Tell me if this sounds familiar.

You've got this marginal tabloid publication that prints a story about a lady having a fling with a huge, huge superstar athlete. People kind of scoff.

Then another woman, and then another woman, come forward with similar claims about the huge, huge superstar athlete. His world starts to crack.

Tiger Woods, right?

Nope. Think Brett Favre. That's right. Our hero.

Favre is being accused of sending racy text messages to first, a woman who worked game day for the New York Jets, and second and third to a couple of massage therapists who also worked for the Jets during training camp.

Deadspin.com, the Web site driving this thing, quotes one of the massage therapists as saying that Favre "looked at my ass" while she was giving another player a massage next to the quarterback.

The NFL has announced, which it always announces, that it is "investigating." I'm not sure what they are investigating. As far as I know there is nothing illegal about Sexy Texty or Messages for Massages or even "looking at my ass."

I've seen the pictures and listened to the tapes. And I don't know. I've never seen Favre's privates so that doesn't help. The tape does sound a lot like his voice, but I'm no expert.

But it wouldn't terribly surprise me if he hit on a few women during his time with the Jets. New York does strange things to a person and Favre has shown in his past that he has a taste for fun, fun, fun.

Sexy texting may be fun and adventurous when you're 16 and shaving only every three days.

But Favre is a grandfather, for God's sake. I'm a grandfather. Holy cow!

Obviously the "did he or didn't he" is the big issue now. Knowing the NFL, and Favre, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Commissioner Roger Goodell finds that Favre did send these messages and thereby violated the league's personal conduct policy.

There will then be a couple of issues.

One is for Deanna Favre and I wouldn't pretend to tell her what to do. But as far as the NFL is concerned, I've got a suggestion.

Fine Favre a big chunk of money, say two or three million dollars. And donate the money to a woman's charity that doesn't have a lot of money, like some little group helping women who live in abusive households. Let's take Favre's money and surprise the hell out of some charity that is living on a shoestring.

As a matter of fact, here's the speech we'll make Favre deliver when he hands over the check.

"I'm Brett Favre. I'm an icon. I'm also a pig. So take this two million dollars as my way of saying I'm sorry to every woman who's ass I ever looked at and any woman I ever offended by being a pig. Also, if I decide to play again next year, I'll give you another two million. That should add to the interest of the off-season coverage. I hope you will root for me. Thanks again, and I'm really, really, really sorry."

I will say this, though. I shake my head in some degree of wonder over the fact that we have made such heroes of these athletes that when they stray it comes as a huge shock and dominates the news. I wonder why we don't cluck in disapproval if a movie star has an affair. We seem to have an unquenchable thirst for scandal by athletes and politicians.

I agree with people (mainly athletes) who say athletes shouldn't be held up as role models. But just being a celebrity doesn't mean you're a role model. I mean Paris Hilton and Perez Hilton are celebrities but I can't imagine many people want to grow up to be either one of them.

Like I said, though, I've got some degree of wonder over how much attention we pay to this whole thing. It just might not be too healthy.