Jets Follow Patriots Down Harassment Road

Just days before the brash and self-confident New York Jets are set to kick off their 2010 football season, the team learned that it will have to back up its talk in an entirely different arena first.

Before they even step on the field, the Jets will have to answer to National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell first.

Like most meetings between Goodell and the players, this one will have to do with an investigation into the Jets players harassing a former beauty queen turned television reporter during their Saturday practice and again afterwards in the locker room.

The reporter in question is Ines Sainz, a reporter for TV Azteca, a Mexican television network, who was on site to interview Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Rather than get just her interview, Ms. Sainz was allegedly degraded with cat-calls and players staring during practice, while also being treated to sexually suggestive comments inside the locker room. While some were suggestive, some were very blatant; including defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman's over-throwing of passes in order to have the ball land new Sainz, allowing players to get a closer look.

If the reports are true and the NFL returns from its investigation, this could be hugely damning to a Jets team that has made waves this summer by running their mouths to the rest of the league. Make no mistake about it, Roger Goodell will suspend and fine both players and coaches if the investigation turns up evidence against the Jets.

Such a case is hardly new to the NFL. One only has to think back to 1985 to see the most blatant example of harassment in the NFL. During the 1985 NFL season, Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson was in the New England Patriots locker room when players grossly stepped over the line, intentionally walking naked in front of the reporter, fondling themselves, and making other suggestive comments and gestures. An independent investigation found that the Patriots players had engaged in what Olson termed as "mind rape." The players involved were fined for their actions by then commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the team was also fined for not acting appropriately on the complaints, which included derogatory comments by Patriots owner Victor Kiam toward Olson. Olson also reached a financial settlement with the team in 1991

Whether or not Sainz's complaints escalade to the level of the Patriots issue with Olson is not yet known, but Commissioner Goodell has shown in recent year that he will not put up with anything that has a damning affect on the image of the NFL. The Ben Roethlisberger suspension alone will bear some weight on this investigation, given how Roethlisberger was suspended for four games based on a sexual assault accusation that wasn't even prosecuted.

Given the scope of the complaint, the Jets could be looking at possible suspensions in addition to fines. Given their Super Bowl attitudes and aspirations, that may be a lot to overcome.

Sources:

NFL Looks Into Possible Harassment By Jets, NYTimes.com

NY Jets Alleged Harassment of Ines Sainz.., NYDailyNews.com

Sports Writer Lisa Olson Call Patriots..., People.com

Lisa Olson, Wikipedia.com