The Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre have been hogging the spotlight these days. In fact, if you’ve been watching ESPN lately, Favre even has his own thing on the bottom ticker. That’s when you know you’ve made it.
The Packers are sold on having Aaron Rodgers play behind center in 2008, and Packers management would like Favre to just sit at home. They reportedly offered him $20 million over 10 years to do just that. Gee, only $2 million a year to stay retired? Favre could make that $20 million in 2-3 seasons playing.
Anyway, the Packers have been trying to send him to either the New York Jets or the “QB happy” Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but trade talks with those two teams are all but dead. So, they might have to resort to a division rival within the NFC North.
A source within the Packers organization told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Packers would consider trading Favre to either the rival Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears.
Of course the Packers would like Favre to just sit at home and eat cookies all day, but Favre wants to play and is eventually going to play. However, he wants a say in where he goes. That’s why the Jets and Buccaneers are off the list. They reportedly were both interested in getting him, but he didn’t want to talk to either team. If that’s not the cold shoulder, I don’t know what is.
Packers’ CEO Mark Murphy spoke with Favre at his home in Mississippi Wednesday but was mum on the details of the discussion.
“I was in Hattiesburg today and had a nice visit with Brett Favre,” Murphy said in a statement. “We discussed a number of topics not related to football, including Brett’s long-term relationship with the Packers. I consider our conversation to be confidential and am going to be respectful of Brett and his family and keep the details private. ”
I doubt they were sharing family recipes or talking about the upcoming Presidential Election. There is no confirmation or media support to back this up, but something tells me that Favre basically told Murphy the only teams he’d be willing to go to are the Vikings or Bears.
The Bears are in the middle of a quarterback competition with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. It’s no secret that both quarterbacks are not slated to be superstar in the near future, and with the Bears’ defense’s window of opportunity closing in a few seasons, it would be nice to have some stability on offense. You have to admit, Favre would look nice throwing bombs to Devin Hester in the navy blue and orange.
The Vikings, on the other hand, have a star running back in Adrian Peterson and built up an already strong defense this offseason by adding pieces like Jared Allen and Madieu Williams. However, they lack stability at quarterback. While Tarvaris Jackson is young and still learning, Favre would certainly do a better job of helping this Viking team get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Could you imagine Favre trotting onto Lambeau Field in a Vikings jersey on opening night? I guess the Packers would have to cancel the retirement ceremony.
But, for now, Favre is still technically retired. However, that shouldn’t take too long to undo. ESPN is reporting that Favre will speak with Commissioner Roger Goodell today before and should be officially reinstated shortly after.
There is also a possibility Favre could be at Packers’ camp on Friday. If he does, he is expected to only participate in sideline drills. Favre’s agent James “Bus” Cook says that despite all the trade talk, Favre would love to remain in Green Bay as the starting quarterback.
“He would love to go back in Green Bay,” Cook said on ESPNEWS. “I mean, that’s why he started working out…”
Stay tuned. The saga is starting to regain some steam.
