report, Mortensen's original story remained posted on ESPN as late as August 13, 2015, with no retraction, clarification or apology. Mortensen was to appear on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan radio show on July 31, 2015, but cancelled. According to WEEI, Mortensen stated he "will not allow WEEI, [Patriots owner Robert] Kraft or anybody to make me the centerpiece of a story that has been misreported far beyond anything I did in the first 48 hours." On August 3, 2015, Mortensen was interviewed on ESPN's Dan Le Batard Show regarding his controversial tweet about the under-inflated footballs. Shortly after, he deleted the tweet from Twitter. As of August 27, 2015, Mortensen stands by his initial report. On August 27, Mortensen claimed on the Doug & Wolf Radio Show in Arizona that Patriot's Robert and Jonathan Kraft called him and apologized. Jonathan Kraft rejected that claim, stating, "We don’t blame the reporters, we blame their sources... We haven’t [apologized] and we have no need to. Our issue is with the people who were leaking misinformation." Other work Mortensen is the author of the 1991 book Playing for Keeps: How One Man Kept the Mob from Sinking Its Hooks into Pro Football. Personal life Mortensen is married to Micki Mortensen. Their son, Alex Mortensen, is a coach and former professional quarterback. Mortensen is a Christian. On January 15, 2016, Mortensen announced via an ESPN statement that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer and would consequently be taking a leave of absence from his on-air work at the cable network. References External links American reporters and correspondents American sports radio personalities American male journalists American sportswriters ESPN.com ESPN people ESPN Radio National Football League announcers United States Army soldiers 1951 births Living people 21st-century American journalists