Locker-room security scrutinized
MEXICO CITY — The runup to this weekend’s NFL game in Mexico City between the Raiders and New England Patriots is bringing back memories of one infamous incident: the case of Tom Brady’s missing jersey.
Few people have forgotten that it was a Mexican reporter who stole the jersey Brady wore in last season’s come-frombehind Super Bowl victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
On Thursday, a leading Mexican newspaper published a story with the headline: “Jerseys of NFL players will be protected at Azteca Stadium.”
El Universal reported that the Raiders and Patriots plan to implement extra safety measures in the locker rooms in a “discreet manner.”
The newspaper didn’t detail what those extra precautionary
measures will entail.
Michael Signora, a spokesman for the NFL, rejected the notion that the incident would cause the NFL to take extra precautions only in Mexico.
“The standard NFL policy is in effect in Mexico,” Signora said. “The postgame policy remains unchanged and there is nothing different at all about it.”
Credentialed media will have access to the team locker rooms after a 10- to 12-minute coolingoff period following the game, Signora said.
Brady’s Super Bowl jersey was taken by Mauricio Ortega, former news director of La Prensa, a medium-size daily newspaper in Mexico. Video showed Ortega walking into the Patriots’ locker room immediately after the game, wearing credentials that did not allow him to enter at that time.
He walked out minutes later with Brady’s jersey under his arm, just as other reporters were being let in.
The FBI later recovered the jersey in Ortega’s home, in addition to other clothing and equipment from Brady.
Personnel report: The Raiders regained one starting offensive lineman Thursday but lost another.
Left tackle Donald Penn returned to practice after being absent Wednesday for a noninjury reason. However, right tackle Marshall Newhouse (hip/quadriceps) did not practice after being limited Wednesday.
Newhouse has missed one game this season, in Week 7 against the Chiefs, because of a foot injury. Vadal Alexander replaced him at right tackle.
Cornerback David Amerson (foot), who has missed the past two games, also did not practice. Amerson was running on the side with a trainer during position drills. Guard Gabe Jackson (ankle), linebacker Cory James (knee) and fullback Jamize Olawale (hamstring) were limited.
Missed that: When the Raiders held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the site of their future stadium in Las Vegas, the attendees included team owner
Mark Davis and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who donned hard hats and wielded shovels. But the spectacle eluded one prominent Raider.
Asked Wednesday if he’d watched the ceremony, quarterback David Carr answered: “No, I did not. I did not. To be honest, I didn’t know it was happening until I saw it pop up on the phone, and I was like, ‘Oh sick, they did it.’ I was not paying attention.”