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John Clayton updates Brett Favre's situation in light of his first public comments since it became known he wants the Packers to release him.

	Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
	Brett Favre was asked to name potential trade destinations.

MILWAUKEE -- Buried in Monday's news story on Brett Favre's interview with Fox News was this important nugget: According to interviewer Greta Van Susteren, the Packers asked Favre to submit a list of teams to whom he would accept a trade.

A trade is and has been the only way out of this box, assuming Favre doesn't just forget the whole idea of playing and go back into retirement.

The Packers already are on record saying that Aaron Rodgers remains their starting quarterback. Favre told Van Susteren that he will only return as the starter -- the unquestioned variety, we assume. The Packers have thus far refused to release Favre unconditionally, but Monday's news suggests the Packers are open to -- and perhaps seeking to make -- a trade.

Even a trade would have its own hurdles, however, because most of the logical targets are teams the Packers will either play this season or at least compete with for a playoff spot. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears are all direct competitors with the Packers. Would Packers general manager Ted Thompson be willing to ship Favre to an NFC team? Not if there is another option.

Unfortunately, Thompson might not have many other options. Finding an AFC trade partner would be the Packers' safest bet, but who will it be? Baltimore? There have been no public or private suggestions that the Ravens, or Favre, are interested. Miami? Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' executive vice president, loves veteran quarterbacks. But would Favre be interested in going to a team that finished 1-15 last season?

According to Monday's report, Favre wants to be on a competitive club. The upshot? This saga is like reading a long, somewhat tedious book. You're 200 pages in and a little worn out, but as you thumb through the remaining pages you realize you've still got another 350 to go. Maybe things will speed up, but at this point the end does not seem near.

HERE AND THERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN -- A bright, blue sky hung high Monday over the town of Menomonie, on the western side of Wisconsin. The sky had very definitely not fallen, we can report to you with first-hand knowledge. (Trust us, we saw it.)

Down the road in Mauston, a lunchtime crowd of Wisconsinites -- and a few itinerants -- chowed down at the local Culver's. They smiled while ingesting butter burgers (a Wisconsin treat!), custard and the new mango-flavored smoothie. There was no audible bawling.

A few minutes away, the regionally-famous Wisconsin Dells remained open for business. Children rode water slides that were mysteriously similar to the ones back home, but somehow more fun.

We zigzagged the Badger state, looking for tangible evidence that Favregate '08 had engulfed the region. From the best we could tell on our (very) quick tour, life is moving quite normally here.

It's never fair to paint a populace with a broad brush, and so it's more than fair to say that most of the citizens of Wisconsin are minimally affected by the standoff between the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Brett Favre. What seems clear, though, is that the team's segment of zealot fans have mobilized in an unprecedented way to force a resolution.

About 200 people showed up Sunday for a Lambeau Field rally, and we have ended our trek this afternoon in Milwaukee to check out another rally. Erick Rolfson, one of two brothers organizing the events, has not given up hope that Favre will return as the team's starter. Rolfson believes the team -- which is owned by individual shareholders -- has an obligation to listen.

"The fans and shareholders of this team have a right to be heard," Rolfson said Monday morning. He and his brother, Adam, started a web site Saturday (bringbackbrettfavre.com) that received more than 100,000 hits in its first 48 hours. Another site, savebrett.net has created an online petition to force the Packers into taking Favre back.

Of course, the Favre-is-God-sect has also drawn the We've-Had-Enough-Already contingent out from hiding. In previous years, it has been rare that a cross word was mentioned in the same sentence with "Brett" or "Favre." But we heard caller after caller hammer Favre during the afternoon radio show of Homer, who bills himself as the host of the "world's greatest sports talk show," on ESPN 540. One caller rather impolitely suggested Favre undergo counseling for his inability to make a decision.

We're hoping to see and hear both sides of the story at the Milwaukee rally, and we'll be back with you soon to give you a feel for what transpires.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Henry

Time will tell if the Cincinnati Bengals made the right move in cutting wide receiver Chris Henry.

Following Monday's news of Henry's assault charge being dropped, his April release before the legal system ran its course could be viewed as premature. The incident led to his fifth arrest, which resulted in a swift termination by a Cincinnati team desperate to improve its image.

In all fairness, the Bengals were patient during Henry's previous four arrests since 2005. The fifth arrest told the team that, at the very least, Henry continues to put himself in precarious situations.

But what happens if Henry learns from his mistakes from this point forward? What if, after his suspension likely is lifted by the NFL, Henry finally "gets it" in what could be his final opportunity?

Coaches and former teammates often say if Henry's maturity ever catches up to his ability, he could become a quality NFL receiver. If that indeed happens the Bengals, who could be without starting receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2009, would turn out to be the biggest losers.

In the Sunday Conversation, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo talks about everything from Brett Favre, the last two playoff loses to T.O. crying.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Here is your one-stop shopping for the best stories around the AFC North:

• Over the weekend, Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that four weeks have passed since former Browns center LeCharles Bentley asked for his release and he has yet to find a new team.

