This is a new twist on one of the NFL's more interesting division rivalries.
The Green Bay Packers, mired this week in the most undesirable of soap operas, have fired a shot at their border rival Minnesota Vikings. FOX Sports NFL guru Jay Glazer reports the Packers have charged the Vikings with tampering.
According to the story, the Packers' allegation centers around Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who they say had "inappropriate dialogue" with retired (at least, I'm pretty sure he's retired as of this writing) quarterback Brett Favre. Bevell was a quarterbacks coach in Green Bay at one time, and is still a friend of Favre's. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio beat the world to the punch on this one, reporting earlier today that the two may have talked and that the talks may have crossed the line into what the NFL defines as tampering.
Remember, despite his retirement, Favre remains property of the Packers and is not a free agent. He is not permitted to speak about a potential job with any other NFL team without permission from the Packers. To our knowledge, this permission has not been given to Favre, his agent, or any NFL team. Any conversations of this nature that take place (like the alleged Bevell-Favre chat) would qualify as tampering.
It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out that one of the reasons Favre has been so adamant about being released is that he wants to play in Minnesota. The Packers would never trade him there, but it stands to reason they'd trade him just about anywhere outside of the NFC North. Therefore, Favre's only shot of getting to play with the Vikings is to become a free agent.
The odds of that happening took a tremendous hit with this news. General manager Ted Thompson may be inclined to appease Favre and release him at some point. But he'll never do it if he believes Favre has already talked shop with a chief rival.
For their part, Glazer says the Vikings are denying the allegation. He says the league is investigating, and has already gotten Green Bay's side of things.
If the Vikings are eventually found guilty of tampering, they could lose one or more draft picks and/or face fines from the league. You may recall that the 49ers got nailed for tampering in a case involving Bears linebacker Lance Briggs earlier this year. San Francisco lost one pick and had to swap another for a lower pick in the same round. Oh, and Briggs re-signed with the Bears.
Legends in Strange Uniforms
For Packers fans, the thought of Brett Favre in another uniform must be excruciating. For the rest of us, it's just plain odd. But he wouldn't be the first icon to don a strange-looking uniform late in his career.
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
Joe Namath and the glitz of Hollywood! It seemed like a perfect match. Unfortunately for the Rams, Joe's knees were shot when he moved to La-La Land in 1977. Namath only played in four games before calling it a career.
Allsport / Getty Images
Being a part-owner of the Wizards wasn't enough for Michael Jordan. When his competitive juices would not stop flowing, he suited up with Washington and played two good, but far from great, seasons.
Jesse D. Garrabrant, NBAE / Getty Images
After a long stint with the Giants in San Francisco, Willie Mays came back to New York in 1972. But this wasn't what any fan wanted. He produced little for the Mets and left many thinking he had stayed around too long.
AP
After retiring from the Red Wings, Gordie Howe returned to the ice for seven more seasons, the last three with the Hartford Whalers. He was 52 when he finally hung up his skates.
Denis Brodeur, Getty Images
Babe Ruth is synonymous with the Yankees. Even their stadium is called "The House That Ruth Built." So it still comes as a shock to see the Bambino donning a Boston Braves uni in 1935 as his career ended with a whimper.
AP
Not every team switch by an icon has a sad ending. Joe Montana enjoyed two productive seasons with the Chiefs after leaving the 49ers and almost took K.C. to the Super Bowl in 1993.
Vince Bucci, AFP / Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-16-2008 @ 9:36PM
chuck cole said...
Thats right,..go after those purple bastards,..let that old man rot & never throw another pass,...flipfloppin liar,...
GO AARON RODGERS !!!
Reply
7-17-2008 @ 12:38AM
eric said...
screw aaron favre can out throw him any day vikings can beat packers anyday to
but im an eagles fan n they beat both
7-17-2008 @ 12:10AM
PERLA24 said...
BRETT FAVRE IS A LEGEND WHO GAVE HIS ALL TO THE PACKERS ORGANIZATION, PLAYED WITH CONCUSSIONS, DISLOCATED SHOULDERS..ETC. TED THOMPSON IS GOING TO HAVE A WAKE UP CALL WHEN HE REALIZES LEGENDARY QUARTERBACKS COME AROUND EVERY BLUE MOON. I'LL BET AARON RODGERS BREAKS HIS OTHER LEG IN WEEK 1.
7-16-2008 @ 9:55PM
emjay said...
Brett Favre seems to have a lot of issues including demonstrating integrity. The Ravens should not touch this guy with a 10 foot pole.
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7-16-2008 @ 10:19PM
joe said...
