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Show DAILY HERALD Thursday, July 17, 2008 B5 NFL NOTEBOOK AP Source: Packers allege tampering by Vikings Former Aggie, Robinson signs deal with Chiefs . i THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MILWAUKEE The Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings alleging that the team made inappropriate contact with Brett Fawre, a person familiar with the Packers' complaint told The Associated Press Wednesday night. The person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said Packers officials have expressed their belief that interest from the Vikings was driving Favre's sudden change of heart about playing football in 2008. "They feel like Favre had something (in place), and that's why he was so anxious to get his release all of a sudden," the person said. The tampering charges were reported by Foxsports.com earlier Wednesday. The person said the league already has reviewed evidence provided by the Packers, and team officials believe a league examination of telephone records will indicate more than "normal contact" between Favre and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a former Green Bay assistant. According to the person, Packers officials also believe the contact began before Favre and his agent, Bus Cook, formally asked the Packers to release him. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had no comment on the report. Cook did not return a telephone message left by The Associated Press earlier Wednesday. The tampering charges added a new twist to the Favre saga, which seemed to be over when Favre retired in early ' March, but now has been sizzling for several weeks. Now, with Favre potentially headed back to an even chillier reception than the below zero -- - at Lambeau Field on Saturday night. Winters, former Packers defensive tackle Gilbert Brown and video director Al Treml will be enshrined in the Packers' about retirement earlier in the offseason. McCarthy said it was Favre and his representatives, not the team, who turned Campen into an "intermediary" between Favre and the front office. "I think he's totally, wrongly been illustrated in this," McCarthy said. "Ted would not even talk to Campen about this. He said, 'Hey, your personal relationship with Brett Favre is bigger than this, so don't ever put yourself in that position.' ... James was put in a tough spot. He was put in a situation that was purely personal." Hall of Fame. Should Favre keep his commitment, his return to Lambeau will come a little more than a week after formally requesting to be released and only days after expressing his distrust of Packers management, insisting in an interview with Fox News on Monday that the team pressured him into making his retirement decision. Favre could see some of the same folks he criticized in his trip back to Lambeau. He also might run into Packers offensive line coach James Campen, a former teammate who was dragged into the middle of the controversy this week. In an unaired portion of Favre's interview with "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren," Favre apparently said Campen recently made an unexpected visit to his home in Mississippi and said he had "an ) They said the scrutiny was intensified after the shooting death of Denver cornerback Darrent Williams in 2007 after Williams was involved in a dis- pute with known gang meminformation is bers. Anti-gan- g included in orientation literature and stressed in the annual mandatory league meeting for rookies. The NFL took further notice after Paul Pierce of the NBA's Boston Celtics was fined $25,000 in April for what the league said was a "menacing gesture" toward the Atlanta Hawks' bench. "1 100 percent do not in any way promote I Chiefs sign draft pick Kevin gang violence or anything Robinson: At Kansas City, Mo., close to it." Pierce said in a statement. "I am sorry if it was the Chiefs agreed to three-yea- r 1 ( deals with draft picks Kevin misinterpreted that way at SatRobinson and Brian Johnston on urday's game." I The Times said that was the , Wednesday. Terms of the contracts were not available. precipitating incident for the NFL. Robinson, a receiver, was one of Kansas City's two "We were always suspicious d that might be happening," it picks. He caught 178 passes for 2,485 yards in quoted Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, as 46 games for Utah State. He d set school records with 1,104 saying of signals. answer" for Favre regarding yards and four touchdowns on "But the Paul Pierce thing is his desire to unretire. what brought it to light. When punt returns, and 2,725 yards "He says, "You know, I and four touchdowns on kick- - -- hewas fined v. that's when KEV0RK DJANSEZIANAssociated Press know off returns. we said we need to take a look they told you they're NFL athlete Brett Favre accepts an award for record breaker at at it and see if we need to be Johnston, a defensive end, moving on and playing there's not an option,"' Favre said, acwas one of the Chiefs' two aware of it." the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday in Los Angeles. seventh-roun- d Most senior NFL officials picks. He had cording to a full transcript of 268 tackles and 21 sacks in were at a league outing Tuesthe interview obtained by the four years at Gardner-Webconditions in his last game at for Wednesday night's taping Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. day and could not immediately be reached for comment. He aiso forced 10 fumbles, Lambeau Field when he makes of the ESPY Awards. Host "Playing here in Green Bay recovered three, and blocked a scheduled appearance at the Justin Timberlake zeroed in on is not an option, which that's I Ravens, Flacco agree to deal: what they want. They want to one kick. Packers' Hall of Fame banquet Favre sitting in the audience At Owings Mills, Md., the move on. But I'm telling you, if this weekend, the next step in with his wife, Deanna. Baltimore Ravens have agreed "What have you been up to the iconic quarterback's plan you reinstate or you force their I NFL steps up monitoring of in principle to a five-yedeal to maneuver his way out of hand, back them in a corner, players for gang signs: At New lately? I haven't seen you anyd draft pick with Green Bay is unclear. York, the NFL is stepping up where," Timberlake said. "Just they feel like they have no its monitoring of Joe Flacco on a contract with other option, they're going to playCook, told ESPN on Wednes- chillin'? Yeah, me too." er activities to ensure that no a maximum value of $30 milLater, Timberlake went into accept you back."' day that he and Favre have one is flashing the hand signals lion that includes $8.75 million "And he said, 'Just telling "no definite plans to ask for the seats to hug Favre's would-b- e " in guaranteed money for the of street gangs. successor Aaron Rodgers, reinstatement" and it was up to you.' And I said, 'OK.' The Los Angeles Times red In an interview with The the Packers' 2005 the Packers to decide what to quarterback. Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, Associated Press on Saturday, ported Tuesday that the league do next. draft choice. Favre sheepishly confirmed the Wednesday had hired experts to look two days before Favre made "It's their move," Cook said. looked down with a slight at game tapes and identify his comments about Campen, smile on his face as the crowd Favre currently is on the night deal. Drafted 18th overall out Packers coach Mike McCarthy Packers' reserveretired list. To laughed. players or team officials who chastised the Favre camp for be reinstated, Favre must write That's just the first of sevmight be using suspected gang of Delaware, Flacco is slated to compete for the starting eral awkward moments poa letter to NFL commissioner signals. Violators would be putting Campen in a "tough warned and disciplined if the job with Troy Smith and Kyle spot." Roger Goodell. Once that request tentially on tap for Favre this Boiler. Rookies, quarterbacks said the recurred. Packers is approved weekend. a step considepisodes McCarthy and injured veterans are schedFavre is scheduled to present told Campen to visit Favre as the Packers ered a formality League officials said d uled to training camp Monday a friend, not on behalf of the former teammate Frank Winwould have to release Favre or Tuesday that avoiding activities has long been at McDaniel College in ters at the Green Bay Packers team, once they heard Favre place him on their active roster. ' stressed. Hall of Fame induction banquet was having second thoughts Favre was in Los Angeles rv sixth-roun- gang-relate- . first-roun- d first-roun- gang-relate- V A JT WI....I. no I. ..... I" q Li.fS r set acuta prizes: a 1 1 flL 1 jr ! k VI CruD ticketsV ,, Air ie ;agoon day !:rHogi . passesju'--'- Yogi Gift certs-- - - ' 'Tralal vt.. ce ra shell tickets .."- -' j , , 'X ; X ISM & x-- , 3f tat ffi .hcraldcxtrafcotnlsummcrgiveaway IT vw At. Jl . 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