Walker's take: This is an odd time to find work as front offices spend most of July on vacation and negotiating rookie contracts. Bentley will get a look somewhere, even if it's not at the start of training camp.

• Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times says the Baltimore Ravens' special-teams units could be special this year.

Walker's take: Two years ago, Ravens rookie head coach John Harbaugh and new assistant Jerry Rosburg may have been the top special teams coaches in the NFL. Now those two minds are together in Baltimore.

• Albert Breer of SportingNews.com ranks the Ravens as the third-best destination for Brett Favre in the event he leaves the Green Bay Packers. The Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

Walker's take: I am in total agreement. See for yourself.

• Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe did a profile on Donte' Stallworth's move from the New England Patriots to the Cleveland Browns. In the article Stallworth says, "I've been kind of joking with Randy [Moss] and some of the guys that the road to the Super Bowl goes through Cleveland."

Walker's take: Has the road to the Super Bowl ever gone through Cleveland? The last time the Browns won a football championship was in 1964, before the NFL/AFL merger.

The best of the NFC North this morning:

• Would Brett Favre's legacy be tarnished if he plays past his athletic prime? Or if he leaves the Packers to play with another team? For what it's worth, the Green Bay Post-Gazette notes that legendary quarterback Bart Starr remains an "icon" despite a nine-year stint as the team's head coach that was not nearly as successful as his playing career.
• We're not sure how this would be accepted in the scientific polling community. But on Sunday, a Chicago company called every name listed in the Green Bay phone book -- about 50,000 -- to ask their opinion about Favre. About 21,000 people picked up the phone and just under 10,000 people participated. Here are the (surprising) results: While 74 percent said the Packers should keep his rights, only 33 percent said he should be the starting quarterback.
• On the day Favre retired, Vikings safety Darren Sharper -- a former Favre teammate in Green Bay -- predicted that Favre wasn't finished playing. Sharper said over the weekend that he wasn't surprised to hear Favre's intentions but that he backs Tarvaris Jackson as the Vikings' starter.
• Sharper, 32, claims he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds during offseason workouts.
• Minnesota's Brad Childress wasn't the only NFC North coach facing Favre questions this weekend. Detroit's Rod Marinelli also had little to say on the subject when contacted by the Detroit News.

The latest chapter of the Brett Favre saga played out all day Saturday, but there are some more details for you this morning. Here is a glance:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel breaks down the Packers' offseason in a Favre timeline. Incredible detail here.
• One aspect of general manager Ted Thompson's message Saturday hasn't gotten the attention it probably deserves: Favre has never, according to Thompson, told the Packers he wants to play for them in 2008. Based on this account in the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Favre has only asked if the team wants him back. Might be semantics, but the difference seems to be Favre expressing a desire to come back and Favre asking the Packers to ask him back.
• This took longer than expected. Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press suggests Favre should play somewhere in 2008 so he can find new ways to beat the Lions. "In the interest of science," Rosenberg writes.
• The Packers dealt not only with Favre yesterday, but also the news that defensive lineman Johnny Jolly faces felony drug possession charges in Houston. The Packers have been counting on Jolly to provide a lot of playing time in 2008.
  

Many of the game's great signal callers, including Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway, feel for Aaron Rodgers.

As the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre get deeper if their game of chicken, Rodgers has become a sympathetic figure. As Favre and the Packers wait each other out, Rodgers sits in the middle of a huge firestorm.

Of course, this weekend Rodgers is relaxing at a celebrity golf tournament near Lake Tahoe. Many of his quarterback brethren are with him and from reading these quotes, it appears he has their full support.

The indications from the quotes from the other QBs at the tournament is that many feel like Favre is putting Rodgers and the Packers in a tough spot. Elway, who retired after just two straight Super Bowl wins, admitted it was tough to leave the game but he believes Favre needs to make a decision.

When Elway retired in 1999, that was it. There were never any stories of his possible return. The Broncos were able to move on, but Rodgers and the Packers are not moving along as quietly.

While conducting a series of interviews Saturday in Green Bay, Packers general manager Ted Thompson confirmed a previously-reported scenario that sheds more light on the wild offseason ride the team has had with quarterback Brett Favre.

Several weeks after announcing his retirement, Favre sent word in late March that he was having second thoughts, Thompson told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy sent word back to Favre that he would be welcomed back and made plans to travel to Mississippi to discuss it further at Favre's home.

Favre cancelled that meeting, however, and said he had decided to remain retired. The Packers moved on to Aaron Rodgers at that point, and now are unwilling to bring Favre back as their starter.

Thompson has been taking an incredible amount of heat for his role in Favre's retirement and the events thereafter. It's clear he has had enough. He has called the issue "gut-wrenching" in several interviews and seems to be personally affected by how the Favre situation has turned a normally serene organization upside down.

