ESPN's Ed Werder is reporting that Brett Favre and ViQueens head coach Brad Childress will meet later this week at an undisclosed location. (Sigh)
But the really interesting part of this story -- although less interesting as each supposed retirement comes and goes -- albeit not a surprising one is Brett's reason for wanting to talk with the ViQueens. It's one we Packer fans know all too well: revenge.
In a story reported on Yahoo Sports, "According to a New York Daily News column by Gary Myers, a(nother) Favre return to the NFL would be motivated by his desire to get revenge on the Packers, the team that kicked him to the curb last spring in favor of Aaron Rodgers.
"Writes Myers: One NFL source insists Favre can't peacefully retire until he finds a way to get revenge on the Packers. He wants back into the NFC North so he can face the Packers twice. The Bears traded for Jay Cutler and the Lions drafted Matthew Stafford. Hello, Minnesota. 'Favre can't stand Green Bay,' the source said. 'He wants to play Green Bay and say, "I told you so." His bitterness is creating this. I think he's calling Minnesota. I think Minnesota is talking about this as we speak. You haven't heard the end of Favre. No way. He is bionic. As long as somebody will let him in, he will play.'"
As the author of the Yahoo article opines, "As if Brett Favre doesn't try to force the ball to his receivers enough, can you imagine if he was playing a game solely for spite? He'd probably be throwing into quintuple-coverage every time he dropped back to pass. There's a legitimate chance he could throw, like, 19 interceptions in the two games Minnesota would play against Green Bay. That would almost make up for having to hear incessantly about Favre for the next few months."
Yesterday, former QB and Favre buddy Trent Dilfer said on ESPN's NFL Live program that he and Brett had exchanged text messages and Brett had given Dilfer a resounding "NO" when the subject of ending his retirement and playing for the ViQueens came up. There was absolutely nothing to the story, said Dilfer. A day later, this. But should we be surprised? As Michael Wilbon said on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption today, "I don't believe anything this guy (Favre) says about retirement."
As long as Brett hangs onto his spite for Ted Thompson and can stand upright he's going to think he can extract his revenge. I never thought I'd say it, but I almost relish the thought now of new kids B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews meeting Brett...at the same time...and reacquainting him in a personal way with the Frozen Tundra. I'd rather have Brett walk out onto that hallowed ground for his number retirement ceremony and the adulation he rightly deserves. But if he wants to be a putz...my advice to the Packers D: plant him!
Maybe that will finally knock the spite out of him and some sense into him.
You can read the Yahoo Sports story here.