Brett Favre Scandal: Top 25 Questions Surrounding the Jenn Sterger Mess

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Since evidence of Jenn Sterger's allegations surfaced last week on an online sports gossip website, a vast majority of people have become captivated with the story of Brett Favre's alleged attempts at getting a young sports reporter's attention.

So here we are, another day and another set of Brett Favre stories. 

If you want to get caught up or just want to feed your Favre-Sterger addiction, stay right here. There's plenty of Favre talk in this slideshow.

Specifically, here are the top 25 questions surrounding this mess.

25. Will Jenn Sterger Actually Talk?

First and foremost, this is the most important question.

If Sterger doesn’t talk to the NFL, let alone say anything to anyone, there really is no case against Favre.

All we’re left with is a website, Deadspin.com, trying to capitalize from increased traffic with the Favre photos and audio and a third party that was paid a hefty sum in exchange for the evidence.

24. Could This Be the Final Straw For Deanna Favre?

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Deanna has said it before in her autobiography Don’t Bet Against Me! Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer and In Life, that she was ready to leave Brett after past indiscretions.

She detailed a story of a younger Brett Favre, consumed by his Vicodin and alcohol addiction during his days with the Green Bay Packers.

After overhearing Brett on the telephone with a woman he'd been calling, she wrote:

"'That's it!' I told him. 'I don't deserve to be treated like this. You asked me to move up here to Green Bay, and now you're calling these girls—well, you're on your own now. I'm not living this way. All this stuff is over for me.'"

But she stayed with him through that and his addiction.  Will this be the final straw for her?

23. What Impact Will Ben Roethlisberger's Decision Have On Favre?

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The Ben Roethlisberger suspension should set a precedent in regards to a possible Brett Favre ruling.   

Before the start of the season, the Steelers quarterback was suspended for six games (later reduced to four) for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. 

Roethlisberger has been associated with two sexual assault allegations over the past two seasons.  Although he never faced criminal charges, his reputation was damaged.

Favre's scandal, if true, did not involve the assault of his accuser.  However, it can still be interpreted as sexual harassment. He could face a four-game maximum suspension. 

22. How Much Of a Distraction Is This For the Vikings?

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With a team that now has the eccentric Randy Moss on its roster, it’s funny to think that 41-year-old Favre is actually the bigger distraction.

If only Brad Childress and the rest of the team could have a do-over.  They probably would have been less inclined to plead for Favre to return this season. 

As much as they try to ignore what’s been going on, there’s been just as many scandal-related questions as actual football-related questions posed to the team, if not more.

His teammates are professionals; they should be able to handle the distraction.  That said, they may harbor further resentment towards their supposed leader. 

21. What's the NFL Player Code Of Conduct?

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Here is a snippet from the NFL's personal conduct policy:

"It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. Instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the League is based, and is lawful.

"Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime."

The fact that Brett Favre has become associated with sexually offensive allegations makes him a possible violator of the league's personal conduct policy.

If Favre and commissioner Roger Goodell do eventually speak with each other, and there is not enough evidence against him, it very well could come down to Goodell's judgment to see if the allegations have any truth behind them. 

20. How Much Credibility Does Jenn Sterger Have?

This woman has capitalized on her looks and beauty with Playboy and Maxim shoots. 

But she's allegedly said that she ignored Favre's advances because he was a married man, and she didn't want to be involved in an affair with a fellow Jets employee.

She did hold off on mentioning this incident for the past two years. 

Is she all about the potential cash settlement she could get?  Or, was she just scared to come out?

This 26-year-old remains a mystery.

19. Why Did Sterger Wait Two Years?

The timing of all of this is very suspect.

Sterger could have waited until after Favre's "retirement" with the Jets. Or after his first season with the Vikings.

But two years passed until the supposed scandal finally came to light.

The allegations initially surfaced during the 2010 NFL preseason but gained a lot of momentum when the photos and video of Favre were released by Deadspin.com. 

Coincidentally, Favre would make his return to New York as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. 

