Source: Vikings tampered with Favre

[cpk1994]

http://www.rotoworld.com

The AP reports that Packers officials believe the Vikings' interest drove Brett Favre to have a "sudden change of heart" about retirement.

"They feel like Favre had something (in place), and that's why he was so anxious to get his release all of a sudden," a source said. The Packers reportedly believe taped phone calls submitted to the NFL office will reveal "more than normal contact" between Favre and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Job-related speech with a coach from another team would violate NFL rules because Favre is still under contract with the Pack.

Holy cow, what started as a tampering charge could lead to a federal wiretapping charge on someone.....

Not if the Packers calim they were trying to prevent a terrorist attack.

Actually, I just read the whole story and it sounded more like phone records. It is in the NFL's power to find guilty base on circumstantial evidence. If I recall the evidence against the 49ers was pretty flimsy. It's so hard to prove they like to make a point. One thing that could be a defense is Greta's brilliant question "Would you play for the Minneapolis Vikings"? He said he could envision that. Greta knows her football as a side note.

That question is not a defnese for the Vikings, Ras. Thats circumstancial incrimination. That lends credence to the Packers claim.

[Bretsky]

FESS UP MAN

It wasn't Bevell trying to take Favre into going to the Vikings

It was RASTAK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rastak]

FESS UP MAN

It wasn't Bevell trying to take Favre into going to the Vikings

It was RASTAK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yup, where do you think I got this snazzy tan? Mississippi!

[mngolf19]

I agree. If the ratings weren't going to be high enough for that week 1 game already, they'll be even higher now. And not that anyone needs any, but this becomes bulletin board material.

[The Leaper]

A. There was no infraction. Favre and Bevell have a friendship. They are allowed to talk to each other as friends.

B. This is merely a warning shot that Thompson is firing over the bow of the Viking's love boat. I doubt he expects this to actually hold up, but he did this to make it known to everyone in the league that he is watching.

[cpk1994]

A. There was no infraction. Favre and Bevell have a friendship. They are allowed to talk to each other as friends.

B. This is merely a warning shot that Thompson is firing over the bow of the Viking's love boat. I doubt he expects this to actually hold up, but he did this to make it known to everyone in the league that he is watching.

They can talk to each other, but if Bevell mentioned ANYTHING about coming to Minnesota, that is a voilation of the tampering rules. You cannot state beyond resonable doubt that this isn't an infraction. That is for Goodell to sort out.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I have the belief that the allegations are probably true, but I have my doubts that they can be proven. Didn't anybody else find it strange that Favre doesn't appear to want to work with the Packers on a trade? He knows they'd never trade him within the division. He wants to be released because he doesn't want to "cede control to the Packers." Kind of strange. You'd think he'd know that the Packers own his rights and were paying him $12M/year. You'd think he'd want to help out the Packers--unless he wants to play for a team in the division.

Favre threw Campen under the bus. I wonder if Campen is the Packers source. Maybe he let it known to Campen that the Vikings have shown interest, and this is payback time for Campen. That's just speculation, but it would be interesting. I wonder if Chilly finds Green Bay's "soap opera" more interesting now.

[Fritz]

There are several interesting aspects of this long-running story, and there have been some excellent posts here - thanks for the good reading.

From my perspective, what I find quite interesting about all of this is Favre's apparent continued lack of commitment to coming back. I didn't see this noted (though perhaps it was), but in Favre' interview with Sustern, he commented that he would be 100% committed if he did come back This suggests - to me - that he's not 100% committed at this time. In addition, I find it confusing that Favre or Cook are claiming that the ball is in the Packers' court when in fact they can do nothing at all - release him, trade him, anything - until Favre applies for reinstatement. Which he has not done. Why not?

There may be many conclusions that can be drawn from this, but two strike me as the most obvious (and according to Occam's Razor therefore the most likely): One is that Favre isn't really sure he wants back, but in case he decides he does want back what he wanted originally was the option of being welcomed back (joyfully) by the Packers. When they didn't give him carte blanche to come back any time, he got mad. So now he's striking back out of hurt, and thus this is more about his bruised feelings than any real desire to play. He still seems uncertain as to whether he wants to play football this year.

The other obvious conclusion is that Favre kinda wants to maybe play, but when the Packers did not give him a deadline of, say, training camp, he decided to take his ball and not only go home but then go see if he could play with the Packers' (probable) biggest division rival this year in order to screw the Pack. It would be a big F___ You to the Packers (if of course Favre has a good year the the Queens do really well while the Packers don't).

Are there other fairly obvious possibilities (that account for the facts we know) I'm missing?

