Favre not disclosing details on meeting with NFL

Brett Favre isn't talking about his meeting with an NFL official regarding the allegations he sent suggestive messages and lewd photos two years ago to a woman who worked for the New York Jets.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters in Green Bay ahead of Sunday night's Vikings-Packers game, Favre called the NFL's investigation into his alleged behavior a "league matter." Minutes later, he also declined to answer a series of questions about the situation in his weekly Wednesday news conference with Minnesota media.

"That's a league issue," Favre said, "that I just have to leave at that."

The Vikings quarterback met with NFL vice president for security Milt Ahlerich on Tuesday about his alleged advances toward then-Jets game emcee Jenn Sterger in 2008, when Favre played for New York.

Favre brushed off a question about whether the situation has weighed on him, insisting it was instead the "front five for Dallas" that weighed on him last week. He said this week his "focus is solely on Green Bay."

Asked why he hasn't denied the allegations, Favre said: "The one thing I'm going to say is that's something that's within the league, and I'll just have to leave it at that - let that process work itself out."

Sterger has hired lawyers but has not commented on the allegations, which were posted on Deadspin.com without her cooperation. The website paid a third party for the texts and graphic photos, said to be of Favre, that it posted in a video. Sterger has not commented on the website's report.

Attorney Joseph Conway said Wednesday his firm will advise Sterger "and pursue any potential remedies that may exist." He did not elaborate on that, but confirmed being contacted by the NFL.

"Nothing has been decided or set up," Conway said in response to a question about whether Sterger will speak to the league.

Deadspin also posted an e-mail Wednesday that it said it received from Ahlerich, asking to set up a meeting with the editor to talk about "sharing any and all details you ... may have on this matter."

Favre appeared relaxed at the podium inside Minnesota's practice facility. While refusing to acknowledge concern about the investigation and insisting he's only worried about the Packers, Favre took time to mention their multiple-formation defense, the pressure of facing his old team and the magnitude of the game given a tight NFC North race.

Then, with a touch of self-deprecating humor, he poked fun at his age and questioned his ability to hold up in Green Bay.

"I look old, gray and weary, with crows feeding on me and that stuff," Favre said.

Asked about the reaction he's expecting from the Packers fans, Favre cracked a slight smile.

"I'd like for it to be a better reaction than last year, but I can't be concerned about that," he said. "I know what I did there, the legacy that I left behind, the commitment I had to that team, the way I played. And it was a long, long time. So I'm proud of that. And I'm not going to really think about it."

The Vikings played one of their best all-around games of the 2009 season while beating the Packers 38-26 at Lambeau Field last Nov. 1, and Favre's current teammates are eager to again lend their support.

Kicker Ryan Longwell, one of his closest friends, said he's spoken to Favre in the last few weeks even more extensively than usual.

"I can tell by looking at him. I can tell by what he's talking about and his words and what he's feeling," Longwell said, adding: "I think Brett's in a really good place right now. If anybody can compartmentalize over the years, he's certainly one that can do it with the best of them."

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said the Favre saga has not distracted the team.

"We've been on Front Street for the last two or three years," Shiancoe said. "We're kind of getting used to a lot of media attention and a lot of hoopla about us. It's kind of like another day at the office. It's another form of adversity that we can just deal with. We're professionals, so we know how to deal with it."

This wouldn't be a Packers-Vikings week without at least one reference to Favre's retirement plan. The 41-year-old was asked by the Green Bay media on his conference call why people should believe this will be his last season, as he declared upon reporting to the Vikings in mid-August.

Favre said, yes, that's still his plan.

But he also stopped short of making it official: "Let's get through this game," Favre said, "and we'll figure out what happens the rest of the year."

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AP Sports Writers Jon Krawczynski and Chris Jenkins in Green Bay, Wis., contributed to this story.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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