Favre-Sterger investigation concludes (Part 1)
With only a couple of days left in the Regular Season, and possibly Brett Favre’s long impressive career, the NFL has ended its investigation of allegations of harassment against the Minnesota Vikings quarterback with a reprimand for not being truthful and
a $50,000 fine.
The league brought the hammer down on one of its star players for not cooperating with detectives and league investigators who were trying to see if Jenn Sterger had any right or probable cause to blame the 41 year old Viking for sending here inappropriate
messages and racy pictures in 2008, when they were both on the New York Jets squad.
The decision came mere days before what might be the last game of the three time MVP’s career. He is probable to start against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, if he is well enough after a concussion suffered about two weeks ago against the Chicago Bears. Favre
has said that this will be his last season in the NFL, but this isn’t the first time. He has already retired three times and come back from each one. However, this may be his final one, ending an incredible career with injuries, losses, and an end to his most
prodigious record; 297 consecutive career starts.
He has also broken many other records in the NFL and is holding most of them even now.
He is the only quarterback in history to have over 10,000 pass attempts, over 300 interceptions, over 500 touchdowns and over 70,000 passing yards in his career.
He also has the most career completions, starts, victories, sacks, and fumbles.
It has been a tough season for the Vikings and the league itself, which started the Favre-Sterger investigation in October and generated a lot of bad publicity for Favre, Sterger, and the NFL itself.
The NFL also said in their statement about the fine, that even now, commissioner Roger Goodell "could not conclude" that Favre had dishonored the league’s personal conduct policy, according to the evidence available.
Forensic scientists were not able to prove that Favre sent the distasteful photographs to Sterger, said the league.
Goodell determined that Favre’s punishment was due to the fact that he was "not candid in several respects during the investigation resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention for Favre, Sterger and the NFL."
The commissioner also informed Favre that if he had been found guilty of the league’s discipline policies, he would have received a "substantially higher level of discipline."
The NFL said that they only focused on whether or not Favre had violated their conduct policy, not to "make judgments about the appropriateness of personal relationships."
There was no word from Favre or his agent, Bus Cook.
The ruling obviously upset Joseph Conway, Sterger’s attorney, who said that the NFL was favoring Favre.
"It clearly shows that an NFL star player was given preferential treatment and tells all other players that failure to cooperate may cost you some money but will not result in other punishment," said Conway. He went on to say that there was "ample evidence"
the photos were sent by, and of, Favre.
"Additionally, today's decision is an affront to all females and shows once again that, despite tough talk, the NFL remains the good old boys' league," Conway said.
Conway also said that Sterger is still deciding if she wants to press charges against Favre, the Jets, or NFL.
The league said that the investigation took even longer because it was difficult to interview “certain key individuals,”. What also delayed the investigation was Goodell’s decision to meet with both Sterger and Favre and the complications of acquiring and
analyzing electronic records.
The Vikes team were off on Wednesday and interim head coach Leslie Frazier said that he had "never put a lot of energy or focus" into the investigation.
The remaining story concludes in the next part. Stay tuned!
Tags: