Charissa Thompson of Fox Sports and Thursday Night Football made the stunning confession this week that she made up quotes from coaches when she was a sideline reporter. (Watch the video below.)

The revelation drew fire from prominent peers such as CBS Sports Tracy Wolfson and ESPN/ABCs Molly McGrath. It also drew a retraction of sorts from Thompson.

The controversy began with Thompsons remarks on the Pardon My Take podcast.

Ive said this before, so I havent been fired for saying it, but Ill say it again. I would make up the report sometimes, Thompson said. Because, A, the coach wouldnt come out at halftime, or it was too late and I didnt want to screw up the report, so I was like, Im just going to make this up.

Thompson blithely recalled the cliches she would pass off as real quotes.

No coach is going to get mad if I say, Hey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, We need to be better on third down. ... Theyre not not gonna correct me on that, so Im like, fine, Ill just make up the report.