GREEN BAY -- If you've read our Milwaukee Talks conversation with Aaron Rodgers, you know the Green Bay Packers' new starting quarterback enjoys the occasional "Law & Order" rerun.

Well, he and his teammates are about to find out that TNT isn't the only place that knows drama. Packers training camp is on the verge of a marathon episode of it.

What has to be the organization's nightmare scenario is one step closer to happening after retired-for-now quarterback Brett Favre faxed his reinstatement paperwork into the NFL offices in New York while practice was going on on Tuesday. The league later confirmed receiving it around 5 p.m. Eastern time.

"That's obviously the first step of Brett coming back," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice. "So we'll deal with that when he's reinstated and we'll definitely have a plan in order. We'll address everything as far as the details of how Brett Favre fits into our future plans when he arrives here in Green Bay.

"Brett Favre is still a very good football player. He's an asset to our football team. The plans for Brett Favre will be discussed with Brett Favre first and then we'll make it aware to the public.

"There are no ill feelings toward Brett Favre and he will be welcome back in our locker room."

Maybe not. A team source said late Tuesday night that the team had chartered a private jet to fly president Mark Murphy down to Hattiesburg, Miss., where he will meet with Favre and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, at Cook's office this morning in an effort to dissuade Favre from coming to Green Bay.

The flight departed Green Bay's Austin Straubel airport at 9:33 p.m. and arrived in Hattiesburg shortly before midnight.

When Favre filed his paperwork, the Packers released an official statement, which read simply, "We have been advised that a letter of reinstatement has been received by the league office. As with all matters like these, any questions should be referred to the Commissioner's office."

NFL spokesman Randall Liu said the league had not acted upon Favre's request as of close of business Tuesday, but commissioner Roger Goodell has already said he will grant Favre's reinstatement.

When Goodell officially reinstates Favre, presumably some time Wednesday, it would run on the league's daily transaction wire. That would then start the clock on the Packers' 24-hour window to release Favre, trade him or put him back on the 80-man roster.

"Aaron's the guy, then you've got a guy who used to be the guy," director of football operations Reggie McKenzie said. "So how are you going to handle that?"

The Packers practice at 8:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday but do not have practice on Thursday, one of McCarthy's designated "recovery" days on which the players have meetings and walk-throughs but no on-field practice time. Favre's first chance to get onto the field would presumably be Friday, when the team again practices in the morning and evening.

However, when he arrives, Favre will be put through a physical and then the running test the players went through last Sunday. That, in theory, would keep him off the field another day and buy the team more time to strike a deal with one of the two non-NFC North teams most interested in Favre -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets -- or another club.

"He'll come in and go through a physical and then he'll be evaluated," McCarthy said. "He'll have a running test to see where is conditioning is and we'll evaluate that, then we'll have a practice plan."

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by gc67 on July 30, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (report)

Jason - great comments and an awesome picture...think i'll use that for my wallpaper now! Go ARodg!

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