Woman with ‘Favre goat’ sentenced

The St. Paul woman found with a goat in her trunk that had been dyed purple with Brett Favre’s No. 4 shaved in it was sentenced on animal cruelty charges.

The 21-year-old woman who was caught transporting a purple-dyed goat with Brett Favre’s No. 4 shaved into its side was sentenced Tuesday on animal cruelty charges.

Janelle Riopel of St. Paul was charged by police Aug. 21 when a service shop discovered the goat in the trunk of her car. Aug. 21 was when Favre made his Vikings debut and when Riopel and her boyfriend Sonny Yang, 24, of LaCrosse, Wis., were traveling with the goat in her trunk.

A repairman at a service station in Winona noticed the goat in the trunk of the vehicle and alerted authorities. When they arrived, the officers seized the goat, which was re-named Brett and placed in the care of a local farm family.

Riopel told police that they planned to butcher the goat and that it was already dyed and shaved when they picked it up from a farm. Riopel pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges, was placed on one year of probation and ordered to pay a $280 fine. Yang has yet to stand trial and will have his case heard Oct. 26.

WEDNESDAY NOTES

To the surprise of few, the Vikings-Packers game slated for Nov. 1 – Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau Field, has been pushed back from noon to 3:15 in order to garner a national audience, the NFL announced Tuesday. The league ostensibly made the switch in the event the Philadelphia Phillies advance to the World Series, which would potentially create a conflict with the Giants-Eagles game originally scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Central Time. That game has been pushed forward to noon and the Vikings-Packers game will get the national audience.

There is growing buzz surrounding the potential for several trades that could be made prior to the Oct. 20 trade deadline next week. For many years, trading was minimal in the NFL, but there has been a recent flurry of trade activity as teams use the leverage of trading draft picks to move disgruntled veterans. The Browns’ trade of Braylon Edwards to the Jets was the latest in this trend, and don’t be surprised if at least a couple more significant NFL names change addresses before the deadline.

There are growing rumors that one of the veterans who might be traded is Terrell Owens. The Bills receiver has just 200 receiving yards through five games and his name has been tied to rumors that he will be traded to the Bears.

When the Vikings play the Ravens Sunday, they will have a new face in the lineup. Baltimore signed Super Bowl hero David Tyree, the wide receiver who made the improbable catch that led to the Giants upset win over New England following the 2007 season.

As a result of the Tyree signing, speculation in Baltimore is that the team’s No. 3 receiver, Demetrius Williams, could find himself a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game.

As expected, the Packers signed tackle Mark Tauscher Tuesday. Injuries and poor play have led to quarterback Aaron Rodgers being sacked 20 times in the team’s first four games, including eight sacks by the Vikings in their last game.

WR Percy Harvin didn't practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury. DE Ray Edwards (hamstring), G Steve Hutchinson (back), T Phil Loadholt (ankle), WR Darius Reynaud (hamstring) and Naufahu Tahi (ankle) were limited. For the Ravens, T Jared Gaither (neck), LB Jarret Johnson (shoulder) and DT Haloti Ngata (back) did not practice. TE Edgar Jones (hamstring) was limited.