GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Favre left Lambeau Field just before Green Bay practiced Tuesday afternoon, and coach Mike McCarthy said at a news conference that the three-time MVP isn't in the "proper mindset" to be part of the Packers.
McCarthy, speaking to reporters about the standoff over Favre's retirement after practice, said he and Favre had "a ton of conversations" over the last couple of days about the quarterback's desire to come back and play in the NFL, but McCarthy was not convinced that Favre wants to be part of the Packers.
"The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want. He needs to jump on the train and let's go. Or, if we can't get past things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving," McCarthy said.
McCarthy said that when he asked Favre whether he was committed to playing for Green Bay, "that's not where he was."
McCarthy said he and Favre made plans to speak later Tuesday evening, but McCarthy didn't seem to allow for the possibility that anything significant would change.
Favre seemed resigned to a future not as a Packer, telling ESPN's Chris Mortensen earlier Tuesday that he and the team believed the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways."
"We're at a stalemate," Favre told Mortensen. "Mike and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner [Roger Goodell] reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out.
"It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."
Favre said the team once again rejected his request to talk to teams about a trade within the NFC North -- preferably to the Minnesota Vikings or possibly the Chicago Bears.
The Packers have attempted to work out a trade outside the division, with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported as likely suitors, but to no avail. A source told Mortensen that Favre is receptive to talking to the Buccaneers, an NFC South team, about a possible trade there.
McCarthy wouldn't address trade talks, but did say a quick resolution to the situation is important to the rest of his players.
"Absolutely," McCarthy said. "The players, they want it resolved. Even talk to Brett about it -- he feels bad about it. It's time for them to talk about somebody else."
Favre is a part of the team's 80-man roster but is officially on the Packers' non-football injury list, which means he could be activated at any time.
Did Favre not feel wanted or welcome enough by the Packers?
"That's part of the issue with him, quite frankly," McCarthy said. "And listening to him talk about that, you respect his opinion. And frankly, I told him, I said, 'I'll take responsibility because I have a voice in the building.' I never thought he truly was going to play. I thought he was emotionally driven for other reasons."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3520925 (source)
