Brett Favre is probably not coming back to play for the Packers. But the fact that such a sentence is even worth writing, and the fact that it is imperative to always use the word "probably" when it comes to Favre, is a testament to the man, the myth and the legend.

With Aaron Rodgers out for several weeks because of a broken collarbone — an injury that severely hampers Green Bay's plans this season, particularly since they have made a mess of their backup QB spot to the point that Seneca Wallace is in charge — Packers fans and even just casual football fans have been wondering if the ol' Gunslinger might get a phone call.

Gabe Neitzel, who works for ESPN Milwaukee, tweeted that he talked to Favre's agent, Bus Cook, on Tuesday morning and that Cook "assured me that Brett Favre is retired." But Neitzel had a second, less convincing tweet several hours later that read: "In a follow-up w/ Bus Cook: #Packers have not reached out to him. He hasn't spoken to Favre, and doesn't know if the team tried to reach #4."

Some outlets picked up on a tweet from sports personality Howard Balzer indicating the Packers had reached out to Favre; Balzer, however, tweeted Tuesday that his initial tweet was a joke.

But listen: With Favre, nothing is impossible. That's what makes all of this so fascinating and worth discussing. He has retired and unretired so many times that we've lost count. Cook fueled the fire earlier this season when he said Favre "could play today, better than a lot of them out there today."

That was more than a month ago. There was a report in the interim that the Rams had inquired about Favre when Sam Bradford went down, but that made no sense. St. Louis is going nowhere. Most rational thinkers — insomuch as thinking a 44-year-old QB last seen being scraped off the TCF Bank Stadium turf in 2010 can still play is rational — believed the only shot was if a contender had an injured quarterback.

Green Bay? Well it's almost too perfect. He could mend fences. He could go back, be a hero and keep the seat warm until Rodgers heals. He could even play against the Vikings one more time.

Right, right. Probably not. But never say never.

Michael Rand