Packers eye Favre return to Lambeau this year

If the Green Bay Packers have their way, Brett Favre will return to Lambeau Field this season.

It won't be to retire his jersey. Relations between the estranged former star quarterback and the team with which he earned certain Pro Football Hall of Fame membership are not improved to that level, but an appearance this year would make that easier to achieve.

"We are talking about bringing him back for a game this year," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy after Thursday's annual shareholders meeting. Murphy said they had talked to Favre about returning last year, but the talks "were not fruitful."

Murphy had mentioned earlier this month that there was concern Favre would be booed by Packers fans who are still miffed at him for the drama regarding his retirement in 2008 and subsequent return to play for the New York Jets and division-rival Minnesota Vikings. In response, Favre said he wasn't worried about being booed at Lambeau Field.

Favre played 16 seasons with the Packers before being traded to the Jets. He played one season with New York before signing with Minnesota in 2009, sparking anger among many Packers fans. He was booed loudly at Lambeau Field when he returned with the Vikings to play the Packers in the fall of 2009.

"It was a very emotional time for the Packers," Murphy said of Favre's retirement and return.

"I think we have the best fans; it's not anything close in terms of other fans in the league. I'm very hopeful that when he comes back it will be fully supported by our fans."

Relations between Favre and the Packers have improved since the quarterback's retirement from the Vikings following the 2010 season. Murphy repeatedly has said that he would like the Packers to retire Favre's number 4 before his expected induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Bob Harlan, former Packers' president and now a member of the Packers Hall of Fame board, is working with Murphy and Favre on a possible retirement event.

— rryman@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @RichRymanPG or on Facebook at Richard Ryman-Press-Gazette.