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Favre Ponders Joining Bucs

The Associated Press

Favre, who turns 39 in October, is the NFL's all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune
and IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

Updated: 08/06/2008 12:33 am

LAKE BUENA VISTA - His feelings seemingly too hurt to return to the Green Bay Packers, iconic quarterback Brett Favre was close to finalizing an agreement Tuesday that could make him a Buccaneer as soon as today.

A deal between the two teams was nearing completion after Favre had substantive talks with the Bucs, a source close to the negotiations said.

Favre previously rejected opportunities to talk to the Bucs, but when a series of lengthy meetings with Packers officials failed to result in a resolution to his saga, Favre was left with few other options.

"The problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it," Favre told ESPN.

The sports network reported late Tuesday that Favre was also considering talking to the New York Jets about a possible trade and was even being urged by family members to choose New York over Tampa as a landing spot.

The Bucs, though, remained at the heart of the hottest rumors, in part because the Bucs have maintained regular contact with the Packers regarding Favre's status.

The two sides have reportedly discussed trade parameters, but the Packers' asking price could still be a sticking point, the source said.

Fueling the rumors of an increased interest by the Bucs on Tuesday were Bucs general manager Bruce Allen's absence from training camp workouts and quarterback Brian Griese's absence from the team's afternoon workout.

Allen was said by Bucs spokesman Jeff Kamis to be away on a previously scheduled appointment that will also keep him away from the Bucs morning workout today. Griese, whom some speculated is part of a trade package, was given Tuesday afternoon's workout off, Kamis said.

Also fueling speculation was the Bucs continued refusal to quell the Favre-to-Tampa rumors. Coach Jon Gruden even went so far as to say early last week that a proclamation of that nature would be "unfair to Brett Favre."

Favre, who turns 39 in October, is the NFL's all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback, touchdown passes and passing yardage. He is considered to be a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer who would become the crown jewel in Gruden's quarterback collection.

The deal would reunite Gruden and Favre, who worked together in Green Bay in 1992-93 when Gruden was a receivers coach on then-Packers coach Mike Homgren's staff. When the Packers acquired Favre in a trade from Atlanta, Gruden picked Favre up at the airport.

Favre remains one of the sturdiest quarterbacks in NFL history. He has started an NFL-record 253 consecutive games spanning 16 seasons.

The Bucs might consider that an upgrade from 38-year-old starter Jeff Garcia, who missed games last season because of a back injury and is not expected to play in the preseason opener at Miami on Saturday because of a strained right calf muscle.

Favre, who was reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last weekend, was backed into the corner in which he sat Tuesday by the Packers, who have refused to meet his demand for a release or a trade within the NFC North division to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers have also made it clear to Favre they have no intention of allowing him to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting quarterback job that he held until he retired in March.

Favre could have changed the Packers mind on that front but during meetings with Packers coach Mike McCarthy made it clear he was not currently committed to giving the Packers his all.

"His feeling was that, based on where he is, he wasn't in the right mind-set to play here," McCarthy said during a Tuesday news conference. "That's where we concluded his conversation - that he's not in the right mind-set to play here."

If the Bucs acquire Favre, according to an NFL source, the team likely would keep Jeff Garcia as a backup to Favre, whose $12 million contract is making it impossible for most teams to even consider trading for him. The Bucs are one of the few teams with enough available salary cap space to take on Favre's contract, though the team could seek to rework that deal before agreeing to trade for Favre.

Favre has spent all but the first of his 17 years in the NFL with Green Bay. He said he felt pressured into retirement by the Packers.

Favre says he still wants to play but has been picky about where. The Packers don't want to trade him to a division rival or release him because of the likelihood Favre would sign with the Vikings. Minnesota opens the season Sept. 8 at Green Bay on "Monday Night Football."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or at rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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