PACKERS: WE’VE MOVED FORWARD
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 11, 2008, 5:17 p.m.
Two hours after ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Brett Favre had asked the Packers for his release, the team released a statement on the story.
The Packers’ statement opens by stressing that it was Favre’s decision to retire, and even says “we wanted him to return and welcomed him back.”
But the statement also says “the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team.” Although the Packers don’t come right out and say it, the “move forward” language implies that the team would no longer welcome Favre back.
The statement acknowledges that Favre has the right to ask to be reinstated, and it says that if he does, “he would become an active member of the Green Bay Packers.”
That, however, doesn’t mean he’d stay an active member of the Green Bay Packers. And the terse tone of the statement suggests that the team doesn’t want Favre to be an active member of the Green Bay Packers this year.
The full statement is below:
The Green Bay Packers are aware of the latest developments regarding Brett Favre.
Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms. 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.
As a retired player, Brett has the option to apply for reinstatement with Commissioner Goodell. If that were to occur, he would become an active member of the Green Bay Packers. As always, the Packers will do what’s right and in the best interest of the team.
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.
Brett and Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family.