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Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
Report: Packers say Vikes tampered with Favre
NFL reportedly investigating allegations of inappropriate dialogue
The Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings for alleged communication with Brett Favre Foxsports.com is reporting.
The Packers are accusing Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a close friend and former Green Bay assistant, of having inappropriate dialogue with Favre. The quarterback has sought his release from Green Bay and rumors have circulated that Minnesota is his first choice to play because of his relationship with Bevell Foxsports.com is reporting.
The Vikings were informed late last week of the allegations. The league is currently in an information-gathering mode, speaking to members of both organizations.
If the league finds the Vikings guilty of tampering, they could lose draft picks and face fines
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
I knew it. It was obvious something was going on when the Vikings announced interest a nanosecond after Favre's statement. Favre is under contract, which makes anything like that illegal.
Vikes aren't getting him anyways. That NFL Network insider was saying how Green Bay will not trade him to a divisional rival, and two teams rumored to be interested(Carolina and Tampa) play the Packers this season so no chance there.
Only trade chance is in the AFC, and he mentioned NY Jets, Buffalo, and Baltimore as the primary targets(in that order).
I don't think he's ever playing again. He really fucked this thing up.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
James Lofton wrote:Only trade chance is in the AFC, and he mentioned NY Jets, Buffalo, and Baltimore as the primary targets(in that order).
I'd throw KC in there as well. Do they have a QB?
Good observation, and it is odd they haven't been mentioned. I'm not a KC fan at all, but they must have major cap issues for them to not be in the running.
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
KC probably doesnt want to part with any premium draft picks. They are a team being built, not really a team with a win-now mentality like the Bears would. They had a nice draft this year. They'd probably like to repeat that success next year as well.
I think its GB or he doesnt play.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
New York, NY (Sports Network) - In his first interview since his intent to return to the Green Bay Packers became public knowledge, record-setting quarterback Brett Favre admitted that he pulled the trigger on retirement too early and that he's ready to play in Green Bay this season, though his relationship with Packers management has become fractured.
Speaking with Greta Van Susteren on FOX News, Favre said that when Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson approached him about retirement in the offseason, the surefire Hall of Famer told them he'd prefer to wait until training camp in July to make his decision.
"It'd be nice if I could wait until training camp," Favre said.
However, Favre said that the Packers cited a need to know their position moving forward, specifically with Favre's backup, Aaron Rodgers, and wanted him to decide before the free agency period and the draft.
"I was not totally ready to commit," Favre said of his feelings on March 3, when he announced his retirement in a tear-filled press conference. "March 3, when I got in front of the podium, did I want to play? Yes. 100 percent? No.
"I sort of left the door open, but they wanted an answer. Am I mad at them for that? No. But, they wanted an answer."
The 38-year-old gunslinger also said he was "guilty of retiring early," and was intent on making a comeback and physically ready to play in the upcoming season. However, he was told by McCarthy in a conversation on June 20 that returning to the Packers was not an option.
"I was told that playing in Green Bay was not an option, and that's from up there," Favre said.
Last season, Favre led the Packers to the NFC Championship game after throwing for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns and compiling a 95.7 passer rating. The three-time league MVP said he has not signed any official retirement papers, and he asked from his release from the Packers last week.
"There's no way (the fans) can understand what I'm going through," he said.
Favre said that he couldn't envision himself playing anywhere else but Green Bay, where he has been under center since 1992.
"Either welcome me back, release me, or attempt to trade me," Favre said. "They told me, 'playing here is not an option, but we can't envision you playing with anyone else, either.'"
However, Favre also said that he was not interested in returning to back up Rodgers.
"They want to protect my legacy by bringing me back and having me be a backup?" he said.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Vikings took a different stance on Thursday in what has become the story of the summer in the NFL: They decided NOT to talk about Brett Favre.
The Vikings said Thursday they would not comment on allegations by the Green Bay Packers that they made inappropriate contact with Favre before or during the three-time MVP's effort to un-retire.
''The Vikings are not commenting on the issue. These types of matters are handled by the league,'' said a statement read by a team spokesman.
