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GREEN BAY, Wis. ? The New York Jets are in serious talks with the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre's agent about acquiring the legendary quarterback, a person close to the situation said Thursday.
The Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams that have permission to speak with Favre about a potential trade for now. Favre's agent, Bus Cook, has been in talks with the Jets, who have shown a growing interest, but Cook has not been working closely with the Buccaneers, according to two people familiar with the talks.
Favre would have to sign off on any trade before a new team would be willing to give up compensation for him, because if he refuses to report to the new team's camp, the trade would be voided. The extent of Cook's talks with the Jets means Favre at least is considering playing for them.
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Ted Thompson, the Packers' general manager, has been asking for a draft pick that could escalate to a better pick based on Favre's and the new team's performance. Thompson and the Packers have stated repeatedly they plan to move forward with Aaron Rodgers, the former first-round pick and Favre's backup the past three years, as their starting quarterback.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Mississippi | New York Jets | Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings | Brett Favre | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Gannett | Roger Goodell | Jeff Garcia | Greg Aiello | Eric Mangini | Brad Childress | Aaron Rodgers | Ted Thompson | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Kellen Clemens | Pennington | Bus Cook | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Favre could force the Packers' hand by showing up to training camp, and he was scheduled to take a private plane to Green Bay on Thursday. However, that flight was delayed multiple times and then apparently canceled.
Cook said the three-time MVP understands he would be walking into a media frenzy by showing up for the Packers' training camp, but he's willing to deal with that rather than have retirement forced on him.
"He's prepared to deal with it," James "Bus" Cook told the Associated Press on Thursday. "He's ready to go back, but he can't go back until the commissioner reinstates him."
For a third straight day, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declined to act on Favre's request for reinstatement from the reserve/retired list to give the Packers time to resolve the situation. That Goodell has waited this long indicates progress is being made toward a resolution.
"The Packers and Brett Favre are continuing their discussions," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail to the Press-Gazette today. "The commissioner preferred to let those discussions continue rather than act on the reinstatement petition today."
Cook said Favre still wants to be released, something the Packers have ruled out.
"If he was given his release, there's no guarantee he'd go anywhere to play," Cook said. "However, he'd have the freedom to choose if he should decide to play."
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Packers officials have had internal discussions about trading Favre to the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears as a "last resort" to resolve the smoldering controversy.
"That's news to me," Vikings coach Brad Childress said Thursday. "Whatever you're hearing, I'm not hearing."
Tampa Bay's need at quarterback might have increased Thursday, after veteran Jeff Garcia was carted off the practice field with what the team called a calf strain.
As it stands, though, the Jets have the more tenuous quarterback situation. New York was 4-12 last season, but in 2006, coach Eric Mangini's first season, the Jets went 10-6 and earned a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs. Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are competing for the starting job; Pennington never has been the same since suffering a shoulder injury in 2004, and Clemens was ineffective in 10 games (eight starts) last year, throwing 10 interceptions and only five touchdown passes.
Mark Murphy, the Packers' president and chief executive officer, on Wednesday had a day-long meeting with Favre and Cook in Cook's Mississippi law office and offered Favre as much as $20 million over 10 years if he stays retired. Favre and Cook have said for nearly a month that Favre wants to be released, a request Thompson has denied.
The Packers, who did not practice Thursday, return to the practice field for the first of two sessions Friday at 8:45 a.m. Favre will not be there.
By Pete Dougherty and Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press-Gazette
The Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams that have permission to speak with Favre about a potential trade for now. Favre's agent, Bus Cook, has been in talks with the Jets, who have shown a growing interest, but Cook has not been working closely with the Buccaneers, according to two people familiar with the talks.
Favre would have to sign off on any trade before a new team would be willing to give up compensation for him, because if he refuses to report to the new team's camp, the trade would be voided. The extent of Cook's talks with the Jets means Favre at least is considering playing for them.
PHOTOS: Packers training camp
PACKERS QB PLAN: Short on experience
FANS TORN IN GREEN BAY: Allegiances split by civil war
Ted Thompson, the Packers' general manager, has been asking for a draft pick that could escalate to a better pick based on Favre's and the new team's performance. Thompson and the Packers have stated repeatedly they plan to move forward with Aaron Rodgers, the former first-round pick and Favre's backup the past three years, as their starting quarterback.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Mississippi | New York Jets | Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings | Brett Favre | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Gannett | Roger Goodell | Jeff Garcia | Greg Aiello | Eric Mangini | Brad Childress | Aaron Rodgers | Ted Thompson | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Kellen Clemens | Pennington | Bus Cook | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Favre could force the Packers' hand by showing up to training camp, and he was scheduled to take a private plane to Green Bay on Thursday. However, that flight was delayed multiple times and then apparently canceled.
Cook said the three-time MVP understands he would be walking into a media frenzy by showing up for the Packers' training camp, but he's willing to deal with that rather than have retirement forced on him.
"He's prepared to deal with it," James "Bus" Cook told the Associated Press on Thursday. "He's ready to go back, but he can't go back until the commissioner reinstates him."
For a third straight day, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declined to act on Favre's request for reinstatement from the reserve/retired list to give the Packers time to resolve the situation. That Goodell has waited this long indicates progress is being made toward a resolution.
"The Packers and Brett Favre are continuing their discussions," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail to the Press-Gazette today. "The commissioner preferred to let those discussions continue rather than act on the reinstatement petition today."
Cook said Favre still wants to be released, something the Packers have ruled out.
"If he was given his release, there's no guarantee he'd go anywhere to play," Cook said. "However, he'd have the freedom to choose if he should decide to play."
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Packers officials have had internal discussions about trading Favre to the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears as a "last resort" to resolve the smoldering controversy.
"That's news to me," Vikings coach Brad Childress said Thursday. "Whatever you're hearing, I'm not hearing."
Tampa Bay's need at quarterback might have increased Thursday, after veteran Jeff Garcia was carted off the practice field with what the team called a calf strain.
As it stands, though, the Jets have the more tenuous quarterback situation. New York was 4-12 last season, but in 2006, coach Eric Mangini's first season, the Jets went 10-6 and earned a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs. Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are competing for the starting job; Pennington never has been the same since suffering a shoulder injury in 2004, and Clemens was ineffective in 10 games (eight starts) last year, throwing 10 interceptions and only five touchdown passes.
Mark Murphy, the Packers' president and chief executive officer, on Wednesday had a day-long meeting with Favre and Cook in Cook's Mississippi law office and offered Favre as much as $20 million over 10 years if he stays retired. Favre and Cook have said for nearly a month that Favre wants to be released, a request Thompson has denied.
The Packers, who did not practice Thursday, return to the practice field for the first of two sessions Friday at 8:45 a.m. Favre will not be there.
By Pete Dougherty and Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press-Gazette
