OFFICIAL FAVRE SEXT SCANDAL ROCKS SPORTS WORLD

[Fritz]

Scott, don't you think that in the end it is in the league's best interest to just drag this investigation out until the season's over and Favre retires (and yes, I firmly believe this IS his last year and he will retire after this one)?

I just don't see the league doing anything against Favre.

[Scott Campbell]

Scott, don't you think that in the end it is in the league's best interest to just drag this investigation out until the season's over and Favre retires (and yes, I firmly believe this IS his last year and he will retire after this one)?

I just don't see the league doing anything against Favre.

It depends. I think that foot dragging is a distinct possibility. But it's not the one that I'm betting on at this point.

If Sterger's evidence shared at the Thursday meeting was compelling, then you can make a strong case for Goodell acting swiftly. His responsibility is not to protect Favre, or the Jets. His responsibility is to protect the NFL.

[vince]

I'll certainly defer to ESPN's legal expert on this point, but I put the Jets and the league in the same legal boat because, at least as it pertains to antitrust law, all the teams are one "business" competing against other businesses for employment services among other things. If they weren't, the players would have done away with the draft and other anti-competitive practices a long time ago.

So the league needs to act appropriately or they open themselves up to liability here (assuming there's a case, which from what I've read it appears there is). While they may well have less exposure than the Jets, they do have the same interests as the Jets in that respect. If they ignore it, they'll likely be sued right along with the Jets and Favre.

As the guy from CBS said, they NEED to act, but do so in a way that eliminates the threat of a suit (to them) after doing so because they ironically admit guilt in some respect when they do. In other words, Sterger will need to "approve" of their action and agree not to sue them in the process.

[Scott Campbell]

I'll certainly defer to ESPN's legal expert on this point, but I put the Jets and the league in the same legal boat because, at least as it pertains to antitrust law, all the teams are one "business" competing against other businesses for employment services for example. If they weren't, the players would have done away with the draft, among other anti-competitive practices, a long time ago.

So the league needs to act appropriately or they open themselves up to liability here. While they may well have less exposure than the Jets, they do have the same interests as the Jets in that respect. If they ignore it, they'll likely be sued right along with the Jets and Favre.

It's clear that Bert is on the hook if anything happened.
It's clear the Jets are on the hook if anything happened.
It's much less clear to me that the NFL is on the hook if anything happened.

I think the NFL could be on the hook for any impropriety during the investigation phase, as they introduced themselves as the judge and disciplinary body regarding this situation. In particular, their decision not to request a Sterger interview back in August when their security goon Aldrich said they looked into the story is not going to reflect well. But I'm not sure that will have any legal ramifications.

At the end of the day, she was a Jet's employee (independent contractor). And they were the ones responsible for providing a non hostile work environment.

[Scott Campbell]

So the league needs to act appropriately or they open themselves up to liability here (assuming there's a case, which from what I've read it appears there is). While they may well have less exposure than the Jets, they do have the same interests as the Jets in that respect.

I disagree with this point. The NFL has to consider the interests of the other 31 teams that are not operating in the Animal House environment that is being portrayed regarding the Jets. The NFL has a responsibility to teams like the Packers to protect them from rogue teams like the Jets.

[vince]

Not sure why you are taking the statement out of context to disagree with it. I agree with your point. The league is responsible to all the teams. The league IS all the teams. If they don't act appropriately here (like the Jets), the league could potentially be sued like the Jets, which is what I said, and you said, and the CBS guy said.

The simple words by Sterger's representative, "We now await the NFL's decision." packs a potentially big whollup.

[Scott Campbell]

Not sure why you are taking the statement out of context to disagree with it. I agree with your point. The league is responsible to all the teams. The league IS all the teams. If they don't act appropriately here (like the Jets), the league could potentially be sued like the Jets, which is what I said, and you said, and the CBS guy said.

The simple words by Sterger's representative, "We now await the NFL's decision." packs a potentially big whollup.

Oh!!!!!

Well said then.

[Scott Campbell]

Here is something I don't understand. If Roger is going to apply the personal conduct policy enforcement in an even handed way, how can he look the other way on this - even if they determine it didn't cross the workplace sexual harassment threshold?

[vince]

The personal conduct policy is designed to protect the flow of dollars to the league (and to the networks that televise and promote it for that matter). Unfortunately, so is Brett Favre's image. Customers are dumb. Hypocrisy is a word that has no meaning in finance. If Goodell acts, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league. If Goodell doesn't act, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league.