"It doesn't bother me when people think we picked the wrong guy or we made a personnel decision that wasn't right," Thompson told the Journal Sentinel. "But when it goes to something as core-value as this, it concerns me that there would be people who would think less of us. That's important to me. It always has been."

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Congratulations to the Cleveland Browns. There is a new leader in the clubhouse.

Just when everyone thought the Browns had the most difficult quarterback situation entering the 2008 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers jumped into the top spot this weekend and took a commanding lead.

The Derek Anderson-Brady Quinn debate has been going strong for almost a year in Cleveland. The Browns have done a good job of managing the egos of two talented quarterbacks under the age of 25, but everyone knows the team will have to choose one of the two quarterbacks after this season.

But somewhere this weekend, Browns general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel have to be saying, "Boy, we have it easy compared to Green Bay."

The latest reports are that Brett Favre will be welcomed to the team only as a backup for the Packers. He's coming off one of the best seasons of his career after leading Green Bay to the NFC championship game in 2007.

To put it mildly, this won't be pretty.

How many teams have a backup quarterback that is not only better, but head-and-shoulders better than the starter?

Can Aaron Rodgers really replace a legend if the legend is looking over his shoulder at every turn? If Rodgers loses the season opener, fans and perhaps players will be asking the coaching staff to start the better quarterback.

If this is the Packers' best plan, they need to call an audible. Pronto!

You either play Favre in Green Bay or let him play somewhere else. There should be no compromise from these two options.

The Browns will have to make a similar decision next season by choosing either Anderson or Quinn. But 2009 probably feels a long way away for Cleveland compared to what the Packers are going through right now.

Chris Mortensen shares his thoughts on the Packers' decision to not grant Brett Favre his release.

The Green Bay Packers have drawn their line in the sand with quarterback Brett Favre. By telling the Associated Press this morning that Favre could return to their team only as a backup, they have crystallized what has grown increasingly clear this week: Favre will never wear a Packers jersey again.

It goes without saying that Favre wouldn't accept a backup role to Aaron Rodgers or anyone else. If that were his only option, he would stay retired.

Favre's only chance of playing in 2008 is through a Packers-approved trade to another team. Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy have committed to Rodgers, and they don't want a smidgeon of public -- or private -- discussion about whether they were wavering on their starting quarterback for this season.

The Packers are so intent on demonstrating that commitment that they have arranged a series of local and national interviews today to state their side of the situation. There has been some discussion that the Packers would ultimately allow Favre to play another season if he pressed the issue. But if it wasn't clear before, it's now obvious: The Packers have moved on from the Brett Favre Era.

UPDATE: Thompson told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the Packers have not told Favre he would be a backup. "We don't know what that role would be," Thompson said.

The best of the NFC North this morning is all Brett Favre-related. Funny.

The race is on to identify which team, if any, Favre will play in 2008. Carolina and Miami are the two most likely candidates, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. One of the big reasons the Packers don't want to unconditionally release Favre is they are convinced the Minnesota Vikings will make a run at him. And Peter King of Sports Illustrated thinks Favre wants to play for the Vikings.

Add the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the list of potential suitors, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Post-Gazette. Longtime Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud writes that Favre to Tampa Bay is a reasonable scenario: "Would [coach Jon] Gruden and the Bucs be willing to chuck their offseason preparation with [Jeff] Garcia and move Favre under center? Absolutely."

At least two Vikings players say they're comfortable with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson even if Favre is available, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. (The team's decision-makers weren't available for comment, but it's a moot point anyway. The Packers are determined to keep Favre away from Minnesota.)

One fan plans to start a "grass-roots" campaign to pressure the Packers into taking Favre back. Remember, the Packers are owned by shareholders. Curly's Pub in the Lambeau Field atrium fell silent after ESPN's Chris Mortensen broke the story, according to the Post-Gazette. Another fan called the news "like a death in the family almost."

A few hours away in Madison, this fan aptly summarized the feelings of many Packers supporters: "I feel pretty frustrated and conflicted about the whole thing."

kevinseifert.espn@gmail.com

	Jamie Squire/Getty Images
	Brett Favre is finding it hard to walk away from the game.

Al Jones is required reading when it comes to retired Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Jones is a longtime sportswriter at the Biloxi Sun Herald and has been close to Favre since the latter's high school playing days. The two speak often and it's fair to say they share many of the same views.

We can't tell you for sure if that's the case in this instance. But it's worth noting that Jones strongly rebuked Packers general manager Ted Thompson in a column appearing Friday on the newspaper's Web site. Jones holds Thompson responsible for the now-public split between Favre and the team, writing that Thompson did nothing to talk Favre out of retirement.

"Sounds like an ego problem to me," Jones wrote.

Jones also chastised Thompson for reportedly telling Favre via text message that he was on vacation last week and would speak with him later. "Thompson's response of being on vacation got the best of Brett. All Brett wanted was an indication that he'd be welcomed back."

Instead, Favre's request to play elsewhere in 2008 "falls on the shoulders" of Thompson," Jones wrote.