile stunts while waiting for practice to end.
According to the Daily News, “players and coaches seemed to intentionally overthrow passes in her direction, whistled at her, openly ogled her and blocked her path as she attempted to walk away.
“Linebacker Jason Taylor reportedly volunteered for the passing drill in hopes of getting near Sainz. Defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman fueled the antics, tossing pigskins in Sainz's direction.”
Sainz later wrote on Twitter (in Spanish) that she was “dying of embarrassment,” adding: "I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look anywhere!"
"We've had contact with the team multiple times,” a spokesperson for NFL commission Roger Goodell said in a statement, “and are moving very aggressively to establish the facts.”
