For spite’s sake, what is he doing?

There’s a brilliant exchange from a “Seinfeld” episode in which Jerry tries to return a sport jacket at the shop where a sniffy salesman from England, a potential love interest of Seinfeld’s friend Elaine, happens to work.

Jerry goes to the back of the store and explains, “Excuse me, I’d like to return this jacket.”

“Certainly. May I ask why?” replies the dude handling the returns.

“For spite … I don’t care for the salesman that sold it to me,” Seinfeld says.

For spite.

For appearance’s sakes, at least, that seems to be the driving force behind Brett Favre’s latest comeback story.

The former Green Bay Packers legend got his release from the New York Jets, and now he wants to stick it to the Packers by playing for their NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

Last year’s media circus, which was rivaled only by the A-Rod/Madonna mess and the paparazzi’s pursuit of Angelina Jolie/Britney Spears/Diva to be Named Later, could pale in comparison to Favre playing in the Twin Cities.

Favre, forever the master of mixed signals, created some of the confusion himself when the Jets released him, ostensibly so he could retire as a member of the Packers.

“At this time,” Favre said, “I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

At this time.

At this time, Vikings coach Brad Childress isn’t disputing reports that Favre is on the comeback trail with his team. At this time, no one is going to confuse Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels with Vikings legend Fran Tarkenton. At this time, 38-year-old Gus Frerotte is a likable journeyman, not an NFL icon from Hancock County, Miss., headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

At this time, Favre’s “not sure where (ESPN’s Ed Werder) got that (story),” a non-denial denial if there ever was one.

I had no problem with Favre’s comeback last year, after he had taken the Packers to the NFC championship game the previous season. It was clear he wanted to play. The Packers had already moved on. The Jets gave him a chance.

After the Jets’ 8-3 start, including some impressive victories over eventual playoff teams, it looked like a wise decision.

Then the Jets crashed and burned, as the Jets are wont to do. Favre, with his injured bicep, played like an aging quarterback who hit the wall.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting Favre’s only motivation in playing for the Vikings is sticking it to the Packers. He’d get to face them twice, the first time on “Monday Night Football” in Minneapolis. Jim Souhan, a columnist for the Star Tribune in the Twin Cities, offered these sweeping analogies:

“Favre is the supermodel who maxes out your credit cards. He is the sports car that wipes out your bank account. He is enticing, and he is captivating, and he is trouble.”

Or, as Seinfeld discovered when the bossman arrived:

“You said spite … too late.”

In Favre’s case, it’s hard to tell where perception ends and reality begins.