ORLANDO, Fla. — While the Green Bay Packers' relationship with iconic quarterback Brett Favre continues to improve, team president/CEO Mark Murphy said Wednesday morning that the timing of when Favre's No. 4 will be retired remains uncertain.
Although Murphy is certain that the organization will retire Favre's number before he is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, Murphy couldn't say for sure that it would happen this season.
"We're in contact with him, we have a very good relationship with him," Murphy said as the annual NFL Meetings adjourned at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes resort. "I just don't have an update on the timing."
Favre is a shoo-in for first-ballot Hall of Fame induction, given that he holds virtually every NFL career quarterback record that exists. He would be up for election in February 2016 and enshrinement in August 2016.
Murphy made it clear that he has been in direct contact with Favre and not simply with Favre's longtime agent, James "Bus" Cook.
"No, no. [I've been talking] directly with him. Texting, but some conversations," Murphy said. "I think he's excited to come back. It's really just kind of working out the timing."
Favre played for the Packers from 1992 through 2007, then retired in a tearful press conference in March 2008. He reconsidered his decision not long after and, after a very acrimonious parting of the ways, was traded to the New York Jets before finishing his career with two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009 and 2010.
Asked if he sensed that the fences had been mended with Favre, Murphy replied, "It's like anything else in life. Time heals wounds, and I think that's been the case here."
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