Jets quarterback Brett Favre met with the New York media yesterday to discuss his conversations with then-Lions president Matt Millen leading up to the Packers-Lions game last month.
Here is a transcript of the press conference:
Question: What happened with Millen and the Lions?
Answer: "The only thing I'll say about that - and of course I've heard the reports - is that week Matt Millen called me. Matt and I are friends, and he was inviting me to come to his place and hunt. I think he lives about an hour from here. But I'm sure his intentions were to fish me for information. He just asked me how we attacked them last year, and we attacked them pretty good. (I) didn't give him any game plan. I haven't been in that offense in over a year. I don't know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple."
Question: Does the report anger you?
Answer: "I wouldn't say anger as much as, ‘Here we go again.' I wish those guys well in Green Bay. I have a lot of friends not only as far as teammates are concerned, but coaches and just people in general there. It's unfortunate the way some of the things went down this offseason, but no hard feelings, it's business. I'm happy to be here. I'm trying to get ready for the Chiefs. Learning this Jets' game plan has been difficult and to be spending whatever amount of time giving away another game plan is totally not true. So once again, it's not anger as much as it's ridiculous from both sides. It's unfair for this team and it's unfair for those guys up there trying to play, too."
Question: Did you share information?
Answer: "I talked to Millen for 15, 20 minutes - from the time it takes me to get from here (the Jets' facility) to my house, which in New Jersey it could be 10 minutes or it could be a little bit longer, but it was not a long conversation. We did talk about hunting. He said he has a bulldozer or some tractors if I needed to go relieve some tension, and in the process wanted to know more or less I think the question he asked (was), anything in particular that you guys did to us last year or how you looked at us or whatever. I couldn't tell you what Detroit runs this year. I haven't watched them, and I can vaguely remember what they did last year. The only thing I know about that game last year - the one in Green Bay didn't really matter late in the year - the first one I think I had 22 straight completions. That's all I can remember."
Question: Did you tell them strategy?
Answer: "We went empty formation and kept throwing completion and completion. They study film. Once again, I don't want to make this any bigger than it is. I don't know what else to tell you. I haven't sat in (the Packers') meetings to know what they're calling or how they're going to attack or how they're going to use Aaron Rodgers. I can assure you it wasn't anything. It would almost be embarrassing to say I gave more (because) it was the wrong information because I think they beat Detroit rather soundly, and I would bet it was pretty much the same things we've run in the past."
Question: Were there other people (Lions coaches) listening?
Answer: "If someone was in there, I couldn't tell you. And let me clarify this: I did not call the Lions, nor did I call Tony Romo, so I don't know what else to tell everyone, but I'm not calling people."
Question: A former teammate accused you of sabotage...
Answer: "Accuse me of sabotage? Did they win?"
Question: So, that was the extent of it?
Answer: "That's it. The story's not as good now is it? I know a couple of weeks ago when we played Arizona, we asked Calvin Pace if there was anything we needed to know."
(Question inaudible):
Answer: "Ask around, when Matt called me and was talking about hunting and told me that he lived an hour from here, don't think for a second I wasn't thinking ‘Surely he wants to know something,' but yeah I played for the Packers for 16 years, and we played against the Lions a bunch. It's no secret what we did against them, I don't have a playbook from Green Bay. I didn't send the playbook. I didn't call him and say, ‘Look if you do this, you're going to win the game.' I didn't do that. It's common. It happens every day. It happens more than you know. Don't think for a second when Mike McCarthy left (the Packers) in '99, and we went to the Saints, and we played them the next year, and they put it to us, that he didn't tell his guys what he thought. There's nothing wrong with that."
Question: Does it bother you that players in Green Bay think that you went out of your way (to hurt the Packers)?
Answer: "I think the players in Green Bay to be totally honest with you, know me, know what type of guy I am, what type of teammate I was. No different than the guys here. They're hearing things. I don't want to say (they were) brainwashed, but whoever this player was who said sabotage, he didn't make that up. It's coming from somewhere. Driver and Jennings, great players. Charles Woodson, Al Harris, great players. Aaron Kampman, great player. I could go on down the list, and I want nothing but great things for those guys. I've said this the last several years that it was the most talented team I've ever played on. Good luck beating them. I think those guys know that when I played with them I'd do anything I could for them. They know how the game works. If anyone asked Driver, ‘Anything in particular about Brett? (And he said) ‘Yeah he'll throw it from anywhere.' Is there anything wrong with that? No. Do I think anything less of him? No. That's just the way the thing is."
