Rams' Jeff Fisher angry over report on Michael Sam's shower habits
St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher is upset with ESPN for airing a report by Josina Anderson that touched on the showering habits of rookie Michael Sam, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Sam is trying to become the first openly gay player on a NFL team's roster.
On Tuesday, Anderson answered a question about how Sam was fitting into the locker room with his teammates by quoting an anonymous Rams player, who told Anderson he knew about Sam's shower habits with the team.
"I'm extremely disappointed in her piece," Fisher told thePost-Dispatchon Wednesday. "I think it's unethical. I think it's very, very unprofessional. Not only the piece itself, the content. The manner in which she did it."
The day after the report aired, ESPN apologized, saying the network failed to meet standards in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-related reporting.
Fisher said ESPN president John Skipper called the team to apologize as well.
Tony Dungy praises Michael Sam's preseason performance
Rams defensive end Chris Longtweeted criticism of ESPNlater that afternoon.
Fisher is also upset because Anderson did not go through the team's PR staff to contact the players she used for her story.
Jeff Fisher: Michael Sam won't be judged on special teams work
From the Post-Dispatch:
"We have a media policy, and we're very flexible," Fisher said. "We have open practices. Players are available. We have open locker rooms.
"Obviously she came in, in all likelihood to see if there was gonna be a roster move at the 75 cutdown as it relates to Mike Sam. That didn't happen. But she needed to do something, and it's my understanding that she manufactured this story.
"She was out of line because she went and contacted several players on their personal time. Misled them with questions and then put this piece together."
Sam has three sacks in the Rams' three preseason games.
The Rams have until 4 p.m. ET on Saturday to cut their roster to 53 players.
NFL upholds Josh Gordon's one-year suspension
GALLERY: SI'S 60 GREATEST NFL PHOTOS
60 Greatest NFL Photos
1954
1958
1960
1960
1962
1962
1964
1966
1968
1968
1968
1968
1969
1969
1970
1971
1971
1972
1973
1973
1973
1973
1974
1974
1976
1979
1982
1982
1983
1984
1986
1988
1989
1991
1994
1994
1994
1994
1994
1995
1996
1999
1999
2001
2001
2002
2003
2003
2003
2004
2006
2008
2009
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2012
2012
- Sarah Barshop