NFL | Brett Favre gives details on why he wants release

MILWAUKEE — Brett Favre wanted to clear the air Monday in his increasingly bitter standoff with the Green Bay Packers.

He ended up kicking up a cloud of dust.

Whether Favre provided some clarity in an interview with Fox News Network's Greta Van Susteren remains a matter of debate.

What is clear is that Favre, in a carefully orchestrated chat with Van Susteren, a Wisconsin native and Packers shareholder, detailed anger and frustration with both the franchise and specifically general manager Ted Thompson over his future and his past.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obtained a transcript of the entire interview, which included comments that were not aired. In a last-minute decision, the network decided to broadcast the interview in two parts; the second part is scheduled to be broadcast tonight on Van Susteren's "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren."

In the transcript, Favre expressed frustration with three incidents in the recent Packers past involving Thompson.

In one instance, Favre told Van Susteren that "I worked my butt off two years ago to try to get them to sign Randy Moss," adding that he was willing to give up salary to land the talented receiver.

But Favre said Thompson denied publicly that Favre had lobbied to get Moss, which Favre said was not the case. Moss signed with the New England Patriots.

In a second instance, Favre said he once tried to convince Thompson to re-sign Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, two key linemen, but the two got away and signed elsewhere.

In a third case, Favre told Van Susteren he tried to convince Thompson to interview Steve Mariucci, an old friend, for the head coaching job vacated by Mike Sherman. Favre said Thompson ended up hiring Mike McCarthy instead.

"And none of those had anything to do with me retiring once again but, you know, it's hard for me to trust, you know, this guy when I — either I'm told one thing and everyone else is told another, or he's telling the public one thing and telling me another. And so — and that's part of the reason for the release," Favre said of his request to be released by the Packers to pursue other opportunities. "Not only was I told that playing here was not an option, we're moving on — it's kind of in their company line, moving on. That's OK."

Favre's comments were his first public statements since he and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, asked the Packers to release him. In the interview, Favre said he wanted to play again, didn't want to return to be quarterback Aaron Rodgers' backup, didn't want to be traded but wanted the freedom to play for a competitive team.

Said Favre: "Them moving on does not bother me. It doesn't. I totally understand that. By me retiring March 3rd I knew that could possibly happen. All I was saying is you know I'm thinking about playing again. The 'itch' has been used. That is the word that has been used if you want to say itch, or the fire is coming back, or whatever. If I'm going to play it's going to be 100 percent commitment. ... And so if you move on, you tell me one thing, don't come back and tell the public ... just say it, 'You know, we've moved on and we'll work with Brett on whatever it is.' Don't make up a lot of stuff or give half of the truth."

Later, Favre made an apparent reference to Thompson in describing his conversations with team officials.

"You guys have a different path, fine," he said. "What does that mean for me? ... So that means, either you give me my helmet, welcome back, you release me, or attempt to trade me. We all know that that's a possibility, but a way out there possibility.

"And he says, 'Playing here is not an option, but we can't envision you playing with another team, either.' And I thought, so basically, I'm not playing for anyone."

Notes

• Rookie linebacker Thomas Williams signed a four-year contract worth nearly $2 million with Jacksonville. Williams, a fifth-round draft pick from USC, got a $174,500 signing bonus to go along with the $1.7 million contract. His base salary in 2008 will be $295,000, followed by $385,000, $470,000 and $555,000.

• Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.