Source: Favre has 'itch' to return; player calls it 'rumor'
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 3, 2008, 1:57 AM ET
Source: Favre Considering Comeback
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.
Favre was reached on Wednesday by Mississippi's Sun Herald newspaper and tried to calm the storm.
"It's all rumor," he said of reports that he wants to return.
As for the ensuing media storm surrounding the story, Favre said in a text message to the newspaper: "No reason for it."
Still, at least one Packers player has said that Favre hasn't completely gotten the game out of his system.
On ESPN's NFL Live, Packers defensive back Al Harris said on Wednesday: "I've talked to Brett and I know he has the itch to come back and play. If he will or not, I don't know. But I know he's feeling he wants to play."
When asked how Favre expressed his desire to return, Harris said the quarterback said, "I got the itch."
Rodgers' Plea To Fans
When it comes to trying to fill Brett Favre's shoes, Aaron Rodgers hasn't gotten off on the right foot -- with the cheeseheads, at least.
It's been assumed for three years that Rodgers would ascend to the quarterback throne when Favre retired, which Favre did during the offseason. But Rodgers did not endear himself to Packers fans recently when, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, he said, "I don't feel I need to sell myself to the fans. They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut."
Later, Rodgers made amends when addressing his remarks in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"I do care deeply about the fans and I think anybody who has been to training camp and sees I'm a lot of times the last one out signing autographs sees I care about the fans, I care about their opinions," Rodgers told the Journal-Sentinel. "Everybody wants the fans to care for them and to pull for them and I am no different.
"The biggest disappointment in this whole thing is if anybody is offended by the stuff I say, because I think that my track record pretty much speaks for itself in the way I feel about the fans. I don't want the wrong message to come out of this."
-- ESPN.com news services
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.
Citing NFL sources, multiple media outlets in Wisconsin reported on Wednesday that Favre or his agent James "Bus" Cook contacted the Packers about returning a few weeks ago and the conversation ended with the quarterback asking for his release. The team reportedly refused his request.
ESPN's sources said that while Favre asking for his release is a possibility, the situation hasn't yet reached that stage.
Favre deciding to return does indeed put the Packers in an awkward situation. 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.
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 3, 2008, 1:57 AM ET
Source: Favre Considering Comeback
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.
Favre was reached on Wednesday by Mississippi's Sun Herald newspaper and tried to calm the storm.
"It's all rumor," he said of reports that he wants to return.
As for the ensuing media storm surrounding the story, Favre said in a text message to the newspaper: "No reason for it."
Still, at least one Packers player has said that Favre hasn't completely gotten the game out of his system.
On ESPN's NFL Live, Packers defensive back Al Harris said on Wednesday: "I've talked to Brett and I know he has the itch to come back and play. If he will or not, I don't know. But I know he's feeling he wants to play."
When asked how Favre expressed his desire to return, Harris said the quarterback said, "I got the itch."
Rodgers' Plea To Fans
When it comes to trying to fill Brett Favre's shoes, Aaron Rodgers hasn't gotten off on the right foot -- with the cheeseheads, at least.
It's been assumed for three years that Rodgers would ascend to the quarterback throne when Favre retired, which Favre did during the offseason. But Rodgers did not endear himself to Packers fans recently when, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, he said, "I don't feel I need to sell myself to the fans. They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut."
Later, Rodgers made amends when addressing his remarks in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"I do care deeply about the fans and I think anybody who has been to training camp and sees I'm a lot of times the last one out signing autographs sees I care about the fans, I care about their opinions," Rodgers told the Journal-Sentinel. "Everybody wants the fans to care for them and to pull for them and I am no different.
"The biggest disappointment in this whole thing is if anybody is offended by the stuff I say, because I think that my track record pretty much speaks for itself in the way I feel about the fans. I don't want the wrong message to come out of this."
-- ESPN.com news services
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.
Citing NFL sources, multiple media outlets in Wisconsin reported on Wednesday that Favre or his agent James "Bus" Cook contacted the Packers about returning a few weeks ago and the conversation ended with the quarterback asking for his release. The team reportedly refused his request.
ESPN's sources said that while Favre asking for his release is a possibility, the situation hasn't yet reached that stage.
Favre deciding to return does indeed put the Packers in an awkward situation. 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.
