EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings' dalliance with Brett Favre has yet to reach the stage of face-to-face, close-the-deal talks.

Maybe it never will.

Vikings coach Brad Childress remained at team headquarters Thursday despite reports he was to travel south for discussions with the supposedly retired quarterback, who lives in Mississippi. Meanwhile, Yahoo! Sports reported that Favre called Childress in the past day and told the coach he wants to stay retired.

Twin Cities television station KMSP broadcast video of Childress's early-morning arrival at Winter Park, and the coach was still at the team's facility in suburban Minneapolis in the afternoon.

Yahoo cited an unidentified source close to the team in reporting that the Vikings won't sign the 39-year-old quarterback, who owns many of the NFL's major passing records.

Vikings officials declined comment to The Associated Press. Favre's agent, Bus Cook, did not return repeated phone calls.

Favre's uncertainty about whether to quit pro football after 18 seasons or keep playing has created the kind of drama usually reserved for one of his performances with the Vikings' chief rival, Green Bay.

When Favre reconsidered his first retirement last summer and the Packers wouldn't let him return, he wanted to be traded to Minnesota. After going to the New York Jets instead, he wore down at the end of last season and said in February he was done for good.

"It's time to leave," he told reporters then.

Several Jets teammates complained afterward about Favre's standoffishness. But after an informal practice Thursday, players took a higher ground when asked the now-annual question about his playing status.

"This guy's been the face of the NFL for a long time," running back Leon Washington said. "If he can still throw that ball and still sling it, he still has the right to do it, in my opinion."