http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/273921

Packers: McCarthy, Thompson OK with waiting on Favre
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- While they still don't have what they truly want from their
star quarterback -- a decision on whether he'll return for an 18th NFL
season -- Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike
McCarthy say they're OK with the fact Brett Favre still hasn't made up his
mind about playing in 2008.

Favre's annual return-or-retire decision was, predictably, the most
talked-about Packers-related topic at the NFL scouting combine Friday when
Thompson and McCarthy addressed reporters from throughout the league from
the media-room podium and also spoke with Wisconsin reporters afterward.

"Hopefully we're close (to a decision)," said McCarthy, who last spoke to
Favre Feb. 15. "We had a very good discussion last week. I know Ted talked
to him in the last couple days. I should talk to him here in the next day or
two."

McCarthy acknowledged on the surface, it seems like a no-brainer for Favre
to come back. At age 38, he had a turn-back-the-clock year, completing a
career-best 66.5 percent of his regular-season passes for 4,155 yards, 28
touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a 95.7 passer rating, his best since
1995.

"That really has nothing to do with it," said McCarthy, who said he talks to
Favre weekly. "He knows he still can play. He had a great time this year.
It's just the fact that he's played a lot of football, and he's had to fully
commit himself and his family year-in and year-out.

"If he doesn't think he's 100 percent in, he thinks it might be his time to
walk away."

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, was angry about media reports earlier this week
citing a source close to Favre that said Favre was unhappy Thompson had not
called him since the season ended. Thompson said he finally talked with
Favre Wednesday night and the GM and the quarterback are "fine."

"I just called to make sure he was doing fine, make sure he and I were OK,"
Thompson said. "And we are."

Cook said he and Favre "talk every day," but that he doesn't know how Favre
is leaning.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to him about (the decision) at all," Cook
said. "I've always made it a point not to. That's strictly his decision,
what he's doing to do. As well as he played this year, he could play next
year, maybe the year after that. His skill level is such that he could play
again at the level he wants to. But he's been there a long time."

McCarthy, Thompson and new president and CEO Mark Murphy all said they don't
think Favre's indecision significantly hurts the team, even though free
agency opens Thursday night at 11 p.m. Backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers is
in place to take over as the starter if Favre does retire, and the team has
$18 million in salary cap room after franchise-tagging defensive tackle
Corey Williams on Wednesday.

"It's Brett 's call. He -- more than probably anybody I've ever been
around -- has earned the right to be able to decide," Thompson said.

Added Murphy, who played eight NFL seasons as a safety with the Washington
Redskins: "There's probably a handful of players in the history of the NFL
who can determine when their career ends, and he's one of them. The reality
is, for every other player, myself included, your career ends before you
want it to. The club calls you in and says, 'It's time to move on.' He's
just done so much for the Packers and the NFL. We all want to make sure he
makes the right decision."

Asked if he lobbies Favre to come back, McCarthy replied, "I try not to, but
it's a different conversation for me. You talk to him as the head coach, but
you also talk to him as the play-caller on offense. Then you also try and
talk to him as a friend, someone (he's) known for a long time and knows
where he's at in his career."

Regardless, McCarthy said the Packers "absolutely" want Favre back for his
17th year as their starter. McCarthy said he and Thompson decided during the
bye week before the team's NFC divisional playoff victory over Seattle Jan.
12.

"Just like we do with every player, we sat down (and talked) about Brett,"
McCarthy said. "And we said, based on the evaluation, 'We still think you
can play and we'd like you to come back.' We've said that from Day 1."

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