18. When Will This All Go Away?

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The short answer here is never.

Sadly for Favre, he will never shed this.  The allegations have been made and will be remembered by media, fans, and teammates for a very long time.

He could even face suspension from the league if their investigation finds some truth to the allegations.

17. Is This All a Jenn Sterger Stunt?

No one else’s stock has gone up from the recent news as much as Jenn Sterger’s.  According to TMZ, she has even received—but refused—a $50,000 offer to pose for a gambling Web site calendar. 

It’s fair to speculate that she’ll be receiving a lot more opportunities in the future.

Was this all done in order to boost her career?

16. Why Hasn't Favre Denied This?

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As we have all come to know over the past few days, Brett Favre refuses to comment on these allegations.

Therefore, there has been no straight denial of the incident on his part. 

It's likely that Favre is being advised by his legal representatives to stay mum on the issue until they figure out exactly how big of a mess they are dealing with. 

15. Where Did Deadspin Get the Photos and Video From?

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According to Deadspin.com, they obtained the evidence from a third party and not Jenn Sterger.

A Deadspin editor also acknowledged that a large sum was paid in exchange for the alleged evidence of Favre.

That source has requested to stay anonymous, but the identity of that person is of the utmost interest to the case.  If that person is associated with Sterger, her credibility may take a hit. 

14. Will This Affect Favre's Hall of Fame Chances?

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It will certainly have a negative impact on his chances but ultimately, it should not keep him away from a rightful spot among the game’s best players.

In his 20th season in the league, Favre sets a record almost every time he throws the football. 

Plus, there are other Hall of Famers who don’t have spotless records.

One person in particular is Lawrence Taylor, who made no secret of his drug use and off-the-field partying ways. 

While some people were concerned that his reputation and past suspensions would affect his candidacy, he became a first-ballot inductee. 

And so will Favre.  

13. Why Did the NFL Fast-Track the Investigation?

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This investigation has been fast-tracked because media sources are reporting that Roger Goodell doesn’t want to show favoritism for the legendary quarterback.

If the investigation dragged on until the end of the season—with Favre expected to retire—how can the league levy a suitable punishment?

As a result, we'll find out sooner rather than later whether there's any truth to the allegations. 

12. Will He Lose His Endorsement Deals?

Brett Favre still remains the official spokesperson for Wrangler jeans.  His photo remains prominently displayed on their Web site.

But will they soon elect to remove him as the face of their brand?

We've seen this happen before. Kobe Bryant lost his multi-million dollar endorsement deals with McDonald's and Nutella when he became involved in a sexual assault investigation.

Tiger Woods lost several sponsorship contracts after word of his adultery surfaced. 

Favre, on the other hand, has not been associated with a crime—only inappropriate and unprofessional behavior.

11. Was That Really His Voice?

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After listening to the Deadspin voice mail recordings, most people will probably come to the conclusion that the voice on the telephone does bear a resemblance to Favre's.

However, why are there not enough voice experts looking to prove or disprove if it was really Favre who left messages for Jenn Sterger?

Could it have been a Favre impersonator?  There's got to be a few of those around. 

10. Why Did Favre Cry In Front Of His Teammates?

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Favre cried during his retirement announcement with the Green Bay Packers, and he was extremely emotional when he played a football game the day after his father passed away.

Reports from ESPN's Michelle Tafoya say that Favre cried in front of his teammates and apologized for being a distraction on Monday morning before their game against the New York Jets.

Could it have been guilt? Stress? Or just a lot of frustration coming out that led him to be overcome with emotion?

It's hard to consider tears as an admission of guilt, but one thing is clear—these allegations have affected him. 

9. Is This Worse Than the Tiger Woods Incident?

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What's worse? Sending inappropriate text messages and dirty pictures or having adulterous relations with multiple women?

