Say it IS so, Brett; say it IS so ...

Word is that Brett Favre, in an unusual moment of clear-headedness, has decided to stay retired and not join the Vikings in pursuit of a one-man jihad against the Green Bay Packers.

According to news reports, Favre told Minnesota coach Brad Childress he will remain retired, a source close to the team told Yahoo! Sports. The Yahoo! story said that Favre told Childress of his decision in a phone call, and that he could "publicly explain his decision soon."

Personally, I don’t really want to hear Favre explain; I just want to hear Favre say it’s true.

Not that I'd necessarily believe him ...

Celling out?

First, there was a report from Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that a Green Bay source was saying Brett Favre not only made repeated calls to Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and head coach Brad Childress, but did so on a cell phone issued to him by the Packers.

If that were true, it would mean the Packers would receive the phone bills for Favre's calls, and would know precisely whom and when he reached out to touch someone — someone, say, from a Central Division rival.

And if that were true, of course, it would also mean:

1) Brett Favre is dumb as a box of rocks.

2) Brad Childress is as dumb as Brett Favre.

3) The Packers’ tampering charge against the Vikings is a slam dunk.

Now, however, The Green Bay Press-Gazette is reporting a Favre source is insisting the quarterback does NOT have a Packer-issued cell phone. "One hundred percent, without a doubt ..." the source said.

Ah, what to believe? For now, we can believe this: The NFL security staff visited the Vikings' facility Tuesday to investigate the tampering charge. And we can believe this: In a story this high-profile, eventually, truth will out.

Links: Story about McGinn's report:

http://ww3.startribune.com/vikingsblog/?p=1719

Green Bay Press-Gazette story:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/PKR01/80723178/1058&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL