Aaron Rodgers doesn't stoop to Brett Favre's level

 

Aaron Rodgers' formula for success has been simple: throw touchdown passes, avoid interceptions, spread credit among his teammates, ignore Brett Favre.

Rodgers wouldn't bite when asked about the arguably adolescent comments Favre made on an Atlanta radio station, in which the former quarterback intimated that Rodgers, the league's leading passer this season, was fortunate to have been Favre's understudy and that Rodgers "fell into a good situation" with the talent around him in winning last season's Super Bowl.

Favre's petty comments had the tone of a player who wasn't exactly enjoying retirement, particularly when the person who replaced him with the Packers took the team to a Super Bowl championship. Rodgers now has as many rings as Favre.

Favre did say that Rodgers was a "very good" quarterback, much in the way a high school teacher might say a middling sophomore who had just gotten a "B" on a midterm was a very good student.

Prodded by reporters to respond to the comments Wednesday, Rodgers simply deflected questions as if they were inconsequential pass rushers. "I'm really proud of our guys," he said. "I'm proud of the fact we achieved the ultimate goal as a team."

Rodgers, it should be noted, has guided the Packers this year to a 4-0 record, one of only two undefeated teams in the NFL, and has thrown for 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions. His quarterback rating leads the league at 124.6. Favre's top rating in his 16 seasons with the Packers was 99.5.

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-- Mike James

Photo: Aaron Rodgers. Credit: Rick Addicks / Associated Press

Brad Richards turns down Kings, signs with New York Rangers

Free agent Brad Richards agreed to a contract with the New York Rangers on Saturday, turning down an offer the Kings had made during an elaborate presentation Friday at the office of his agent, Pat Morris.

A Kings spokesman confirmed that Richards was going East shortly after it was reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Initial reports pegged the contract at nine years and $58.5 million, which was close to or identical to the Kings’ offer. Both offers were heavily front-loaded.

Apparently the comfort factor for Richards of returning to the East and playing for John Tortorella, who was his coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 when they won the Stanley Cup, was more important than other factors. The Kings tried to persuade him they would be a good fit strategically, were Cup contenders and offered a desirable lifestyle. They assembled a videotape pitch that included recruiting appeals from Wayne Gretzky and Kobe Bryant, among others, but in the end couldn't overcome geography or Richards' familiarity with Tortorella.

The Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs were also believed to be among the final few teams that Richards considered overnight before choosing the Rangers. Calgary reportedly offered him more than $60 million and included a personal call from Jarome Iginla to Richards in its pitch.

Jenn Sterger: 'I just want my life back' after Brett Favre incident

Jenn Sterger will be watched by millions of viewers this week on ABC's "Nightline" and "Good Morning America," something that could be seen as a great opportunity for someone trying to revive her career as a TV host and actress.

 

But Sterger says she is just trying to get her life back after being linked to the alleged inappropriate behavior of former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

"I just want my life back," Sterger says in the hourlong interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "That's all I'm asking for. Just to be able to go back to work. To be able to go back to enjoying what I do. Entertaining people. Making people laugh. The hardest part about this whole thing is that I am a ridiculous person. I love to entertain people, and to say crazy things. And I'm pretty unapologetic about it."

Question of the day: What do you think about the fine imposed on Brett Favre by the NFL?

 

Writers from around Tribune Co. talk about the $50,000 fine Favre received for not cooperating with the NFL's investigation into allegations that he sent inappropriate photos and messages to a former New York Jets game-day host. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune

The NFL could not prove that Brett Favre did anything that violated league policies regarding workplace conduct in the Jenn Sterger affair.  So a $50,000 fine for failure to cooperate with the league in a forthcoming manner seems to be plenty of punishment. The NFL has to judge players in these kinds of situations just the way a court of law would: That’s innocent until proven guilty.  Favre was not proven guilty.  Whether he was guilty could be debated, but it’s not being debated anymore in the league offices. Even though nothing came of it, the situation can serve as a lesson to other players. This much is certain: Everyone is probably very happy to see this ugly matter closed.  Everyone, that is, except Jenn Sterger.

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant

The best news to come out of the NFL’s “disciplining” of Brett Favre is that the sad, sordid situation is over for now. Favre, who seems determined to hang around until all the shine is off his image, will leave the game seeming far less appealing than he would have if he'd stuck with his original retirement three years ago.

Favre, being Favre, will likely trot out and play at least some of the Vikings’ game this week to give his fans a farewell appearance. Although Favre has tended to get whatever Favre wants, he should not have been allowed to take this extra bow. The league’s decision to fine him $50,000 for “not cooperating” in its investigation into the lewd-texting incident may be the best Roger Goodell can legally do. Then again, it may not; legal expert Roger Cossack has noted that in any other business an employee refusing to cooperate in a sexual-harassment investigation would be fired.

If the NFL has decided to let Favre slide because this is to be his last game, that’s wrong. Part of every player’s job is to avoid bringing embarrassment to the league and his team, and this episode, in which former Jets employee Jenn Sterger alleges Favre sent her lewd photos of himself via his “smart” phone, was an embarrassment. Favre should have been suspended.

