Favre: Retirement U-turn

Also see

• Schedule
• On Sky TV
• Messageboards

Legendary quarterback Brett Favre would be welcomed back by the Green Bay Packers, but the future Hall of Famer will not be released from his contract if he follows through on making a dramatic U-turn on retirement.

Favre announced in March that finally he would be retiring after a couple of years of thinking about it - and that looked to be the end of a glittering 17-year NFL career.

However, news has been growing of Favre's desire to in fact play on for at least one more season, as he never actually filed his retirement papers with the NFL despite the seeming finality of his announcement.

The Packers have made Aaron Rogers their new starting quarterback after Favre's retirement but the club said they would welcome the 38-year-old back into their roster as an experienced back-up.

However, Favre is desperate to play and has written to Green Bay officials asking to be released from his contract, but general manager Ted Thompson has turned down that request.

"Favre is 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."

Release request

Should Favre write to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking for reinstatement to the Packer roster, the club would have to allow him back or agree to release him.

With three years and $39 million left on his contract, Green Bay could trade the legendary triggerman but he wants the freedom to choose his next, and this time probably final NFL destination.

"We understand this is a very volatile, sensitive thing," Thompson said.

"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."

Favre is a multi-record holder in the NFL after his 16 seasons at Lambeau Field - including 442 touchdowns, 5,377 completions, 8,758 pass attempts, 61,555 yards and 160 victories.

Options

The Packers though seem determined not to allow Favre to have his starting position back of allow him a release - with a trade now being the most likely option as he is unlikely to accept a back-up role.

"Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms," a Packers team statement said.

"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."