Favre asks to be released

[Tarrant220]

Favre wants release from Packers - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The Green Bay Packers want to do the right thing in response to Brett Favre’s latest round of flip-flopping on his future in football.

And as far as the team is concerned, that might mean showing No. 4 the door — although working out a trade might be more palatable to the Packers than granting Favre the release he has requested.

Favre asked the Packers to release him so he can return to the NFL with another team after apparently being told his latest retirement reversal wasn’t welcome news in Green Bay. The team said it would do “what’s right” in response to Favre’s request, which was first reported by ESPN on Friday.

“Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms,” the team’s 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.”

The 38-year-old Favre retired March 6 after a 17-year career, openly sobbing as he contemplated a future without football. But almost immediately, he began dropping hints that he was having second thoughts.

The most recent and intense round came Friday, when ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that sources close to Favre and the team told him agent James “Bus” Cook asked the Packers for Favre’s release in a letter because the Packers were not receptive to the idea of Favre wanting to play again.

The Packers’ front office has spent the past several offseasons dealing with weeks and months worth of speculation about the three-time MVP’s future plans. But this time, they’re apparently not biting.

The Packers’ statement said Favre, who was placed on the reserve/retired list, has the right to petition NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to be reinstated — a request the league would grant automatically. After that, Favre would return to the team’s active roster.

But the statement did not specify what the Packers would do after that, beyond doing “what’s right and in the best interest of the team.”

If the team has committed to moving forward without Favre, their options once he was reinstated would include trading him to another team or releasing him so he would be free to sign with the team of his choice.

The Packers have made it clear they’re committed to going with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a first-round pick in 2005 who has been sitting behind Favre for his first three seasons in the NFL.

Releasing Favre presents the possibility that he will sign with NFC North rivals Minnesota or Chicago, where he would be an upgrade over the incumbent QBs.

If the Packers traded him, there would be teams outside the division such as Baltimore or Tampa Bay, and perhaps Washington, that would be interested. There also has been speculation he could go to Miami for disgruntled defensive end Jason Taylor, the 2006 defensive player of the year.

Either way, it would be an ugly end to what has been one of the most celebrated partnerships in recent NFL history.

“As with all Packers greats, Brett’s legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions,” the statement said. “Brett and Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family.”

Even if that family is looking awfully dysfunctional these days.

[Regime]

Ugh Brett..

Pulling a Priest Holmes

[Tarrant220]

It's just gonna be weird to see him in a different uniform, but the guy needs to stop flip flopping so damn much.

[Regime]

yeah there is no need for it.

Whatever team he goes to will not get him another SB ring. Why tarnish it?

[Frax]

Just another in a long line of athletes who 'retire' then come back and achieve nothing. It kind of screws the packers and their fans, he has a pretty big contract still, although I bet there is a team or two out there who would trade for him. All the NFL rumor guys are saying he wants to go to Minnesota, that would be a massive insult to Packer fans who've been almost worshipful of the guy for more than a decade.

Any of the teams who took a QB in the first two rounds this year could probably use him for a year or two.

[Lyrical]

Is anyone really surprised? Brett flip flops all the time at the end of the season. I think he's got a couple of years left, and he'll be great for a team that has young unproven QB's.

[Malakriss]

After the losing the game in the last post season I can understand the feeling for that to be it, but it was a slump feeling of the moment that he should have thought more about before saying anything.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Lyrical

Is anyone really surprised? Brett flip flops all the time at the end of the season. I think he's got a couple of years left, and he'll be great for a team that has young unproven QB's.

Yet when I said he was an asshole for holding the franchise hostage and swearing up and down he'd do this people said I was wrong and he was a stand up guy.

Props to the Pack really. They're sick of him and his indecisiveness and they're ready to move forward. I mean, apparently the only reason he retired was because the Packers wanted his decision before the draft and he wasn't ready so he just said he would. Really. I mean, 4 months by yourself isn't enough time to decide if you want to retire?

[Frax]

The issue is that he's under contract. If he unretires and shows up for training camp, they'll have to pay him, cut him, or trade him when the season starts. He'll get his way and start somewhere else, start for the packers, or he'll get a lot of money for riding the pine.

[Twobit Whore]

He won't ride the pine. Green Bay would look like idiots. I don't think they will start him either, though they could.. trade Aaron and prime Brohm/Flynn to succeed Brett in a year or 5.. whenever he decides he really is retired.

[Araxen]

Fuck Brett Favre, this is getting ridiculous. I am losing respect for this guy.

[Frax]

GM and coach bluffing? GM, coach: If Favre returns, it's as a backup - NFL - MSNBC.com

[Twobit Whore]

So now GB is saying they won't release Favre and he can come to camp and compete for the starting job.

While I think Favre is being lame, what GB is doing is even worse. Favre is asking to be let go so Aaron can take his shot at being a QB but if Favre comes back he would have to take the spot from him. It seems like GB is trying to force Favre to stay retired by making him choose to be the bad guy if he does come back.

And if GB moves forward with Rodgers and he sucks? They are going to look stupid. I guess that's why they won't trade or release him. If Brett leads a new team deep into the playoffs while the Packers end up 6-10 they are going to look mighty stupid.

It's a no-win situation for anyone at this point unless Brett just stays out of the league.

[Jooka]

Just release him already, if he wants to play let him fucking play. What team did Montana play for after the 49'ers? Fuck if I can remember.

[UnchainedAcolyte]

KC Chiefs.

Have to agree with Twobit on this one. GB management are acting like a-holes. Release him and give him some dignity considering his service to the franchise, or start him.