Favre says he never betrayed Green Bay

10/23/2008

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Brett Favre insists he's no Benedict Brett.

The New York Jets quarterback acknowledged yesterday that he spoke to former Detroit president Matt Millen a few weeks ago, but denied reports he called Millen and gave him and Lions coaches information they could use in a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Favre, who had a bitter split with the Packers in the offseason, said Millen called to invite him to go hunting.

The friends then briefly talked about football.

"I didn't give him any game planning," Favre said.

"I haven't been in that offense in over a year. I don't know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple."

Favre also said Dallas quarterback Tony Romo called him last week - not the other way around - to ask for suggestions on playing through injuries.

"Next thing I know, I'm calling everyone in the league, giving out secrets," Favre said. "I'm willing to help, but it's awful ridiculous."

Favre spent nearly 15 minutes answering questions about the Foxsports.com report Sunday that said he called the Lions before their Sept. 14 game against the Packers. The report said Favre spent more than an hour giving Millen and Lions coaches information on nuances of the offense he used to run. Green Bay won the game 48-25.

"I did not call the Lions, nor did I call Tony Romo," a defiant Favre said. "I don't know what else to tell everyone, but I'm not calling people."

Jay Glazer, who wrote the story for Foxsports.com, defended what he wrote.

"I stand by my story 1000 percent," Glazer told The Associated Press. "I guess Brett and I will just agree to disagree on certain things. The way I do my work, I don't go on what just one person told me. I investigated this fully and for quite some time. I spoke with several sources, and when I go with something, I make sure it's dead-on. I think my track record speaks for itself."

Favre said he received a call from Millen while traveling home from the Jets' training facility, and the two spoke for no more than 25 minutes.

"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, 'Now, surely he wants to know something,'•" Favre said. "Yeah, I played for the Packers for 16 years and we played against the Lions a bunch, but 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."

Green Bay beat Detroit twice last season, including a 37-26 victory in November in which Favre set a team record with 20 consecutive completions.

As far as Favre knew, he was on the line only with Millen.

"That's it," he said. "Story's not as good now, is it?"