Favre wants in...and out.

WTMJ's been reporting on this all afternoon:

Sources tell Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Bill Michaels, and ESPN has confirmed, that Brett Favre's agent, Bus Cook, sent a letter that the Packers have received, stating his wish for a release from the team which he has quarterbacked for 16 seasons to 15 .500+ seasons, seven division championships, two NFC titles and a Super Bowl title.

From ESPN:

HATTIESBURG, Miss -- Three days after a conference call with Green Bay Packers team officials on Tuesday in which quarterback Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked for his contractual release from the Packers in a letter, sources close to Favre and the team said.

The letter was sent by Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, via overnight mail on Thursday and arrived at the Packers facility Friday morning.

Here's a link to the Packers' statement, which, as they discussed on the Green House this afternoon, was classy while still not really saying anything.

WTMJ on the Packers' options:

...the Packers own the rights to Favre and have three options:

• Not grant his release and keep him under contract for the remainder of her two-year contract. Historically, no NFL team has ever denied a request by a retired player to have a release from their contract.

• Allow him to go to another squad.

• Trade him to another squad. This option would allow the Packers to handpick the squad Favre would go to. Typically, a team would make a point to avoid sending a player like Favre to go to another squad.

Of these, I would choose the first (hey, I didn't want him to retire in the first place) or, if this whole thing is just irreconcilable, the third. Get something for him, and have some control over where he goes.

Not to the Vikings. Not to the Bears (because we're all looking forward to that Orton vs. Grossman quarterback controversy). And not to the Cowboys.

Whatever happens, the main goal must be for both sides to handle this with class and with respect for the history and legend of Favre and the Packers. I shall not allow my hero worship and glass-eyed reminiscing about the greatest quarterback ever to be tarnished.