Question: If you knew it would turn into this, would you have avoided the call from Millen?
Answer: "No, because Matt Millen is a friend of mine as a lot of these guys were. Darrel Bevell, a friend of mine. Matt Millen, Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren, Matt Hasselbeck, I could up and down the line. If someone called me - like Tony Romo asked me how I played with a broken thumb, anything in particular (he did), any secrets that I could give him. I said I just tried it, I wore a splint on my thumb, it's worth a try. Next thing I know I'm calling everyone in the league giving out secrets. I'm willing to help, but it's awful ridiculous the way things ..."
Answer: "I'm well aware of the perception or what's going on. Aren't you? Isn't everyone else? Believe me I'm trying my best to help this team win, the New York Jets, and spending no time trying to make sure the Packers lose. I've got enough on my plate, believe me, and I'll say it again, it's unfortunate the way some things went down. I was at fault. I feel like they were at fault in some areas, but it's over and done with it. It's business. It happens all the time, and I guess because it's Brett Favre, it's a bigger deal. But Brett Favre's got enough on his plate, trying to figure out how to beat the Chiefs this week. I'm well aware of what's going, and that's why this is a big deal. But it's a bigger deal for other people than it is for me."
Question: (Charles) Woodson, who used the word "sabotage," said if he called the Lions...:
Answer: "Well go back and tell Charles I did not call them. I didn't call ‘em, so now he knows."
Question: Are you angry that your integrity is being questioned?
Answer: "I guess I'm a little bit angry because I think my reputation has been well-respected throughout the years. Any time that's questioned or the type of teammate that I am, it does anger me, I'm not going to lie to you. Ask Driver, ask Woodson, ask Al Harris, ask Kampman, ask those guys what type of player I was and what type of teammate. I would hope they would say exactly what I think they would say."
Question: Was Millen on speaker phone and were other coaches listening?
Answer: "If I was a guessing man, I would probably say yeah."
Question: Could you tell you were on speaker phone?
Answer: "I was on speaker phone in my truck, I don't know. I'm telling you I didn't have a game plan in my lap driving home, saying last year on third-and 3 to 6 we went, hold on, light."
(Question inaudible):
Answer: "It didn't matter. When we talked 15, 20, 25 minutes - now I think the report was 90 minutes or something, it was not that long - half of it was football. Half of it was, my son is a lawyer here in Florham Park, and I'm not that far away (if) you want to come down and hunt and get way, feel free to, (and then) hey anything in particular you guys did to us last year that stands out? Besides me having 22 straight completions, not really. Were there other people listening? It wasn't like, ‘OK, Brett, hold on, let me get everyone together.'"
Question: Was there anything that could have helped them?
Answer: "I wouldn't think so. I haven't watched any of the reports, only what I've heard and have been briefed on. I'm like the president. I've been briefed on several things. No, I don't know if there are reports I sent game plans or computer programs or anything like that."
(Question inaudible):
Answer: "I can think of numerous times in the past we fished for information from guys on our team or coaches who coached there the previous year. I don't remember it being quite as a big deal as this one."
Question: Will you ever help someone again?
Answer: "Nothing was wrong. If Matt calls me today and says, 'Hey, man, sorry about the big deal, the offer still stands,' I'll take the call. I know he's not in football right now, but you know nothing happened. Nothing happened that was any different than happens any other day, but the fact that I was in Green Bay for so long, what happened this offseason, makes it a big deal. I am who I am. I'm with the Jets trying to get ready for the Chiefs. I don't have time to be dealing with other teams, other game plans. I wish them well I really do."
Question: How did Jay Glazer get the information?
Answer: "I thought you guys were the reporters. You guys scoop it out. I know you're asking me, but you guys have to figure that one out."
