FOX’s Charissa Thompson admitted she used to do a bit of analysis improvisation on the sidelines when NFL coaches bypassed her.
She admitted that when a coach doesn’t want to talk at halftime or if time becomes an issue, she did a bit of spontaneous reporting.
She received severe backlash from all quarters and reported with a lengthy quote.
“I’ve said this before. I haven’t been fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again. I would make up the report sometimes, because A) the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime, or it was too late and I didn’t want to screw up the report,” she said.
“So I was like, ‘I’m just gonna make this up, because first of all, no coach is gonna get mad if I say, ‘Hey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, we need to be better on third down, we need to stop turning the ball over and do a better job of getting off the field.’ They’re not gonna correct me on that. So I’m like, it’s fine, I’ll just make up the report.”
The backlash was severe and sudden.
Michele Tafoya, a former sideline analyst called it a “professional fraud,” while NBC’s Kathryn Tappen labelled it “deplorable”.
ESPN’s Molly McGrath said, “this is not normal or ethical.”
Thompson took to her Instagram to defend herself, saying, “I’m sorry. I have never lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster.”
“I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and the tireless work they put in behind the scenes and on the field. I am also appreciative and humbled to work alongside some of the best in the business and call them some of my best friends.”
