Green Bay Split on Favre Question

(NEWSER) - With Brett Favre mulling yet another unretirement, Will Leitch of New York magazine looks back on the worst unretirements in sports history. They range from cringe-worthy to incomparably cringe-worthy:

• Ricky Williams: How many drug tests can one man fail?
• Lance Armstrong: "It’s difficult to come up with a better final chapter than winning your seventh Tour after overcoming cancer and thoroughly infuriating the French by evading all their attempts to bust you as a drug cheat."

$20M 'payoff' would hurt legacy more than a weak season

(NEWSER) - As football fans eagerly await a decision about Brett Favre’s future in football, critics are lambasting the Green Bay Packers' reaction to the quarterback's plans to return. The measures the team is taking to obstruct Favre’s comeback are tarnishing the NFL’s good name, writes William Rhoden in the New York Times. Rhoden is particularly critical of a reported $20 million offered to Favre to remain retired. More»

Team denies QB's request to become free agent

(NEWSER) - Green Bay won't be releasing retired quarterback Brett Favre from his contract as he has requested, and aren't promising to start him if he rejoins the team, AP reports. "This is a hot-button issue that surpasses anything I've ever gone through," says Packers GM Ted Thompson. Favre had the chance to return weeks ago, but didn't take it. More»

(NEWSER) - Brett Favre's decision to un-retire again and join the Vikings has set off all kinds of Favre-bashing among sports columnists. Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune wonders if everyone's lost their football sense. "Is he selfish? Very likely, but he's going to make the Vikings better." Is he the QB he once was? "No, but he's going to make the Vikings better." The Vikes have a great defense, and "now they have a great quarterback." That's all that matters. More»

(NEWSER) - Brett Favre has un-retired again, signing with the Minnesota Vikings today, the team says in a press release. The quarterback, 40 in October, is getting between $10 million and $12 million, according to ESPN, and is expected to start in Friday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Favre is expected to practice today, the Minneapolis Star Tribune adds, and fans have jammed the team’s practice facility. More»