We've all had our sanctioned fun with the St. Louis Rams' phone call to assess 44-year-old Brett Favre's mindset on a return to football.
If you were hesitant to suspend disbelief about the Rams' interest, your instincts were correct.
Citing a team source and a source informed of the "talks," NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday on NFL Network's "Around the League Live" that St. Louis only asked about Favre's interest as a one-line wisecrack.
"It's not like the Rams sent Tavon Austin and Robert Quinn down to Hattiesburg to try to lure Brett Favre off his tractor," Rapoport said. "As he told us on Sunday, he realized that after about 20 years in the NFL he doesn't like getting hit."
A Rams official initially inquired about recently signed developmental quarterback Austin Davis, who just happens to share the same agent with Favre. While he had Bus Cook on the phone, the official offhandedly quipped, "Hey, what about Favre?"
"It was just a joke," a Rams source told Rapoport. "It was just a throwaway line. Doesn't anyone have a sense of humor?'"
We do! And we appreciate any football mirth that evolves into the potential midseason resurrection of a former player who is edging toward Old Man Withers and away from professional quarterback.
The "Around The League Podcast" spoke with NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell on Wednesday. Click here to listen and subscribe.