July 16th, 2008 – 5:54 PM by Judd Zulgad
Minneapolis Star and Tribune
The Packers have filed tampering charges with the NFL against the Vikings for alleged communication with quarterback Brett Favre, according to the Fox Sports website.
According to the report the league has had discussions with both teams and is gathering information and talking with members of the organizations. Fox’s Jay Glazer says the Vikings were informed late last week that the allegation is that Favre had had “inappropriate dialogue” with Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Bevell is good friends with Favre and served as his quarterbacks coach from 2003-05. Favre, who retired last March but now wants to return, has requested the Packers release him and the team has made it clear that won’t happen. This is in part because the Packers have no interest in seeing Favre go to a team like the Vikings or Bears and playing against them twice a season. The Packers have told Favre they have moved on and want Aaron Rodgers to be their starter.
Part of the issue is likely that Favre and Bevell have talked frequently since Bevell left the organization. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday evening the league would not comment on the report.
The Vikings are one team that has been named as an ideal fit for Favre. The Vikings run a version of the West Coast offense that is very similar to what Favre played in during Mike Sherman’s tenure as the Packers coach from 2000 to 2005.
The Fox story, citing league sources, said the Vikings denied any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, if the league finds the Vikings guilty the team could forfeit draft picks and/or end up being fined.
Vikings coach Brad Childress, meanwhile, said Monday that Tarvaris Jackson would be his starting quarterback in 2008. Childress has had no public comment on Favre playing for the Vikings because that would be clear violation of NFL tampering rules.
Asked about Jackson being his starter, Childress said: “I think I’ve always said that. I just think he’s right where he needs to be in terms of being a third-year quarterback. Would I have liked to see him play 16 games last year? Absolutely, I would have. But I think he’s in natural evoluation. He understands what it means to play an NFL season as a starter with all eyes on him, dissecting everything.”
Jackson, appearing today on ESPN, said Childress’ comment gave him “great confidence” but sounded like a guy who could understand a team being interested in the 38-year-old Favre. “Just the caliber of player Brett Favre is, anybody would be glad to have him.”
Jackson went 8-4 in his first season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2007 — he missed three games because of injury and was benched for another — but threw three more interceptions than touchdowns (12-9). The feeling of many is that quarterback is the only position at which the Vikings have a question mark and Favre would clear that up.
In a two-part interview on Fox News Channel that concluded Tuesday night, Favre was asked about the possibility of running out of the visiting team tunnel in Lambeau Field wearing a Vikings jersey for the Sept. 8 opener. That is the game at which the Packers have been planning to retire Favre’s No. 4 jersey.
“I’ve never envisioned that,” he said. “I’ve heard all the talk like everyone else. It’s hard not to. But that’s always been our biggest rivalry, obviously with the Bears. Did I ever think of that? No. Did I ever think it would happen? Absolutely not. In my getting a release, obviously it gives you an option.”
As of right now Favre doesn’t have his release, though, and it looks as if the Vikings could be in some trouble.
Keep checking back as we’ll be continue working this story.
I love it.
at the same time here.
You're being pretty naive.
You're being pretty naive.
