The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that Favre manipulated his way off the Packers with his fake (but seemingly real...tears included) retirement in 2008. Heck, by reports, the Packers even gave him some space, but kept checking back with him to see if he might reconsider because they knew he could still play, given what he did in 2007.

I think Brett wanted out of Green Bay because he saw the writing on the wall with Rodgers having sat on the bench for 3 years and Green Bay having spent a first round pick on him. So, the fake retirement happens, Packer brass keep checking with him into the summer of '08 to see if he changes his mind, and he maintains he's retired. At some point, the Packer brass decides to move on with Rodgers. Favre's got them right where he wants them. Now he can try and come back and test their loyalty, knowing that they likely want to see what they have in Rodgers instead handing the reigns back to Favre. Wouldn't that have been a Shermanesque move if TT/MM said, sure Brett, here's your job back? If Green Bay had done that, Rodgers likely is not a Packer today, so the move would have been short-sighted and sentimental, and not a sound one, even though Favre gave a lot to the Packers (and the Packers gave a lot to Favre). Brett walks back in likely knowing the Packers were in a tough spot and he was going to get moved. Brett gets his wish, so he can keep playing elsewhere. He looks like the victim who just wanted to keep playing football, and the Packers are the bad guy for getting rid of an icon. He has his freedom, and just has to spend a year with the Jets to pay his dues, and then he's truly a free man. How's that for a conspiracy theory?