[Brock Landers]

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.
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.
However, Favre's agent downplayed the likelihood that the quarterback could un-retire or that he was prepared to report to camp July 28.
"As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different, that's what it is," James "Bus" Cook, Favre's agent, said.
Favre was unavailable for comment. A Packers spokesman said that McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson were on vacation.
Favre has two years remaining on his contract at an average of about $12.5 million per season. His salary is not currently counting toward the salary cap because the Packers placed him on the reserve-retired list.
If Favre decides that he absolutely wants to play this season, the Packers could be confronted with a sensitive issue. 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.
If the Packers resist a stronger push by Favre to return, sources speculate that the quarterback could press the team to release him from his contract so that he could seek a job with another team. A league official said 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.
"That's speculation and I wouldn't go there," a team source said. "We value Brett's legacy, we think he values it, and we'd want to protect that. Brett's a high-quality person and he's not going to push it that far. He'll do the right thing [and stay retired]. This was almost predictable, the idea that Brett would get the itch to play as we get closer to the season."
In an interview done with ESPN around the time Favre retired in early March, McCarthy predicted Favre "will have an itch to come back. I saw Joe Montana go through it, even though I was a younger coach in Kansas City at the time."
McCarthy said it was Favre who convinced the coach that retirement was the "right thing to do."
"I tried to talk him out of retirement," McCarthy said back in March. "Tom Clements [Green Bay's quarterbacks coach] and I were trying to sell him on the concept that he could still play at a high level with 80-to-85 percent of the commitment he had last year. Brett thought that maybe he could do it but he reasoned that when you cut back the commitment, you open yourself up to injury, to not being on top of your game -- which was very important to Brett -- and letting the team down in the process.
"Really, what Brett did was very honorable because the stress and pressure he feels is a direct result of the standard he sets for himself."

[SlickFazzer]

Stay retired you dumb ass.

[Brock Landers]

The fact he has 2 years left on his contract makes this a no brainer

[bigboydan]

He should have took a little more time to make his decision, rather than do what he did after the Randy Moss mess.

[Illusion]

He must be driving his family crazy if they want him to play another year.

[element1286]

I'm sick of this guy.

[madmaxx]

Him and Clemens need a clause where if they mention the word retire they can never return.

[slacker00]

Originally Posted by Illusion

He must be driving his family crazy if they want him to play another year.

I agree. This is a complete 360 in my mind. I thought his family was the momentum pushing him to retire. That wife of his must be one wacky bitch.

I never thought Favre wanted to retire. The commitment through all of the offseason stuff was more than he was willing to do, anymore. I took that as meaning that football was putting too much of a strain on his family life. If you listen to his original retirement press conference, you'll see what I mean.

[MonkeyF0cker]

How could you ever get sick of Brett Favre? Honestly, I would love to see him back with the Pack again next year but I have a feeling he won't be returning to football.

[Mr Nuts]

I'd love to see him play some more, he is the Jordan of football!

[seaborneq]

That will blow my Packers under 8 wins. I just knew Aaron Rogers would get hurt and clinch it for me early.

[purecarnagge]

if I was Aaron Rogers I would demand to be traded right now.

[slacker00]

Originally Posted by purecarnagge

if I was Aaron Rogers I would demand to be traded right now.

Trade Favre to Miami for Jason Taylor.

Also, remind Favre about the Madden curse.

[slacker00]

All the talk on the radio right now is about how Favre will never play again in Green Bay. He'll either get traded, released, or stay retired. I tend to agree. The Packers already took 2 QBs in the draft, and have spent an entire offseason building the offense around Rodgers being the starter. Favre coming in late almost needs to lobby for an "open competition at QB" at this point, Rodgers has earned at least that much. But I don't think the Packers organization will allow that to happen. If Favre really wants to play, it'll have to be wearing a different uniform.

With this assumption that Favre will get traded, where will he go? Some of the best candidate teams are right inside the division: Bears, Vikings, Lions. But there's no way the Packers will trade Favre inside the division. If that happens, I'm personally going to Ted Thompson's front door and voice my displeasure.

[fiveteamer]

who needs a QB?

[willyback]

Farve is probably going to commit suicide when he really does have to retire from the NFL. He's hopelessly addicted to football. Everytime he mentions his "retirement" on ESPN or FSN, I change f*cking channel. He's all bullsh*t. He lives for Sunday.

[slacker00]

Originally Posted by fiveteamer

who needs a QB?

Who doesn't want a future hall of famer on their team?



There are a lot of interesting teams.

Tampa? Reuinited with Gruden? I think they run a west-cost offense, don't they? Ship Jeff Garcia to Miami for Jason Taylor and Bucs are talking Super Bowl! haha

Atlanta? Back to where he started in the NFL? Groom the rookie for one year behind an NFL hall of famer? Help people forget about Michael WHO?

Baltimore? This is a team that has been a QB away ever since they let Dilfer go.

[Hollywood]

Favre needs to stay retired. I honestly don't think he has it anymore. That INT he threw in the playoffs to cost the Packers the game is a throw he would NEVER miss in his prime. I'm not saying he's terrible, but coming back would just hurt his rep.

[purecarnagge]

All I have to say is if they don't trade Farve right away...If I'm Aaron Rodgers, I demand a trade or flat out refuse to resign with GB... Its not like they can keep you there for life...

[Broke Sport Guy]

He was overrated anyway

[purecarnagge]

I'm tired of ESPN...It's almost unwatchable. VanPelt and the afternoon goon squad sucks. Only good radio is Mike and Mike, DP, The Herd, and whenever Eric is filling in for ESPN. OTherwise, teebag the ****ers, there annoying as hell.

[Thomasha7]

I'm a huge Green Bay fan, and I love to watch Farve play. But if your going to retire. Stay retired. Thats all I have to say.