I have never been more upset with the Packers

[Bond]

Report: Packers offer Favre $20 million to stay home
By Greg A. Bedard
Wednesday, Jul 30 2008, 09:51 PM

Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers are so desperate to not have Brett Favre report to training camp that they reportedly offered him a substantial amount of money to stay home.

WTMJ-TV Channel 4 in Milwaukee, citing two sources, reported Wednesday that Packers president Mark Murphy at least floated the idea to Favre of paying him a package in the neighborhood of $20 million over 10 years to remain retired. Murphy met most of Wednesday with Favre and his agent, Bus Cook, in Hattiesburg, Miss.

A source subsequently confirmed that the Packers have discussed monetary compensation with Favre and Cook.

If WTMJ's report is true, it could potentially cripple the Packers in court of public opinion as it could be interpreted as a bribe to Favre, a player that has said he wants to continue his career.

Murphy arrived back in Green Bay at approximately 9 p.m. and did not stop to talk to reporters as he was driven from the airport. A few minutes later, the Packers released this statement from Murphy:

"I was in Hattiesburg today and had a nice visit with Brett Favre. We discussed a number of topics not related to football, including Brett’s long-term relationship with the Packers. I consider our conversation to be confidential and am going to be respectful of Brett and his family and keep the details private."

When asked if the Packers had a specific comment on WTMJ's report, Murphy's spokesman, Aaron Popkey, said no further comment would be coming from the Packers this evening.

Favre apparently didn't think much of the Packers' offer, as Cook told reporters that his client wished to return to the Packers.

"Right now he's interested in going back to the Green Bay Packers," Cook said.

"He would love to go back to Green Bay. That's why he started working out. But right now it looks like he'll be the quarterback at Oak Grove High School (where Favre has been working out)."
Peter Platten, a member of the Packers' executive committee, was asked about the WTMJ report.

"I will not make a comment on that," Platten said.

Asked who would, Platten said Murphy.

If the report is true, the executive committee, the group that brought Murphy to replace, would likely have a role to play in giving Murphy their backing on the offer.

Throughout the entire Favre soap opera, the committee has backed Murphy and General Manager Ted Thompson.

Other executive committee members could not be reached for comment.

Don Walker and Tom Silverstein contributed to this story.

Source: JSOnline

Is this a fucking joke?