Posted by Ryan Wilson

Here's the easiest way to tell it's summer: the "Brett Favre might come out of retirement!?" talk starts up, seemingly without provocation. At this point, it's become an annual event that's as predictable as a planet's orbit.

After Favre declared last month that “I don’t want to put my body through that anymore. I’ve been beat up enough.” NFL.com's Gil Brandt did the unthinkable Tuesday, suggesting in an live chat that "I do think Favre would be interested in talking to a team about returning." Brandt added, "But I don't see a team out there right now that would bring him back as a starter."

By then, of course, it was too late. Brandt had already uttered the word's "Favre" and "comeback" aloud, thus insuring that this would be a story for the foreseeable future.

So it's no surprise that Brandt appeared on NFL Network's Total Access Wednesday to -- you guessed it -- continue the conversation about why Favre still wants to play in the NFL for what would be his 21st season.

"Quarterbacks never want to retire," Brandt said. "Let me tell you why I think the way I think on this: First of all, Favre made an inquiry into Cam Newton; if [the Panthers] would be interested in having Favre work with [Newton] while the lockout was taking place. I don't think you make an inquiry to help somebody develop as a player in a coaching way if you don't have something in your mind about coming back to play. 

"Then I think he probably looks around the league and there's a lot of 'what ifs' -- 'what if Seattle doesn't sign Hasselbeck?' And Darrell Bevell, his coach at both Green Bay and Minneapolis, is there. ... I think Favre is enough of a competitor that if somebody said to him, 'Come on, we can use you. You might not be a starter,' I think he would come out of retirement."

Brandt admitted that he hasn't spoken to Favre or anyone in Favre's camp, but added: "The thing that triggered me on this whole thing is [Favre] wanting to help Cam Newton. I don't think you want to go out and become a coaching candidate if you feel you have time left that you can play as a player."

The NFL Network's Jason La Canfora wasn't buying it. "I can't imagine it happening," he said. "I don't know anyone who would want to bring him in right now."

Are you listening, Tiki? 

We actually believe Favre when he said he's been beaten up enough. And if he gets a hankerin' for a comeback, we'd encourage him to watch these:


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