ESPN's Jemele Hill thinks Favre's allegations are worse than the Tiger scandal.  Hill considers Favre's allegations to be serious and writes:

"To me, this makes Favre's alleged actions far more reprehensible and potentially worse than what Tiger did. In no way am I condoning Tiger's infidelity...But as tawdry as Tiger's exploits were, there's a very big difference between adults agreeing to an adulterous affair and the harassment Favre is being accused of."

8. Are the Jets Liable For Sexual Harrassment Charges?

Lester Munson, ESPN's legal analyst and sportswriter, has acknowledged that the New York Jets are liable for possible sexual harassment charges if the allegations prove to be true.

The team could be on the hook for allowing a hostile work environment that led to the harassment of one of their employees.  In fact, Munson states that either an independent contractor or a staff employee with the Jets can make a claim against them.

In the event of a sexual harassment case, the judgment of the claim will fall at the hands of jury—whose decision could be entirely subjective and follow no pattern.

7. Why Is Ryan Longwell The Unofficial Spokesperson For Favre?

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These two men have a long history with each other.

Longwell and Favre played together for the Green Bay Packers, and he was a part of the group of Vikings teammates who asked Favre to come back and play for another season in the NFL.

On Monday morning, Longwell was the teammate who hinted at Favre's emotional apology for being a distraction to the team.

Longwell was also the same guy who many members of the media approached in the offseason for clues to whether Favre would return from retirement. 

6. How Have the Jets Reacted?

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Faced with another scandal on their hands, the Jets have supposedly been cooperating with NFL investigators.

"We are working closely with the league in their review of this matter," said Jets spokesperson Jesse Derris to the New York Post.

Just weeks after the Ines Sainz scandal and only a few years removed from the Joe Namath drunken interview with Suzy Kolber, the Jets are no strangers to this type of situation.

5. What Is Jared Winley's Connection To the Scandal?

Jared Winley is the Senior Manager of Public & Media Relations for the New York Jets.

According to Deadspin.com, he may have acted as an intermediary for a possible Sterger-Favre hookup.

However, a team spokesperson has recently denied that Winley was involved in the alleged incident.

If Winley is somehow connected to the allegations, the Jets may find themselves in further trouble with the league and the law.

4. How Has the Media Responded?

After Monday's loss to the New York Jets, several New York media outlets took shots at Brett Favre.

It's been open season on Favre's reputation, at least in New York.  Everywhere else, he's still a hot topic. 

From comparisons to Tiger Woods to further scrutiny of his decisions on and off the football field, some media members have taken an anti-Favre stance. 

Since the Deadspin.com story surfaced, the media has not been able to stop talking about him.

3. Is This the New Norm For Sports Journalism?

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If people are getting tired of hearing about Favre's personal life...get used to it. 

Even sports journalists will leave no stone unturned. 

Last year, it was Tiger Woods and the constant questions about his torrid affairs and infidelity.  This year it's going to be Brett Favre, all season long.

If he plays poorly on the field, he may be viewed as distracted and emotionally unsound.  If he plays well the rest of the season, there will be something else Sterger-related for the media to mention.

2. Is Brett Favre Foreseeing a Suspension?

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After playing in 288 consecutive games in his career, Favre hinted today that he may sit out a game or two as a result of his elbow tendinitis.

Now, by most accounts, Favre holds his iron-man streak very dearly.  Could it just be a coincidence that he is now considering taking a few games off right on the verge of finding more juicy details from an investigation?

Favre may be smelling a suspension, something to the tune of the two games he was hinting at. That is, if Roger Goodell does lay down the punishment. 

Favre may just say it was time he needed to rest his elbow anyway. 

1. Will This Tarnish His Legacy?

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At 41 years old and 20 seasons in the NFL, Brett Favre has done everything that can literally be done by a quarterback in the league.

He will still likely become a Hall of Famer and still be revered as one of the best ever to play the game.

But his reputation definitely takes a big hit.  And he's no longer the family-oriented man that many perceived him to be.

Innocent or guilty, his legacy ultimately takes a hit.  There is one thing, however, that he can do to make people forget everything a lot faster—win a Super Bowl for Minnesota.