Former Packers QB Brett Favre Declines Offer to Play for Rams

Hopefully the beginning of this story is also its end.

After learning earlier this week that starting quarterback Sam Bradford would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, the St. Louis Rams reported reached out to Brett Favre as a potential replacement. According to Adam Schefter, talks didn't go very far.

St. Louis called Brett Favre, asking if the 44-year-old QB if he would be willing to play. Favre declined. More to story on ESPN all day.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 24, 2013

If this development seems to come out of left field, remember that Favre's agent James "Bus" Cook all but outright lobbied for teams to consider the 44-year old gunslinger back in September. We noted at the time that even if Favre desires to play again, there wasn't a team desperate enough to accept the circus that follows him. Since losing Bradford, the Rams have apparently reached the requisite level of desperation.

On the surface, Favre's decision to decline St. Louis' offer would indicate that he isn't interested in another return to the NFL. However, it's possible that Favre will only consider teams with a realistic shot at the playoffs. With the Rams mired at 3-4 in perhaps the toughest division in football, it's unlikely that Favre could guide them there. The rub here is that teams with playoff trajectories usually have quality quarterbacks.

Consequently, there doesn't appear to be a likely scenario where Favre returns to the NFL. For now.