Favre in controversial NFL return

Despite being a legend, Favre's return may prove problematic

Legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is set to return to action after reversing his retirement and being reinstated by the NFL.

The 38-year-old had retired in March but has since changed his mind, and the return of one of Green Bay's greats may not be entirely welcomed.

Favre is said to be intent on fighting for his place in the team, giving the Packers an awkward decision to make.

The Packers are reluctant to release him to play for another team.

With Aaron Rodgers now installed as their first-choice quarter-back, the Packers have been left in a difficult position.

Team officials fear rivals Minnesota would swoop for him straight away if they do decide to trade him, but his continued presence may unsettle the team.

606: DEBATE Unfortunately, the implication for us as football fans is that we have a transfer saga of Cristiano Ronaldo proportions on our hands BBC Sport's Tim Love

Nevertheless, they released a public statement insisting that they would welcome Favre back with open arms.

"Sixteen years after Brett Favre came to the Packers, he is returning for a 17th season," said Packers president Mark Murphy in a statement.

"He has had a great career with our organisation and although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back.

"We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage."

Favre is under contract with the Packers until 2010, which is why they had offered him a lucrative marketing contract for the remainder of the deal, to keep him tied to Green Bay even if he was not playing.

But after his agent confirmed that having been reinstated from the Packers' retired/reserve list, the player plans to report for training at Green Bay on Monday.

Favre's record in his 16 years at Lambeau Field secured his reputation as one of the greatest players the team had ever seen.

He started 275 consecutive regular season and play-off games, broke NFL records in his final campaign for most touchdown passes (442), passing yards (61,655), pass completions (5,377) and games with at least three touchdown passes (63).

The league's only triple Most Valuable Player, he led the Packers to the 1997 Super Bowl title and was named in nine Pro Bowl teams.