Goodell ready to reinstate Favre

MILWAUKEE — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is giving the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre at least one more day to resolve their standoff before granting the quarterback his reinstatement.

"The Packers and Brett Favre are continuing their discussions," the league said in a statement. "The commissioner preferred to let those discussions continue rather than act on the reinstatement petition today."

Once Favre is reinstated, the Packers will have 24 hours to decide whether to cut him or restore him to their active roster. By not acting Thursday, Goodell decreased the chances Favre would be present at Packers training camp today.

Favre also could be traded — apparently even to a division rival.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that Packers officials have had internal discussions about trading Favre to the Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears as a "last resort" to resolve the smoldering controversy.

As recently as Monday, there appeared to be no way the Packers would give Favre what they suspect he's wanted all along: A one-way ticket to Minnesota. Packers general manager Ted Thompson said earlier this week that he would not consider trading Favre to one of its NFC North division rivals.

But with Favre poised for reinstatement and potentially ready to show up in Green Bay on Friday to turn training camp into a circus, team officials might be willing to do just about anything. There were multiple reports Wednesday night that the team had offered to pay Favre up to $20 million to stay retired.

Thompson and other Packers officials did not immediately return telephone messages left by The Associated Press. The Packers did not have a public practice or media availability scheduled Thursday.

The team resumes practice Friday — and Favre might be back with them, unless something can be worked out soon.

Favre, who retired in March, filed a letter on Tuesday requesting reinstatement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The commissioner has waited to approve the request in hopes that Favre and the Packers could work out a resolution.

But that hasn't happened yet, even after team president and CEO Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi on Wednesday to meet with Favre and agent James "Bus" Cook.

Favre was not seen working out with players Thursday at Oak Grove High School, something he has been doing in recent weeks to stay in shape.