Finally, the Packers and Brett Favre have ended their impasse, when the Packers sent #4 to the Jets, in return for a draft pick that will be determined based on the success of Favre and the team. It is believed that it will start at a 4th-round pick in 2009, and will increase in value based on how the Jets perform. According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick.

This move ends the impasse between the 2, and it keeps Favre out of Minnesota. According to the NFL Network, if the Jets were to trade #4 to the Vikings, they would have to give the Pack 3 first round picks. Finally, the situation is over, and I don’t have to hear this every day on ESPN.

After a series of off-field mishaps, the NFL has suspended Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the first 3 games of the 2008 season, with the possibility of the penalty being reduced to 2 games, if Marshall meets certain conditions.

Marshall and his attorney were angered by the ruling, and were hoping they’d get a warning, but no suspension. Despite an incident in the off-season that left Marshall with a broken arm, he has been having a really good training camp.

Following a training camp scuffle between Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith and cornerback Ken Lucas that left Lucas with a broken nose, the Panthers have suspended Smith for 2 games. Smith will miss the opening game at San Diego and then the home opener against Chicago. He will not face any additional punishment from the league.

I 100% support the Panthers. However, I would not have suspended Smith for 2 games. I would have given him the maximum of 4 games to make a statement. I do not care that he is an elite WR or anything like that. Giving him 4 would have been the perfect way to send a message that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated. At any rate, kudos to the Panthers for taking a stand and not tolerating this behavior. Hopefully, Lucas will be okay.

For the 4th day in a row, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has delayed making a decision about reinstating Brett Favre to the Green Bay Packers, giving Favre more time to mull the 10 year, $20 million offer from the Packers to not play.

“There isn’t a perfect solution to this, but [Packers president] Mark Murphy is at least trying,” Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder via text message on Thursday night. “We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy believes that this deal would benefit both #4 and the Pack, saying

“Brett needs to stay a part of football. Obviously, he’s a part of the Green Bay Packers.

He also quashed talk that this was a last-ditch bribe to keep Favre from not reporting to camp while also keeping him away from the Vikings, saying

“This is really something that’s been out there all along.”

He went on to say that this was first brought up during Favre’s retirement conference in March.

This whole thing has evolved into a massive joke, and it reeks similar to the way former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause destroyed the dynasty. He got rid of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson so he and Jerry Reinsdorf could build their own dynasty, even though they could all still perform at a high level. Just like the Packers are now with Favre, committing to Aaron Rodgers, because they have stressed moving forward, even though Favre is still way better than Rodgers.

Anytime you get compared to Jerry Krause for the way you treat a legend, you know you are a villain.

Since sending his letter to the NFL requesting reinstatement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has decided to hold off a decision on whether or not to reinstate former Packers QB Brett Favre, opting to give the Packers more time to work something out.

Reports indicate that the Packers are considering doing something they have wanted to avoid doing, trading Favre to their rivals, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, in an attempt to end this. The Packers have also said that if Favre is reinstated and comes to Packers camp, that he would not be allowed to take part in team drills, only individual drills.

After saying he wanted to return for 2 weeks, Brett Favre made it official, sending a letter to the NFL requesting reinstatement. Commissioner Roger Goodell now has 24 hours to act on it, considered a formality, but perhaps he will wait the full 24 hours before granting reinstatement to give the Packers more time to work out a trade. After reinstatement is granted, the Pack will have another 24 hours in which they can decide whether to keep him, trade him, or release him, something they have said they will not do, because they are concerned he will bolt immediatly for the Minnesota Vikings.

Meanwhile, Packers team president Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi, apparently in an attempt to talk Favre out of reporting to camp. Reports say that Favre has been offered $20 million over several years not to report. The Packers control Favre’s rights until his contract expires following the 2010 season.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: The Packers are being really stupid here. Did they take some of Jerry Angelo’s stupid pills or what? Their reasoning seems akin to something Angelo would say, such as last year when he more or less said he traded away Thomas Jones so that Cedric Benson wouldn’t have to compete with him for the #1 RB job. They should have nipped this in the bid and welcomed back Favre as the starter. Now, they are really backed into a corner, or more appropriately, as the first article I linked says, they are backed up against their own goal line. Whether or not they avoid the sack remains to be seen.

