GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AFP) — Brett Favre is welcome to return to the Green Bay Packers as a backup quarterback, but the National Football League squad rejected Saturday their retired star's request to be released.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the club will not release Favre, which would have paved the way for him to end his retirement and play for another NFL club in the upcoming season.
When Favre announced in March he was retiring, the Packers moved on and made plans with Aaron Rodgers taking over from Favre, who is likely seeking a starting job at age 38.
"Favre is welcomed back, but the scenery has changed," Thompson said. "There may be a different role. He becomes an active member of the roster, and then we'll see how it goes from there.
"We don't have the answers right now, because it hasn't happened and we don't know that it will."
The Packers could trade Favre, thereby gaining something in return for losing such a valued asset even though one they likely would not utilize.
Favre made his request for a release in a letter Friday, three days after a telephone call with Packers officials in which he expressed his desire to play in 2008, saying he never felt he was gone for good even after his announcement.
"We understand this is a very volatile, sensitive thing," Thompson said.
"Fans are unbelievably passionate about this team and passionate about Brett Favre. We understand that, and we're going to try to stay steady, consistent, and try to do the right thing for Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers."
Favre, who has three years and 39 million dollars remaining on his contract, can write a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking for reinstatement to the Packer roster, forcing the team to comply or release Fevre.
"Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms," a Packers team statement Friday saidd. "We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion.
"Brett's press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement. The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization.
"At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team."
Favre spent 16 seasons with the Packers and became the NFL all-time leader in several areas, including his 442 touchdowns, 5,377 completions, 8,758 pass attempts, 61,555 yards and 160 victories.
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