Favre has no interest in Bucs or Jets - resolution by Tuesday?

Brett Favre has spoken to ESPN's Chris Mortensen regarding his protracted standoff with the Packers, and revealed that not only does he want the impassé to end soon, but that neither the Jets or Buccaneers are his preffered destinations in any trade.

"I said, 'Let me compete, you'll know I'll win this job' and Ted (Thompson, General Manager) said again, 'Brett, things have changed. Aaron Rodgers is our quarterback.' It's pretty clear - and this is what I told the commissioner - that they want me to go away, stay retired. They would much rather see me in a Packers' uniform, paying me $12 million to be a backup -- which you know they really don't want -- rather than see me in another uniform, no matter what they say. They'll drag this out, asking a king's ransom (in a trade), hoping it all goes away."

- Brett Favre

Favre seems to have hardened his stance with the Packers, indicating also later in the interview that this coming Tuesday will be the deadline for the team to have worked out a solution to the situation. If nothing is worked out, he intends to go into camp and, by the sounds of it, make life very difficult for Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy. Just yesterday, McCarthy spoke of the desire to protect the strained relationship between Favre and the Packers.

Later in the interview, Favre explained that when Thompson asked if he would be open to a trade, that he replied "Yeah - just not to the teams you want me to go to". Both the Bucs and Jets have permission to speak to Favre. It is believed that the Vikings are his preference, but as he acknowledges, "The Packers aren't going to let that happen."

Devin Hester is ridiculous

The Bears have confirmed today that Devin Hester, the Returner-cum-Receiver responsible for roughly all of Chicago's non-offensive scoring (so roughly all of Chicago's scoring full stop then...) last season, has got his contract.

Hester held out of Training Camp for all of a day in protest at his base salary of just $445,000 in the upcoming season, but he has 30m reasons to be happy now, after signing a new four year deal with $15m in guarantees.

Hester's value was difficult to determine, and initial reports from ESPN indicate that the Bears have wisely got the deal done while Hester has little leverage as a Wide Receiver. If he achieves a certain level of production at the position, he will be rewarded, but the team has largely avoided paying an exorbitant amount for someone who is unproven as a receiver. Also according to ESPN, Hester will be due a whopping $10m roster bonus in 2012 (the final year of the deal) if he meets certain performance-based criteria.

As we say, if Hester has a good year as the no.1 receiver this year, the Bears will consider the contract a steal. If not, they haven't lost, as his value as a pure returner is probably in line with the basic salaries over the life of the deal.

The contract is the final piece of a puzzle that the Bears have managed to successfully complete in the last few years, and ties up almost every indespensible player on the team for the next 5 years.

Sunday Morning Update

New England, MA:

Remember what we said about LaMont Jordan, and that he'd be signed by the end of the month? Well the Patriots picked him up last night in a move that solidifies their backfield, likely resulting in Jordan taking over from Kevin Faulk as the Pats 3rd down specialist, and Laurence Maroney's backup.

Sammy Morris figures to have a battle on his hands with Faulk to maintain the 3rd spot on the depth chart, particularly with Faulk's good form last season.

Green Bay, WI:

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy has broken the Packs' silence regarding their QB issues - He's standing by their 2005 1st round pick Aaron Rogers, meaning that either Favre will be the greatest backup in history, surpassing Steve Young at the 9ers, or will be traded to the Jets or Buccaneers.

St Louis, MI:

The Rams are calling star running back Steven Jackson's bluff - they are refusing to negotiate a new deal with him until he turns up to training camp - whilst both sides figure to be in a strong position (The Rams can allow Jackson to rack up the $15k a day fines whilst seeing if Antonio Pittman is up to the job, then apply a franchise tag in 09) whilst Jackson knows he's arguably the key to a Rams bounce-back from a disastrous 2007, particularly as Pittman is for the main untried in the Rams offence.