As the Brett Favre rumor carousel turns, PRO FOOTBALL TALK spins up a possible destination for the ex-Packers QB if Green Bay doesn’t want him back - the Carolina Panthers.

PFT reports that Favre’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, has purportedly told people in private that his star client wouldn’t mind suiting up for the NFC South franchise. However, there are no specific reasons given why Brett would want to continue his NFL career in Charlotte. Read more…

The real reason to get into sports radio - procuring potential Playboy Playmates.

• Joe Buck bellows that he’s now bored with baseball. Boo-freaking-hoo.

• We cringe in sympathy for Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder, who’s been placed on the DL with a fractured left testicle.

• A sprinter runs for 30 seconds then rests for 30 seconds - but is it art?

• Tonight’s the last chance to stuff all those MLB All-Star ballot boxes! A-Rod & Jeter thank you.

• Who wears short shorts? The U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team certainly doesn’t want to find out.

Read more…

And now, your Brett Favre un-retirement update: ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the ex-Packers QB has an “itch” to come back & may report to training camp later this month.

Mortensen reports that “sources close to the team and player” say that Favre has told Packers coach Mike McCarthy about his “potential desire” to be back on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field - especially with his family “tugging on him to play“.

Of course, we kind of figured this would happen all along. Read more…

Poor Aaron Rodgers. The new starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers found himself the latest data point in the ongoing media attempt to prove this theorem: “If we keep sticking a microphone in front of someone’s face, they’ll eventually say something incredibly stupid. Then we’ll have them!” (Okay, that last part isn’t so science-y. More mad science-y.)

(Don’t do it, Aaron; it’s a trap!)

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED asked Rodgers in their latest issue if he felt a need to be loved by Green Bay fans like Brett Favre was. Survey says:

““I don’t feel I need to sell myself to the fans,” Rodgers responded. “They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut.””

We’re sure the Blessed Heart of St. Favre the Redeemer parish won’t have any problems with th… hey, where did all the pitchforks and torches go?

Read more…

• The GUARDIAN dials up visions of Ana Ivanovic & Maria Sharapova facing off again - in a TV commercial for Sony Ericsson.

• HUGGING HAROLD REYNOLDS loves a parade - especially one honoring the NBA champion Celtics.

• Meanwhile, the BOSTON GLOBE dribbles up a full page ad congratulating the Celts paid for by the Patriots.

• ESPN’s HASHMARKS shoots up news that the Packers took the day off from practice to go play paintball.

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Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK passes along the latest scuttlebutt from Green Bay. Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with Brett Favre. The Packers have apparently shown interest in the services of Jason Taylor.

(No, not the Bengals - the Packers!)

It’s no big surprise that Taylor’s not particularly chummy with Dolphins management at the moment. So the lads from Lambeau decided to make an “exploratory inquiry” with the men in Miami about the defensive Dancer.

And in Jason’s favor, there’s a couple of coaches on the Green Bay staff that can vouch for him. Read more…

NBC’s feeling mighty good about its golf ratings, thanks to Tiger Woods & the U.S. Open. But the Peacock’s promise of extending that success took a slight slice, as Brett Favre might be backing out of a celebrity tournament.

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that the (still) retired (so far) Green Bay QB had agreed to take part in next month’s American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. (Well, not actually in the lake, but near it.) But last Friday, Brett’s reps emailed NBC that Favre was “probably not coming” due to a “scheduling conflict.”

Tourney spokesman Phil Weidinger said that the reps didn’t elaborate on what exactly the conflict was. Wonder what it could be?

Maybe … Favre’s planning on coming back to the Pack? Read more…