TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs GM Mum On Interest In Favre

ALLEN: 'I WON'T GO THERE'

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 15, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa's radio airwaves were rife with speculation Tuesday about a dinner meeting between Bucs general manager Bruce Allen and retired Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

According to the reports, which were attributed on at least one station to some "well-placed'' unnamed sources, Allen and Favre were seen dining together in Tampa on Monday night at Fleming's Steakhouse.

Fleming's does appear to be a favorite spot of Allen's. He has dined there with several future Buccaneers in the past.

Allen, however, denied having dinner there this week with Favre.

"I think the people at Fleming's can tell you that's absolutely not true,'' Allen told The Tampa Tribune on Tuesday.

Allen wouldn't discuss Favre's situation any further, saying he doesn't respond to rumors or speculation. When asked directly if the Bucs have any interest in pursuing the 38-year-old, he said, "I won't go there.''

Talk of the three-time league MVP coming to the Bucs has been rampant for days, but Favre said himself during an interview broadcast on Fox News on Monday that he sees a trade being a "way-out-there possibility.''

Favre also said he cannot envision himself playing with any other team other than the Packers. In a segment of the same interview that ran on Tuesday night, however, Favre didn't rule out playing for another team.

"I've always been a Packer, always will be a Packer," Favre said. "Will I play somewhere else? Remains to be seen."

That said, Favre still hasn't said if he is completely committed to playing in 2008.

Asked if he could envision a scenario in which Favre wound up with the Bucs, Tampa Bay defensive tackle Chris Hovan threw his support behind the Bucs maintaining the status quo.

"The thing people overlook is, we have a Pro Bowl quarterback on this team in Jeff Garcia,'' Hovan said. "Everyone loves Brett Favre, but I love the guts and determination of our quarterback.

"He plays like a defensive lineman out there, so I'm going to take Jeff Garcia any day. Hopefully everything works out for Brett, but right now we have a great guy at quarterback.''

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT