Former Jets quarterback Brett Favre was sacked today by the NFL with a $50,000 fine for not fully cooperating with a probe into a lurid text message he allegedly sent to a sexy team hostess when he played for Gang Green two years ago.
The league said they couldn’t prove the current Vikings QB passed a picture of his penis to sideline girl Jenn Sterger, but that he needed to be flagged for failing to play ball with the probe into his conduct.
“Favre 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 league said in a statement released early this afternoon.
“The commissioner notified Favre that he has been fined $50,000 for his failure to cooperate with the investigation in a forthcoming manner.”
In a statement, Sterger’s attorney, Joseph Conway, said, “My client and I are extremely disappointed, but not surprised, at today’s NFL announcement that Brett Favre did not violate the NFL ‘workplace conduct’ policy. … We strongly disagree with his conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support a violation of the policy.”
“To the contrary, our evidence and the personal testimony of Ms. Sterger clearly showed a pattern of lewd and offensive behavior by Mr. Favre that lasted all of the 2008 season,” the statement continued.
Conway said his evidence showed Favre sent the photos.
He also said that the NFL “failed to address the complicity of the New York Jets organization in Favre’s conduct.”
The married Favre, 41, has said that he admitted to the NFL that he sent text messages to Sterger. But he has denied that he sent the lurid image of his personal goal post.
The league said that foot-dragging by the star quarterback along with a decision by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to meet with both Favre and Sterger personally caused the probe to take longer than “might ordinarily have been the case.”
They did not give details of how Favre failed to cooperate with the probe.
The league also said it found no evidence Favre violated any league harassment policies – and that despite a forensic analysis of the electronic data in the case they could prove that Favre sexted his penis to Sterger.
“The forensic analysis could not establish that Favre sent the objectionable photographs to Sterger,” the NFL said.
Favre, 41, allegedly sent the picture during his brief 2008 stint with the Jets, in a apparent bid to woo the 26-year-old Sterger. Sterger also said the football star continued to sexually harass her after he left the team.
Favre acknowledged on Fox News that in October he admitted to the NFL’s vice president of security, Milt Ahlerich, that he left Sterger voicemails while trying to woo the stunning ex-model in 2008.
But he insisted in that interview that he never sent Sterger photos of his personal equipment.
The married superstar’s fidelity fumble was first reported by Deadspin, a sports gossip website.
Deadspin.com published some of the slimy missives after buying them from a third party, and noted that the racy images sent to Sterger had originated from the same number as the phone messages she got.
On one voicemail, Favre suggested that Sterger meet him at his hotel room.
“Just got done with practice, got meetings here for a couple more hours, then I’m going back to the hotel to just chill,” he said.
“So send me a text. So I’ll be in the building for a couple of hours. … Send me a text. I’d love to see you tonight,” he urged.
The site also reported that the text was sent from a phone with the number 601-291-6004. That phone goes back to a generic number owned by T-Moblie. At the time of the texts, Favre had been a spokesman for the cell-phone company on their “Say Hello” campaign, which may be how he got the phone.
Favre is one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in history. He played in 11 Pro Bowls, has been a six-time All-Pro and is the only quarterback to have led a team to victory over all 32 NFL franchises. Favre missed the Vikings’ 24-14 win over the Eagles on Tuesday night because of a concussion.
The Vikings said they will start Favre over rookie Joe Webb in their season finale against the Lions if he passes his concussion tests this week.
Favre has said this is his final season, but in the past has changed his mind on the subject.