Also, earlier Bretsky made reference to a Silverstein article in which the writer wonders how fans/team can complain and whine about a player they no longer are interested in. To me, that's simple: in that regard this is absolutely no different than the Mike Mckenzie or Javon Walker situations. The Packers own the rights (by league rule) to a very talented player who is no longer happy with the team and is causing much disruption. The Packers or fans or both are not so much whining (although there's some of that, perhaps) as they are figuring out what's best for the team.

You'd like to get a return on your investment. So you do care about that investment. I think the logic that since you don't care to have the guy on your team you should just get rid of him is foolish. You've got to try to get something in return for letting the player get out of town. It worked in both Mckenzie's case and in Walker's case. It could work here - if Favre really does want to play and applies for reinstatement. Why let Favre go for free if you can get a draft pick for him?

[Partial]

I have the belief that the allegations are probably true, but I have my doubts that they can be proven. Didn't anybody else find it strange that Favre doesn't appear to want to work with the Packers on a trade? He knows they'd never trade him within the division. He wants to be released because he doesn't want to "cede control to the Packers." Kind of strange. You'd think he'd know that the Packers own his rights and were paying him $12M/year. You'd think he'd want to help out the Packers--unless he wants to play for a team in the division.

Favre threw Campen under the bus. I wonder if Campen is the Packers source. Maybe he let it known to Campen that the Vikings have shown interest, and this is payback time for Campen. That's just speculation, but it would be interesting. I wonder if Chilly finds Green Bay's "soap opera" more interesting now.

I really don't think he threw Campen under the bus. It was all but said by TT publically. I was also pretty much assumed.

[Harlan Huckleby]

A. There was no infraction. Favre and Bevell have a friendship. They are allowed to talk to each other as friends.

Too funny. So when Martha Stewart talked to her friend, the CEO of a company she had investments with, that wasn't insider trading?

[Harlan Huckleby]

One is that Favre isn't really sure he wants back, but in case he decides he does want back what he wanted originally was the option of being welcomed back (joyfully) by the Packers. When they didn't give him carte blanche to come back any time, he got mad. So now he's striking back out of hurt, and thus this is more about his bruised feelings than any real desire to play. He still seems uncertain as to whether he wants to play football this year.

This is my impression also.

When MM & TT told Favre on June 20 that they had moved-on with Rodgers, that really should have been the end of the drama. Favre claimed in the interview that of course he accepts their decision, but obviously not. Why was there any need for public comments by either side?

And regarding Favre's desire to play football: He doesn't want to play in Tampa Bay because he prefers a cooler climate? I don't know if the story is true, but I'm not sensing a fire in the belly.

[The Leaper]

Too funny. So when Martha Stewart talked to her friend, the CEO of a company she had investments with, that wasn't insider trading?

It depends on whether or not she discussed the company.

Favre has EVERY RIGHT to talk to Bevell as a friend. He just doesn't have the right to discuss "business".

[DonHutson]

The name of the game is to make the other party look like the one driving Favre out of town. This is an unexpected and rather brilliant move by Ted, if there's enough to it that he doesn't end up looking like an ass.

I think Minnesota's infraction was trivial, but it was indeed a violation of the rules. Thompson stood up on his hind lets, barked twice, and reminded Favre and the public that his rights are owned by Green Bay, and the team intends to protect its interests. It puts to rest the foolish talk of "just release the poor guy" from some softheaded quarters.

Exactly. This is a way for Ted to get it in the public record that Favre was making plans to leave prior to asking for reinstatement. If the charges stick and the Vikings get punished, that's a bonus. So within the "rules" of the Blame Game, it's a great move by Ted.

Having said that, I'm sick of the Blame Game. I don't really give a shit who's idea it was for Brett to leave. Ted seems to be getting paranoid about being seen as the GM that drove Favre away. Who cares? He needs to man up and say he is the GM that's getting rid of Favre - because he thinks it's the right thing to do. If they keep winning, Ted's legacy will be just fine.

So my feelings on this move are mixed.

[DonHutson]

Favre threw Campen under the bus. I wonder if Campen is the Packers source. Maybe he let it known to Campen that the Vikings have shown interest, and this is payback time for Campen. That's just speculation, but it would be interesting.

I was speculatin' the same thing. I can only imagine the debriefing Campen had to give the Packers after Brett's info came out. Ted and Mike probably put a sack over his head and took him to Egypt where they could get medieval on his ass.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Ted seems to be getting paranoid about being seen as the GM that drove Favre away. Who cares? He needs to man up and say he is drving Favre away - because he thinks it's the right thing to do. If they keep winning, Ted's legacy will be just fine.

One point that has not been emphasized: Its not just TT. If McCarthy wanted to stick with Favre, there is no way TT would go out on this limb.

I also think the situation is more nuanced than TT driving Favre out of town. I believe his offer to bring Favre back in an undetermined role is sincere, if not so welcoming. There is room to work this out.