Let Me Reiterate: Favre Will NOT Play Anywhere This Year

I think last week at this time we were all pretty sick of the Brett Favre situation. The "Will he or Won't he?" dance that Favre has been playing since 2003 as decided to continue itself into his retirement. But as the days get closer to training camp for the '08 season, the situation just will not die. I've never seen a story get attacked from so many angles like this one has.

What's interesting about this week is that it's no longer an issue for the Green Bay Packers. Now, the Favre media tornado has swept other teams in the league into it's grasp. First, it swept up the Minnesota Vikings, as the team may have allegedly been tampering with Favre. Not only that, but Favre called the Vikings on a Packers issued cell phone, which could be a salary cap violation! How much deeper into this story can we get, really? Who else can we get to comment on the situation? How about Sara White, widow of Reggie? (oh wait, that happened already...)

It seems there may be light at the end of the tunnel, however, as Roger Goodell as told the Packers to resolve the situation, and quickly. As a result, the Packers have been looking for trade partners, and the "front-runner" seems to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sam Farmer of the L.A. Times seems to think he could be a Buccaneer by the end of the week.

The other option, besides a trade, is that Favre doesn't play at all. That's the option I'm going with. First, if the Packers do try to trade one of the most iconic figures of any franchise, ever, the price is going to be pretty high. When Montana was traded to the Chiefs, they gave up a 3rd rounder, and that's not going to cut it. Jason Taylor just fetched a 2nd and 6th round pick from the Redskins, and I don't know if that would even be enough for Ted Thompson and the gang (I've heard a few Packers fans refer to Thompson, McCarthy, and Murphy as "The Three Stooges". To me, that's a prime example of falling into the stereotype other fans have of us Packer fans).

More than the fact that I don't think the Packers will trade him is that I truly believe Favre will once again go back on his position. I think he loves the idea of playing again, but once that is a possibility, he will go back on his decision just like he did in April. I can see Favre "confirming" his retirement after a trade happens more than I can see him actually reporting to training camp.

Sure, it's been a whirlwind summer following the Favre drama. Some people even got their 15 minutes of fame out of the whole mess. But let's be realistic. The Packers have moved on. They are going to be asking a lot for Favre's services. Favre has a history of backtracking on his decision. Favre is unlikely to be willing to learn a completely new offense with a completely new team.

I still say the only time you see a Favre number four jersey on any field this season is when his jersey is retired by the Packers on Monday Night Football. But that's it.

And then we can finally put this thing to rest.