Favre says NFL fines for Jets 'very unfair'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Brett Favre said Wednesday he believes the fines handed down by the NFL for his absence from last year's New York Jets injury reports were "very unfair."

Favre was asked by reporters for the first time about the $125,000 in penalties levied on the Jets organization ($75,000), general manager Mike Tannenbaum ($25,000), and former head coach Eric Mangini ($25,000).

"I just think it's wrong," Favre said. "They did everything that I felt they were supposed to."

Favre earlier this month revealed the process he and the Jets went through in assessing the health of his throwing arm last December. He played through a torn biceps tendon, and his performance suffered. The NFL investigated and announced the fines last week for Mangini's failure to list Favre on the injury report.

Favre said he discussed his condition with the Jets last year because he wanted the team to know he wasn't at his best.

"I felt like maybe there were some throws where I could've played better because of this injury," Favre said. "I just wanted to let them know that. I never asked them to put me on the injury report. I can't tell you how many times I probably should've been on the injury report. I practiced. I played. I knew I was going to play.

"I wanted them to know that I wasn't too proud to play just to play."

Favre said he told Tannenbaum and Mangini, who now coaches the Browns, that he was sorry about the way the season went sour. Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start and first place in the AFC East, but he threw nine interceptions down the stretch and the team lost four of its last five games to miss the playoffs.

Favre retired, was released by the Jets, then came back for a second time to join the Vikings.

The NFL has stepped up policing of the injury report, and the penalties for the Jets were an opportunity for the league to stress the importance of following the rules. Tannenbaum acknowledged recently that Favre should have been listed as "probable" down the stretch.

Favre last week set what the NFL believes to be the all-time record for consecutive games started, with 271. He hurt both hands in that game against the Detroit Lions, including the nail on his right thumb being bent all the way back.

"It doesn't feel good, but that was it," Favre said. "It was a pretty good shot I took, but that was it."