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GREEN BAY, Wis. Cornerback Charles Woodson says that if a media report indicating 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 against 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.
“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.
An NFL spokesman did not 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.
Bills, Chargers deal with power outage
Power was restored at Ralph Wilson Stadium after 45 minutes with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers having played about 16 minutes of game time.
The power came back on with about 11 minutes left in the second quarter, and just after Bills kicker Rian Lindell missed a 52-yard field goal wide right.
Buffalo won 23-14, and the lack of power was much of the buzz following the game. Bills owner Ralph Wilson made a crack about a fan who came up to him during the game.
“Some guy with a beer, said, ‘Why don't you pay your electricity bills,'” Wilson said, with a laugh. “I said, ‘I knew it would be my fault.'”
The electricity went out at the stadium about a half-hour before the game after three helium balloons became entangled in power lines across the street from the facility.
Emergency officials and work crews blocked off part of the area in front of the stadium on Abbott Road as they worked to remove the balloons, which appeared to be affecting the electrical flow. A New York State Electric and Gas worker also said that a breaker blew and had to be restored.
Referee Jeff Triplette's microphone was working, as was the public address system.
CBS was able to air all the commercials that were promised to advertisers, a network spokesman said.
Alstott honored by Buccaneers
Mike Alstott brought the Tampa Bay crowd to its feet one more time.
The former Buccaneers fullback, one of the most popular players in the franchise's history and its career leader in several categories, was honored with a ceremony at halftime of Tampa Bay's game against Seattle on Sunday night.
He missed last season after a neck injury during training camp, then retired in January.
Alstott was the final person to run from the tunnel when the starters were announced, and served as an honorary captain, wrapping Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden in a bear hug shortly before kickoff. The Bucs' cheerleaders all wore No.40 jerseys for the game, as did thousands of fans.
Commentary
After the Minnesota Vikings lost 48-41 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, defensive end Jared Allen offered a promise. “You'll see a different team in two weeks,” he said.
I'm hoping for the Titans.
Jim Souhan
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Short stuff
Emmitt Thomas, a Kansas City cornerback in the '60s and '70s, was honored before the Chiefs' game against Tennessee for his recent enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.
Without pausing as he crossed the goal line, Titans running back Chris Johnson (East Carolina) went to the Chiefs band right behind the playing field and started banging his open palms on the drums, drawing a penalty and prompting coach Jeff Fisher to promise “it will not happen again.”
“I thought about it before the game, but coach Fisher talked to me and said I can't be doing that,” said Johnson. “It's disrespect. I'm just trying to have fun. He didn't chew me out because it was a win.”
The Ravens gave up only 71 yards rushing in Miami. They haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 25 games, the longest such streak in the NFL.
The Giants held 49ers running back Frank Gore to 11 yards rushing on 11 carries. He had 524 yards rushing in the first six games.
The Bills won their 200th home game, improving their franchise record to 200-162-4.
Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers broke his jaw when blocked by Steelers receiver Hines Ward on the opening drive. Rivers, a first-round draft pick in April, is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The Redskins' streak of 332 regular-season pass attempts without an interception surpasses the previous NFL team record of 281 set by Oakland in 2001. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell's individual streak is 224, well short of Bernie Kosar's record of 308.
