Saints Media Relations Policies | NewOrleansSaints.com

Members of the media are encouraged to carefully review the following procedures, reminded that these are subject to change.

INTERVIEW REQUESTS

The Saints respectfully ask that all interview requests, for any member of the organization, be submitted through the team's media relations office. Players, coaches or staff should not be contacted by media directly by telephone, e-mail, or via social media, including Twitter.

INTERIM HEAD COACH DARREN RIZZI INTERVIEWS:

Darren Rizzi is available after after every game. During the regular season, he will meet with the media on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Those requesting individual interviews should contact Doug Miller (doug.miller@saints.nfl.com).

GENERAL MANAGER MICKEY LOOMIS INTERVIEWS

Media wishing to request interviews with the Saints' general manager should contact Doug Miller (doug.miller@saints.nfl.com). Interviews are scheduled as time allows.

ASSISTANT COACH INTERVIEWS

Assistant coaches are available by request at the end of each month in season, provided the request is made at least 24 hours in advance. During a regular-season Sunday game week, coordinators are only available on Fridays, while other assistants are only available at the end of each month. Following games, Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi is the only coach available for comment.

PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Players are available after games and during practice weeks, and all one-on-one requests should be made through the media relations office. With respect to all players, the Saints make players available to accredited media during open locker room following practice on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Mondays will be either two players available via conference call or an open locker room period.

Practice Access & Photography/Videography Guidelines

Accredited members of the media that regularly cover the Saints are welcome to attend approximately 30 minutes, or until the "team" portion, of regular-season practices. Photography and videography is allowed, during the stretch period. The team reserves the right to limit photography to certain periods due to competitive-advantage reasons. During any practice open to the media, visiting media should stand at a safe distance and hold all belongings, including bags and video cameras. Tripods are not allowed in the indoor facility during practice for safety reasons.

Practice Reporting Policy

Photos and Video: During most practices, photography is only allowed during stretch and specific drills.

Tactical Information: As consistent with the past, nothing can be reported that is of a tactical nature. Formations, who is lining up where, who is rushing the quarterback (and from where), gimmick plays, etc. are included in tactical information.

Injuries: Saints' policy is that the media are not allowed to report on injuries that happen during practice until such time as Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi addresses the situation following practice.

Electronic and Battery-Powered Equipment: When the team is practicing in the indoor facility and/or when the practices are closed to the public, use of cell phones, Twitter, social media postings, blogging, etc. are prohibited. When practices are open to the public, media are allowed to tweet, blog, etc., with the exception of reporting on injuries and tactical information (please see above).

Live Broadcasting of Content: Interview availabilities, open practice sessions and other team activities where the club holds a football-related activity may not be broadcast live by an individual or media outlet, even with social media applications, without prior written approval from the Saints communications staff.

Information regarding practices open only to the media, press conferences or media availabilities (time, participants, location) is not for public distribution or to be posted on social media channels prior to the conclusion of the availability unless otherwise noted. Failure to adhere to guidelines can result in the exclusion and/or removal from future notifications of availabilities. Repeated violations can result in the loss of all credentialed privileges. Please contact any member of the Saints Communications Department if you have any questions.

Postgame Interviews

ON-FIELD POSTGAME INTERVIEWS: All Saints players and coaches must report to the locker room prior to conducting interviews. Other than network contractual obligations, there are no interviews allowed on the field in the minutes immediately following a home or road game.

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS: The Saints will open their locker room to media following the NFL's mandatory cooling-off period after each game. Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi will conduct his postgame news conference in the interview room adjacent to the Saints locker room. The visiting team's head coach and selected players will be available in the interview room located adjacent to the visitor's locker room near Gate A.

Online Content Policy

Accredited organizations may distribute online non-game audio and video content, including interviews, press conferences and team practices at NFL venues, acquired as a result of credentialed access ("Game Information") to games or club/league facilities provided that such distribution: Is 90 seconds maximum per day (180 seconds in two-team markets, 90 seconds per team); may not be "archived" (i.e. made available for on-demand public access) for more than 24 hours; appears in an editorial context only (no sponsorship, merchandising or advertising integrated with or around the content); is not posted live, and is accompanied by links back to NFL.com and to the club Web site. The 90-second limit does not include video/audio material that is comprised entirely of a credentialed media employee providing commentary or analysis ("Talking Head" reporting), including pre- or postgame stand-up material shot on the field or other facility location. While a game is in progress, any forms of accounts of the game must be sufficiently time-delayed and limited in amount (e.g. score updates with detail given only in quarterly game updates, fewer than 10 photographs during the game) so that the accredited organization's game coverage cannot be used as a substitute for, or otherwise approximate, authorized play-by-play accounts.

Credential Requests

Credential requests will be honored only for working media on specific assignment for a recognized news or sports organization. Credentials will not be issued to freelance writers or photographers. All single-game requests must be received by 5 p.m. (CST) on the Monday prior to each Sunday home game. All full-season and single-game credential requests must be submitted by an editor or sports director to the media relations department.

Parking

Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for parking passes, but due to limited space, parking cannot be provided for all credentialed media. Television trucks that provide satellite, uplink or microwave functions will need to make prior arrangements with a member of the Saints' media relations office.

Media Entrance/Media Will Call

The media entrance and media will call is located in the NW parking garage 6 ground level of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Each media member must pick up his/her own individual credential and present corresponding photo identification. Photographers and videographers can retrieve appropriate sideline vests at check-in.

Photographers

Sideline access for NFL games is limited to photographers and videographers on assignment for recognized news or sports organizations. All field photographers must remain outside the bench areas and outside the yellow border (dots) surrounding the playing field. All media (photographers, videographers and sideline reporters) working on the field during the game must wear a vest that can be obtained at media will call. Credentials will not be provided to "grips" due to on-field space limitations. The photo work room is located just outside the media will call entrance.

Broadcast Services

The broadcast booth is located on the third floor and can be accessed via elevator 7. Programs, lineups, flip cards, statistics and game notes will be provided for each home game. Game stats are provided at the end of each quarter. Complete team and individual statistics are available after the game.

Press Box Services

The press box is located on the seventh floor and can be accessed via the press elevator 8. Programs, lineups, flip cards, statistics and game notes will be provided for each home game. Game stats are provided at the end of each quarter. Complete team and individual statistics are available after the game.

Pool Reporter

As assigned by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA), the New Orleans pool reporter for the 2021 season is Larry Holder of The Athletic.