Favre Fined by NFL for Not Cooperating With Probe

Brett Favre has been fined $50,000 by the NFL for not cooperating in an investigation into allegations he sent lewd messages to a female employee of the New York Jets when he played with the club in 2008.

The 41-year-old quarterback had been the subject of an NFL investigation since October to determine whether he violated the league's personal conduct policy through his alleged correspondence with the Jets employee.

"On the basis of the evidence currently available to him, Commissioner (Roger) Goodell could not conclude that Favre violated league policies relating to workplace conduct," the NFL said in a statement.

"However, Commissioner Goodell also determined that Favre was not candid in several respects during the investigation, resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention."

Favre, who has spent the last two NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, met with a league official in October and was asked about allegations he sent inappropriate voicemails and photos to the woman, who was a game hostess for the Jets.

The NFL has strict rules governing the conduct of players and can levy fines or suspensions if they are found to have breached the guidelines.

According to the NFL, its policies do not extend to private conduct or make judgments about the appropriateness of personal relationships, except where that conduct or those relationships raise issues under the law or league policies.

Favre, one of the most decorated players in the game, would have received a substantially higher level of discipline had Goodell found the quarterback had violated the league's workplace conduct policies, the statement added.

Favre is a three time winner of the NFL's most valuable player award and holds most major records for a quarterback, including career touchdowns, passing yards and wins.

He won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997 and was selected for the Pro Bowl on 11 occasions.