With roughly three weeks left before the starting of training camp, the last thing the Packers expected was a quarterback controversy.

Two of them, actually.

ESPN reported today that Brett Favre has "the itch" to play again and has informed the Packers, who apparently are lukewarm about the idea.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy were unavailable for comment Wednesday.

The Favre story broke just after incumbent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the heir apparent to Brett Favre's position as the leader of the state's favorite team, created a minor firestorm with some comments to Sports Illustrated.

"I don't feel I need to sell myself to the fans," Rodgers told the magazine. "They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut."

Rodgers later softened his stance in an interview with Wisconsin State Journal reporter / OnMilwaukee.com contributor Jason Wilde.

"I love playing in Green Bay. I love the city of Green Bay," Rodgers told Wilde. "I love playing in a city that expects greatness, expects its players to play at a high level. I love my interaction with the fans, I love being in the community and spending time with them. That's my only regret with this story breaking, that anyone would take offense to what I said," Rodgers said Tuesday night. "Anything that makes it look like I don't care about what the fans think about me is off base. That's the biggest disappointment."

If Favre decides to come back, and the Packers allow it, Rodgers will experience a new kind of disappointment.