Brett Favre wants release from Packers

By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writers 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
The Green Bay Packers want to do the right thing in response to Brett Favre's latest round of flip-flopping on his future in football.
And as far as the team is concerned, that might mean showing No. 4 the door — although working out a trade might be more palatable to the Packers than granting Favre the release he has requested.
Favre asked the Packers to release him so he can return to the NFL with another team after apparently being told his latest retirement reversal wasn't welcome news in Green Bay. The team said it would do "what's right" in response to Favre's request, which was first reported by ESPN on Friday.
"Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms," the team's statement said.
"We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion. Brett's press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement. The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team."
The 38-year-old Favre retired March 6 after a 17-year career, openly sobbing as he contemplated a future without football. But almost immediately, he began dropping hints that he was having second thoughts.
The most recent and intense round came Friday, when ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that sources close to Favre and the team told him agent James "Bus" Cook asked the Packers for Favre's release in a letter because the Packers were not receptive to the idea of Favre wanting to play again.
The Packers' front office has spent the past several offseasons dealing with weeks and months worth of speculation about the three-time MVP's future plans. But this time, they're apparently not biting.
The Packers' statement said Favre, who was placed on the reserve/retired list, has the right to petition NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to be reinstated — a request the league would grant automatically. After that, Favre would return to the team's active roster.
But the statement did not specify what the Packers would do after that, beyond doing "what's right and in the best interest of the team."
If the team has committed to moving forward without Favre, their options once he was reinstated would include trading him to another team or releasing him so he would be free to sign with the team of his choice.
The Packers have made it clear they're committed to going with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a first-round pick in 2005 who has been sitting behind Favre for his first three seasons in the NFL.
Releasing Favre presents the possibility that he will sign with NFC North rivals Minnesota or Chicago, where he would be an upgrade over the incumbent QBs.
If the Packers traded him, there would be teams outside the division such as Baltimore or Tampa Bay, and perhaps Washington, that would be interested. There also has been speculation he could go to Miami for disgruntled defensive end Jason Taylor, the 2006 defensive player of the year.
Either way, it would be an ugly end to what has been one of the most celebrated partnerships in recent NFL history.
"As with all Packers greats, Brett's legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions," the statement said. "Brett and Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family."
Even if that family is looking awfully dysfunctional these days.

North Korean nuclear talks lead to agreement

BEIJING - Negotiators from six nations agreed have agreed on steps to verify North Korea's nuclear disarmament, opening the final phase in tortuous efforts to rid the North of nuclear weapons.
ADVERTISEMENT
if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object();
window.yzq_d['Ad03Atj8elo-']='&U=13fv22o13%2fN%3dAd03Atj8elo-%2fC%3d674272.12804990.13083882.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d5406809%2fV%3d1';
The agreement, reached Saturday after three days of talks, said North Korea would finish disabling its biggest nuclear facility by the end of October while the United States, China and the other three parties would complete promised deliveries of fuel oil and other economic aid.
Beyond that, the envoys agreed to a robust verification team of experts who will visit North Korean nuclear facilities, review its documents and interview its technical experts.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Yahoo! Buzz
RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Recommend It:
Average (24 votes)

» Recommended Stories
World News
Iraqi security better; governance falling short AP
S. Korea: North not cooperating in shooting probe AP
As violence recedes in Iraq, rebuilding gets tough AP
Russia, China veto UN sanctions on Zimbabwe regime AP
Pope Benedict leaves for pilgrimage to Australia AP
Most Viewed - World
AP: 'Lob bombs' biggest worry for US in Baghdad AP
Raul Castro: Communism is not egalitarianism AP
Japan to test missile interceptor in US AP
S. Korea: North not cooperating in shooting probe AP
Middle East families shed light on autism genes: study AFP
World Video
Hamas, Hezbollah websites hosted by Canadian servers CBC.ca - Sat Jul 12, 12:05 AM ET
'I asked God to help me ... get free': B.C. missionary attacked in Kenya CBC.ca - Fri Jul 11, 10:37 PM ET
Zimbabwe avoids sanctions CNN - Sat Jul 12, 2:01 AM ET
Raw video: Cargo plane crashes in Mexico AP - Sat Jul 12, 1:15 AM ET
Sponsored Links
( What's this? )
See Today's Mortgage Rates
Calculate Your New Mortgage Payment. See Rates- No Credit Check Req.www.LowerMyBills.com
Refinance and Save $1,000S
$150,000 Mortgage for $483/month. Compare up to 4 free quotes.www.pickamortgage.com
Refinance $300,000 for Only $965/Month
$300,000 Mortgage for only $965/month. Save $1,000's - No obligation.www.HomeLoanHelpLine.com

AP Photo: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, second from left, talks to Japanese envoy Akitaka...
Slideshow: North Korea (110) -->
Related
Chronology of North Korean nuclear activities AP
World Video


Hamas, Hezbollah websites hosted by Canadian servers CBC.ca


'I asked God to help me ... get free': B.C. missionary attacked in Kenya CBC.ca » All news video
News Search
Search
Related Searches:
China
North Korea

Yahoo! News Topic Pages In-depth, 24/7 coverage of topics including China, Iraq, and climate change.
SPECIAL TO YAHOO! NEWS
First-hand accounts of life in the Middle Kingdom» Read the blog
Elsewhere on the Web
Time.com: Protecting the Wonders of the World
McClatchy Newspapers: Colombia's president has a problem — his supporters are corrupt
ABC News: Clubbing to Fight Global Warming
#gmy { width:180px; padding-bottom:10px; background:transparent url(http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/nws/gl/rul_hori_dot.gif) center bottom repeat-x;}
#gmy .bd .media { overflow:hidden; }
#gmy .bd .media:after { clear:none; }
#ynstory #gmy h3 a { background-image:url(http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/nws/gmy/sprite_news_storypage.png); }
#ynstory #gmy h4 { font-family:arial; font-size:93%; }
below, use class="hide" to hide the promo; use class="" to show it -->
Good Morning Yahoo!
1 man, 1 day, 100 skydives
Play
Speed-jumping feat is all fora good causeSee today's talked-about videos
if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object();
window.yzq_d['Bd03Atj8elo-']='&U=12dg55r3e%2fN%3dBd03Atj8elo-%2fC%3d-2%2fD%3dLOGOZ%2fB%3d-2%2fV%3d0';



ADVERTISEMENT
if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object();
window.yzq_d['BN03Atj8elo-']='&U=13f36vo99%2fN%3dBN03Atj8elo-%2fC%3d397772.12836291.13108209.7195156%2fD%3dMIP1%2fB%3d5332134%2fV%3d1';
ADVERTISEMENT
if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object();
window.yzq_d['Bt03Atj8elo-']='&U=13e5hu9vb%2fN%3dBt03Atj8elo-%2fC%3d674272.12805021.13083912.8781275%2fD%3dREC%2fB%3d5406810%2fV%3d1';
Add headlines to your personalized My Yahoo! page(About My Yahoo! and RSS)
Asia News - AP
Add to My Yahoo!
World - North Korea
Add to My Yahoo! Add to RSS» More news feeds
NEWS ALERTS
Get an alert when there are new stories about:

nuclear disarmament
China
North Korea » More alerts
function validate_alerts()
{
var valid=false;
var theIncludes = document.getElementsByName("include");
for(var i=0; i