Longtime NFL Sideline Reporter, Ed Werder, In His Own Damning Words

Ed Werder was a longtime NFL reporter for ESPN, beginning in 1998 until he was laid off in 2017. He was a staple at ESPN, and as I recall, people were pretty shocked when ESPN let him go as a part of a large round of layoffs at the network. He is now a sideline reporter for Westwood One radio.

Here’s a Twitter exchange he had this morning. I’m going to let you all draw your own conclusions about Werder based upon these tweets:

Sports Illustrated is hiring an entry-level breaking news writer based in NYC. Come join our team: https://t.co/UOlFMefXuc

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 18, 2018

If you can stand sitting near me in the office this is a v cool opportunity. Especially if you're a woman trying to get into sports, you should message me — DMs are open https://t.co/CI6uyFQAKV

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018

So men need not apply? Any others ineligible? https://t.co/GwcCrFtmak

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Oh WOW you're right, Ed, sorry for attempting to make sports media more than 10% female, my bad

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018

I just always associated SI with hiring the best regardless of race, sex and other factors. https://t.co/hIMoWpbHfS

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Well unfortunately a lot of women and people of color who ARE the best often get passed over during hiring processes at EVERY publication, so it's important to make an extra effort

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018

Oh so you’re saying the rest of the industry is racist and sexist except for you. https://t.co/lGkwqtBMHu

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Can you even read? It's truly astounding that THAT is what you're taking away from these tweets

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018

Just read aloud what you WROTE. You essentially made it clear you’re excluding males regardless of ability. I READ the words you wrote. https://t.co/kO0x9TTZRa

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

This is clearly not a productive conversation but thanks for amplifying the job posting with your quote tweets, appreciate it

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018

Make sure you hire the best applicant, regardless of the rest. https://t.co/RxsyEAyNgn

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Wow. This is particularly disappointing coming from someone like you, Ed. No wonder so many women view the industry as hostile toward us.

— Sarah Baicker (@sbbaicker) June 18, 2018

Except I’m not the one who excluded anybody. She did that. I opened it to all applicants and encouraged them to hire the best. https://t.co/V2k9szIVjM

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

@TheWilderThings encouraging women to apply for a position isn't the same thing as "excluding" men. it's helping female applicants network, which can be a challenge given the massive gender imbalance in our industry (which I'm sure you know exists).

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 18, 2018

Read her original post as an aspiring young male sports writer and tell me she’s not disqualifying you from getting the job. https://t.co/cs2FVTCJk8

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Did you get laid off from Espn in favor of a woman? Why so upset?

— murph (@MMurphy226) June 18, 2018

Because next week I’m going to be standing in front of a broadcasting class of young people and some will be males and I have to tell them they have the same chance at jobs like those one as all others. https://t.co/XYAvjmRrij

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

I feel like there’s only one acceptable response to this.