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Sunday, August 3, 2008
Favre says Goodell has reinstated him, will fly to Green Bay for Family Night
ESPN.com new services

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Brett Favre on Sunday, the three-time MVP told ESPN's Ed Werder.

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 Sunday to fly to Green Bay. ESPN's Wendi Nix reported his plane was scheduled to touch down at 6:30 ET, though he didn't plan 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.

Tensions have built between Favre and the team over the past several weeks.

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."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

paulpressey25 wrote:I just can't figure out why "Ed Werder" is now the choosen one over Al Jones, Peter King and Chris Mortenson. Maybe Ed gives him better press and doesn't question anything in the leaks he gets.

Interesting that he chooses to land in Green Bay a few minutes before A-Rod would take the field for family night.

Trade him to the Vikings......Pat Williams and a 2009 second round pick.

aaprigs311 wrote:I think it's obvious why he chose Ed Werder. Clearly it's the STACHE'.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Brett Favre on Sunday, the three-time MVP told ESPN's Ed Werder.

Favre was prepared Sunday to fly to Green Bay, he said.

ESPN's Wendi Nix reported Favre's plane was scheduled to touch down at 6:30 ET, though he didn't plan to attend the sold-out Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field, which more than 60,000 fans were expected to attend.

Packers officials planned to greet Favre upon his arrival to Green Bay.

The NFL office is officially closed on Sunday, so the reinstatement will become official Monday.

Favre was expected to report to training camp Monday by 1 p.m. ET, when the Packers say they will be prepared to make a roster move. It could be to add him, trade him or usher him back into retirement if they complete negotiations on a deal.

Their potential marketing agreement, worth a reported $25 million over 10 years, could end Favre's bid to return just months after retiring.

There had been indications Favre was wavering on the offer. A source close to the negotiations told Werder on Saturday that Favre has developed misgivings about the proposed deal because it fails to accomplish his primary objective in deciding to unretire -- namely, it would not put him back on the football field.

Also 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. Tensions have built between Favre and the team over the past several weeks.

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."

paulpressey25 wrote:

aaprigs311 wrote:I think it's obvious why he chose Ed Werder. Clearly it's the STACHE'.

I just wonder if Peter King and Mort have turned off their cell phones as they have tired of the soap opera.

It makes no sense why the tier 3 ESPN guy who is a dedicated Cowboys correspondent now gets all the scoops from Favre.

paulpressey25 wrote:

aaprigs311 wrote:I think it's obvious why he chose Ed Werder. Clearly it's the STACHE'.

I just wonder if Peter King and Mort have turned off their cell phones as they have tired of the soap opera.

It makes no sense why the tier 3 ESPN guy who is a dedicated Cowboys correspondent now gets all the scoops from Favre.

paulpressey25 wrote:I just can't figure out why "Ed Werder" is now the choosen one over Al Jones, Peter King and Chris Mortenson. Maybe Ed gives him better press and doesn't question anything in the leaks he gets.

Interesting that he chooses to land in Green Bay a few minutes before A-Rod would take the field for family night.

Trade him to the Vikings......Pat Williams and a 2009 second round pick.

eagle13 wrote:

paulpressey25 wrote:I just can't figure out why "Ed Werder" is now the choosen one over Al Jones, Peter King and Chris Mortenson. Maybe Ed gives him better press and doesn't question anything in the leaks he gets.

Interesting that he chooses to land in Green Bay a few minutes before A-Rod would take the field for family night.

Trade him to the Vikings......Pat Williams and a 2009 second round pick.

Hell I'd take either Williams straight up. But it does not make sense for them to weaken themselves at another position to get Brett - yet they do have to clear salary to take Brett in a trade. Thats why Brett wants release. MN can't really afford to trade for him.