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Favre Demanded Trade, Takes It Back

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GREEN BAY - Brett Favre was so angry at the Packers organization immediately after the NFL Draft, that he asked to be traded. The request was directly related to Green Bay's inability to trade for wide receiver Randy Moss.

Two sources close to the situation told TODAY'S TMJ4 sportscaster Lance Allan that on the Monday after the draft, Brett Favre had his agent, James "Bus" Cook, call Packers general manager Ted Thompson and demand a request for a trade.

Thompson had Coach Mike McCarthy try to call Favre, who didn't respond to his coach's calls for a week and a half. The two finally talked last week.

McCarthy said he was aware that Cook had asked for a trade, but McCarthy said that would not happen.

By the end of the phone call, Favre admitted he didn't want to go elsewhere.

A statement released on the Packers' Web site Monday by the quarterback reads, "I was frustrated a couple weeks back when Randy Moss was traded to New England. I never wanted to be traded and I don't want to be traded. I want to be in Green Bay. I want to finish my career as a Packer. Sometimes when I get frustrated I let my emotions get the better of me.

"As I said in February when I announced that I was coming back, I am excited about the young talent on our team and the improvements we're going to see from one year to the next. I really enjoy the young guys I'm playing with. I'm working hard down in Mississippi right now, rehabbing, and I plan to be in the best shape of my life."

Listen to TODAY'S TMJ4 sportscaster Lance Allan and anchor Vince Vitrano discuss the newly released statement

Favre's brother, Scott Favre, told Allan that this is as upset as he's seen his brother in a long time, and that Brett wants to remain a Packer, but he wants to win now.

Scott Favre also said that his brother feels he has been left out in the cold because of the lack of input on these decisions.

Thompson issued a statement Sunday that said, "We never comment on the talks we have with our players or with their agents, in line with the long-standing policy of our organization."

But Thompson added, "I think it is natural for a player to be frustrated from time to time - that's simply being human. Everyone knows that Brett Favre is all about winning. As an organization, we share that commitment. And we want to win now."

The New England Patriots acquired Moss from Oakland April 29 for a fourth-round pick. Green Bay was often mentioned as the other likely suitor for Moss' services.

Saturday at his annual charity golf tournament in Mississippi, Brett Favre said publicly that the Packers dropped the ball on the Moss deal.

"The last thing I want to do is start anything, but I think he would have been a great addition," Favre said in an interview on Saturday.

"You throw Randy Moss, you throw Donald Driver and you throw Greg Jennings on the field at the same time and go a three wide-receiver set, I think that's pretty intimidating," Favre added.

Although Moss often showed flashes of spectacular play, his passion has been questioned ever since he admitted that he doesn't necessarily give 100 percent on every play.

And many unforgiving Packers fans remain bitter over a Moss touchdown celebration at Lambeau Field in 2004. Then a Minnesota Viking, he pretended to drop his pants and moon the crowd, a stunt that cost him a $10,000 fine.

But Favre was focused only on Moss's big-play ability, especially because the team's running game was in question after Ahman Green went to the Houston Texans as a free agent. Green's loss made the potential Moss acquisition that much more urgent, he said.

"We lost out on that and it's a shame because I know we could have had him," Favre said.

Favre won't be able to practice in the upcoming mini camp because he is still recovering from surgery on his left ankle. But he probably will stay away because he is still steamed over this whole issue.

Favre definitely did vent to his hometown newspaper, the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald, in an interview for Sunday's edition. The newspaper quotes Favre as saying the stories of how Green Bay lost Moss because the wide receiver didn't want to restructure his contract were not true.

Favre told the paper, "He (Moss) was going to wipe his contract clean and sign for $3 million guaranteed, plus a fourth-round draft pick. That would have been a steal.

"But we were not willing to guarantee part of that $3 million. I even had Bus (Cook) call up there and tell them I would give up part of my salary to guarantee that part of the money. Apparently that wasn't enough either."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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