Brett Favre is keeping quiet about his alleged nude photo scandal — and it's going to cost him.
The 41-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback was fined $50,000 by the NFL Wednesday, the New York Times reports. Favre failed to cooperate with the league's investigation into graphic photos and suggestive texts he was accused of sending to Jenn Sterger while both were employed by the New York Jets in 2008.
"The forensic analysis could not establish that Favre sent the objectionable photographs to Sterger," The NFL said in a statement. "The review found no evidence to contradict the statements of both Favre and Sterger that they never met in person, nor was there anything to suggest that Sterger engaged in any inappropriate conduct."
Though $50,000 amercement makes up less than 1% of Favre's $16 million salary this season, the NFL insists that Favre should have been more forthcoming during their investigation.
"Commissioner Goodell also determined that Favre was not candid in several respects during the investigation, resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention for Favre, Sterger, and the NFL," the league added. "Commissioner Goodell stated to Favre that if he had found a violation of the league's workplace conduct policies, he would have imposed a substantially higher level of discipline."
Despite the NFL's final verdict, Sterger's lawyer, Joseph R. Conway, argues that his client's testimony "clearly showed a pattern of lewd and offensive behavior by Mr. Favre that lasted all of the 2008 season."
Perhaps the New York Jets can finally put the scandal behind them. "The NFL has concluded its investigation," the team said in a statement. "We consider this matter closed."