Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has reached his limit and filed a defamation lawsuit against ex-NFL players and current media figures.
Favre is suing Shannon Sharpe, Pat McAfee, and Mississippi Auditor Shad White.
The Green Bay Packers legend Favre filed the lawsuits earlier this week in Mississippi.
He claims the three defamed him when talking about his alleged role in a welfare funds scandal in Mississippi.
Favre, 53, has not been criminally charged and denies wrongdoing.
Favre’s spokesperson said: “Mr. Favre has spent his retirement from the NFL focused, on, among other things, helping people suffering from concussions.
“Sadly, Shannon and Pat have decided to spend their time making false public statements against Brett.
“Shad White has done a disservice to the people of Mississippi.
“Here is some free advice for Shad White: do what state auditors are supposed to do—fix the state’s failure to have controls in place to ensure that it properly safeguards the taxpayers’ money, not smear the reputations of private citizens to serve his own personal and political ambitions.”
Favre is seeking nominal and general damages from all three, “including compensation for injury to Favre’s character and reputation.”
He also wants punitive or exemplary damages.
White’s spokesman Fletcher Freeman said:
“Everything Auditor White has said about this case is true and is backed by years of audit work by the professionals at the Office of the State Auditor.
“It’s mind-boggling that Mr. Favre wants to have a trial about that question.
“Mr. Favre has called Auditor White and his team liars despite repaying some of the money our office demanded from him.
“He’s also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefitted from misspent funds. Instead of paying New York litigators to try this case, he’d be better off fully repaying the amount of welfare funds he owes the state.
Favre said earlier:
“No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me.
“I tried to help my alma mater USM, a public Mississippi state university, raise funds for a wellness center.
“My goal was and always will be to improve the athletic facilities at my university,” he said.
McAfee said:
“I’m getting sued by Brett Favre. We made it boys.
“We’re lucky to have a little bit of say in sports.
“We’re thankful that we have the opportunity every day to be a part of the sports media world.
“And I guess whenever you get a little bit too big, you fly a little bit too close to the sun.”
Ladies and gentlemen.. I am being sued by Brett Favre#PMSinAZ pic.twitter.com/QIm0i0ohUV
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 10, 2023
