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As the days roll by, the Brett Favre saga seems to get stranger and stranger. Now the soap opera has shifted to a new level.

In the latest twist, the Packers have filed tampering charges with the league office against the Minnesota Vikings for alleged communication with Favre, still technically a member of Green Bay, FOXSports.com has learned. The league, according to a source, is currently in information-gathering mode, speaking to members of both teams.

The Vikings were informed late last week that the allegation is that Favre has had inappropriate dialogue with Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a close Favre friend and former assistant coach with the Packers. Favre has sought his release from Green Bay and several rumors have swirled that Minnesota is his targeted landing place, largely due to his relationship with Bevell.

League sources say the Vikings vehemently denied any wrongdoing and are awaiting the league's next step in the process. The Packers, meanwhile, have supplied the league with their version of wrongdoing.

Should the league find the Vikings guilty of tampering, they could lose draft picks and/or face fines.

The entire affair escalated to an ugly level this week when Favre conducted an interview with FOX News' Greta Van Susteren in which the living legend took the Packers to task for refusing to release him. In fact, a leaked version of the transcript had Favre blasting GM Ted Thompson, but in another odd twist, that portion of the interview has not been shown on the air.

The Packers have refused to grant the league's all-time leading passer's request for a release due in part to their fear that he would sign with the Vikings. Despite the wave of speculation, Vikings head coach Brad Childress insists that Tarvaris Jackson is his guy.

The entire affair is unfortunate, as Favre is more synonymous with Green Bay than any other player is with a city. At the same time, however, fans are now forced to make judgments for or against their hometown hero/team.

Calls by FOXSports.com to head coaches of both teams have not yet been returned.

paulpressey25 wrote:If I were Darrell Bevell, I'd try to talk Favre out of retirement as well. I'd rather have Brett than Tavaris Jackson any day of the week.

What I don't understand is how this constitutes "Tampering". The guy is retired. He's simply talking with his buddy affiliated with a different team about whether he'd come back and play or not. It is one thing if Favre were in his prime on an active roster....he's not. He should be free to talk to whoever he wants. He's not being paid by Green Bay.

Now, if he wants back, rightfully Brett will still have to work through Green Bay since they have his rights. But talking when retired doesn't seem that bad to me.

I suppose that TT wants the message out that he wants no other teams talking to Favre and giving him ideas they'd take him.

What I don't understand is how this constitutes "Tampering". The guy is retired. He's simply talking with his buddy affiliated with a different team about whether he'd come back and play or not. It is one thing if Favre were in his prime on an active roster....he's not. He should be free to talk to whoever he wants. He's not being paid by Green Bay.

paulpressey25 wrote:If I were Darrell Bevell, I'd try to talk Favre out of retirement as well. I'd rather have Brett than Tavaris Jackson any day of the week.

What I don't understand is how this constitutes "Tampering". The guy is retired. He's simply talking with his buddy affiliated with a different team about whether he'd come back and play or not. It is one thing if Favre were in his prime on an active roster....he's not. He should be free to talk to whoever he wants. He's not being paid by Green Bay.

Now, if he wants back, rightfully Brett will still have to work through Green Bay since they have his rights. But talking when retired doesn't seem that bad to me.

I suppose that TT wants the message out that he wants no other teams talking to Favre and giving him ideas they'd take him.

xTitan wrote:
A growing theory is that Favre wanted a trade all along and the Vikings were a main target, the flip flopping, waiting until the last minute....Favre did ask for a trade last year as well, when he thought his GM skills were needed.

According to a source in Green Bay, the Packers believe they have a great case against the Vikings for tampering. First, they believe the Vikings were willing to talk to Favre in order to cause chaos within the Packers family during the summer. The Vikings open the season in Green Bay.

One source suggests that Favre might have had a conversation with Brad Childress. They are also going to tell Goodell Favre might have admitted to a Packers employee that he could go to the Vikings.

Naturally, all of these charges will be hotly contested by the Vikings.

-- John Clayton

magicfan4life05 wrote:What I don't get is how someone in the Packers organization can find out about this, Couldn't I just have a phone call with one of you, how would by boss figure it out? are they listening to my calls?

But a source told the Associated Press late Wednesday that Packers officials believe a league examination of phone records would indicate more than normal contact between Favre and Bevell. The source also said the Packers believe the contact began before Favre asked the team to release him and that Minnesota's interest was Favre's primary motivation for wanting to play this season.

DrugBust wrote:I know Favre's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but with the Packers paying the cell phone bill, how can he not expect this to come back and bite him in the ass? Your landline not good enough, Brett?

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:

DrugBust wrote:I know Favre's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but with the Packers paying the cell phone bill, how can he not expect this to come back and bite him in the ass? Your landline not good enough, Brett?

Fixed.

I agree. If Draft picks are involved, is there anychance we get them? Or are they just penalized to the Vikings?