By CHRIS JENKINS
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers' general manager and coach say they don't plan to grant Brett Favre's request for his release.
GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy told The Associated Press on Saturday that the star quarterback was welcome to rejoin the team but would have to be a backup.
It was their first public comments since Favre demanded his release this week. Favre held a tearful news conference to announce his retirement March 6.
Thompson and McCarthy did not want to discuss a possible trade. Thompson said he had not received any inquiries as of Saturday morning.
GM, coach: Packers don't plan to release Favre....
By Chris Mortensen
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Three days after a conference call with Packers team officials in which quarterback Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked by letter for his unconditional contractual release, sources close to Favre and the team said.
The letter was sent by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, via overnight mail on Thursday and arrived at the Packers facility Friday morning.
Cook, on behalf of Favre, expressed a desire to have an amicable parting, as the Packers have been reluctant to embrace his return. Favre announced his retirement in early March.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy weren't available for comment Friday.
Favre seeks unconditional release from Packers, sources say....
By PAUL DOMOWITCH
The NFL never sleeps, but it usually rests its eyes in late June and early July, before training camps open.
News traditionally is scarce as players lay low and coaches hang out the "gone fishing" sign.
But there is some interesting action going on in NFL boardrooms right now that could translate into new owners for two teams by the start of the season in September.
Steelers, Jaguars, Rams may have new owners soon....
CBSSports.com wire reports
A deal could be reached within days to sell a majority interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers to the chairman of a Pittsburgh-based investment firm, taking control of the NFL franchise away from the Rooney family.
The shares would be sold to Stanley Druckenmiller, chairman of Duquesne Capital management, making him principal owner of the team. Two officials familiar with the talks identified the buyer as Druckenmiller and said Monday that the deal could be completed by the end of the week. They declined to be identified because they were not directly involved in negotiations.
Druckenmiller's interest was first reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, which said a secret study by Goldman Sachs valued the franchise at between $800 million and $1.2 billion. The report came a day after Dan Rooney said he and his son, team president Art Rooney II, were attempting to buy out his four brothers in an effort to retain "substantial ownership of the team."
Financier Druckenmiller makes majority bid for Steelers....
By DREW SMITH
FOX 11 Sports
Is Brett Favre having a one-way conversation with Green Bay Packers management? A new report suggests general manager Ted Thompson isn't ready to talk with number four about a return to the field.
The Green Bay Packers have a decision coming soon, and though it hasn't hit yet, the Packers know it will.
So far, with Thompson on vacation, the team hasn't had to take any action on the growing Favre situation, and while Favre's text assuring us it is just rumor is his only communication, the Packers are just going with their last official stance: Favre is still retired.
Brett Favre Reportedly Trying to Communicate with Packers....
By Richard Sandomir
Dan Patrick, who left ESPN last year to create his own syndicated radio program and write a column for Sports Illustrated, will join NBC Sports where he will be reunited with Keith Olbermann to call the N.F.L. highlights on “Football Night in America.” NBC is scheduled to make the announcement at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Patrick and Olbermann Reunite on NBC....
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
With his family "tugging" on him to play, Brett Favre has an "itch" to come out of retirement and report to training camp with the Green Bay Packers later this month, according to sources close to the team and player.
Favre has communicated his potential desire to coach Mike McCarthy but talks have not advanced to a substantive stage, a Packers source said.
The source said the Packers would be reluctant to open the door for Favre because "Brett retired for the right reasons, even though I know his family is tugging on him [to play]."
Another source conceded Favre was "getting the itch" to play football in 2008.
However, Favre's agent downplayed the likelihood that the quarterback could un-retire or that he was prepared to report to camp July 28.
"As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different, that's what it is," James "Bus" Cook, Favre's agent, said.
Favre was unavailable for comment. A Packers spokesman said that McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson were on vacation.
Source: Favre has 'itch' to ditch retirement, report to camp....
