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Nothing adds more ESPN content year after year over the summer than the Favre retirement sagas. Yesterday, all reports indicated that Favre was calling it quits. The report first said that Favre had texted a bunch of players “this is it” indicating that he wasn’t comign back.

ESPN obviously ran with it, making up sources and blowing the story out of proportion. The news took over ESPN radio and ESPN news all day and night.

But there just weren’t any facts associated with the data. There were reports of the text messages, but Visanthe Shiancoe didn’t get it, Childress didn’t get it, and Favre’s longest teammate Ryan Longwell didn’t get it. I was skeptical all day, and didn’t understand why ESPN had run with the story without being able to name anyone who had gotten these texts.

So Favre was officially retired according to ESPN, setting up a coming out of retirement decision. Favre simply doesn’t play unless he has previously retired. He and his agent have to build up the suspense, and the contract.

Apparently the second year of the $26 million contract wasn’t enough for Favre and his agent (who was getting tired of his act this summer, too). The Vikings came out today and have offered Favre $20 million to come play for another season ($16 guaranteed).

Thats more than the best QB in the league, Sam Bradford (assuming talent is proportional to contracts).

Now Brett has come out and said he will play if the ankle allows it.  Well that may be in 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or week 5 of the season. But you can now bet that it will happen, and Favre will be in uniform at some point leading the Vikings deep into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Deadspin.com has used this press opportunity to pump their website in normal Gawker style, by releasing the story of cell phone pictures of Brett’s dong sent to Jenn Sterger while he was at the Jets.