Posted: Sunday October 19, 2008 11:10PM; Updated: Sunday October 19, 2008 11:10PM
Woodson: Report shows Favre out to 'sabotage' Packers
Story Highlights
Favre allegedly supplied Packers info to the Lions coaches before Week 2
Favre strongly denied the report in a text message to NBC Sports
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Cornerback Charles Woodson says that if a media report indicating that Brett Favre shared inside knowledge of the Green Bay Packers' offense with Detroit Lions coaches is true, it's nothing short of sabotage.
Has one of the most beloved players in Packers history become Benedict Brett?
"He contacted them? I don't respect that," Woodson said after the Packers' victory over Indianapolis on Sunday. "If they call him and he gives them information, that's one thing. But to seek a team out and to feel like you're trying to sabotage this team, I don't respect that. I know he's been the greatest player around here for a long time, but there's no honor in that."
Woodson's sharp comments came in the wake of a foxsports.com report Sunday that Favre called the Lions before their Sept. 14 game against the Packers in Detroit and spent more than an hour giving coaches information on nuances of the offense he used to run.
Favre -- who was traded to the New York Jets after a prolonged, ugly split with the Packers' front office this summer -- was not asked about the report after the Jets' loss at Oakland on Sunday.
But in a text message to an NBC reporter before the Seahawks-Buccaneers primetime game, Favre strongly denied the report.
"I would say it's disappointing," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.
McCarthy added that he was aware of the report but "not really in tune" with its details and did not want to comment further.
An NFL spokesman did not immediately respond to a message sent by The Associated Press, but Favre's alleged contact with the Lions is not believed to violate any league rules.
Woodson, however, seems to consider it unethical.
"I've never called a coach on another team and told them what's going to happen," Woodson said. "It is what it is. Obviously he says he wasn't bitter about what happened, but obviously there is a little bit of resentment there."
Packers wide receiver Ruvell Martin shared Woodson's concern.
"If it's true, then you've got to question motives," Martin said. "I don't know what to say."
But Martin downplayed the actual damage leaked inside information could do to a team.
"In my opinion, there's not too much you can gain," Martin said. "You can give them our hand signals (but) those are on tape already. If we find out you've got our hand signals, we try to find a way (around it)."
Packers center Scott Wells said it would be "disappointing" if Favre shared information with the Lions, but noted that the Packers beat the Lions.
"Obviously it didn't work out too well for them," Wells said. "We were still able to go out and move the ball on them and win the game."
Other Packers players wouldn't touch the subject.
"I'd rather not know what it is and not comment on it," said wide receiver Donald Driver, a close friend of Favre's.
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