The Favre saga has overridden everything else going on in the NFL, turning the NFL off-season into a one-story league. Another chapter was added Wednesday night when a person familiar with the Packers' complaint told The Associated Press that Green Bay has filed tampering charges against the Vikings.
The person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said Packers officials believe Vikings offensive co-ordinator Darrell Bevell had discussions with Favre that would violate league rules. Presumably, such discussions would include the possibility of Favre leaving the Packers for their NFC North rivals in Minnesota.
''They feel like Favre had something (in place), and that's why he was so anxious to get his release all of a sudden,'' the person said.
Favre and Bevell are friends going back to Bevell's days as an assistant in Green Bay. Favre retired in March, but has since said that he wants to return, which has led to a messy back-and-forth with Packers GM Ted Thompson.
The Packers told the AP that they were ready to welcome Favre back to the team later in March when Favre expressed reservations about his decision to retire, only to be assured by the quarterback that he was finished.
Favre has said that he felt pressured by the Packers to retire and now has been told that if he returns to Green Bay, he wouldn't necessarily get the starting job back.
Minnesota was immediately mentioned as a possible destination for Favre's relocation. With a veteran defence and a powerful running game, inexperienced quarterback Tarvaris Jackson appears to be one of the few question marks for a team looking rise to contender status in the NFC.
The allegations have turned up the heat on what was already one of the most intense rivalries in the game.
Vikings coach Brad Childress called the situation a ''soap opera,'' and said Tuesday that it has been interesting to watch but he remained committed to going forward with Jackson as his starting quarterback.
But the Packers think the Vikings have had other ideas since Favre held a tearful retirement press conference on March 6.
The team told the league that it believes an investigation of phone records will show more than ''normal contact'' between Favre and Bevell, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.
Bevell and Favre became close friends during Bevell's three years as quarterbacks coach with the Packers from 2003-05. The two remained in contact after Bevell left to become the offensive co-ordinator of the Vikings.
Bevell was not available to comment on Thursday and neither were any other Vikings officials, spokesman Bob Hagan said.
On the surface, the allegations would appear to be difficult for the Packers to prove using phone records alone. But the NFL has been increasingly diligent in recent years in enforcing its tampering rules.
The San Francisco 49ers were punished this year - forced to forfeit their fifth-round draft pick and swap third-rounders with the Bears in the April draft - after being found guilty of improperly contacting linebacker Lance Briggs' agent while Briggs was still under contract with Chicago in 2007.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league only comments on tampering cases if there is some disciplinary action to announce.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
This is gonna turn into a nightmare quick. The whole preseason is gonna be neck deep in this Favre shit.
Favre is a dumb ass, and his legacy starts to slowly fracture. He retires, then not only announces he wants to come back, but wants to be released so he can play for another team.THEN, says he wants to play for Green Bay, who have been preparing for the post Favre era since the NY loss.
Is he for real?
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
ASHBURN, Va. - Jason Taylor is leaving the only NFL team he's known, going from the Miami Dolphins to the Washington Redskins in a trade Sunday.
The Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round choice in 2010 for Taylor.
The six-time Pro Bowl defensive end - who was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year - fell out of favour in Miami after spending his off-season on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars" rather than working out with teammates.
The deal came about nine hours after starting defensive end Phillip Daniels was carted away from the practice field at Redskins Park with a season-ending left knee injury on Day 1 of training camp.
It also came only about 1 1/2 hours after Washington executive vice president Vinny Cerrato told reporters: "We haven't talked to anybody about anything."
Cerrato said Taylor is expected to report to training camp on Monday.
"We're fortunate there was a guy that calibre on the market when somebody got hurt," Cerrato said. "Normally, in most years, there's not a guy of that caliber on the market."
The 33-year-old Taylor has played 11 NFL seasons and he's started every game each of the past eight years.
He had 11 sacks during the 2007 season, giving him 117 over his career.
"His play speaks for itself. I think it's easy to talk about Jason Taylor. He's got statistics and everything else to back up everything that he's done," Cerrato said.
Taylor has said he planned to play only one more season.
But Cerrato said Taylor has two years left on his contract and added: "I'm 100 per cent positive he'll play longer than one year."
The Dolphins declined comment even after the Redskins announced the deal.
"Right now we're not prepared to confirm that," Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said.
