CANTON, Ohio -- When it comes to the Brett Favre saga and all the Packarazzi now based in Green Bay awaiting his return, fiction and facts have begun to blur together.
Disregard the fiction and consider some of the facts:
» Even though Favre was planning to fly to Green Bay on Thursday night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not planning to officially reinstate the retired Packers quarterback until Friday at the earliest. "The Packers and Brett Favre are continuing their discussions. The commissioner preferred to let those discussions continue rather than act on the reinstatement petition today," an NFL spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. If Goodell reinstates Favre then, the Packers would have 24 hours to release or activate their quarterback, putting them on a collision course with Saturday night's Hall-of-Fame induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio. Also, the Packers annual family night scrimmage –- a tradition in Green Bay –- is scheduled for Sunday night, at the same time the Washington Redskins will be playing the Indianapolis Colts on NBC. The Packers introduce each member of their team to the sold-out crowd at Lambeau Field. It is going to be interesting to see the type of reception Favre receives.
» Finding little interest from other teams in trading for Favre, the Packers now would consider dealing Favre within the NFC North for the right price. The problem is, the right price is not about to come their way. One NFC North team linked to Favre said Wednesday night its team would not be trading for Favre –- for any price. If Green Bay is going to find a trade, it looks like it is going to have to come elsewhere.
» Problem is, Favre's trade value has dropped. Whereas a month ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New York Jets might have considered surrendering a conditional mid-round pick, they would be far less inclined to do so now. The reason is that camp is underway, quarterbacks have been working with teams, and the Packers have made it clear that they do not want Favre back in Green Bay. Any team that trades for Favre knows that it gets the circus and the Packarazzi with it.
» A Tuesday deadline of 11:59 had been in effect for the Jets to talk with Favre; they did not. The Jets have consistently monitored the Favre situation from afar, but never have spoken to him. Until they speak to him –- if they speak to him -– no trade with New York is expected to develop. So the Jets continue to remain at best a longshot to land Favre, as they always have been.
» Favre has three years remaining on his contract that is scheduled to pay him $12 million in base salary this year, $13 million in base salary next year, and $14 million the year after. Favre can threaten to continue to report to Green Bay until the Packers find a resolution that makes him happy.
» Green Bay's new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers has handled this summer circus in a way that would make anyone think he has the disposition to be a star. Rodgers has been poised, gracious and, most important, professional in handling the media tidal wave that has engulfed him.
» Packers president Mark Murphy tried to convince Favre to retire on Wednesday, but never did he offer $20 million over the next 10 years to stay away from the game, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. If it were up to the Packers, Favre would retire and leave Green Bay and all the issues that have been created behind. But for now, as trying as this has become on Favre and his family, the quarterback does not plan to retire. Favre knows that, until he becomes proactive, everyone else will remain reactive. He had to get proactive. Other teams never were going to make a move until the Packers did.
» This story has gone on for one full month -– and we might know less today about how it will wind up than we did in June.
Play ball
Some players fight for their jobs; others argue for them.
The arguments for New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw and former Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Henry succeeded.
Though Bradshaw spent 30 days this offseason in jail for a probation violation of his juvenile parole, the NFL has determined the Giants running back did not violate its Personal Conduct Policy and he will not be suspended, according to a source close to the situation.
The source said Bradshaw's violation predated his NFL career and therefore no further punishment would be taken. Yet Bradshaw still will have more time to serve.
The Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier reported Thursday that Bradshaw still must serve another 30 days in jail after this season.
But at least this season will be allowed to go on uninterrupted, good news for Bradshaw and the Giants.
Bradshaw proved to be one of the unsung heroes of the Giants' Super Bowl run last season, when he ran for 66 yards in the wild-card win over Tampa Bay, another 34 in the divisional playoff win over Dallas, 63 yards in the NFC Championship game victory over Green Bay and another 45 yards during the Super Bowl XLII win over New England.
Just as the league spent part of this week looking into and ruling on Bradshaw, it did the same for Henry, who had been suspended indefinitely for a string of legal offenses.
The league decided to reinstate Henry after he serves a four-game suspension this season, meaning the wide receiver could begin contributing to some team in October.
Henry will be allowed to sign with any team he chooses. Now that teams know he will be sidelined for one quarter of the season, they could be spurred on to sign the troubled but talented wide receiver.
Henry recently met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and stated why he thought the suspension should be reduced. Now he will have to perform another sell job with teams.
But any team that signs him knows it is getting a playmaker, somebody who could cause problems for the opposition -– as well as his own team.
