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Referee Turned Autograph Hound Forces Favre to Make the Call

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<i> Associated Press</i>

The head linesman who worked Sunday’s game between Tampa Bay and Green Bay visited the Packers’ locker room before the game to get Brett Favre’s autograph.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that,” the quarterback said Monday.

Favre, who leads the NFL with 28 touchdown passes, said that when he entered the locker room Sunday, Jerry Bergman, who was sitting near his locker, walked over and said: “I hate to do this, but I have a few cards for my grandson.”

“He had like eight cards,” said Favre, who obliged by signing them all.

After signing the football cards, Favre said he jokingly told Bergman: “Give me a couple of good calls today.”

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NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, reached at his home Monday night, said Bergman’s actions violated “proper officiating procedure and Jerry Seeman will handle it. That’s all we can say about it tonight.”

Seeman is the league’s director of officiating.

Favre related the encounter during a conversation Monday. Although he didn’t necessarily complain about Bergman’s unusual request, Favre did say: “He shouldn’t be in here. He had some guts. But he got some autographs.”

At one point in the third quarter of the Packers’ 35-13 victory, there were five penalties called in a span of seven plays.

“After that third holding call, I said, ‘I want those autographs back,’ ” Favre said.

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