Favre a Packer no more?

(Click on the title for ESPN's story by Chris Mortensen.)

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8060e4f6

Apparently Brett Favre is wanting to come back, but no longer wants to come back a Packer, as his agent is asking Green Bay for an unconditional release from the remaining two years of his contract. I'm having a hard time with how I feel about this, for a few reasons...

1) Brett Favre is my favorite pro athlete of my generation.
2) I've been a Green Bay fan since I was 13, mainly because of my admiration for Brett Favre.
3) I love seeing an athlete play his entire career (a trade in the first year or two not withstanding), regardless of how good the team he plays for turns out to be (think George Brett and the Royals).
4) NFL contracts aren't guaranteed, so a team can dump a player anytime it wants at no penalty, and when a player holds out or asks for a release, he usually gets a labeled as greedy or a malcontent.

First off, Favre probably more so than any athlete on the planet right now has earned the right to change his mind about wanting to play or not and then having his team honor his decision, regardless of what it does to them, even though that team has a potential franchise QB standing on the sideline waiting for his turn. (I hope that made sense) If this were, say, Derek Anderson being wishy-washy with the Cleveland Browns, they'd probably tell him "tough luck" and go with Brady Quinn.

But all that being said, the Packers have waited until almost April each of the last few years, then jumped back on the Favre wagon after he said he was coming back. This year he finally said for sure he was retiring (his words were "I'm not 100% committed to playing football), so his era ended and the Aaron Rodgers days started. And, in Favre's defense, this is the first time he's actually announced he was retiring. Each of the past few years, he said he'd be back after taking time to think about his decision.

Anyway, after reports started surfacing this week that he wanted to come back, the Packers have apparently said no thanks to Favre's services, citing his comment about not being 100% committed anymore. (Also note - no direct quotes from either side were exchanged in Mort's article, only reports of comments made by Packers brass and Favre's agent) Now Favre is asking for a release from Green Bay rather than a trade, so he can pick who he potentially plays for next season.

I'm actually on Favre's side. I'll continue to be a Green Bay fan, and I'll continue to be a Favre fan. I agree with his agent; his accolades and what he's done for the franchise merit them granting him this one wish. I just sincerely hope this doesn't get ugly. He won't have a problem finding a place to play, as many teams will line up in need of a veteran QB. Favre will likely consider a few things before deciding; 1) is the team simply a good QB short of being a playoff team?; 2) do they run a West Coast offense?; 3) can he get along with the coaching staff?

I'm not nearly as die-hard an NFL team as I am MLB or even college football, so don't mistake my fandom of the Packers with that of the Cardinals. Plus, I root for teams, players, and even city situations more than I do in any other sport. Favre made me a Packers fan. Peyton Manning made me a Colts fan. Adrian Peterson made me a de facto Vikings fan (they're one of the few teams I loathe otherwise.) And their undying devotion to a team that was being ripped from their hometown made me a Cleveland Browns fan even when there was no Cleveland Browns.

All that being said, the list of teams I don't want to see Favre playing for are short. Some of the teams I dislike don't need a QB anyway (see New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles). Some need one and just don't realize it (see Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals). And some desparately need one (see Baltimore Ravens, although I'm a Raven fan for the same reason I'm a Viking fan... OU players).

According to the know-it-alls at ESPN, Tampa Bay, Miami, Baltimore and Houston are the likliest of candidates. I wouldn't mind seeing Favre play for the Vikes, because that backfield would become legendary in an instant, but I'd hate seeing him move to a rival team in the same division.

Anyway, here's to Favre's Packer career. Wherever he ends up, I'm hoping he enjoys a couple more years of success, because I'll certainly enjoy watching him play.