Archive for July 3rd, 2008
Hostage Situation in Green Bay Resumes!
Straight from ESPN: “With his family “tugging” on him to play, Brett Favre has an “itch” to come out of retirement and report to training camp with the Green Bay Packers later this month, according to sources close to the team and player.
Favre has communicated his potential desire to coach Mike McCarthy but talks have not advanced to a substantive stage, a Packers source said.
Favre was reached on Wednesday by Mississippi’s Sun Herald newspaper and tried to calm the storm.
“It’s all rumor,” he said of reports that he wants to return.
As for the ensuing media storm surrounding the story, Favre said in a text message to the newspaper: “No reason for it.”
However, Favre’s brother, Scott, said Wednesday night that Brett has been working out and put a return by No. 4 at “50-50.”
“There’s no doubt he can play,” Scott Favre told WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. “He’s in good shape, he’s working out, we know he can still play, he’s healthy, so, if he did, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
And at least one Packers player has said that Favre hasn’t completely gotten the game out of his system.
On ESPN’s NFL Live, Packers defensive back Al Harris said on Wednesday: “I’ve talked to Brett and I know he has the itch to come back and play. If he will or not, I don’t know. But I know he’s feeling he wants to play.”
When asked how Favre expressed his desire to return, Harris said the quarterback said, “I got the itch.”
The source said the Packers would be reluctant to open the door for Favre because “Brett retired for the right reasons, even though I know his family is tugging on him [to play].”
Another source conceded Favre was “getting the itch” to play football in 2008.
Citing NFL sources, multiple media outlets in Wisconsin reported on Wednesday that Favre or his agent James “Bus” Cook contacted the Packers about returning a few weeks ago and the conversation ended with the quarterback asking for his release. The team reportedly refused his request.
ESPN’s sources said that while Favre asking for his release is a possibility, the situation hasn’t yet reached that stage.
Favre deciding to return does indeed put the Packers in an awkward situation. The entire offseason has been spent preparing Aaron Rodgers to play quarterback to the point where “the offensive scheme has evolved” and, psychologically, closing the door on Favre’s legendary 17-year career.
Favre asking for his release would indicate that he still wants to play but that the Packers aren’t a willing partner. A league official told ESPN that Favre could force a decision by asking the Packers, in writing, to reinstate him to active status. The team would have to comply or release him.”
