Why did they file tampering charges then?
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/20...rts/00favre.txt
MINNEAPOLIS — The Green Bay Packers apparently had proof that Brett Favre made phone calls to Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress when they filed tampering charges against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with the quarterback.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a source said Favre continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone after his retirement.
When the team checked the phone records, there were “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.” Brett Favre
Favre’s odd decision to use a phone on which the Packers could review all calls 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.”
Bevell and Favre became friends when the former served on the Packers’ coaching staff from 2000 to 2005 — Bevell was Green Bay’s quarterbacks coach for the final three seasons—and have continued to stay in touch.
That made it difficult to believe the Packers could prove much by simply pointing to conversations between Bevell and Favre. If Favre’s phone records provide evidence of multiple calls to Childress, it’s a different story.
Favre announced his retirement in March, then decided he wanted to play in 2008. He asked for his release when the Packers told him Aaron Rodgers is their starter.
The Vikings are believed to be Favre’s top choice for a landing spot, in part because they run a version of the West Coast offense with which he is familiar. Childress has stated publicly that Tarvaris Jackson is his starting quarterback, but the opportunity to plug in a veteran like Favre could be tempting.
The Vikings, if found guilty, could face penalties that include loss of draft picks and/or fines.
The Packers have made it clear they have no intention of granting Favre his release. The NFL Network reported Tuesday that the Packers have talked to multiple teams about what they would be willing to offer in a trade and that calls have been made to teams in both conferences. It has been suggested the Packers wouldn’t trade Favre within the NFC, but that might not be the case.
The Vikings remained quiet on the tampering charge since news broke last week. The team issued a statement last week, saying the Vikings “are not commenting on this issue. These types of matters are handled by the league.”
A Vikings spokesman said Tuesday the club would have no comment about the Journal Sentinel report.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf told the Star Tribune last week that he wouldn’t comment on the Packers’ accusation but added, “Let’s put it this way, I look forward to the opening game in Green Bay.” The Vikings will face the Packers in the season opener Sept. 8 in Green Bay.