Photo: Brett Favre. Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn / U.S. Presswire

Brett Favre fined $50,000 by NFL

 

The NFL has fined Brett Favre $50,000 for a "failure to cooperate" with the league's investigation into allegations that he sent X-rated photos to former New York Jets game-day hostess Jenn Sterger.

In a statement issued by the league, Commissioner Roger Goodell determined that 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."

Goodell said that there was not enough evidence to conclude that Favre violated the league's personal-conduct policy.

-- Melissa Rohlin

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Brett Favre. Credit: Miles Kennedy / Associated Press

Brett Favre will be fined but not suspended for alleged lewd photos

 

Brett Favre will not be suspended for allegedly sending inappropriate photos to former New York Jets game hostess Jenn Sterger, but he will be fined.

A person familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press about the league's decision but spoke on condition of anonymity since a formal announcement had not yet been made.

Sterger claimed that Favre sent the photos two years ago, and the NFL recently conducted an investigation to see if the Minnesota Vikings quarterback violated the league's personal conduct policy.

The NFL is expected to announce its decision within 48 hours.

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Brett Favre. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images.

Question of the day: Which consecutive-game streak was more impressive, Brett Favre’s or Cal Ripken’s? [Updated]

Writers from around Tribune Co. will weigh in on the topic. Please check back throughout the day, vote in the poll and feel free to leave a response of your own.

[Updated at 10:12 a.m.:

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant

This is one debate in which there is no shame in finishing second. When it comes to iron men, and streaks that signify the phrase, how could one go wrong choosing either Brett Favre's streak of games started at quarterback or Cal Ripken's streak of games played?

But we have to pick one, and for sheer toughness I have to go with the NFL quarterback.

To play 162 baseball games over roughly 180 days is very difficult, and few players do it today, even for one season. It's grueling, and even if one is lucky enough to avoid injuries, the fatigue is a formidable obstacle. It's also unnecessary for a baseball player to play every game, the primary reason it's not done much these days.

The NFL quarterback is in a different iron man's league. He is playing in a violent contact sport and is generally much smaller than most of the 11 players assigned to clobber him on every play. While the NFL is about brute force, the quarterback position is like a baseball pitcher -- every inch of his body, right down to his fingertips -- especially his finger tips -- is needed to perform. Then there is pressure.

The quarterback position is relied upon like no other in any sport; any time a top QB misses a start, it is likely to cost his team the game, and a game is one of 16, not one of 162.

So for Brett Favre to answer the call for 297 consecutive games should be considered the most impressive feat of its kind in sports.]

[Updated at 11:11 a.m.

Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times

As much as I respect baseball players for grinding out the 162-game schedule, for playing every day despite all the bumps and bruises and muscle strains and tears and sore elbows and day games after night games and seemingly endless air travel, I'm going to have to go with Favre because of the sheer violence of his sport.
 
What Ripken did was incredible, and I believe his record will never be broken; I'd be surprised if anyone came within 1,000 games of it. But as grueling as baseball is, Ripken didn't have vicious, quarterback-hungry, 300-pound linemen breathing down his neck and wanting to crush him every time he made a throw to first base.
 
To have survived the brutal contact of the NFL and to have started every game for some 18 years is truly astonishing. Plus, in baseball, and not that Ripken did this often, you can essentially take a day off and extend a consecutive-games streak with a late-inning pinch-hit appearance or an inning in the field.
 
One final thought: As long as were on the subject, let's not forget the remarkable streak of former NHL goaltender Glenn Hall, who played 502 consecutive games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings ... without a mask. I'm pretty sure Favre wore a helmet for all of his games, so Hall belongs in the conversation too.]

Brett Favre inactive; consecutive starts streak ends at 297

Brett Favre will not play for the Minnesota Vikings in the Monday night football game against the New York Giants, bringing to an end his NFL-record consecutive starts streak at 297.

In dramatic fashion, Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson announced through Twitter: "Vikings Inactives — 12, 19, 25, 31, 76, 90, 91 ... and 4. The streak ends..."

And so, the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who has an injured right shoulder, will not take a snap for the first time since 1992. Favre has played through a variety of injuries in his career and this year continued to play despite a broken foot and elbow tendinitis. Many suspected that Favre was catching a break when the Vikings-Giants game was postponed from Sunday and moved to Ford Field in Detroit after the Metrodome roof collapsed under the weight of snow.

The quarterback was injured when the Bills' Arthur Moats hit him in the back and sent him to the turf after he scrambled and attempted to throw on the run. The following day, the rookie linebacker said he had mixed emotions about being the player who might have ended Favre's streak.

"I don't want to see anybody hurting and not playing any more. If he plays, that would be a good thing," Moats said. "But if he doesn't, and I was the guy to end the streak, all right. That's a little notable, yeah."

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald tweeted: "Even after the reports about Brett Favre being inactive I STILL won't believe that he's not playing until I see it w/ my own eyes!"

Tarvaris Jackson will start for Minnesota, which before Favre's injury had slim hopes of making the playoff with a 5-7 record.

