Brett Favre Asks to Be Traded

Since ESPN's Chris Mortenson broke the news that Packers QB and legend Brett Favre wished to return to the NFL, a heated and often vicious debate has raged across the Internet and between Packers fans. The dispute was whether the legendary Favre, who announced his retirement from the NFL in March, should be the one to start as the Packers' first-string quarterback, or whether the job should fall to top backup Aaron Rodgers, groomed for three years for especially this purpose.

Now, Packer fans' worst-case scenarios have suddenly become flesh and blood. On Friday the 11th, Favre asked Packers general manager Ted Thompson, and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, to allow him to return to the team as the starting quarterback. Thompson and McCarthy refused, a decision that has yet to be commented upon by either, and that will certainly face a firestorm of criticism from the Cheesehead faithful. It was the right decision for all that; Favre formally retired in March, and according to sources close to McCarthy and Thomas (reported upon by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) from that moment on they began planning what the team was going to do and how they were going to move on, for no other reason that sheer practicality. So in a nearly impossible situation, Thompson made the toughest of tough calls and told the Packers icon "No, Brett, we have moved on and we do not want you to come back as our starter."

Unfortunately, Thompson's tough call has tough consequences, this being the worst of them for Packers fans. Favre has officially asked to return to the NFL, and will probably file his reinstatement papers within the next few days. The refusal also eliminates the polarizing but still practical opportunity of having Favre return as the second-string quarterback, to play behind his former backup and wait for the new starter to be injured. That would also be a bad scenario for the franchise, but at this point it's a no-win situation.

There were two scenarios under which this most vicious of quarterback controversies could have worked out with minimal bloodshed. Firstly, Favre could have simply honored his decision to retire, and that would have been the end of that. Secondly, Favre could have stayed retired; however, he said that if Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury, he would be available to step in. That way, he'd be lauded as a hero for making a triumphant return and there would be no controversy, due to Rodgers' injury. That did not end up happening. However, the prospect of Favre playing for another team, with the bitter division rivals of the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears looming large as possibilities, is utterly repulsive to most of the Packers faithful.

The Packers have flatly refused to to simply release Favre, as he would be free to go to any of the 31 other NFL teams, including the Bears or the Lions. The overwhelming likelihood is that Favre will be traded to the Carolina Panthers or a team like them, who is in need of a quarterback. The Panthers are a top option because 1) They aren't in the NFC North division, 2) They do not have a top-notch starting quarterback, 3) They were a decent team last year and could potentially make the playoffs this year with a Brett Favre boost, 4) the Panthers management denied earlier this week that the rumors that had sprung up there about Favre appearing there were at all valid. The fact that the rumors started at all proves something.

Ultimately, there is no good way out for Favre, and there is no good option available for the Packers organization. From this point on, all they can do is grit their teeth and tough out this whole messy process as the entire country looks on. Favre is the face of the NFL and a widely respected man across the National Football League; what damage this will do to his legacy as a Packer, only time will tell.