By AL JONES, sunherald.com

Will Brett Favre play in a Minnesota Vikings uniform next season, or perhaps Tampa Bay or Washington?

That's because from all indications, he is going to play football in 2008.

It just doesn't look like it will be with the Green Bay Packers.

When the news hit Friday that Favre and his agent, Bus Cook, asked the Packers for an unconditional release, it might have caught many off guard.

But not me or Scott Favre, Brett's older brother.

"Why wouldn't he want a release?" Scott told me. "They have moved on. By not saying anything, it says a lot.

"If they wanted him back, they could have said, 'if you want to come back, we want you back.'

"Why would he want to go back, if he's not wanted? You tell me?"

I could not agree more.

In fact, it was only a matter of time before the bomb was dropped and from my standpoint, the reason for the explosion around the NFL falls on the shoulders of Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

A month ago, I stopped by Brett's house and we talked about everything from hunting to keeping his ranch in shape.

During the conversation, he told me he was working out and throwing at Oak Grove High School.

It was also obvious that Brett wanted to play football again.

Call it an itch if you want, but he deserves the right to change his mind.

To me, the only issue on the table right now deals directly with Thompson.

Considering what Brett has accomplished on the field, he deserves the right to change his mind and return in 2008.

With that in mind, my question, and the only question out there is whether Thompson ever called Brett and asked him to return. If he didn't do it by phone, and we all know he did not, why not send an e-mail or text?

Do not, under any circumstance, send a text message like he did last week telling the greatest player in franchise history that he was on vacation.

I don't see the Colts doing anything like this with Peyton Manning.

At first, Brett wanted to be reinstated to the NFL and that's what the text last week to Thompson dealt with.

Thompson's response of being on vacation got the best of Brett. All Brett wanted was an indication he would be welcomed back.

When Brett made the tearful retirement in March, Packers coach Mike McCarthy did his best to talk No. 4 out of it.

Thompson did nothing.

Sounds like an ego problem to me.

Furthermore, Brett Favre is the main reason that Thompson was recognized last year as one of the top general managers in the league.

How soon we forget.

Now, the decision not to bring back No. 4 rests on his shoulders.

Personally, I would not want that on my shoulders because this is a battle he can not and will not win with the fans of Green Bay. [url=index.php?name=Pro_News&aid=53]full article[/url].

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