Post by Steve Infanti
This Brett Favre situation is a mess. It seems like there's a new twist to this story every day. When it was first reported, the dilemma seemed quite simple. Brett Favre wants to come back, but the Packers don't want him back. What has complicated matters is that Green Bay doesn't want anyone else to have him either. They don't want to release him because then another NFC team - or even worse, a divisional rival might pick him up (like Minnesota or Chicago). A trade to the AFC seems possible, but not likely. Favre would only agree to go to a Super Bowl contender which greatly limits the possibilities.
I can understand both sides of this. Favre says he was pressured into making a decision by the Packers and announced his retirement too quickly. He even mentioned that he was having second thoughts during his actual retirement announcement when he said that he was probably going to regret his decision.
I also understand the Packers' point of view. They have moved on, spending all offseason preparing Aaron Rodgers to be their quarterback of the future.
Who's going to "win" this standoff? Well, Green Bay holds all of the cards here. When Favre retired, he still had three years left on his contract, meaning they still own his rights. If Favre applies for re-instatement, the Packers have to either take him back or release him. Taking him back won't be a problem for them because they are some $32 million under the salary cap. Green Bay has the second-most cap space right now in the NFL. So they can afford to take him back and let him sit on the bench to be an insurance policy to Rodgers.
No one wants to see the future hall of famer stand on the sidelines and hold a clipboard the entire season - which is why there's a good chance we won't see him back this year. The Packers say they want Favre to stay retired because it will help protect his legacy. But let's face it, this is a business. The Packers want Favre to stay retired to protect themselves - both on the field and with the fans.
