RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Brad Childress, fresh off a relaxing vacation, sat in his office a week before training camp, answering questions.

One focused on the turmoil Brett Favre's decision to end his retirement was causing the Packers. The Vikings coach leaned back, pursed his lips and responded, "Can I say no comment?"

The assumption was that Childress was enjoying the fact that the Vikings' archrival had a major distraction on its hands.

It turns out that might only have been a small part of Childress' satisfaction. Three weeks and one tampering charge later, we know far more about the Favre situation — including the fact Favre appears to have little interest in playing for any team other than the Vikings.

Favre admitted as much late Thursday night in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder. "My intentions have been to play, and with Green Bay," Favre wrote. "They say no, so I still want to play in this division for obvious reasons, which I made clear to management. If they won't let me play in Green Bay, let me play against you. That's where I am."

Favre also told Werder that accepting a $20 million, 10-year offer to work for the Packers in a nonplaying role, in other words take what on the surface looks like nothing more than a bribe, "may be the best in the end."

This seemed to be a bit of late-night waffling on Favre's part, which is a bit surprising considering how he and his agent, Bus Cook, have controlled this situation with the Packers. There remains reason to believe that with some assistance from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Favre could yet get his wish to play in Minnesota.

When the Favre story unfolded, it seemed incomprehensible he could be wearing a visiting uniform on Sept. 8 when the Packers play the Vikings in the season opener on a Monday night at Lambeau Field.

Favre, 38, might have wanted to play in Minnesota — and Green Bay certainly didn't and doesn't want Favre back — but there was no way he was going to end up in the NFC North. Ted Thompson, the Packers' general manager, said as much.

The problem in making these bold declarations? We underestimated Favre's resolve. In the two years I covered Favre with the Packers, the most impressive thing about him was his ability to thrive on adversity.

The most impressive example came in December 2003, when Favre passed for 399 yards and four touchdowns in Oakland a night after his father died of a heart attack.

But what nobody could have realized was that Favre's ability to excel in trying situations also would exist off the field. While Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy have to run an NFL franchise, Favre seemingly has had nothing more to do than to kick back at his Mississippi home and make life miserable for the Packers while attempting to orchestrate a move to Minnesota.

So while Green Bay would like to send Favre to the Buccaneers or Jets, Favre hasn't shown any interest in such a move. The Packers could trade Favre, but if he doesn't report, the trade would be rescinded and he would end up back in Green Bay.

The fact Goodell, who is delaying Favre's reinstatement for at least another day, has gotten involved would seem to be good news for the Vikings. Assuming Favre doesn't take the Packers money, someone is going to persuade the team that if it doesn't want Favre as its starter, the best thing will be to trade him to Minnesota and end an ugly and embarrassing situation.

If a trade happens, the Vikings likely will give the Packers a second-round draft choice — far more than they will get elsewhere — and, in return, Goodell will make those nasty tampering charges the Vikings face for alleged contact with Favre disappear.

While Favre could make an immediate difference in the Vikings' West Coast system, an offense he ran for years in Green Bay, he has only about two good years left. The Packers, meanwhile, would be able to draft a player who could give them several years of service.

The Packers will get rid of a major headache, the Vikings will get their man and, perhaps most important, Favre will ultimately get his way.