Another day, another news item about whether Brett Favre will return to the Green Bay Packers.
If you ask the team’s current and former presidents, No. 4 will stay retired, which, if you read between the lines, appears to be what the Packers want him to do.
"I keep going back to his retirement announcement and how sincere and heartfelt that was," current president Mark Murphy said. "I think it's pretty reasonable that, as an organization, we're going to move on. … It's a very delicate situation, because he has such a special place in Packers history."
Murphy did say any decision on Favre's status with the team, should he request to be reinstated from the reserve/retired list, would be left up to the football side of the operation, headed by GM Ted Thompson.
A Milwaukee television station reported that Favre sent a text message to Thompson on Saturday. Thompson reportedly replied that he was on vacation and they would have to talk later. Add that to a Sports Illustrated report from Peter King that Thompson also isn't returning agent Bus Cook's phone calls.
The Packers have yet to publicly address reports that Favre, who announced his retirement on March 6, again has "the itch" to play football.
"What I remember about him is he was ready to retire, and that's how I feel today. I think down deep, that's exactly how he feels," team chairman emeritus Bob Harlan said.
The one player most affected by Favre’s return would be presumed starter Aaron Rodgers. He swears he’s been “immune” to the furor swirling in Green Bay.“As the organization has commented, I’m going to keep it pretty much the same. I’m not going to comment on any of the rumors that are out there.”
Should Favre announce his intention to report for training camp, Thompson must decide whether he is welcome. It would seem the club would want back a Pro Bowl quarterback as Favre was last year. But Favre turns 39 in November and struggled the NFC Championship game loss to the New York Giants, not to mention in the 2006 season.
In addition, Rodgers spent the entire off-season solidifying himself as Green Bay's new starter, and the club has reworked its offensive scheme to Rodgers’ skills.
Would the club dare release or trade a franchise icon?
“There's no need to speculate about 'What ifs?' " Thompson said. "You could do that with any team. We're just going by what we have and what we know and trying to put the best team we can on the field."
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