NFL | Kids continue Brett Favre questions

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers coach Mike McCarthy was grilled about rumors of a Brett Favre comeback Wednesday — not by the media, but by kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay.

Standing at a podium to announce a $100,000 donation to the club in conjunction with the team, McCarthy was asked by 11-year old Miranda Black of nearby Oconto Falls the biggest question in the state these days: "Um, is Brett Favre coming back?"

McCarthy politely punted.

"I want to know which one of those media individuals made you say that," McCarthy said, referring to reporters standing in the back of the room. "Those are things we'll obviously, we'll get to down the line. But great question."

But it didn't stop there, as other kids in the audience of about 75 shouted out questions about Favre, who retired in March but might be having second thoughts.

After McCarthy dodged a few more questions about Favre — Why did he quit? How old is he, anyway? — one child asked the coach if he would sign their T-shirts.

"Sure," he joked. "It's better than answering these questions."

If Favre really is feeling the "itch" to play again after retiring in March, as was reported by ESPN last week, do they welcome him back with open arms? Or is it time to move on with his designated successor, Aaron Rodgers — even if that leaves open the possibility of Favre playing for another team?

To date, McCarthy's answers to the kids Wednesday remain the only public comments from the coach or general manager Ted Thompson since the latest round of reports and rumors of a potential Favre comeback surfaced last week.

Tuesday night, Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said he does not believe Favre will return to the team.

"It's a very delicate situation, because he has such a special place in Packers history," the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Murphy said at a charity auction in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Notes

• Quarterback Trent Dilfer, who played the last of his 13 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers last year, said he'll make a formal announcement in the coming days that he is retiring from football. Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore and played for the Seahawks from 2001 to 2004, said a recent injury to his Achilles tendon helped make up his mind.

• New England running back Kevin Faulk pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana charges and received a year of probation.

• Three roof drains in Lucas Oil Stadium sprang leaks when thunderstorms hit Indianapolis, leading to water damage in a data center and other areas. But the damage shouldn't delay the Aug. 16 public opening.