Packers offer Favre $20 million+ to stay retired

In the latest attempt to put an end to the soap opera surrounding Brett Favre’s desire to “unretire” and return to football, the Green Bay Packers have offered their longtime superstar a multi-year deal worth $20 million. That is, a long-term, eight figure deal to not play football for their team but rather to stay home and not return to the NFL. In a related move, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell delayed acting on Favre’s reinstatement request on Wednesday in an effort to give the two parties additional time to reach a negotiated settlement.

Packers’ President Mark Murphy met with Favre and his agent in Hattiesburg, MS and while neither side had any public comment several media outlets reported on the team’s offer. Nevertheless, every indication is that Favre is more inclined to continue his drive to return to the NFL than to take the money and go away. Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, suggested that his client could be back in Green Bay’s camp as early as Friday. NFL Commissioner Goodell in a separate statement indicated that he would talk to Favre prior to acting on his reinstatement in a last ditch effort to mediate the situation.

The Packers have done a 180 on their position concerning Favre reporting to their training camp, and are now suggesting that he would be welcome to join the team. This is less of a change in their stance toward a Favre return than it is an effort to minimize the distractions caused by the situation. Coach Mike McCarthy indicated that having Favre in camp at this point would make his job getting the team, and particularly new starting QB Aaron Rodgers, ready to play football easier than the current situation. While everyone is repeating the party line that Favre wouldn’t be the starter should he return, its difficult to envision him coming back just to stand on the sidelines holding a clipboard.

At some point in the next 24 to 48 hours if no agreement is reached between Favre and the Packers, Goodell will have to act on his reinstatement request. The approval of Favre’s reinstatement is all but certain, at which point the Packers will have only 24 hours to figure out to do with him. From the team’s standpoint none of their options are particularly good ones—they can get rid of Favre by trading him (an option that’s off the table at this point by most reports) or releasing him. There’s serious hesitancy to release him, however, since there’s a strong suggestion that he’d immediately sign with division rival Minnesota. The other option is to return him to the active roster and essentially capitulate to Favre’s demands to return to the team.

Permeating the entire drama are some other serious concerns about team chemistry and a potential PR disaster among the Packer fan base. It clearly puts Coach Madsen and QB Rodgers in a bad situation, and could cost members of the Packer front office their jobs should they play it wrong. Bringing him back would open another set of issues, not the least of which would be a $12 million plus hit to the team’s salary cap. At this point, the team is up against the wall without a clear cut course of action to head off what could be a horrible situation.

At this point, like it or not, the Packers may be forced to welcome #4 back to the team simply to mitigate their damages.