By Chris Jenkins
Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. ó Brett Favreís decision to file for reinstatement will force the Green Bay Packers to do one of three things: release him, trade him, or allow him to report to camp.
If he reports, it potentially could cause a major distraction for a team that committed to moving on after he retired in March.
NFL spokesman Randall Liu confirmed that Favre sent his reinstatement paperwork to the NFL offices Tuesday. He now is awaiting approval from commissioner Roger Goodell, a step that is considered a formality, but wouldnít be forthcoming until today at the earliest.
Once Favre is reinstated, the Packers will have 24 hours to decide what to do with him.
iThatís obviously the first step in Brett coming back, so weíll deal with that when he is reinstated and weíll definitely have a plan in order,î Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Tuesday afternoon.
ESPN first reported that Favre faxed the letter earlier Tuesday.
If Goodell reinstates Favre today, his return to the practice field for the Packers could come Friday. The Packers practice twice Wednesday but can wait a day to put Favre back on their active roster. The team does not have a scheduled public practice Thursday.
Throughout Favreís latest round of flip-flopping on his football future, Packers officials have said that Favre had the option of rejoining the team ó but Aaron Rodgers would be the starter.
iBrett Favre is still a very good football player,î McCarthy said Tuesday. iHe is an asset to our football team. Once again, Iím going to answer this question for the last time. The plan for Brett Favre will be discussed with Brett Favre first, and then weíll make it aware to the public.î
McCarthy also said Rodgers will start all of the preseason games and probably get more playing time than Favre used to in the preseason.
iHeíll be starting all of the games as the starter,î McCarthy said of Rodgers. iWeíve talked about possibly playing our first group maybe a little longer, and those are things that weíll discuss. The health of your football team obviously factors into that, so that is our plan going into the preseason with Aaron.î
Rodgers insisted he isnít bothered by the potential of having Favre lurking over his shoulder.