Favre asks for his release so he can play (for the Vikings? Jets? Redskins? Ravens? Panthers?) Packers Say No.

ESPN, FOX Sports, Sports Illustrated and even the Denver papers are all posting conflicting reports on exactly what is going on.

Due to a certain Colorado Hockey player, with the same agent as Favre, contemplating retirement, and spilling his conversation with Favre's agent, the Denver papers seem to have scooped this, reporting on July 10 that he was coming back.

Everyone but FOX seems to be laying this mostly at the feet of Packer's GM Thompson, for not doing everything he can to bring Favre, who many consider the greatest quarterback of all time, as the starter this year, and in fact trying to keep him from coming back.

But Jay Glazer at FOX is reporting an interesting twist on this;

"In late March during the NFL Owners Meeting, Favre informed the team he wanted to play again, multiple sources have told FOXSports.com. Not only did he insist he was returning, both head coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson agreed that he still had something left and they would welcome him back. Despite the fact that those close to Favre have stated Thompson did not want Favre back, Thompson was the deciding factor in agreeing it was not too late to have him un-retire at that time and start for the Packers in 2008.

In fact, team brass went as far as chartering a jet to fly to Mississippi to make it official later that week. The agreement was that the NFL's all-time leading passer would return for the year but help make it easier and palatable for Rodgers, who would have to wait another season to take the helm.

The group was set for this huge move when Favre suddenly phoned the team two days before the meeting was to take place and informed McCarthy that he had changed his mind yet again and was staying retired. While team officials were stunned by Favre's reversal, they made the decision to move on and draft his replacement, a move that Favre at the time understood. The Packers selected two quarterbacks in April's draft..."

This has not been substantiated yet by any other sources, but FOX Sports tends to be more reliable than than the news division, not that that is saying much.

Fantasy Impact: Favre is available off waivers on most leagues that have drafted already - including both of mine (well he was, until I picked him up) - no matter where he ends up, he's worth picking up. If you're about to draft and he is available in late rounds as a QB2, he's a low-risk option with tons of upside. I wouldn't trade for him in most cases - he's hot in the news, which usually makes a player over valued.