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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Packers gauging interest

Favre (Mark Hoffman / The Spokesman-Review)
By Tom Silverstein Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Brett Favre drama has officially moved to the next stage and the floor is open to anyone who would like to make a bid for the retired quarterback.

But there is reason to believe the Green Bay Packers aren’t 100 percent serious about trading Favre and are simply acquiescing to the desire of Favre and the National Football League to offer an avenue for him to play again.

According to ESPN.com, Commissioner Roger Goodell has been in contact with general manager Ted Thompson several times and has urged him to find out if there are teams interested in making a trade that would suit both sides’ desires.

An NFL spokesman refused to confirm that Goodell had spoken to Thompson, saying only that “the commissioner has conversations with teams on a regular basis.”

Thompson did not return a phone message seeking comment.

A well-connected NFL source said that he was told by one club that the Packers were basically told to contact “everybody” to see if there is interest. In other words, Goodell wants the Packers to either find a trading partner or exhaust all possibilities, thereby making it clear to Favre what to do.

The Packers have contacted almost every team in the league with the exception of rival NFC North clubs and teams with established quarterbacks such as Indianapolis, New England and Dallas to gauge interest.