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Peter King of Sports Illustrated (and HBO and NBC) seems to have a good relationship with Brett Favre, and King says that he expects Favre will try to play this year.

“He has told coach Mike McCarthy he wants to return,” King says. “I fully expect Favre's agent to send a letter to the Packers within the next 10 days, stating that Favre, 38, wants to be taken off the National Football League's reserve/retired list.”

If Favre decides to return, that will create an awkward situation for the Packers. They would prefer to go with Aaron Rodgers. And if they decide to release or trade Favre, the landing spots that make the most sense for him are both inside the NFC North – Minnesota and Chicago. Nobody in Green Bay wants to see Favre suit up for either one of those teams.

I think the Packers should make their decision based on where they think Rodgers is. If they truly believe that Rodgers is a capable replacement – and he looked very good at Dallas last year – I believe they should trade Favre (even if it means handing him over to Minnesota or Chicago). That’s less than ideal, of course, but at least it would result in Green Bay collecting some compensation in the draft. Maybe they get a first-round pick – that holds value, doesn’t it? Maybe they could trade Favre for a second-rounder that upgrades to a first if his team makes the playoffs.

To me, a big factor in Green Bay’s decision is Rodgers’ durability – or lack of it. He runs a lot more often than Favre and tends to hang onto the ball, so I’m not sure he can stay healthy. If the Packers don’t think Rodgers can last 16 games, then it makes sense for them to bring Favre back.

To read King’s weekly column click here.

—Ian Allan

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