NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre $50,000 on Wednesday for a “lack of cooperation” during the investigation into allegations he sent former New York Jets employee Jenn Sterger photos of his penis.
Citing a lack of evidence after a forensic analysis of the photos couldn’t definitively prove it was Favre’s penis in the photos, Goodell did what most believed he would do in addressing the matter.
Despite evidence that clearly indicated Favre was indeed the person who left several voice mails on Sterger’s answering machine, and allegations of inappropriate behavior involving two Jets’ massage therapists, the commissioner basically did nothing more than slap the QB on the wrist.
Upon the release of the NFL’s statement regarding the Favre matter, Sterger’s attorney said the result was “expected” but less than acceptable.
Earlier this month, Sterger’s representatives intimated that the NFL needed to act quickly on the Favre situation and suggested that if the league didn’t dole out what they deemed an appropriate punishment that she would seek legal remedies.
Commissioner Goodell focused primarily on whether Favre had done anything that violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy, but apparently sided with Favre’s explanations of what transpired.
In a classic case of he said, she said, Goodell should have realized what a public relations disaster this was going to create for the NFL.
Leveling a fine of $50,000 against a player whose made millions over the course of his career doesn’t send the type of message that will make other players in the league take notice.
The leniency Goodell showed Favre may be the expedient path to what he may believe is the best way to resolve the matter, but it clearly won’t be the end of this story, and anyone who believes otherwise is kidding themselves.
Commissioner Goodell might want to prepare himself for the coming legal action that Sterger is going to take against Favre, the New York Jets and the NFL.