[Scott Campbell]

The personal conduct policy is designed to protect the flow of dollars to the league (and to the networks that televise and promote it for that matter). Unfortunately, so is Brett Favre's image. Customers are dumb. Hypocrisy is a word that has no meaning in finance. If Goodell acts, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league. If Goodell doesn't act, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league.

I hear you, but what happens the next time some player gets suspended and files a grievance based on "Why didn't you suspend Bert?".

[vince]

The personal conduct policy is designed to protect the flow of dollars to the league (and to the networks that televise and promote it for that matter). Unfortunately, so is Brett Favre's image. Customers are dumb. Hypocrisy is a word that has no meaning in finance. If Goodell acts, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league. If Goodell doesn't act, it will be because it is in the best financial interests of the league.

I hear you, but what happens the next time some player gets suspended and files a grievance based on "Why didn't you suspend Bert?".

Yeah, hopefully the king will have some integrity about it. One thing's for sure, we'll be watching.

[Scott Campbell]

....
It looks like Tony Parker may have pulled a Bert.

November 18, 2010 9:49 AM Erin Barry: Tony Parker's Texting Partner?



NBA player Tony Parker and actress Eva Longoria Parker arrive to the 2nd Annual Rally for Kids with Cancer "The Qualifiers" Celebrity Draft Party on Oct. 22, 2010, in Hollywood, Calif.
(Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty)
NEW YORK (CBS) Eva Longoria filed for divorce on Wednesday from husband Tony Parker, and friend Mario Lopez later confirmed that the actress found hundreds of text messages from another woman on her now-estranged husband's phone.
Now, reports are speculating that the woman in question is Erin Barry, wife of former San Antonio Spurs player Brent Barry.
PICTURES: Celebrity Splits
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"Have it on good authority from entertainment sources that 'former teammate' in Tony Parker-Eva Longoria affair is Brent Barry," Sports Illustrated writer Bryan Armen Graham tweeted on Wednesday. "Don't have much else on Parker/Longoria affair. Source did mention Barry and wife are going through a divorce."
He also wrote: "Longoria said she found text messages from wife of a former teammate on Parker's phone. Source says former teammate was Barry."
Graham did not reveal his source.
Barry's father, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, confirmed that his son and wife are divorcing.
"I feel horrible for my son. I'm in shock," he told TMZ. "I knew [Erin] was moving out of the house soon and she was the one that filed for divorce. This is the straw that broke the camel's back."
He added, "[Brent] is going to be devastated. I can't even imagine him going through this ... the divorce was hard enough news."
A source told People magazine that Parker did send text messages to his former teammate's wife, but that their relationship didn't become physical.
"They knew each other, sent each other messages," the source said. "It was flirtatious, but he never did anything with her."
Access Hollywood's Billy Bush contacted Erin Berry for comment.
"We spoke to erin barry...Brent Barry's wife from San Antonio Spurs...she cried and said 'No comment.' #ahcom. TP was texting her," he tweeted.
"Eva wants everyone to know, she's devastated by the rumors of Tony's infidelity. She loved her husband and is heartbroken about their split," Lopez said on "Extra." "But she's strong."
Longoria broke her silence on the matter Wednesday, but did not elaborate on the infidelity allegations.
"It is with great sadness that after 7 years together, Tony and I have decided to divorce," she wrote on her Twitter page. "We love each other deeply and pray for each other's happiness."

[vince]

[Scott Campbell]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...lys-criticism/

Favre still miffed about Chilly’s criticism

Posted by Mike Florio on November 21, 2010, 11:12 AM EST
As the Vikings prepare for the second half of their annual home-and-home series against the Packers, Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre continues to stew about the first meeting.
But he’s not miffed about the bad call(s) or the broken bones in his feet or the half-hearted effort by Randy Moss to jump up and catch what would have been a game-winning touchdown pass. Favre is pissed because coach Brad Childress called out the signal-caller publicly in the coach’s post-game press conference.
Per Ed Werder of ESPN, Favre said that it’s a “damn shame” that Childress decided to complain to the media about Favre’s mistakes of judgment.
Maybe our theory/hypothesis/half-assed guess that Favre will try to beat the Packers today and then limp off into the sunset isn’t so crazy, after all.

[Scott Campbell]

That scumbag is a cancer everywhere he goes. To his team. To his coaching staff. To his family. What a despicable disgrace of a human being.