NFL commish goodell to move on Favre reinstatement Monday

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will likely move on Brett Favre’s reinstatement request on Monday according to numerous media sources. When this occurs, it establishes a de facto Tuesday deadline for the Packers to work out some kind of deal with their 3 time MVP quarterback. If no deal can be reached, the team will either have to welcome Favre back into their training camp or move him via trade or by giving him his release.

The problem for the Packers is that none of the three options is particularly attractive. The team has made clear that #4 would be as welcome in the Packers’ camp as ants at a picnic, though they have tempered their public statements in an effort to placate their fanbase—many of whom are backing Favre during his “reinstatement” fiasco. They’ve made it clear that Favre wouldn’t be given the starting role and they’re committed to Aaron Rodgers as their QB of the future. Of course that’s easier said than done—once Rodgers begins to make a few of the inevitable rookie mistakes the presence of a legendary QB will loom large and Packer fans will almost certainly clamor for Favre to start. On a macro level, all this would do is put added pressure on Rodgers, who already faces an unenviable task of filling Favre’s shoes in Green Bay. Furthermore, should Favre end up as the starter it’ll just delay the inevitable need for a transition to their new QB.

So the Packers don’t want Favre around, but they’re hesitant to cut him loose either. They have little interest in trading Favre, and are reluctant to release him for fear that he’ll return to town on September 8th—as QB of their division rival Minnesota Vikings. Obviously, the perception that they’ve “run Favre out of town” will be a PR nightmare for the team and one that would only be exacerbated by him ending up with a division rival.

For the time being, Favre is maintaining his “I just want to play football” charade while seriously mulling over the Packers’ $25 million offer for him to stay retired. While its officially labeled a “promotional contract” to keep Favre a part of the “Packers’ family” its essentially a “ransom” that will enable the team to regain control of its future. The latest indication, however, is that Favre was leaning against taking the deal claiming that he wants to continue playing football.

In other words, there’s no near term resolution of the soap opera in sight. Favre doesn’t even need to formally reject the Packers offer—he can just continue hemming and hawing until Goodell approves his reinstatement. At that point, the ball is back in the Packers’ court and they’ll have to figure out what to do with a legendary player who’s becoming more of a self absorbed thorn in their side by the hour.