In a statement released Sunday on the Packers' web site, president and CEO Mark Murphy said the team would welcome Favre back and "turn this situation to our advantage." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Packers have also agreed to let Favre compete with Rodgers for the starting job (which is what they should have done all along and avoided this PR nightmare in the process).
If it's true that the Packers are going to welcome Favre back, it's a 180 degree turnaround from what they have been saying all along.
Then again, the Packers may have no intention at all of keeping him on their roster. This could just be their way of creating some leverage in trade discussions. At this point, with as many twists and turns as their have been in this whole situation, it wouldn't surprise me if Favre is wearing a different uniform come the opening week of the regular season. There certainly seemed to be a little animosity displayed toward Favre in Murphy's statement as Murphy eluded more than once to how Favre's indecision had screwed up the Packers' long-term plans.
If the Packers, however, have truly decided to accept Favre back onto the team, it's bad news for Rodgers, who I can't imagine beating out Favre in a legitimate open competition. And if by some chance Rodgers does manage to win the starting job, he'll have a legend waiting in the wings, constantly looking over his shoulder. Drawing chants from the fans every time a snap is bobbled on third-and-short or an interception is thrown in the red zone.
Either way this is a no-win situation for Rodgers... unless he sets the league on fire.
