Brett Favre Packers: Does Green Bay Want QB Back?

After Brett Favre was involved in an infamous retirement saga in 2007 with the Green Bay Packers, many die hard 'Favre Fourever' fans saw their image of the all-star NFL quarterback and future Hall-of-Famer soured a bit.

The Gunslinger didn't make already tenuous ties any better when he joined with the Minnesota Vikings. Despite soon becoming the only player in NFL history to beat all 32 teams (33 for those counting the now-defunct Houston Oilers) after beating his former team, he was booed as heavily as he was cheered in his rematches with his former team, the Green Bay Packers.

However, despite the 'divorce' as some sarcastically called it, between Brett Favre and the Packers, under then-new Team General Manager Ted Thompson, the Front Office near the corner of Lombardi Avenue and Holmgren Way said that it wanted Favre to come "back [to] the Green Bay Packers' family," as team CEO Mark Murphy put it.

The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to be publicly traded as an entity and therefore have a President-CEO leadership rather than a team owner. The public may also purchase 'shares' of the team at occasionally stock offerings. Many famous Wisconsinites including FOX News anchor Greta van Susteren reportedly own stock in the Packers.

Brett Favre himself told Monday Night Football's Mike Tirico that he too is slowly getting over the messy split. "We don't need to shake hands and move on...Even though it's a shame the way things went down between I and the Packers, as time goes by, it's like a grudge;...you just kind of get over it," Favre said.

Murphy said he hoped Favre would agree to come back to work for the organization if the offer arose. However, it's not likely that the position he would hold would involve being under center, as Favre protégé Aaron Rodgers seems to have that job locked up. Favre would likely become part of the Packers' front office or coaching staff if he returns to Wisconsin from his native Mississippi.

Favre's playing career of course is full of memorable games, moments and matchups. Some fans still remember the three-tiered NFL division system of the 20^th Century. In the NFC Central, Favre and then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Warren Sapp butted heads, literally, twice a year in the old days. Who can forget too, the clip of a young, blond haired Favre sprinting around the Louisiana Superdome, helmet in hand, celebrating his only Superbowl win, to the dismayed looks of then-Patriots coach Bill Parcells.

However, like many storylines in the NFL, it was a freak incident that made Brett Favre a household name. If it wasn't for much-forgotten Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle Tim Krumrie, Favre may be just as well remembered as his longtime backup, Doug Pederson. Selected by the Falcons in 1991, Favre reportedly was not a favorite of Coach Jerry Glanville, who went on to have short analyst career with CBS. He was soon picked up by then-Packers GM Ron Wolf, who had wanted to take Favre in the draft when he worked in the New York Jets front office the year before. Wolf's decision was questioned at first, but it eventually paid off.

In 1992, at home at Lambeau Field, the Packers' starter Don 'Majik' Majkowski was slammed to the ground by Krumrie, badly injuring his ankle. Favre, whose only previous pass was a net loss deflection to himself, was begrudgingly sent out by Coach Mike Holmgren to replace Majkowski. Holmgren had debated the decision for a minute, as future Eagles starter Ty Detmer was a slightly better-known choice as a substitute quarterback.

Within minutes, a shotgun pass to current NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe and the ensuing touchdown courtesy Kitrick Taylor earned the Packers and unexpected win, and sparked a starting career for Favre that lasted until his retirement.

However, the occasionally temperamental Holmgren was none too pleased at first with his new starter's reckless 'gunslinging' nature which often netted him as many completions as interceptions in a number of cases. But, thanks in part to a little-known Quarterbacks Coach putting his neck on the line--and seen many times on videotape taking blame for Favre's occasional misfires--Holmgren eventually conceded to allow Favre free reign. That young redheaded assistant was none other than future Eagles coach Andy Reid.

Favre's career spanned so many eras that he likely could have a coaching and quarterback-in-training tree of his own. Mark Brunell, Detmer, Matt Hasselbeck and Rodgers all worked with Favre early in their careers. Steve 'Mooch' Mariucci, Holmgren, Reid, as well as Jon 'Chucky' Gruden all coached Favre at one point, in one capacity or another. And, of course, there is one man who reminds America how much he wished he could have coached Brett Favre: John Madden.