The NFL came down with a decision regarding the Brett Favre affair and in every which way possible it is a half-assed ruling.
There was no way that the NFL was going to come down heavy on Favre for the text messages and alleged photos of his "junk" that were sent to Jenn Sterger in 2008, when both were employed by the New york Jets. Favre is a NFL legend and few believed the league would suspend him or hit him with a heavy fine.
The NFL was at its foot-dragging best in coming to its decision and now that it has been made, it is completely laughable.
In the end, the league slapped Favre on the wrist with a $50,000 US fine, not for any wrongdoing regarding his actions with Sterger, but for not being forthcoming and not fully cooperating with the league in its see-no-evil investigation.
As Charlie Brown would say: "Good grief."
The official statement read in part: "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," the release states. "The commissioner notified Favre that he has been fined $50,000 for his failure to cooperate with the investigation in a forthcoming manner. Commissioner Goodell stated to Favre that if he had found a violation of the league's workplace conduct policies, he would have imposed a substantially higher level of discipline."
What the ruling says is that if you are considered a legend and either lie or do not cooperate in an investigation, you walk. That's a fabulous precedent to set.
You will note that there is no sexual harassment tag attached to Favre as the league could not determine if the photos in question were of and came from Favre.
Sterger's lawyer, meanwhile, was less than thrilled.
"My client and I are extremely disappointed, but not surprised, at today's NFL announcement that Brett Favre did not violate the NFL's workplace conduct' policy," Joseph Conway said in a press release. "While I am not privy to how Mr. Goodell reached such a finding, we strongly disagree with his conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support a violation of the policy. To the contrary, our evidence and the personal testimony of Ms. Sterger clearly showed a pattern of lewd and offensive behaviour by Mr. Favre that lasted all of the 2008 season."
It is insulting to even suggest that what Favre received is a wrist-slapping.
No word, though, on the punishment that Deanna Favre, Brett's wife, has imposed.