He'll make move to force the Packers' handBy Pete Dougherty pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com July 16, 2008Brett Favre is ready to make the next move in his face down with the Green Bay Packers and petition NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement to the team's roster, which would leave the next move in the Packers' hands.
Though Favre hasn't filed his official retirement papers with the league, he is on the Packers' reserve/retired list, and by NFL rules, has to ask the commissioner in writing for reinstatement to the team.
A source close to Favre said he is going to petition the league, and though he didn't say when, the assumption is it will be sooner rather than later so Favre can be traded to a new team before training camp.
"He's going to write the letter to the commissioner," the source said. "We'll see what happens from there, I guess."
In an interview on Fox News with Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday night, Favre never addressed the reinstatement letter, but said he's certain he wants to play football this year, though he doesn't know if circumstances will work out for him to play.
The 12-minute segment the second of an interview that was taped Monday also more starkly revealed the widening rift between Favre and team management since Favre has become more adamant in the past three to four weeks that he wants to return for another season after announcing his retirement in March. The growing animosity will make it especially hard for Favre to return to the team.
The Packers are perplexed that Favre has changed his mind about playing so late in the offseason after telling them twice in March once early in the month, again late in the month that he couldn't commit 100 percent to playing. They argue that his decision left them no choice but to prepare the team in offseason practices to move on with Rodgers at quarterback, with all the practical and psychological dimensions that includes.
The source said Favre, on the other hand, feels the Packers pushed him into an early decision regarding retirement, and they could have given him more time to decide. Favre also intimated in the interview that he's upset the Packers don't want him back and also seem to be doing everything possible to prevent him from playing for another team.
Also, Favre strongly suggested he's lost trust in his personal relationship with General Manager Ted Thompson, though Favre never mentioned Thompson by name. [url=index.php?name=Pro_News&aid=64]Read More...[/url].