Shutdown Corner - NFL

It's not as poetically idiotic as Chris Henry getting arrested while wearing his own jersey, but this one's in the same neighborhood.

Remember those tampering charges that the Packers filed against the Vikings? And remember how I thought it would be difficult for the Packers to prove that Favre had made inappropriate contact with the Vikings?

Well, that assumed that Brett Favre wasn't using a Packers-issued cell phone to make those calls to the Vikings. As it turns out, Favre may have done exactly that.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

...Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

In fairness to Favre, it should be mentioned that any phone calls he made to the Vikings were made in a gunslinging fashion, and through the entire conversation, he looked like a kid out there, just having fun.

Say this turns out to be true, and tampering by the Vikings can be proved. And say that the Packers do what they're expected to do, and block Favre from playing for the Vikings. Favre could end up costing the Vikings draft picks and fines while never playing a down for them, while also putting the Packers in this miserable position.

Give him a couple more weeks, and he might just find a way to tear down the entire NFC North.

digg delicious
more

2476 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Southpaw
    1. Posted by Southpaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "Give him a couple more weeks, and he might just find a way to tear down the entire NFC North."
    God, I don't think the rest of the NFC North could be torn down any further.
  2. Mr. Z
    2. Posted by Mr. Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Was it not Favre that accused Ted Thompson of being less than up-front and honest? Now this. I'll try to withhold judgment until I see if the accusations are proven, but it doesn't look good for Favre. This is a side of Favre that we have never seen and I am floored. My opinion of him as a great quarterback will never change, but now I'm starting to waffle on my opinion of him as a stand-up guy.
  3. derek_011
    3. Posted by derek_011 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    So Favre gets in one final *screw you* to the Vikes... unless he really is stupid enough not to make those calls from a personal phone.
  4. Toonces51
    4. Posted by Toonces51 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:17 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The question remains though, did Favre do the calling, or was he getting called? And if they talked, what about? 'Cause for all we know, Favre called Childress out of the blue, and left a rambling voicemail message about wanting to know how Chilly keeps his mustache so impeccably maintained. Likely? No. Possible? Yes. In the court of law, the phone records would be circumstantial evidence.
    With Judge/Jury/Executioner Goodell on the case...it's probably enough to convict.
  5. Butt Pirate
    5. Posted by Butt Pirate Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "In fairness to Favre, it should be mentioned that any phone calls he made to the Vikings were made in a gunslinging fashion, and through the entire conversation, he looked like a kid out there, just having fun."
    Ha - hilarious!
    I wonder how all the fans who rallied for him feel now that it's been revealed he's been repeatedly calling their rivals.
  6. beach dude
    6. Posted by beach dude Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    greenbay is the most selfish team in the NFL,let brett go whereever he wants,he has given everything and more to greenbay in the past.what else do they want from him?he put greenbay on the map and this is how they repay him for all of those years there.they are afraid of what he will do with another team,play him or let him go,he has earned it.
  7. Patrick B
    7. Posted by Patrick B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Todd B, do you understand that the NFL is a business and it's not in the best interest of the Packers to let an employee like Favre go? Most companies make employees sign contracts that prohibit them from working for a rival for an extended period of time. That's because the employee could bring over information/skills that would hurt their own business. Favre is still good enough that the Pack doesn't want to face him twice a year on a rival team. He hasn't earned anything except his paycheck. He doesn't have the right to play where he wants, he signed a contract stating he'll play only for GB. No matter how much you love him, he's not any different from the other members of that team.
  8. Mr. Z
    8. Posted by Mr. Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Todd B - ever hear of Vince Lombardi, Don Hutson, Curly Lambeau, Bart Starr?I believe they helped put Green Bay on the map. Furthermore, Brett Favre has been paid very, very well. What I believe they owe him is some respect, but that needs to be earned. He earned it on the field, but his behavior of late has not earned him any. He is not above any other player in the league and they are not able to dictate to management where they want to play next. He has accused Ted Thompson of being less than honest; what he appears to be doing is no better. Brett Favre will forever have the respect of his fans as a great quarterback, but how we feel about him right now, as a stand up guy, is becoming a little iffy.
  9. jimmy n
    9. Posted by jimmy n Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This whole Brett Favre thing just keeps getting more and more dumb as the days go on. Either its because Favre is dumb or the people reporting it is. Or maybe a combination of both
  10. WEEZER
    10. Posted by WEEZER Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The phone calls to the Vikes were to say FU one last couple o times, cause he's going to Da'bears
  11. Patrón
    11. Posted by Patrón Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    What's with this dude, seriously?
  12. RUSS G
    12. Posted by RUSS G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Let the cry BABy go retire like he said he was, get a new life farve you really look as stupid as you are, thank God the Packers have put up with you all these years, you just arn't worth the drama Go off and play in the woods no one will care
  13. Daniel
    13. Posted by Daniel Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bringing down the NFC North would be great. My post-nuclear Lions couldn't be any worse off than they are now. Brett is quite the drama queen. He should have quit when he put on the tiara at his retirement press conference. Also, your comments following "In fairness to Favre.." were great. Keep up the snark.
  14. nep617mvp
    14. Posted by nep617mvp Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Brett is the Lil Abner of the New Millenium.he just relieved Terry Bradshaw of that moniker. hahahahahah!
  15. chief
    15. Posted by chief Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    If the Packers aren't smart enough to keep him, then let him go wherever he wants. This is just one big power play by Thompson anyhow.
  16. CLEANMOM
    16. Posted by CLEANMOM Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    America the free!!
  17. Clint J
    17. Posted by Clint J Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Farve is a chump.
  18. NJM22
    18. Posted by NJM22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Let's wait until training camp.
  19. Packer Fan 4ever
    19. Posted by Packer Fan 4ever Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I am a die hard Packer Fan and love the team no matter what, but even I am getting sick of this crap. It seems that someone has found a way for football to become like a soap opera. Liky my mother always said, Poop or get off the pot. Stay on the team or go away. Keep him or let him go. Seems easy enough - if you don't want him, let him go, but get something good for him. I loved watching Favre. I would love to see him play in the green and gold another year, but I am tired of this blarney. And I think that Rodgers has waited his time and was told he would be starting - he deserves to be starting. Poor kid!
  20. cmp11684
    20. Posted by cmp11684 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Big Suprise, more Favre talk. Can this guy be more of an egomaniac? He is the only person that could turn the entire offseason into his personal show and he does it every year, even after he has "retired". Please, for the love of god just go away.
  21. bethebuddha
    21. Posted by bethebuddha Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    What a CHEESEHEAD! :D
  22. Totally Awsome Dude
    22. Posted by Totally Awsome Dude Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Go lions!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  23. raulatnoahs
    23. Posted by raulatnoahs Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Brett...you should have gone JASON BOURNE and atleast switched the SIM card !!!! Or use the LANDLINES like on Robert DeNiro in HEAT ....or the guys from GODFELLAS !!! -raul
  24. MichaelR
    24. Posted by MichaelR Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Follow the money
  25. spacewatcher2
    25. Posted by spacewatcher2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Is Favre really that dumb? He gives every appearance of being both dumb and selfish. His "legacy" has been diminished by his own actions.

Shutdown Corner

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

MJD

Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

Y! Sports Blogs

Shutdown Corner Recent Readers