the commissioner is bowing to Green Bay as they try and buy Favre off. the Pack will only have 24 hours to jump once Favre is reinstated. at this point, it looks like collusion in restraint of trade, as it would be said down by the courthouse.

If Favre had said 4 months ago that he wanted back in, the issue of "restraint" wouldn't have come up. On the other hand, I'm not sure why the Packers are treating Favre and Rodgers like Leno and Conan, respectively. Bottom line: Both parties are to blame for what seems like an artificial impasse. Goodell is right to hold off.

Disagree with Pedant. Goodell should not be involved in this dispute between player and team. I realize he's the commissioner but it sets a bad precedent to referee these affairs, just because it happens to be a star player.

Unless Favre is included in the parties asking for "more time" to work it out, then the NFL (aka Goodell) has an obligation to "follow-the-rules".

Favre should stay retired, legacy intact. Not only is it questionable how much gas he has left in the tank, he is beginning to come across as a real asshat. Don't forget that he waited until _after_ free agency last year to tell Green Bay that he was retiring, robbing them of any opportunity to restructure their roster as a result of that decision. Regarding the attacks by Jason Whitlock and other feeble media shills on Green Bay for not providing Favre with superstar teammates, let's not lose sight of the fact that Green Bay, Wisconsin is the smallest of the small markets, with a "metropolitan area" population of fewer than 250,000 souls. Get real! Even with salary cap structure, there are severe limits to what can be accomplished in that situation. I think that the GB FO did a fairly good job under those circumstances. Gee, Jason, how good a job do your Royals do of putting talent on the field and championship banners in the rafters, working with a metro area EIGHT times that size? (Yes, I know what byline is on this column; I'm just leveraging my podium here :-) So, who wants to spend a ludicrous amount of money and compensation for a conceited, selfish, over-the-hill QB who is bound to return to his old ways of losing games by trying to force the ball to well-covered receivers? Where are you, Dan Snyder, when the fraternity of so-called sports writers need you to step up and commit another stupidity?

-GM

Ley's not lose sight of the fact that Favre is the party who caused the problem to begin with. The Pres of the Pack and Favre's agent are meeting in an attempt to work things out. The impact on the salary cap is a major consideration in Favre returning. And the commissioner is following the rules. There is no rule that requires that Favre bereinstated, in spite of it being "caveat". I think this is a good example of the comish trying to calm everyone down and give all parties a chance to step back, take a deep breath and see if there is a way to work things out amicably.

What does it matter how we got here.

Favre just wants to play another year. Nothing wrong with that. We've seen many struggle with the decision to quit the game. Nothing new.

Favre also knows management wants him to go. The Pack wants to move on and there's nothing wrong with that either. Seems like Favre is agreeable to that by asking for his release.

Assuming Brett is also willing to let the Pack out of any contract matters (how much more money could the guy need) .. the Pack should let him go. Then the question of Brett's legacy is up to Brett.

Will he sully it and the love of Packer fans for him by going to an in-division team? Or will he be a big boy and go elsewhere so he can scatch that itch one more time.

Assuming the latter is the case .. just let him go and trust Brett is not as selfish as he is sometimes made out to be.

I agree with the person above. Unless Favre asked Goodell to wait on his reinstatement, this is restraint of trade and the NFL could and should be looking at a lawsuit. Maybe Green Bay wouldn't "need more time" if Ted Thompson had started talking to Favre sooner, instead of texting him that he was on vacation, and Favre would have to wait.

You heard it here first -- Brett Favre will be playing for the New England Patriots this season. He really wants one more ring before he retires...

Both sides appear to be trying to pull a big bluff.

The Packers don't want him on their roster consuming a huge chunk of cap money but they can accept him a an (overpaid) back-up. If Rogers fails or gets hurt, then Favre steps in and, hopefully, leads them to another run for the ring.

Favre's bluff is that the Packers don't want him coming to camp disrupting team harmony / chemistry and chewing up cap space. He wants his release, not a trade. People talk about him not accepting a trade to certain teams but I don't remember any talk about Favre's contract terms regarding trades!

Is their a trade clause in his contract?