Friday, July 11, 2008
Favre seeks unconditional release from Packers, sources say

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By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Three days after a conference call with Packers team officials in which quarterback Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked by letter for his unconditional contractual release, sources close to Favre and the team said. The letter was sent by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, via overnight mail on Thursday and arrived at the Packers facility Friday morning. Cook, on behalf of Favre, expressed a desire to have an amicable parting, as the Packers have been reluctant to embrace his return. Favre announced his retirement in early March. Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy weren't available for comment Friday. In a statement, the Packers said: "Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms. We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion. "Brett's press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement," the news release added. "The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team." During a conference call on Tuesday that included Thompson, McCarthy, Favre and Cook, sources say that the quarterback stated emphatically that he wanted to play again. Favre was reminded by the Packers' brass that he said publicly and privately in March that he wasn't 100 percent committed to football, sources said. Favre acknowledged his state of mind at the time, but added that he never felt he was 100 percent committed in March of previous years, either. Favre felt he had to make a decision to retire because the Packers were pressing him for an answer, a source said. During the conference call on Tuesday, neither Thompson nor McCarthy was openly receptive or enthused about Favre's desire to unretire, the sources said, prompting Favre to direct Cook to request his release from the team. Favre has three years remaining on his contract at a total of $39 million. He currently is on the reserve-retired list. Favre prefers a mutual parting rather than have to force the Packers' hand by writing a letter to request his reinstatement to the active 80-man roster. Under league policy, the team would have to comply or release him. Cook's letter did suggest that Favre's accomplishments for the franchise merited the team honoring his request to be released, also asking that the action be taken "with no strings attached." Favre does not want to be traded, sources said, because he wants the freedom of choice to play for another franchise. Favre has been in communication with McCarthy during the past month about his desire to play but until this week had not spoken with Thompson. Favre did not wish to speak publicly about his situation when approached while working out Friday morning at a local high school in Hattiesburg. He appeared to be in excellent physical condition and threw the ball with ease, even throwing it 50 yards "on a rope" with high school receivers. He has been throwing and running with the team for more than a month. Favre was relaxed and in a positive frame of mind, joking and telling stories about himself, former teammates and coaches. He planned to continue working out next week. Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN.

 Brett is worse than daytime TV.

We should sign him now 

gp_cowpolk:

We should sign him now 

No kidding. There's your veteran backup for those who want to euthanize Brad Johnson.

back up...Brett has never been a back up in his life. im sure he'd come out of retirement to do just that....

If he comes back he will be a starter. And we need to keep his no win streak at Texas stadium in tact

As an avid football fan I have the upmost respect for Brett, but I agree with GB for not wanting him back. Brett if you didn't want to hang it up yet, you should never have told the sports nation back a while that you wanted to retire. Hey at least the Cowboys made history, Brett Farve never won at Texas Stadium while a Packer. Lets start with Aron Rodgers now, hopefully to become winless at Texas Stadium, and at the new stadium.

as much as I would love to rip on BF. this guy would play with a steak knife in his eye without a complaint.as far as enemy QBs go, I got to give him credit for being a decent guy on and off the feild...

Yadda yadda yadda...

Favre is, was, always will be a pill popping whiskey hound with a huge arm and an even larger ego.

I hope he doesn't come back for two reasons:

One, he deserves to have his last pass remembered as a crippling game breaking INT.  It took a little of the undeserved luster off the overrated drunk, and it was poetic justice given that he got so much hype the week he broke the TD record, but barely got a mention a week later when he set the all time INT record..

Two, I can't take any more of the NFL being the "National Favre Lovers".  The league, the media, they constantly cream their jeans over him.  It got tiresome long ago.

Hey Favre, do us all a huge favor and hang it up, you over the hill overrated douchebag.  Go spend some time fishing, or hunting, or clinging to the back of the porcelain throne as you shake off another vicodin and whiskey binge. 

An egomanic drunk with a rocket arm.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I can't stand him, I wish he would go the hell away.

CowboyFan927:

Yadda yadda yadda...

Favre is, was, always will be a pill popping whiskey hound with a huge arm and an even larger ego.

I hope he doesn't come back for two reasons:

One, he deserves to have his last pass remembered as a crippling game breaking INT.  It took a little of the undeserved luster off the overrated drunk, and it was poetic justice given that he got so much hype the week he broke the TD record, but barely got a mention a week later when he set the all time INT record..

Two, I can't take any more of the NFL being the "National Favre Lovers".  The league, the media, they constantly cream their jeans over him.  It got tiresome long ago.

Hey Favre, do us all a huge favor and hang it up, you over the hill overrated douchebag.  Go spend some time fishing, or hunting, or clinging to the back of the porcelain throne as you shake off another vicodin and whiskey binge. 

An egomanic drunk with a rocket arm.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I can't stand him, I wish he would go the hell away.

Haven't I read this in another thread somewhere?

The Emperor:

Haven't I read this in another thread somewhere?

Sorry, I'm sure you probably have...  There's just three things I hate in this world.

1)  Long cold winters

2)  Commies

3)  All the undeserved hype Brett Favre gets

 

Since there are no threads on winter or communism right now, and it's the offseason and camp hasn't started, I'm left to comment on the egomaniac drunk.  I know I probably overstate it a bit, but I REALLY REALLY hate the Favre bs.  I'll try not to post it so much, but please, bear with me.  :)

Oh, I was just messin' with you, CowboyFan.

When Aikman and the Triplets were around, I disliked Favre. However, when he got to be an old man, I didn't mind Favre that much. In fact, when his father died, I rooted for Favre on ABC MNF against the Raiders.

Favre needs to sit down and go away. He made his bed. Now, it's time for him to sleep in it. Favre coming out of retirement is as annoying as the latest Rambo/India Jones/Rocky movies. YOU'RE OLD! Get off the stage! Let a new generation take the reins. Go away, Favre. No one is going to support you on this.

Not that I think BF should come back but I can understand how he feels.  Imagine what it would it feel like to be told you're too old to do what you love to do.  I know he retired and has changed his mind.  He just can't let go of the thing he loves the most.

I'm not a BF fan and I hope he does stay retired.  All I'm saying is that it must be hard to walk away after 17 years.  Remember Joe Mantana and Jerry Rice did the same thing.

Maybe he's asking to be released because of his respect for the Packers organization. He realizes what a publicity nightmare he's already caused and wants to let them move on with the Rodgers era (however long that lasts). The problem is I don't understand what his reason is. He has every record he'd want. I can only assume he wants another ring, but where else would be better to do that (as a starter) than Green Bay? Nowhere. Heck, what team could he do it with as a starter at all? Maybe Minnesota? But you'd have to think GB would never release him if they got any wiff of his desires to relocate there.

If Minn does sign him, with their line, their backs and their defense. Ugh.