Source: Vikings tampered with Favre

[Brando19]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8351554/Source:-Packers-say-Vikings-tampered-with-Favre

As the days roll by, the Brett Favre saga seems to get stranger and stranger. Now the soap opera has shifted to a new level.

In the latest twist, the Packers have filed tampering charges with the league office against the Minnesota Vikings for alleged communication with Favre, still technically a member of Green Bay, FOXSports.com has learned. The league, according to a source, is currently in information-gathering mode, speaking to members of both teams.

The Vikings were informed late last week that the allegation is that Favre has had inappropriate dialogue with Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a close Favre friend and former assistant coach with the Packers. Favre has sought his release from Green Bay and several rumors have swirled that Minnesota is his targeted landing place, largely due to his relationship with Bevell.

League sources say the Vikings vehemently denied any wrongdoing and are awaiting the league's next step in the process. The Packers, meanwhile, have supplied the league with their version of wrongdoing.

Should the league find the Vikings guilty of tampering, they could lose draft picks and/or face fines.

The entire affair escalated to an ugly level this week when Favre conducted an interview with FOX News' Greta Van Susteren in which the living legend took the Packers to task for refusing to release him. In fact, a leaked version of the transcript had Favre blasting GM Ted Thompson, but in another odd twist, that portion of the interview has not been shown on the air.

The Packers have refused to grant the league's all-time leading passer's request for a release due in part to their fear that he would sign with the Vikings. Despite the wave of speculation, Vikings head coach Brad Childress insists that Tarvaris Jackson is his guy.

The entire affair is unfortunate, as Favre is more synonymous with Green Bay than any other player is with a city. At the same time, however, fans are now forced to make judgments for or against their hometown hero/team.

Calls by FOXSports.com to head coaches of both teams have not yet been returned.

[packinpatland]

So.........how truthful is this one?

[falco]

just heard this on NFL network, those rascally vikings

[Zool]

Fine, trade him to the Vikes for 9 picks. Make him the next Hershel Walker.

[falco]

Fine, trade him to the Vikes for 9 picks. Make him the next Hershel Walker.

i find it interesting that the packers have actually filed tampering charges - should make the opening day game even more contentious

[Lurker64]

Well, when the Bears were victims of tampering they ended up moving up in the draft, maybe we'll get better draft position too!

[RashanGary]

Oh, the tangled web we weave

I'm a big pro Packer guy in this whole ordeal. I'm really, really ready to move on from Favre but the one thing I don't want is for him to go to the team in our division that has everything but a QB. We might not need Favre, but he dramatically improves their biggest weakness. Hopefully the Vikes lose a draft pick and some money over this.

[SMACKTALKIE]

Apparently Bevell and Favre speak to each other from time to time. This should be interesting.

[SMACKTALKIE]

http://www.profootballtalk.com

PACKERS FILE TAMPERING CHARGES AGAINST VIKINGS
Posted by Josh Alper on July 16, 2008, 6:57 p.m.
It looks like Florio wasn’t the only one curious about conversations between Brett Favre and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Jay Glazer of Fox is reporting that the Pack have filed tampering charges with the league about alleged conversations between the two men. The league is currently investigating the matter and gathering information by talking to people on both teams. Glazer’s sources say the Vikings “vehemently deny” that there’s been any wrongdoing. The penalty for tampering is loss of draft picks and/or a fine.

Despite Brad Childress’s protestations, many believe that the Vikings are Favre’s ideal team for the 2008 season. Bevell was his quarterback coach in Green Bay for a season and the team is in very good shape outside of the quarterback position. They’re also the team the Packers would least like to see Favre playing for in the fall. If they knew the Vikings wouldn’t sign Favre, they might be more amenable to releasing him as he desires.

Following that logic, the tampering claim could be a way of scaring the Vikings off their pursuit of Favre. Tampering is difficult to prove but if the Vikings signed Favre right when he became available they’d certainly appear guilty.

[Rastak]

Yea, word is they talk fairly regularly so phone records can't be evidence because conversations are allowed, just not about playing for your team.

If Favre says they talked (assuming they did), then the charges are most likely upheld.

I wouldn't be too shocked if it was mentioned in private conversation, a violation of the rules. I'd also be shocked if the league could prove it, unless Favre offers TT an olive branch.

I'll say they did, then you make me the starter!

[MJZiggy]

Weren't a few of us asking about tampering all the way back to when the rumors were flying that Bus was trying to shop Favre around? Interesting new twist, though I wouldn't call it shocking or anything.

[Brando19]

Yea, word is they talk fairly regularly so phone records can't be evidence because conversations are allowed, just not about playing for your team.

If Favre says they talked (assuming they did), then the charges are most likely upheld.

I wouldn't be too shocked if it was mentioned in private conversation, a violation of the rules. I'd also be shocked if the league could prove it, unless Favre offers TT an olive branch.

I'll say they did, then you make me the starter!

Haha, Ras Ras Ras. You just don't wanna believe the fact that the Vikings get a giant erection when thinking about Favre being on their team.

[motife]

http://www.fanhouse.com/2008/03/24/nfl-busts-49ers-for-lance-briggs-tampering-bears-will-get-draft/

NFL Busts 49ers for Lance Briggs Tampering, Bears Will Get Draft Compensation
Posted Mar 24th 2008 6:20PM by Michael David Smith

In a rare case of a team being sanctioned by the league for impermissible contact with a player, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled in favor of the Bears and against the 49ers in the tampering case surrounding linebacker Lance Briggs.

The punishment: The 49ers will forfeit their fifth-round pick in this year's NFL draft, and the teams will trade their picks in the third round of the draft, meaning Chicago will get the seventh pick in the third round while San Francisco will get the 12th pick in the third round.

Goodell ruled that the 49ers committed tampering by contacting Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to talk about Briggs during the 2007 season. The 49ers and Bears almost pulled off a trade in 2007, but Briggs ultimately finished the season with the Bears and then signed a long-term contract extension to stay in Chicago this month.

So, for the 49ers, it's a loss of one draft pick and the diminished value of another, all for trying to tamper with a player -- and not even succeeding. Not the smartest of moves for the San Francisco front office.

[RashanGary]

It's all coming together though. Favre does not want to be traded so he will not apply for reinstatement. He wants to do everything he can to get released.


Damn, this thing is going to be ugly I have a feeling.

[MJZiggy]

Likely not any more because if Favre tried his damndest to get released and the Packers relent, then the Vikes look guilty as sin if Favre joins them.