One of the unwritten rules in the ever-evolving world of journalism states that if a writer criticizes a player or coach on any given team, he or she must show their face at practice or in the locker room the next day. The criticized player may choose to ignore the critical writer or there could be conflict. But the writer should show up regardless.
Players are not bound by that specific contract, but typically when a player talks trash about someone else or talks in a braggadocios manner about their own game, they should be able to back it up—or walk it like they talk it.