Joe Theismann Comes Out of Hiding to Suggest Brett Favre Could Play in Tampa

Thanks to the reminder from eagle-eyed reader Paula LaBourdette, I owe ESPN's Chris Mortensen an apology for questioning his reportin' skillz. Earlier this month, Mortensen said Brett Favre was contemplating un-retirement, Favre denied the rumors, and I accused Mort of being wrong (again).

That's what I get for putting all my eggs in the "No way Favre comes back" basket. In any event, Chris was right, I was wrong. Virtual high-fives and group hugs all around.

Related to all this, Joe Theismann, who has been hiding in a bunker somewhere since he left the WWL last year, has some thoughts on where Favre will likely end up. Jeff Garcia will not be happy.

"I think the odds are better than 50-50 Favre ends up with the Bucs," former Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Theismann said Wednesday. "If Brett Favre plays football in 2008, I think it's in Tampa."

The Tampa Tribune's Ira Kaufman writes that the Buccaneers have done nothing to quell the rumors which, again, can't make Garcia all that jazzed about the current situation. In fact, during a Tuesday conference call, general manager Bruce Allen "had every opportunity to declare ... Garcia will remain the starting quarterback this fall after leading Tampa Bay to an NFC South title in 2007. ... Instead, he suggested that reporters should talk to the Packers or Favre himself."

If Favre does end up in Tampa, the two names at the top of the depth chart would have a combine 28 years of NFL experience (or four more years than Aaron Rodgers' age). Of course, it's not clear Garcia would be interested in a demotion and might look to go elsewhere (although, to be honest, just about every QB job is settled at this stage of the proceedings).

Or, maybe Favre will just decide that he doesn't really want to play football after all. Yes, and Jerramy Stevens won't get arrested this year, either.