Brett Favre May Come Back for 2008: Breaking News?

The love of your life continued to suggest for the last three years that your more than decade-long relationship was coming to an end. This spring, that suggestion finally became reality.

Now, when you are just starting to date someone new, you receive a call: "I might want to reunite." What do you do?

First, let's get some facts straight. Your significant other was your all-time favourite. You had great times together, and felt more alive than ever before. You do not like the new dating scene because there are too many unknowns.

But at the same time, in the past decade you never got to call the shots. You were always stuck doing what the other person wanted to do. In a lot of cases, you knew that meant some bad judgments were going to lead to steep and unnecessary consequences. "I have to take the good with the bad," you always told yourself, and there was no question the balance fell in your favour.

According to ESPN's NFL Live, there are reports that the legendary quarterback contacted coach Mike McCarthy to tell him he is considering a return. Al Harris was a guest of the show and said that Brett had told him he has "an itch."

This may be the least surprising development in the history of sports. Favre never sounded convincing in saying he was hanging it up. He was not quick to do the paperwork to make it official, and seemed to be fishing for interest in his return more than being "gone fishing."

So what do the Packers do?

First, if he wants to come back you have to take him. Aaron Rodgers has still not started one game for the Packers (thereby not "consummating" the relationship), and no one knows for sure what that future holds.

However, you also need to know whether Favre is committed to the relationship, and for how long, before you dump the new person you are dating. He cannot simply say he is considering a return. If I were McCarthy, I'd tell him, "Well, when you have made up your mind, call. Maybe I'll take you back, maybe I won't."

If that call does not come until training camp has opened, too late. You cannot go into camp with a question mark at quarterback.

If it comes earlier this month, you take him. But you do not do it unconditionally: Favre lost that right when he broke up with you. Plus, you know you only have a year or two left with him, while Rodgers could play for years if he does not decide to leave because he has not had that chance.

This time, you let Favre know that if he plays like he did against Dallas—outside of the team's game plan, with unnecessary risks—he will be on the bench even if he does not get hurt. Maybe this will help reign him in like Holmgren used to, when Favre was winning three consecutive MVP awards.

If he cannot accept the terms, it is time for the team to move on. Anyone in a relationship needs a significant other who is as committed as they are and wants the same things.

If they frequently do harmful things to the relationship or always have one foot out the door, it does not matter how good the rest of the time is.