It seems the ESPN sports journalists have been falling for some of the simplest tricks in the book when it comes to unverified stories and fact checking.

Ed Werder recently reported that Brett Favre had yet to file his “unretirement” papers. Yeah, funny thing about that. He never filed retirement papers. He was still under contract with the Jets - that’s why he had to ask to be released from that contract. Sure, he said he was retiring, but unless the words came with a signed fax to Roger Goodell’s office, you and I both know it was meaningless. ESPN is like the daffy mutt that keeps falling for your feigned throw of the tennis ball. Go get it, boy!

Then ESPN, Werder, et al reported that the Vikings were backing away from Favre because he didn’t report for OTA’s. Uh, why would someone not under contract with the Vikings need to show for the Vikings OTA’s? And shouldn’t that have been Ed Werder’s first question? Kinda like when you see that slightly masculine woman in fishnets at the street corner - you just automatically know to ask her before you chat her up - “You a cop?” I mean, come on! Basic journalism, man!

I guess we’ll just have to expect the boys at ESPN to keep falling for simplest of tricks Favre, Cook and Childress have up their sleeves. ;)

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