Posted by Andy Benoit

Vikings new head coach Leslie Frazier has, as expected, told offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and special teams coach Brian Murphy that they will not be back with the club in 2011. Frazier publicly confirmed this news on Minnesota radio station ESPN 1500.

Frazier gave some empty coach-speak in relaying the news. "One of the things I'm trying to do with all of our coaches, whether you're on the offensive side, defensive side or special teams is just look at everything with an eye towards winning a championship in Minnesota," he said.

Bevell’s value in Minnesota diminished with the closing of the Brett Favre era (the two had a good relationship; Bevell was often Favre’s go-to guy on staff during the Brad Childress drama). Most of the offensive coaching staff is being turned over. After being named head coach, Frazier almost immediately let go of quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, offensive line coach Pat Morris and assistant offensive line coach Jim Hueber.

Frazier is a defensive coach, so whoever he brings in as offensive coordinator will have considerable power. A name that has been floating around is former Broncos head coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Frazier interviewed McDaniels late last week but declined to discuss it.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Tim Tebow didn’t lead the league in jersey sales this season (that’s shocking for the Wonder Boy, I know). Neither did Drew Brees nor Peyton Manning nor Tom Brady nor Roger Goodell nor Michael Vick (nor Ron Mexico for that matter).

You know who did? Troy Polamalu.

According to CNBC’s Darren Rovell, Polamalu is the first defensive player to earn this distinction since Brian Urlacher in 2006.

The list:

1. Polamalu

2, Brees

3. Tebow

4. Manning

5. Brady

6. Vick

7. Aaron Rodgers

8. Eli Manning

9. DeSean Jackson

10. Mark Sanchez

11. Tony Romo

12. Brett Favre

As Rovell writes, Vick wasn’t even in the top-25 of jersey sales through Halloween (I guess being pretty awesome at quarterback helps your bottom line). Meanwhile, Favre hasn’t been this low since 2006 when he finished 14th (I guess being a lightning rod for criticism, sexual and otherwise, helps kill your Q rating).

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Posted by Will Brinson

Shannon O'Toole and Christina Scavo, former therapists for the New York Jets, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Jets and Brett Favre. The Jets responded Tuesday and said the lawsuit is "without merit."

"Unfortunately, the plaintiffs never reported the allegations to the Jets, either during or after the conclusion of their work," said Gary H. Glaser, Jets' counsel, in a statement. "The case against the Jets is completely without merit, and we look forward to defending the matter in court, where we are confident that the Jets will prevail."

The lawsuit revolved around sextual advances made (yes that's a purposeful spelling) by Favre while he was quarterback of the team; one of the therapists says in the lawsuit that Favre treated her like a "hanging slab of meat."

Additionally, the lawsuit refers to the Jets locker room and training camp as "a hot bed of sexual harassment, sexism and inappropriate behavior."

That point may be irrelevant if the plaintiffs indeed failed to report the harassment to the Jets, but it's become increasingly clear through several incidents involving the Jets that there may be some cultural disconnect in the locker room.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Judging by the comments coming on the current post about Brett Favre being sued for sexual harassment, not everyone views the Old Gunslinger in a favorable light. (Of course, that could have been said a while ago, but you get the point.)

But has his reputation actually been tarnished? That's a legitimate question, and it's one Kurt Warner answered on the NFL Network recently.

"I think he did [tarnish his legacy],"Warner said on NFL Network (video here). “Not only this season, but the last few seasons, going back and forth [on retirement] and bouncing to a few different teams. I think about it, and I have to really think hard to think back to when he was a Green Bay Packer and when he played his best football and was in Super Bowls and when he became the Brett Favre we all know.

"To me, when I think of Favre, the first thing I think of his the chaos that’s happened the last couple of years. Hopefully, within a couple of years, people will forget that and remember the kind of player he was on the field. I think in the short-term, he definitely hurt his legacy."

So what say, you, kind fans of Favre? Has No. 4 ruined his legacy by hanging around and allowing people not to remember his greatness but his [alleged] perviness and willingness not to sit because of injury?

In case you care, I think he's damaged his legacy, but not so much that people will forget what a great football player he is. Michael Jordan hung around too long and Michael Jordan had plenty of pictures taken with him and young ladies over the years (not to mention him trying to ruin a PAIR of NBA franchises with mismanagement) and while people might think different of him off the court or in the front office, as a player he'll always be great.

After enough time passes, I think Favre gets granted the same consideration.

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Posted by Will Brinson

If it seemed that Brett Favre would move out of the public limelight until training camp next year, well, sorry -- he's reportedly being sued for sexual harassment by two massage therapists that worked with the New York Jets.

According to Good Morning America, Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on Monday against Favre, the Jets and Lisa Ripi, who hired massage therapists for the Jets. (Note that this is not related to any sort of potential litigation involving Jenn Sterger, which might have some forensic issues, but could still come.)

The suit alleges a number of scandalous items, including the allegation that Favre texted Scavo and other unidentified therapists seeking to "get together." In addition, Good Morning America reports that, according to the lawsuit, Favre allegedly attempted to persuade multiple therapists into having a threesome with the quarterback.

The allegations also include a number of other instances where Favre sent -- surprise, surprise -- text messages to the masseuses seeking what would appear to be some sort of sexual interaction.

Scavo claims in the lawsuit that Favre treated her like a "hanging slab of meat" and the lawsuit also describes the Jets training camp and locker room as "a hot bed of sexual harassment, sexism and inappropriate behavior."

"I suspect that this case is only the tip of the iceberg with respect to the harassment and discrimination experienced by women working for NFL teams and their players as well as all of men's professional sports," Elizabeth Eilender, the attorney for Scavo and O'Toole said in a statement to ABC News. "I hope that Ms. Scavo's and Ms. O'Toole's courage to bring this suit will empower other women to come forward without fear of retaliation and retribution in order to protect their livelihoods and self-respect."

Obviously, Favre was fined $50,000 by the NFL for a failure to cooperate with the league's investigation into allegations involving communications between Favre and former Jets' sideline hostess Jenn Sterger.

At the time of Sterger incident coming under public scrutiny, Deadspin.com also published a report about additional women being sent messages from Favre. Without making ANY conclusion that relates to the guilt or innocence of either party, it's pretty obvious that the two stories align in a similar manner.

All of that is to say that, barring this lawsuit not actually being real or a speedy settlement, the world shouldn't plan on not talking about Brett Favre any time soon.

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Posted by Will Brinson

The NFL has moved on from the Brett Favre - Jenn Sterger case, thankfully, after fining the quarterback $50,000 for his lack of cooperation in the investigation.

On The NFL Today , Charley Casserly provided some details of the reason for Favre's fine.

"The NFL told me the specific reasons for the $50,000 fine were the following things," Casserly said. "That he wasn't candid in his interviews, gave half answers, minimized things and wasn't completely honest about the number of communications he had with Jenn Sterger."

Casserly also raised a very interesting point about the forensic investigation into the communications sent that could make things difficult if Sterger decides to pursue the matter in a court of law.

"Now one other point in the investigation -- both sides agreed on using the same company to study the forsenic evidence. That forensic evidence came back and was not conclusive that Brett Favre could definitely have been proven to send those messages," Casserly said. "That doesn't bode well for Sterger if she wants to pursue this in the legal system."

Casserly's absolutely correct -- if the forensic company that Sterger agreed to use couldn't find specific proof that Favre did anything wrong as it relates to the NFL's investigation, there's a precedent already set for use in any (totally hypothetical at this point) legal case.

Although Team Sterger could certainly find another forensics team that does find proof, her agreement to use a prior company would greatly hamper the viability of any further evidence.



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Posted by Will Brinson

Brett Favre is officially out for the Vikings' regular season finale, meaning he's likely played his last game in the NFL, barring an unexpected retirement (which would not be that unexpected I suppose).

In Favre's place, Joe Webb, who looked good last week, will start for the Vikings.

Now, some NFC actives you might want to know about: Chris Ivory, RB, Saints; Robert Meachem, WR, Saints; Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers; Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings;

And the INACTIVES:

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers -- Jimmy Clausen's best weapon is out, which doesn't mean much for Carolina, but is important for Clausen trying to make a case for being a starting candidate next year.

Marques Colston, WR, Saints -- This may not be as big a deal if the Falcons stomp the Panthers as expected.

Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings -- This shouldn't make Webb's job any easier.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants -- As expected.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

Because a handful of teams have nothing to play for in Week 17, deciphering the injury report can be a very inexact – and, frankly, pointless – science. Thus, we’ll only bother analyzing the injury reports from games that carry playoff implications.

Giants @ Redskins

The Giants will be without explosive WR Hakeem Nicks (broken toe). Center Shaun O’Hara, who has struggled mightily in his first two games back from an ankle injury, is out again this week (foot). Rich Seubert will fill in (the Giants this year have been better with Seubert at C anyway). CB Corey Webster missed practice all week with bad ribs. Fortunately for New York, the Redskins, aside from Santana Moss, don’t have a single wideout worth fearing.

The Redskins had a CB of their own miss practice all week: Carlos Rogers (calf). Everybody else had full participation, in part because all of the big-name players who are banged up have already been written off (see Haynesworth, Portis, Landry, etc.)

Vikings @ Lions

Okay, okay, so this game doesn’t have any playoff implications. But being a member of the media, I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to once again tell you about Brett Favre. He’s doubtful with a concussion.

Bears @ Packers

Unless something utterly unexpected happens with the NFC South games, the No. 2 seeded Bears will have nothing to play for Sunday. We’ll see what that means for playing time. Everyone on the roster is healthy, with the exception of WR Earl Bennett, who was limited in practice with an ankle.

The Packers will be without DE Cullen Jenkins (still nursing a calf), FB Korey Hall (knee), LB Frank Zombo (knee) and SS Atari Bigby (groin). Bigby, a promising hard-hitter, has battled injuries all season long.

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