Packers turn down Favre”s request
57 minutes ago
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN (TICKER) —The Green Bay Packers have said no to
Brett Favre.
General manager Ted Thompson said Saturday that the team will not honor Favre’s request for a release, another indication that the relationship between the parties is growing further strained.
The Packers did say that the former quarterback could rejoin the team as a backup to
Aaron Rodgers. However, Favre had asked for a release, which would give him the opportunity to sign with another team if he decides to come out of retirement.
“Favre’s welcomed back, but the scenery has changed,” Thompson said. “There may be a different role. He becomes an active member of the roster, and then we’ll see how it goes from there. We don’t have the answers right now, because it hasn’t happened, and we don’t know that it will.”
Favre’s request came three days after a conference call with team officials in which the future Hall of Fame quarterback emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008. On March 5, he announced he retirement during a tear-filled press conference.
“We understand this is a very volatile, sensitive thing,” Thompson added. “Fans are unbelievably passionate about this team and passionate about Brett Favre. We understand that, and we’re going to try to stay steady, consistent, and try to do the right thing for Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.”
The Packers issued a statement Friday afternoon acknowledging Favre’s wishes, but ESPN.com reported that they were not receptive about his possible return to the team and wanted “to move forward”, which prompted Favre’s request for a release.
“Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms,” the statement read. “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 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 Tuesday’s conference call, the 38-year-old Favre also said he felt pressured by the team and never was 100 percent when he decided to retire in March.
Currently on the reserve-retired list, Favre has three years remaining on his contract for a total of $39 million.
If Favre was to write Commissioner Roger Goodell a letter to request his reinstatement to the Packers’ active 80-man roster, the team would have to comply or release him, according to league policy.
Favre has been in communication with coach Mike McCarthy during the offseason but had not spoken to Thompson until this week.
Favre spent 16 of his 17 seasons with the Packers, becoming one of the most beloved players in franchise history. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdowns (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758), yards (61,555) and wins (160).
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