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GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre has faxed his reinstatement paperwork to the NFL and is awaiting approval from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, league spokesman Randall Liu confirmed Tuesday.

Once Favre is granted reinstatement, a step considered a formality, the Packers will have 24 hours to release the star quarterback or return him to their active roster. Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson has said the team will not release Favre.

ESPN first reported that Favre sent the letter earlier Tuesday.

Pats19andO wrote:Id keep his rights but not play him

Favre reinstated, will fly to Green Bay for Family Night

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Brett Favre on Sunday, the three-time MVP said.

The Packers couldn't confirm the reinstatement, and said because it wasn't an offical business day for the league it wasn't possible Sunday.

Nevertheless, Favre was prepared to fly to Green Bay in time to attend the sold-out Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field, which more than 60,000 fans were expected to attend.

On Saturday, Goodell said he hoped the situation would be resolved by Monday, by which team and league sources told ESPN's Wendi Nix that he was expected to act on the reinstatement.

Goodell visited the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp on Saturday before heading north to Canton, Ohio, for the weekend's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

"I'm not trying to interject myself," Goodell said in Georgetown, Ky., according to The Associated Press. "I was interjected into it because there was a tampering charge initially. I'm not looking for things to interject myself to. It's an issue that needs to be addressed because of the competing interests. You want to make sure it's done properly and within our rules. This is an issue that ultimately has to be decided between Brett and the Packers."

The Packers hold Favre's rights until his current contract expires after the 2010 season.


Packers coach Mike McCarthy again praised his players for not allowing the Favre situation to distract them.

"What's going on between Brett and the organization is something that the players and coaches, we cannot handle," McCarthy said Saturday. "We're not involved in it. I think they did a good job from a responsibility standpoint dealing with it for about two days, but the focus has been on improving."

Earlier this week, Favre sent a letter to Goodell requesting to be reinstated from the team's reserve/retired list. But Goodell has held off approving the request, hoping the two sides could resolve their differences.

"Primarily, it starts with the fact, does Brett want to play football?" Goodell said. "The second is, do the Packers want him to play for the Packers. Those are the two principal points that have to be resolved. And only two parties can make that determination, not me."

Goodell said both parties are being "reasonable."

"They're difficult, emotional issues," Goodell said. "They're important to the future of both of them."