Coach Wyche’s Ban on Press May Cost Bengals

CINCINNATI — The Bengals may face a reprimand or a fine from the National Football League for allowing Coach Sam Wyche to bar reporters from the team locker room after Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Seattle.

Joe Browne, the NFL’s communications director, said the league will investigate. NFL spokesman Pete Abitante said the Bengals could be reprimanded.

Don Pierson of the Chicago Tribune, president of the Pro Football Writers of America, said Sunday night that he thinks Wyche’s action is unprecedented. Pierson said he had heard of no similar situation in 20 years of covering pro football.

“The Bengals are subject to a fine for this because it violates NFL policy, and I’ve asked the league that they be fined. You just can’t do things like this,” Pierson told the Cincinnati Post for a story published today.

The NFL’s media relations policy, as quoted by Abitante, reads:

“After a reasonable waiting period following a game, defined as no more than five to seven minutes maximum after the door has been closed, the home and visiting team locker room areas will be opened to all accredited media with access to all players and coaches.”

Wyche allowed no media access Sunday, keeping the locker room closed and directing his players to say nothing to reporters outside the locker room.

Abitante said he could not recall a situation of reporters being completely barred. He said the league has dealt with cases in which the locker rooms were not opened in accordance with the policy.

“Basically, we’ve just reminded the team involved of where the league stands on this issue,” he said.

Bengals General Manager Paul Brown said he was unaware that Wyche had closed the locker room. Brown said he assumed Wyche took the action to avoid having the coaches and players face questions about officiating calls that Wyche contested during Cincinnati’s home loss to Seattle.

“It serves no purpose to talk about that because it’s over and done with,” Brown said. “I guess that’s why Sam decided to do what he did with the players.”