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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.”
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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.
DRAFT PICKS AGREE
Safety Tyrell Johnson, the Vikings’ second-round selection and the team’s top pick in the April draft, is near an agreement on a multiyear contract, and indications are it could be completed early today. Two of the Vikings’ five picks did not agree to terms Tuesday, a day before training camp opens in Mankato.
The Vikings announced they had come to terms with defensive tackle Letroy Guion (fifth round) and receiver Jaymar Johnson (sixth round, Jackson State). Center John Sullivan (sixth round, Notre Dame), meanwhile, had a “verbal agreement” in place.
Negotiations continued with the agent for John David Booty (fifth round, USC), and indications are both he and Sullivan will sign Wednesday. Booty’s contract will be interesting because he’s a quarterback. One report intimated Booty could get a signing bonus of about $200,000 on a four-year deal or $150,000 on a three-year contract.
Johnson, who also can return punts, received a four-year contract that begins with a base salary of $295,000 and will total around $1.7 million without bonuses. Guion was believed to have a similar deal. Both Johnson and Guion will battle for roster spots.
