? League says Favre not candid during investigation
? NFL could not establish Favre sent lewd messages
Brett Favre has been fined US$50,000 by the NFL for not co-operating with an investigation into allegations he sent lewd messages to a female employee of the New York Jets when he played with the club in 2008, the league said today.
The 41-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback had been the subject of an NFL investigation since October to determine whether he violated the league's personal conduct policy through his alleged correspondence with the Jets employee.
"On the basis of the evidence currently available to him, commissioner [Roger] Goodell could not conclude that Favre violated league policies relating to workplace conduct," the NFL said.
"However, Goodell also determined that Favre was not candid in several respects during the investigation, resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention."
Favre, who has spent the past two seasons with the Vikings, met a league official in October and was asked about allegations he sent inappropriate voicemails and photos to the woman, who was a game-day hostess for the Jets. But the NFL said forensic analysis could not establish that Favre sent the objectionable photographs.
A lawyer for the woman criticised the league's decision and said evidence presented and personal testimony from the woman clearly showed a pattern of lewd and offensive behaviour by Favre during the 2008 season.
"We strongly disagree with his conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support a violation of the policy," the lawyer Joseph Conway said. "There was ample evidence to show that the sexually explicit photographs were part of Favre's inappropriate behaviour. Our evidence clearly showed that the photos were sent by Favre."
The NFL also investigated a media report about allegations concerning other women who worked for the Jets. "Misconduct by Favre regarding that claim was unable to be substantiated because individuals with potentially relevant information declined to be interviewed or otherwise co-operate," the league said.
The NFL has strict rules governing the conduct of players and can levy fines or suspensions if they are found to have breached the guidelines. Its policies do not extend to private conduct or make judgments about the appropriateness of personal relationships, except where that conduct or those relationships raise issues under the law or league policies, the NFL said.
Favre, one of the most decorated players in the game, would have received a substantially higher level of discipline had Goodell found the he had violated the NFL's workplace conduct policies. Favre is a three times winner of the league's most valuable player award and holds most major records for a quarterback, including career touchdowns, passing yards and wins. He won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997 and was selected for the Pro Bowl on 11 occasions.
The fine was handed down days before the Vikings' final game of the season, which Favre has said would be his last after a 20-season career.
Monica Bellucci Minki van der Westhuizen Katharine Towne Malia Jones Jennifer ODell
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