Brett Favre's on-going investigation
The NFL has been rattled by the Brett Favre scandal mostly because there was nothing else juicy enough going on. Scandals and controversies haven’t been a fixture of the season so all we had in the way of non-football entertainment was the Brett Favre and
Jenn Sterger Saga. There was plenty of drama, conspiracy and serious talk that no one took seriously.
The whole thing started way back in 2008 when Favre was in New York and allegedly drooling over an in-game hostess, Jenn Sterger. According to Sterger the quarterback tried to hit on Sterger, sending her lewd text messages and lewder photos of the quarterback’s
anatomy that only Mrs. Favre would be familiar with (or so she should hope). According to Sterger, she didn’t just receive the photos just once. Favre allegedly continued to send her the photos.
So earlier this year the story broke, the pictures circled the web and Brett Favre didn’t get divorced. Sterger was not pleased. Initially she was reluctant to be associated with the whole thing but then she started talking about justice and resolution and
all. Her manager said that she didn’t want a quick end to drama but rather a proper end.
The NFL couldn’t be happier. Time is all they need because after two weeks the regular season would end and in all likelihood Favre would finally retire for good from the NFL. Once retired the NFL has no jurisdiction to penalize Favre. Then it would no longer
be their problem.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Sterger earlier this week to discuss the issue with her directly. He said that the league investigators were gathering the facts of the case the NFL would take its decision in due time (read when the regular season
ends). If the allegations are true then Favre would be in violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. That usually means a fine or suspension, in Favre’s case it would have to be a suspension because of the nature of Sterger’s complaints against him.
When the Commissioner met with Sterger, he said that the investigation was still on-going but declined to elaborate on what exactly was still being investigated. All he said was that he was still investigating some information so the right conclusion could
be reached. The meeting, which lasted two hours, reportedly got heated at times possibly because it has become increasingly apparent that Goodell is protecting one of NFL’s legends.
Sterger has said that she would not take Favre to court over the sexual harassment allegations as long as the league disciplines Favre. She wants the league to clear her name by finding Favre in violation of personal conduct policy. Litigation would be a
highly complicated matter. There is a ridiculous sexual advance and then there is sexual harassment. Cheesy come-ons and a picture of Favre’s privates could be stringed together to make a case for sexual harassment but that would depend in great part on how
Sterger reacted to them.
There are so many things that Favre’s lawyers could do to through off-the-legal process. Sterger’s best is an out of court settlement if the league does not discipline Favre. “We’ve been very serious, we’ve been very thoughtful, we’ve been very thorough
and we’re going to continue to do that,” Goodell has said. “We take this issue very seriously and I want to make the right decision.”
For better or for worse, the Commissioner’s priority is football and the best thing for the league is to let Favre play his final two weeks and retire without Sterger becoming a part of the last memories we have of Favre’s. Even if Favre is suspended, he
has the right to appeal and the appeals process would last longer than two weeks. Let the guy play his last games in peace.
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