On Sunday, Brett Favre signed his letter seeking reinstatement to the Packers, but has not yet sent it to the NFL. Favre also said on Sunday that at the request of Packers GM Ted Thompson, that he has not yet reported to Packers camp. As everyone knows, since Favre retired in March, he has said he wants to return, but the Pack don’t want him.

If and when Favre is eventually reinstated, the Pack have said they have no plans to release him, or let him be the starting QB. Favre wants to be traded, and the Pack seem open to it, but not to where Favre wants to go - The Vikings.

My opinion on this is that this has completely turned into a joke. There needs to be a resolution quickly. The Packers are trying to have everything their way and are rapidly losing credibility every day this drags on. Their reasoning for not wanting Favre as the starter is a joke, something akin to what you only see in Chicago, saying for 5 months they’ve been saying they’re moving on and that bringing Favre back would ruin it.

Also, as Favre said in the article, they need to clear up this tampering stuff. As the article says, Brett Favre said he has never had a Packers-issued cell phone. This whole saga becomes an even bigger joke with every passing day.

After losing defensive end Phillip Daniels for the season with a torn ACL, the Washington Redskins acquired Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins to fill the void, giving up a 2nd-round draft pick in 2009, and a 6th-round choice in 2010.

With this trade, it puts an end to Jason Taylor’s time in Bill Parcells’ doghouse, who Taylor fell out of favor with after focusing the off-season on Dancing With the Stars and not football. This makes one less story that won’t be regurgatated all season long.

In the last week, since Brett Favre has said he wants to return, he officially asked the Pack for reinstatement or release. The Packers said they have no intentions of releasing him, and then later said they would welcome him back…As the back-up to Aaron Rodgers.

This is all a joke, and quite frankly, it’s getting to be stupid. Either the Packers should release Favre, or bring him back as the starter. Do they really think Aaron Rodgers can get them a Super Bowl title in 2008? They are kidding themselves if they think so, after last year when the Pack were so close. Why should Favre have to settle for being the back-up after starting 275 consecutive games (including playoffs).

The Pack need to realize that they can’t have it both ways. If they are so concerned about Favre going somewhere else and possibly hurting them later, then they should bring him back as the starter. #4 under center gives the Pack the best shot at winning the Super Bowl this year. As for where Favre would go if he were released, Minnesota would seem to be the most logical choice. With a solid defense, a great offensive line, and Adrian Peterson at RB, Favre would seem to be the final piece to the puzzle there.

As for those suggesting he come down south to the Windy City and play for the arch-enemy the Bears, forget it. They are not a QB away from being Super Bowl contenders, regardless of what the media says. They have a makeshift offensive line, and a very weak reciever core, and a running game that is not proven. If Favre were to play with the Bears in 2008, it would be just like his 2005 season with the Pack - not good. And for those who think it’s the Chicago media who says Favre would be the final piece, they’re wrong. William C. Rhoden of the New York Times recently wrote that too.

This is no way to treat a legend. Either the Pack should release Favre, or bring him back as a starter

According to ESPN, Brett Favre is contemplating coming out of retirement. Despite this, Favre calls it a rumor.

When will the madness stop!? Brett, make up your mind already, would you? This is getting absurd, every year. If I was Aaron Rodgers, I would demand a trade if Favre actually does return to Green Bay. When he retired, there was talk the Packers didn’t want him back. Maybe they don’t actually want him back. Maybe if he returns, the Madden Curse will live on and Favre’s streak will end. All I can say about this is don’t come back, Brett. People say he can still play, I say look no further than this, a brilliant article by Sal Paolantonio.