It's official. After 16 years of uninterrupted service, Brett Favre is no longer a member of the Green Bay Packers. A deal was struck late Wednesday night that will send the future Hall of Famer to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick.

The NFL Network is reporting that the Jets will send a conditional fourth-round pick to the Packers for Favre, that in reality will most likely escalate to a second- or third-rounder. Here are the conditions of the deal:

Read more...

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Since we are getting so tired of hearing and writing about the Brett Favre/Green Bay Packers mess, we decided to take just a little time away from watching this slow-motion train wreck so we could get some other things cleaned up and spit shined around here for the upcoming season. So, to start with, we've dusted off About Football's power rankings and updated them for the upcoming season.

It should come as no surprise that the New England Patriots are at the top of our list despite losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, but you might be a little taken aback by where the reigning champs have landed in our rankings. Read more...

Remember that statement released Sunday on the Green Bay Packers' web site in which team president and CEO Mark Murphy said the club would welcome Brett Favre back and "turn this situation to our advantage?" Well you can forget it. It seems now, even though Favre has been returned to the active roster, that the two sides are as far apart as ever.

Favre met with head coach Mike McCarthy for 5 ½ hours Monday night, apparently to no avail. On Tuesday morning, Favre told ESPN's Chris Mortenson that he believed the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways."

Favre also displayed animosity toward the team in their attempts at keeping him from coming back:

"They tried to buy me off to stay retired," he told Mortenson. "So they can say they welcome me back but, come on, the way they've treated me tells you the truth. They don't want me back, so let's move on. I don't know where it's headed. We'll see."

So, if Favre is to be believed, welcoming him back is the last thing the Packers wanted to do. So why publish comments to the contrary?

I just wonder if there is anything else the Packers can do to fudge up this clusterfudge anymore than they already have.

Wasn't long ago it seemed there was no way we would ever see Brett Favre back on the Green Bay Packers' roster. But here we are. He was returned to the active roster Monday, and has apparently passed his physical. Presumably he will begin battling Aaron Rodgers for the starting job Tuesday. How long he remains on the roster, however, is anyone's guess as trade rumors continue to swirl.

These past few weeks have presented a rough stretch for the Packers. By now their front office and coaching staff probably wish they would have been involved in a less-turbulent situation like, you know, getting caught taping opponent's defensive signals or something.

While we're on the topic, don't you think the New England Patriots are lovin' them some Brett Favre right about now. Spygate, Schmygate. Nobody cares anymore. That's yesterday's news thanks to the controversy going on in Green Bay.

Bill Belichick owes Favre a big thank-you note!

Photo: Scott Halleran / Getty Images