Favre has been injured throughout his 20th season of play. He has two fractures in his left foot and elbow tendinitis as well as 10 stitches in his chin to go along with aches in his neck, back and calf before he was hit by Moats.

Favre has thrown a league-high 18 interceptions and his 69.6 passer rating is 29th in the league.

--Dan Loumena

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Brett Favre talks to backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who will start in Favre's place against the Giants. Credit: Paul Sancya / Associated Press

Ford Field box office overwhelmed by free ticket giveaway

Fans lined up for hours in 12-degree temperatures at the Ford Field box office in Detroit, waiting for free tickets to the Monday night football game that was moved from Minneapolis after the Metrodome's inflated roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow the previous day.

Perhaps they wanted to be present just in case something historic happens ... something that hasn't happened in 297 straight NFL games. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre told USA Today on Sunday that he doubted he would be able to play Monday against the New York Giants.

But the player who hasn't missed a start since 1999 added that the one-day postponement “does buy a little time.”

Due to "overwhelming response," the Detroit Lions said they have stopped giving out free tickets for the relocated and rescheduled game, but added that those holding tickets to the game scheduled in Minneapolis will be admitted and given preferred seating.

Also, fans with tickets from the Lions game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday will be admitted with no reserved seating.

Should be quite a scramble for any of Ford Field's 64,500 seats, even for those who possess any of the three sets of tickets.

And just in case you still haven't seen the video of the Metrodome roof collapsing, it's pretty incredible ...

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Lavelle Alexander, right, of Detroit, stands in line to get free tickets for the Minnesota Vikings' Monday night football game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010. Credit: David Coates / Associated Press

Jenn Sterger's manager says she won't sue Brett Favre if the NFL takes action

Jenn Sterger's manager said Thursday that if the NFL punishes Brett Favre, she won't sue the Minnesota Vikings quarterback.

Sterger, a former New York Jets game hostess, alleged she received X-rated photos and text messages from Farve in 2008.

Her manager, Phil Reese, said she wants the league to take action before he retires, which Farve said he plans to do at the conclusion of this season. Minnesota has only four regular-season games remaining.

Reese added that Sterger would like the NFL to "implement a program" to prevent unwanted advances.

The NFL has finished its investigation into the matter, and has sent its findings to the commissioner's office and league lawyers to review.

The league has not yet commented on the results of the investigation.

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It's show-me Sunday for NFL's two Missouri franchises

--Melissa Rohlin

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Brett Favre. Credit: Andy King /Associated Press.

 

Question of the day: When Sunday comes, will Brett Favre be starting for the Vikings? [Updated]

Writers from around Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune

Of course Brett Favre will be playing football Sunday. What else could he be doing?  Playing football is what Favre does.  He doesn’t know how not to play.  Until he gives us reason to believe he can’t limp out onto the field, we have to assume history will repeat itself and Favre will play hurt.  Now he might not be able to play as well as usual, but he’ll still be able to play, and probably better than Tarvaris Jackson could. The fact that Favre has fractures in his ankle gives more drama to Favre’s season — as if there hasn’t been enough already.  But if he slays the Patriots with a heroic performance on a bad ankle, he could make a lot of people forget about a lot of things.

[Updated at 8:58 a.m.

Kevin Van Valkenburg, Baltimore Sun

Of course Brett Favre will be playing Sunday. Not because it's in the best interests of the Vikings, but because it's in the best interests of Favre. He'll limp onto the field, grinning and grimacing on alternating plays, and the announcers will fawn over his grit, never once questioning whether it's actually selfish of Favre to play when he can barely walk.

The NFL -- and all the attention that goes with it -- is a drug, and Favre has an addictive personality. He can't quit. All the nonsense about how he loves the game and would play it for free (which has always been false) glosses over the fact that Brett Favre NEEDS the game. You don't start 291 consecutive games in the NFL because you want to. You do it because you don't know any other way.

Favre will start because Brad Childress won't tell him he can't start. He'll hobble around in the first half, pigeon-toed and bow-legged, throw a few interceptions, then toss a few touchdowns to make the score seem closer that it actually is. After the game, reporters will ask Favre if he thinks he can play the following week, and with his best poker face, he'll say he'll do whatever is best for the team.]

[Updated at 2:03

Mike Berardino, South Florida Sun Sentinel

Sure, Brett Lorenzo Favre – yes,  Lorenzo -- looked more like he was 81 instead of 41 as he hobbled off Lambeau Field for perhaps the last time Sunday night. True, his ankle is shot and he probably has no business trying to film a jeans ad in the park, much less quarterback an NFL game at 5-1 New England.

But is there really any doubt Favre will be under center come Sunday afternoon in Foxborough?

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Thursday it would “be a surprise” if Favre can’t answer the bell for his record 292nd consecutive start. “Surprise” is too mild.

The man is going to play. His ego simply won’t allow him to sit. Plus, considering Favre’s 68.0 rating –- fourth-worst among qualifying NFL quarterbacks  -- Tarvaris Jackson might outplay him. Then what?]

Photo: Brett Favre; credit: Andy King / Associated Press