TED tompson is a Jerk.the PACKERS WILL HURT IF FAVRE AND HE'S NO OLD MAN.HE IS TOUGH MORE THEN ANY QB.SO WHY DON'T YOU FAVRE HATERS GET IT RITE.RUN TED T OUT OF TOWN THAT BUM.BRETT WILL GET TO PLAY.AND IF WITH ANOTHER GOOD TEAM,I HOPE HE WINS A SUBERBOWL,RITE IN TT's face.the Pack will be lost without BRETT FAVRE. arron rogers,give me a break.FAVRE 4 EVER.
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7-16-2008 @ 10:37PM
Huh? said...
What's a rocket surgeon???
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7-16-2008 @ 10:48PM
d ramsey said...
drramsin 09:18:20 PM Jul 16 2008
Report This! Management have fans deceived because Brett was to quiet about the facts before he retired, People are animals, you just don't know when they will turn.Brett and the truth will prevail in the end. I don't care if Brett denied it, but he wanted Moss, I believe he felt they needed one more big weapon to make a mathematical decision on odds to get to the Super Bowl. Management didn't care, Brett was pressured to retire, to free up millions and Moss wasn't acquired. Words were said, Brett comming to the end of his career was upset. he retired 2 days later. That was the only way he could attempt to get out, there is more to this story than meets the eye. In time it will be revealed. You herd it here. People this is big big big business. The problem now is Brett is loseing the PR battle. He will never play again Management will win.For the record Brett went 21-3 8 wins straight in 06, 13-3 last year. I believe the best win record in that span, With the youngest team in the NFL
My comments have just been confirmed on fox. Packer fans who is TED THOMPSON, Where is your loyalty with the man who played his heart out for you, or Thompson the nobody.WAKE UP
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7-16-2008 @ 10:52PM
Joe said...
Favre, you just stirred up a lot crap. I thought T.O. and a couple others were s--t disturbers. Didn't expect anything like this from you. You should run for president as you are a good
flip--flopper.
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7-16-2008 @ 10:56PM
Joe said...
Favre thinks he owns the Packers. He doesn't get it. Stay retired, no one really cares!!
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7-16-2008 @ 10:56PM
Geordi said...
Please, we don't need Favre in Minnesota. We can screw up games pretty well as it is without the additional interceptions.
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7-17-2008 @ 12:05AM
eos said...
whatever
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7-17-2008 @ 12:13AM
eos said...
rocket surgeon is brain scientist's alter ego
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7-17-2008 @ 1:01AM
jbond1038 said...
Favre gave his all to Green Bay for many years. Without Favre the Packers would never have seen daylight. Now the Packers and Thompson are trying to be true son-of-b*tchs.
Reply
7-17-2008 @ 1:14AM
George B Vieto said...
Ted Thompson should just let Brett Favre go to the Vikings and the Packer defense will just have fun eating Brett's lunch when the two team play each other.
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7-17-2008 @ 1:17AM
Bob said...
Who did Brett replace at the start of his career?
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7-18-2008 @ 7:02AM
claytor said...
Don Majikowski.
7-17-2008 @ 1:21AM
LMoore said...
If you think Farve is through why not just realease him...I think he can still lead a team with is head heart and arm ...So Release him !!!!! He can pick the time he is really ready and father time will tell him ...He had a great season last year so he can still play !!!
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7-17-2008 @ 1:23AM
mazzbo13 said...
either keep him or let him go he earned that
Reply
7-17-2008 @ 2:44AM
Fan said...
Naive as I was, I didn't initially understand why the Packers wouldn't release Brett as free-agent or trade him. Later in the day I think I figured out why as this article affirmed it; they don't want Brett to play for NFC teams that they will play against next season if he became a free-agent. Brett knows too much about the Packers strengths, weaknesses, and game plans. If they trade him, it will probably be a deal with an AFC team or teams they won't play against this season. Brett will more than likely be traded if he really wants to play again; but not with the team of his choice. Why he signed a 3-year deal at the twilight of his career is probably haunting him. I didn't realize he had this feud with Thompson over Randy Moss - a situation he obviously didn't anticipate or expect when he signed the deal. This situation is a repeat of Nameth going to the Rams; Montana going to the Chiefs, and Plunkett going to the Raiders. Plunkett was a success story so Brett does have something to hope for.
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7-17-2008 @ 4:38AM
Brent said...
To answer your question, Bob, Favre replaced Don "Majik" Majkowski. Majkowski had one successful season with the Packers, but he and the team struggled during the following season. Ultimately, Favre became the starting QB and Majkowski was traded to Minnesota, I think.
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