Favre tempted to hit camp to call Packers' 'bluff'

[July 16, 2008]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Brett Favre says he's tempted to show up at the Green Bay Packers' training camp just to call the team's "bluff."

In the second part of an interview with Fox News, the 38-year-old quarterback said he knows his arrival in camp would cause a media circus. Packers players are scheduled to report July 27.

"It's tempting just to, as everyone said, you know, call their bluff or whatever," Favre said. "I think it's going to be a circus in itself already, whether I go there, whatever."

But, Favre added: "I don't want to go back there just to stick it to them."

The interview on the show "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" was broadcast Tuesday night.

Favre, a three-time MVP, said he feels "a little bit" bad for would-be successor Aaron Rodgers and insists he doesn't want to be a distraction to his teammates. Or are they his former teammates?

"I like my teammates," Favre said. "I had a lot of fun with them. I have talked to numerous guys throughout this whole ordeal. I wish them the best, I really do. I hold nothing against those guys. We had a lot of fun together. We had, it was an amazing year last year. I don't want to make it any worse than it is."

And right now, it's pretty bad. Favre and the Packers appear headed toward a messy divorce after Favre demanded his release last week.

The decision blindsided the Packers.

"This is an ongoing situation," team spokesman Jeff Blumb said Tuesday evening. "We're working through it, and we're going to do the right thing."

Team officials have been careful not to criticize Favre, instead laying out a detailed timeline of their offseason dealings with him. The team hopes that fans would understand why the Packers wouldn't be willing to abandon their offseason plans with Rodgers just because Favre changed his mind.

After retiring in early March, Favre told the Packers he was having second thoughts and was ready to return a few weeks later. General manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy had made plans to take a private plane to Mississippi to seal the deal on Favre's comeback, only to have him change his mind again and stay retired.

Favre conceded that the latest in his long line of reversals on his football future has been tough on Rodgers, the Packers' first-round pick in 2005.

"The one thing in this, I do feel bad for Aaron a little bit," Favre said. "I think he'll do a fine job, to be totally honest with you, I do. He has been injured. I mean, the two injuries are not his fault. Couldn't control. I know this has been tough on him. I think he'll do a fine job. And this has nothing to do with him, this whole deal."

That said, Favre doesn't seem inclined to take a back seat to Rodgers.

"We'll pay you $12 million, but you've got to hold the clipboard and ball cap?," Favre said. "That's probably better for them as opposed to letting me go somewhere and me coming back. Then their legacy, the management, would, you know, could be in jeopardy."

Would he go into camp to compete for the starting job?

"Why?" Favre said. "That's what I would ask them: Why?"

Thompson has said the Packers do not plan to grant Favre his release. And while Thompson said Favre could return to the Packers if he applies to the league for reinstatement, it would be in "in a different role than he was" because the team had committed to Rodgers.

Thompson and McCarthy also have said they are concerned about Favre's legacy, but Favre said that's his problem, not theirs.

"You don't worry about my legacy," Favre said. "And, you know, it's a bunch of bull. It's all it is."

Favre conceded a trade might be the only way to get his way.

"They're not going to do it with a big rival or competitor or whatever, but that may be our only option," Favre said. "I don't know what else to do."

Favre was asked about fan rallies held in Wisconsin this week to support him, but it was not mentioned that rallies held in Green Bay and the Milwaukee suburbs drew sparse attendance despite widespread local media attention. The Green Bay rally on Sunday drew less than 200 people, and Monday's rally in the Milwaukee suburbs drew about 30.

"Once again, Green Bay's a special place," Favre said. "Wisconsin's a special place."

The interview marked Favre's first significant public comments since informing the Packers he wants to be released. The one thing Favre still hasn't said, however, is that he is completely committed to playing in 2008.

In the portion of the interview aired Monday night, Favre conceded that "the bottom line is, I may not play anywhere." He also said, "If I'm going to play, it's going to be 100 percent commitment."

Asked if he is 100 percent committed to playing in the upcoming season, Favre gave a qualified yes: "Where is a different story."

"I very well may not play," Favre said, depending on "the circumstances."

"I've always been a Packer, always will be a Packer," Favre said. "Will I play somewhere else? Remains to be seen."

[Associated Press; By CHRIS JENKINS]

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