NFL SMACK TALK

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Posted: 3 hours 51 minutes ago
Stalemate with Packers turns Favre's attention to Bucs, Jets

NFL.com Wire Reports

After two days of extensive meetings with Brett Favre, Mike McCarthy doesn't believe the quarterback is in the "right mindset" to play for the Green Bay Packers.

Matt Ludtke / Associated Press
Brett Favre left training camp before the Packers began practice on Tuesday.

But Favre might be in the mindset to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New York Jets. According the NFL Network's Adam Schefter, Favre spoke to both the Buccaneers and Jets on Tuesday to discuss a possible trade with one of the two clubs.

Meanwhile, McCarthy told reporters that he met with Favre for about four hours on Monday night and again Tuesday morning, leaving the discussions convinced Favre wants to play this season, but not for the Packers.

"The one thing I was looking for out of that conversation, was (whether) he (was) ready, committed to play football for the Green Bay Packers," McCarthy said. ". . . I don't want to speak for him, but based on where he is and the path that it took for him to get to this part, he wasn't in the right mindset to play here."

A trade could be coming next, with Tampa Bay re-emerging as a potential destination after seemingly being eliminated from consideration in recent weeks.

Packers officials have believed throughout the past month that Favre's preference is to play for the Minnesota Vikings, but Favre could reconsider a trade to Tampa Bay - or elsewhere - if Green Bay holds firm in its commitment not to trade him to a division rival. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on its Web site Tuesday night that Favre was willing to play for the Buccaneers.

Even with the chance to win his starting job back potentially on the table, McCarthy said Favre couldn't seem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensions mounted in recent weeks.

"The football team's moving forward," McCarthy said. "The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want. He needs to jump on the train and let's go. Or, if we can't get past things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving."

The train appears to be picking up steam with Favre being left behind.

Favre plans to remain in Green Bay until there is a resolution -- either a trade is completed or the Packers give him permission to return to Mississippi, according to Schefter.

Before Tuesday, Favre had refused to talk with the Buccaneers or Jets about a possible trade, even though the Packers had given his agent permission to talk to both clubs. But the developments since his arrival in Green Bay on Monday apparently has changed Favre's mind.

Besides McCarthy, Favre also met with Packers GM Ted Thompson, for an hour Monday night, and again Tuesday afternoon at Favre's Green Bay residence with members of the quarterback's family and his agant, James "Bus" Cook.

At one point during Tuesday's news conference, McCarthy was pressed why Favre wasn't currently the starting quarterback for the Packers.

"That's a great question," he said. "I think you need to ask Brett. I think it's pretty complex, as far as the way he feels, the chain of events, the path that we've taken to get here. But it's not as simple as No. 4 going out there and playing football."

Schefter reports that the Packers have placed Favre on the Declared Non-Football Injury List due to an existing lower abdominal injury he would have been forced to rehab at practice. Favre counts against the Packers' 80-player roster, but he will not be paid by the team.

Favre did not join the Packers for their only practice on Tuesday morning, the first session he was eligible to join the team after he was reinstated by the NFL and added to the active roster on Monday.


» Favre arrives in Green Bay
» Favre's retirement and comeback timeline
» Favre's most memorable moments
» Christl: Packers should come back to senses
» Photos: Favre through the years
» Video: Collection of Favre memories
» Video: Best of Favre highlights
» Video: Best of Favre: 2007
» Favre: Bio | Player page | NFL records

Minutes before what was anticipated to be his first practice since his reinstatement, Favre left Packers camp. He emerged from the Lambeau Field loading dock and proceeded to exit the stadium's back gate in a red sport utility vehicle at around 1:45 p.m. CT, approximately 15 minutes before the Packers' only scheduled practice of the day.

Cook told Schefter late Tuesday afternoon that "Brett Favre does not plan to retire." The Packers have also publicly stated throughout the ongoing saga that they do not intend on releasing Favre.

If the two sides hold true to those statements, the options for a resolution between Favre and the Packers appear limited.

Favre left Lambeau Field just before Packers practice Tuesday afternoon, taking a right turn out of the stadium's back gate and heading away from the field where the rest of his teammates were assembling for drills.

Favre emerged from the stadium's loading dock exit at 2:34 p.m. ET Tuesday, hugging Packers senior security advisor Jerry Parins before getting in his SUV and driving away. Shortly after, an SUV driven by Packers general manager Ted Thompson left the gate heading in the same direction.

"We're at a stalemate," Favre told ESPN Tuesday morning. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."

Favre told ESPN he doesn't have a problem with competing with Rodgers for the starting job, and can "truly understand" why McCarthy would make Rodgers the starter. But Favre also said a competition "probably isn't going to work" and that "the problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it."

Did Favre not feel wanted or welcome enough by the Packers?

"That's part of the issue with him, quite frankly," McCarthy said. "And listening to him talk about that, you respect his opinion. And frankly, I told him, I said, 'I'll take responsibility because I have a voice in the building.' I never thought he truly was going to play. I thought he was emotionally driven for other reasons."

Information from The Associated Press w