MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings took a different stance on Thursday in what has become the story of the summer in the NFL: They decided NOT to talk about Brett Favre.
The Vikings said Thursday they would not comment on allegations by the Green Bay Packers that they made inappropriate contact with Favre before or during the three-time MVP’s effort to un-retire.
“The Vikings are not commenting on the issue. These types of matters are handled by the league,” said a statement read by a team spokesman.
The Favre saga has overridden everything else going on in the NFL, turning the NFL offseason into a one-story league. Another chapter was added Wednesday night when Green Bay filed tampering charges against the Vikings.
Packers officials believe Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell had discussions with Favre that would violate league rules. Presumably, such discussions would include the possibility of Favre leaving the Packers for their NFC North rivals in Minnesota.
Favre and Bevell are friends going back to Bevell’s days as an assistant in Green Bay. Favre retired in March, but has since said that he wants to return, which has led to a messy back-and-forth with Packers GM Ted Thompson.
The Packers told the AP that they were ready to welcome Favre back to the team later in March when Favre expressed reservations about his decision to retire, only to be assured by the quarterback that he was finished.
Favre has said that he felt pressured by the Packers to retire and now has been told that if he returns to Green Bay, he wouldn’t necessarily get the starting job back.
Minnesota was immediately mentioned as a possible destination for Favre’s relocation. With a veteran defense and a powerful running game, inexperienced quarterback Tarvaris Jackson appears to be one of the few question marks for a team looking to rise to contender status in the NFC.
The allegations have turned up the heat on what was already an intense rivalry.
Vikings coach Brad Childress called the situation a “soap opera,” and said Tuesday that it has been interesting to watch but he remained committed to going forward with Jackson as his starting quarterback.
But the Packers think the Vikings have had other ideas since Favre held a tearful retirement press conference on March 6.
The team told the league that it believes an investigation of phone records will show more than “normal contact” between Favre and Bevell, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.
Bevell and Favre became close friends during Bevell’s three years as quarterbacks coach with the Packers from 2003-05. The two remained in contact after Bevell left to become the offensive coordinator of the Vikings.
Notes
BROWNS: Cleveland wide receiver Joe Jurevicius likely will miss the start of the regular season because of his recent knee surgery. Browns general manager Phil Savage told WTAM-AM Jurevicius will probably start the season on the physically unable to perform list. If he does, Jurevicius would miss at least the first six weeks of the season. Jurevicius had swelling and discomfort in his right knee related to a previous operation and needed another procedure in June.
RAVENS: Joe Flacco won’t face any delays in his bid to become Baltimore’s starting quarterback. Baltimore’s top draft pick has agreed in principle to a five-year deal that could earn him up to $30 million and includes $8.75 million in guaranteed money. The agreement came late Wednesday night following a negotiating session between Pat Moriarty, the team’s vice president of football administration, and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta. Drafted 18th overall out of Delaware, Flacco will compete for the starting job with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller. Rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans are scheduled to report to training camp Monday at McDaniel College in Westminster.
REDSKINS: Washington assistant coach Don Breaux retired because of a heart condition after 27 NFL seasons. He spent 17 seasons with Washington and was part of three Super Bowl championship teams. Breaux is leaving just before the start of training camp, which opens Sunday. He worked for head coach Joe Gibbs as running backs coach from 1981-93, and as offensive coordinator from 2004-07. Gibbs retired for a second time after last season and was replaced by Jim Zorn.
JETS: Quarterback Erik Ainge, the New York Jets’ fifth-round draft pick, signed a contract with the team. The left-handed Ainge became a starter in his freshman year and started 35 games overall for Tennessee. He won two bowl games and ranks third in school history in completions (516), pass attempts (854) and touchdown passes (51). He also ranks fourth for Tennessee with 6,308 yards passing and third with 6,107 yards of total offense.
JAGUARS: Cornerback Trae Williams signed a four-year contract with the Jaguars, leaving Jacksonville with two rookies left unsigned before training camp. Williams, a fifth-round draft pick out of South Florida, will compete for a backup spot behind starters Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams and nickelback Drayton Florence.
PATRIOTS: New England signed fourth-round draft pick Jonathan Wilhite. The Patriots did not release the terms of the deal. Wilhite, a cornerback at Auburn University, played 34 games, made 101 tackles and three interceptions.
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