July 25, 2008

Even before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly put the squeeze on the Packers to treat the Brett Favre trade talks with a sense of urgency, our Packers sources tell us the team already had begun aggressively seeking out potential trade partners. That said, we’ve gotten wind of only one specific Favre trade proposal by the Packers at this writing — a third-round draft pick and a warm body from the Ravens, which, we were told, the Ravens turned down. But with Goodell choosing to add his two cents to the ongoing saga, the trade of Favre to another team has become a very fluid possibility, with the Packers reportedly contacting 20 or so teams about Favre, with the exception of the team’s NFC North rivals and the Colts, Cowboys and Patriots, all of whom are obviously well-equipped under center at present. As has been the case from the get-go, the most intriguing potential trade partner continues to be Tampa Bay, even though the Packers play the Bucs in Tampa Sept. 28, and the Bucs were a playoff team, which Packers GM Ted Thompson had earlier indicated would remove them from consideration. After all is said and done, though, the most important factor continues to be Favre’s actual state of mind, and there are as many insiders in league circles who think he will decide to stay retired as there are those who think he’s itching to return. “He’s not thinking cogently at all right now and seems as conflicted as ever,” one inside source said of Favre, who we’re told still doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to file the reinstatement papers necesary for him to return to the NFL. “I know it’s not the answer you’re probably looking for, but, with the Packers’ training camp fast approaching, it still looks like anything can, and probably will, happen.”

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