Favre Texts ESPN Reporter to Remind Everyone He Is Retired

Technology is a wonderful thing. Thanks to inventions like Facebook and Twitter, we no longer have to ask someone how they're doing or what they're up to. We can read it for ourselves. Similarly, instead of calling someone on the phone, we can send them a text message. It's a real simple, unintrusive way to contact people.

For ESPN's Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback, it was the perfect way to find out what exactly is going on with "retired" quarterback Brett Favre.

Favre's response to Dilfer was short, capitalized, and emphatic.

Dilfer, who now works for ESPN, sent a text to Favre today asking if there was any chance he would consider playing in 2009. Favre responded in a return text with the word "NO." And he put it in caps.

When Favre gained his release from the Jets after the team traded up to draft Mark Sanchez, eyebrows were justifiably raised. After all, we went through this retirement charade last season, and the overwhelming feeling inside Favre that he still wanted to play football won out.

Now, I think we all know better than to just dismiss this. After all, this is the guy who allegedly returned the first time around -- in large part -- to "stick it" to Packers general manager Ted Thompson, whom Favre blames for his rushed retirement decision the first time around. It's also the same guy who allegedly still holds vengeful feelings toward Thompson and the organization.

However, there is actually reason to believe Favre. No, it has nothing to do with what his agent told our Calvin Watkins last week.

When he held a conference call upon his retirement from the Jets, Favre talked about the finality of this retirement versus his first one.

"Honestly, the former players that I've talked to -- I've talked to numerous -- you never really let it go. You just move on. ... Once a football player, always a football player.

"The downside with this sport, unlike other professions, you can't do it forever.

"Physically if I felt better, we might not be having this conversation, but the writing is on the wall."

Now, Favre can be a bit wishy-washy, no question. To be fair, though, compare this to his original retirement, and the most famous quote from his press conference.

I know I can play, but I don't think I want to.

The latter doesn't sound as convincing as the former.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com probably said it best when he pointed out that this will likely do nothing to stop speculation that he is returning. While this is the more entertaining route to take, it's probably not the fairest. After all, it's not like Favre has been addicted to unretirement or anything like that. He's publicly done it once.

When June and July roll around, we'll know more. Favre has always detested offseason workouts (as most guys his age probably do), and it's likely that nothing will happen with the Vikings that would force him to show up at Winter Park before the end of OTAs June 16.

No matter what, his release from the Jets will always seem somewhat peculiar. If he had no intention of either playing or signing a one-day contract with the Packers so he could retire with that organization, then there was no reason to seek the release.

Then again, anyone who followed Favre for his years in Green Bay will probably tell you that he didn't make a habit out of doing things the way everyone else would do them. This could be simply a case of that, or it could be something more. Assuming it's one or the other, given Favre's history, is probably a mistake.