Story originally printed in the Coulee News or online at www.couleenews.com
Published - Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Packers files tampering charges against Vikings in Favre fiasco
GREEN BAY — On the same day that Brett Favre's agent claimed that the next move in the quarterback's ongoing unretirement saga belonged to the Green Bay Packers, news broke of the club's boldest move yet: The Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings, alleging their NFC North division rivals had "inappropriate dialogue" with Favre, who technically still is Green Bay's property.
FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer first reported the story Wednesday evening, and two NFL sources confirmed that the Packers are indeed pursuing tampering charges against the Vikings, claiming Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell — the former University of Wisconsin quarterback and Favre's former position coach with the Packers — violated NFL rules in talking to Favre since Favre began contemplating a comeback.
Bevell is known to be good friends with Favre and the two men have talked frequently since Bevell left the Packers organization.
One of the league sources said Wednesday evening that the NFL office has contacted both clubs, and that the Vikings are denying any wrongdoing.
Glazer reported that the league currently is in "information-gathering mode" and is talking with both sides. Glazer also reported that the Vikings learned of the accusation late last week.
Those same two league sources, both of which are familiar with the Packers, had told the State Journal last week that the club was considering filing tampering charges against the Vikings, but the team hadn't committed to doing so at that point.
The team was suspicious when it received a letter from Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, in which he asked for Favre's unconditional release.
Because Favre is on the Packers' reserve/retired list, they maintain his rights.
It is against NFL rules for a team to contact him or his agent without the Packers' consent.
Tampering is difficult to prove, but if found guilty, the Vikings could be fined or lose draft picks.
The Chicago Bears recently won a judgment against the San Francisco 49ers regarding linebacker Lance Briggs, and as punishment, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stripped the 49ers of their fifth-round draft pick and ordered them to trade spots with the Bears in the third round, moving the Bears up five slots to No. 70 overall.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would have no comment on the report.
A Packers spokesman did not return a message seeking comment, and general manager Ted Thompson was not available for comment.
An obvious landing spot?
The Vikings have been speculated as the ideal landing spot for Favre and are a chic pick for Super Bowl XLII because of their an excellent defense and Adrian Peterson-led running game.
Coach Brad Childress, a former UW assistant, runs a version of the West Coast offense similar to the one Mike Sherman ran in Green Bay, and in addition to Bevell, ex-Packers Ryan Longwell, Darren Sharper and Robert Ferguson are on the Minnesota roster.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune asked Childress about Favre recently, but Childress has had no public comment on the possibility of Favre playing for the Vikings because that would be clear violation of tampering rules.
Childress instead spoke glowingly of current starter Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson said on Wednesday that while he appreciated Childress' vote of confidence earlier this week, "Just the caliber of player Brett Favre is, anybody would be glad to have him."
Ironically, the Packers are scheduled to retire Favre's No. 4 at a ceremony at Lambeau Field during the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Vikings on "Monday Night Football."
Later Wednesday night, Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren ran a third, initially unplanned installment of her 45-minute interview with Favre, taped Monday.
In the segment that ran Tuesday, Van Susteren asked Favre about the possibility of playing for "Minneapolis," meaning the Vikings.
"I've never envisioned that," Favre replied. "I've heard all the talk like everyone else. It's hard not to. But that's always been our biggest rivalry, obviously (also) with the Bears. Did I ever think of that? No. Did I ever think it would happen? Absolutely not. In my getting a release, obviously it gives you an option."
Can we get that in writing?
Earlier Wednesday, Cook, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that he and Favre are taking a wait-and-see approach with when they'll formally petition the NFL for reinstatement — the next step toward Favre playing in the NFL in 2008.
"We have no definite plans to ask for reinstatement," Cook said. "Right now we have until the sixth week (of the regular season to come back) and Brett has made it pretty clear that he is not willing to come in as a backup.
"If he asks for reinstatement and they start fining him $15,000 a day (for not reporting to training camp), well, that just doesn't make sense," Cook said. "We're going to let Green Bay decide what they want to do. It's their move."
The Packers have already said that the team will not give Favre his unconditional release, in part because they don't want Favre signing with an NFC North rival such as the Vikings.
Favre, who tearfully announced his retirement March 6 and was placed on the reserve/retired list April 25, told Van Susteren on Monday that "it is tempting" to come to training camp to "call their bluff," but also said that he doesn't want to report "just to stick it to" the Packers.
Favre is planning to show up to another Packers-related event, however. He is slated to present his former teammate and friend, center Frank Winters, at the Packers Hall of Fame induction banquet at Lambeau Field on Saturday night.
Winters, nose tackle Gilbert Brown and video director Al Treml will be inducted, and organizers are still expecting Favre to attend. However, a media advisory sent out earlier this week said presenters won't be available to reporters to talk about anything other than the enshrinee they're presenting and will not take questions.
Even so, it could be pretty awkward for Favre to set foot back in Lambeau Field after suggesting Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy lied to him and claiming he couldn't trust Thompson after various things the GM said to him in the past, regarding issues in addition to his potential comeback.
The next date on the calendar where things could get awkward is July 24, when Thompson and team president Mark Murphy will speak at the team's annual shareholders meeting at Lambeau Field.
All stories copyright 2006 Coulee News and other attributed sources.