National Football League

Childress says Favre report not a distraction

Published Oct. 10, 2010 4:09 a.m. ET

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Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress said he has talked with Brett Favre about an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent racy photos to a former game hostess while he played for the New York Jets.

Childress said that a report on the website Deadspin and the subsequent news of a league investigation have not been a distraction for the team this week as it prepares to play the Jets on Monday night.

''We just talk about what's out there and look it right in the eye and deal with it to the extent we can,'' Childress said on Saturday. ''It doesn't affect anybody else in this locker room, except Brett Favre.''

Childress said he knew nothing about the details of the Deadspin report and hasn't heard from the league. He declined to speak specifically about his conversation with Favre.

''We always speak about (reports); about everything,'' Childress said.

Favre was not made available for comment, and the team said he did not plan to speak on the matter Saturday. He declined comment during his regular news conference on Thursday.

Deadspin posted a story that day which included several voicemails alleged to be sent by Favre to Jenn Sterger, who worked for the Jets at the time. The voice mails include a man asking to meet up with Sterger, who now is a TV personality for the Versus network. The website posted a video that contained the voicemails and several graphic pictures - said to be Favre - that were allegedly sent to Sterger's cell phone.

Sterger's manager, Phil Reese, said on Friday that his client ''did not provide Deadspin with any information.''

Deadspin said it paid a third party for the material and acknowledged that it's possible the man who sent the voice mails and photos may not be Favre.

The NFL said on Friday that it would review the allegations.

Sports Illustrated reported Saturday that Sterger would cooperate with the league's investigation. A league spokesman would not confirm the report and Reese declined comment.

''I guess my experience is they are distractions if you allow them to be,'' Childress said. ''When you address it and talk about it all together, then you go forward.''

Vikings receiver Percy Harvin said the team is focused on playing the Jets.

''We're just worried about football and beating the Jets,'' Harvin said. ''We support everyone in this locker room in good times and bad.''

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