In August, the folks at Deadspin first introduced us to the high-tech habits (allegedly) of Brett Favre, via his cockeyed courtship of Jenn Sterger. In October, audio and video evidence emerged, making it a much bigger story than it previously was. (Then again, some didn’t think the story was all that, um, big.)
The evidence was enough to spark an NFL investigation into whether Favre violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, even though Sterger never had complained to anyone with the Jets or the NFL about the behavior.
Now, Deadspin promises to publish a story on Tuesday regarding Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old girl. A.J. Daulerio posted Friday a letter from Richard B. Kendall, a lawyer who represents the girl. Daulerio claims to have photos taken by the girl from the inside of Sanchez’s bedroom. Daulerio also writes that the Jets are aware of the situation, and that the team is preparing a statement.
Sanchez seems to be unfazed by the situation. On Friday, the 24-year-old Sanchez made the rounds at Radio Row. (Mrs. PFT gets the photo credit. For some reason, she took 94 pictures of Sanchez.) He looked relaxed and loose. He even paused to say hello to a certain Internet hack who was playing Angry Birds typing an important text message.
Under New York and New Jersey law, statutory rape laws apply only when one party to an otherwise consenting relationship is under the age of 17. So if the girl was 17, the law shouldn’t care, the Jets shouldn’t care, and the NFL shouldn’t care. Whether the rest of us should or shouldn’t care is a matter of personal preference, but we have a feeling that most of the e-mails we’ve received pointing out to us the Deadspin report were prompted by folks who have assumed incorrectly that Sanchez now faces potential jail time, if the allegations are true. (On that point, the Deadspin article is silent.)
He doesn’t.
Absent evidence that the girl didn’t consent to anything that may have happened between herself and Sanchez, the guy did nothing legally wrong -- and he committed no violation of any league or team policy.