Report: Favre says he won't go to camp — for now

MILWAUKEE — Brett Favre apparently won't be among the Packers showing up for the opening of Green Bay's training camp Sunday morning.

Favre told si.com that general manager Ted Thompson had asked him for "a couple of days" to resolve the situation.

"I agreed to do that," Favre told the site. "I don't want to be a distraction to the Packers, and I hope in the next few days we can come to an agreement that would allow me to continue playing football."

That agreement, presumably, would be a trade. The New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have emerged as two potential trade partners for the Packers, and Favre told si.com that he would consider a trade to any team.

Team officials weren't immediately available to confirm that Favre didn't show up to camp, where players were scheduled to attend meetings and take physicals after reporting at 7:30 a.m. CDT Sunday. Players, coaches and Thompson were not scheduled to meet with reporters until after the Packers' first practice Monday morning.

To report to camp, Favre first would have to file for reinstatement with the league and have his request approved by commissioner Roger Goodell, something that didn't happen Saturday. Then he'd have to pass a team physical.

In the si.com interview, conducted at his home in Mississippi, Favre said he has been speaking with Goodell and hopes the commissioner could be "some sort of arbitrator" in his impasse with the Packers.

The Packers were willing to take Favre back as recently as late March, several weeks after he retired. But after Favre led team officials to believe he was ready to return, only to change his mind once again and stay retired, the team made a firm commitment to moving forward.

Now, Packers officials have made it clear that Favre wouldn't be the starter if he returned. And they aren't willing to grant his request to be released because they fear he would sign with division rival Minnesota. Favre's rights belong to the Packers until his contract expires after the 2010 season.

Favre told si.com he was interviewed this week by an NFL official about tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings. Favre said he talked to Vikings coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell — which by itself wouldn't constitute tampering — but denied that either of them tried to entice him to come to the Vikings, as the Packers suspect.