Favre

Here is the latest on the Brett Favre debacle from the NFL Network:

"Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, has the equivalent of a "no-trade clause" and control over where he will be playing in 2008. Favre can "veto" any deal by simply not reporting to the new team, forcing the Packers to take him back at his $12 million base salary or release him (which Favre has already been lobbying for)."

I think this information sheds a lot of light on the situation. Of course I'm speculating here so take it with a grain of salt.

Favre retired this year under heavy pressure from the Packers organization. This is logical because while the Packers don't want him playing for a divisional rival, the also don't want him playing for the Packers who have a young QB in the wings. This is also assuming that the Packers view Favre as old and unable to play at a high level (and that last season was an abberation).

Here is the catch, however: the Packers had no idea Favre would use his retirement as a ruse to play in the NFL again. And this clause in Favre's contract is the kicker. Favre knows the Packers will not call his bluff if he demands to play on the Packers again. He is simply better than Rodgers at this very moment. And the Packers would be forced to start Favre because of the "win-now" mentality. Of course the Packers could make Favre play back-up, but that would put undue pressure on a young QB to win immediately. The media would have a field-day the second the Packers started losing. To say that the Packers would have a drama-filled regular season with Favre as the back-up is putting it lightly.

And now we know that Favre has zero trade value because he can decide where he wants to play due to this clause. Talk about leverage. What NFL team, including the Packers, would even consider a trade knowing that Favre can nix the deal immediately? It's way too risky to even show other teams what you're willing to trade for. So that leaves us with the option of the Packers releasing Favre, which is what the player wants (see Fox News the other night).

The Packers can't trade the guy, they will have to pay him if he insists on playing again, and a release will open the potential of a fan-favorite, hall of fame QB playing for the Vikings or another divisional rival. Sucks to be the Packers right now.

So now the question is, will the Packers organization swallow their pride and let this guy play again? Or, will they act like bitches and release the guy for broader competition in the league?