Favre retirement talk always talk of the town

Retirement talk surrounding Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre just never dies and probably won't until long after he officially announces that he's permanently taking up residence near Kiln, Miss.

It became a major topic again when sports writer and family friend Al Jones broached the subject in an article before the Packers playoff opener against Seattle. And it resurfaced during his postgame press conference after the Packers season-ending loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

Much of the hullabaloo is Favre's doing. He has learned to play the media like a fine-tuned fiddle and knows that deadline-driven sports writers salivate to break the story either way. If he would just lay down the law and tell reporters and networks, "No mas." In other words, no interviews unless they agree not to bring up the subject. And he needs to stick to that mantra, which means not even the Biloxi Sun-Herald gets copy until he actually makes a decision. Maybe, just maybe, people would shut up.

He has a right to take as much time as he wants to make a decision, although the longer he waits the more of a bind it puts the Packers in, even if GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy say it doesn't affect how they approach their offseason plans.

Not knowing whether a future Hall of Fame quarterback is going to be behind center is a big deal, and the sooner they know either way, the sooner they can move forward with whatever plan they have.

If he comes back, that obviously means the team can address other needs/wants first. If he retires, then Aaron Rodgers is the heir apparent. But it also means the Packers must rethink their strategy concerning a backup signal caller and might change their approach in free agency (and what free agents think about coming to Titletown) and/or the draft in that it may making obtaining alternatives or extra depth along the offensive line more of a priority than say another area of the team. It also may force them to become more of a running team, at least early on until they know what they have with Rodgers and how the offense operates.

I agree with their philosophy of drafting the best available player rather than reaching for a so-called need position, but if your situation at quarterback changes, it has a domino effect on the rest of your team, whether you say so publicly or not.

I am a big fan of Rodgers. He's handled the situation as good or better than most others in his unenviable position as Favre's successor. He proved in the Dallas game that he has the physical tools, when healthy, to get the job done. I especially like the fact he can run, something Favre seldom has done, which often helps an offense convert third downs and move the chains, something that in turn helps in field position and gives the defense more rest.

However, here's hoping that Favre comes back for one more season and a final push for a Super Bowl ring with a still young squad that grew up considerably while experiencing big-game situations and a playoff atmosphere, although next year's schedule will be tougher with the AFC South on the slate.

My gut tells me that Favre will be back and that he'll declare his intentions by Feb. 20, but let's say I won't be surprised if he hangs up his cleats. Either way, it'll be a circus that Barnum & Bailey would be proud of.