GREEN BAY — While the end result turned cornerback Frank Walker into the answer to a trivia question — Who was the only free agent the Green Bay Packers added during the 2007 offseason? — general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy swear that wasn't their plan when they went into the signing period last year.

Nor will it be their approach this year, as the Packers, armed with $18 million in salary-cap space, try to build on their 13-3 regular-season record and NFC Championship Game appearance.

"I'm well aware of how many free agents we signed last year. (But) that doesn't really equate to activity — the number of people you sign," McCarthy said. "We are active. We're very active. We set a free agent board (to rank players of interest), no different than we do the draft board.

"We'll fully participate, just like we did last year. Now, how many guys we'll sign, time will tell. (But) I can promise you that we're participating."

As free agency opens at 11 o'clock Thursday night Wisconsin time, the Packers find themselves in a different position than in Thompson's previous three offseasons, when he was working to replenish roster depth through the draft with young and relatively inexpensive players.

And while Thompson's modus operandi has been to avoid the big-bucks, big-splash free agent signings for more fiscally responsible moves, he's gotten a rap for hating free agency.

"I think free agency's important. Everybody thinks I don't like it," Thompson said. "I think it's a very useful tool. People can make big splashes and do really well with this, but there are no guarantees. It's high risk, but it's also high reward."

Thompson has taken few such risks. He signed no one of significance (guards Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer, safeties Arturo Freeman and Earl Little and linebacker Ray Thompson) his first year, but he did add two high-priced veteran players — cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett — in 2006.

Thompson also signed safety Marquand Manuel, who was a bust. But Woodson and Pickett became vital members of the defense.

Then came last offseason, when Thompson, with $21 million in salary-cap room to work with, drew intense fan criticism for doing next to nothing in free agency. He pursued only a handful of players — defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson and fullbacks Terrelle Smith and Justin Griffith most notably — and showed some interest in linebacker Donnie Edwards and wide receiver Joe Horn, but signed only Walker.

"We probably anticipated doing a little bit more last year, but sometimes you just can't," Thompson said. "It takes two to tango and we couldn't get a couple deals done that we thought we were pretty close on. We'll try to help our team any way that we can, if we feel like it's somebody that can come in and (fill) a specific role.

"(Free agency) is an area where you would attack a specific need. And if we felt like there was one there, (we'd use it). At the same time you don't want to necessarily bring somebody in that's just going to get in the way of somebody else that you think might be a player."

Having franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Williams, the Packers have few free agents of their own. Walker, linebacker Tracy White, No. 3 quarterback Craig Nall and tight end Ryan Krause are among seven unrestricted free agents, while their two restricted free agents are running back Vernand Morency and defensive tackle Colin Cole.

The Packers have until 11 p.m. to tender offers to Morency and Cole to retain the right to match any offer they receive.

Meanwhile, the Packers still are waiting to find out whether quarterback Brett Favre will return or retire, a decision that would affect their free agent approach.

Team president Mark Murphy said in two public appearances Wednesday that the club expects Favre to return for an 18th NFL season, and he thinks the team could have an answer from him before the free agent market opens tonight.

"My guess is that he's going to come back," Murphy told the audience at a Milwaukee Press Club Newsmakers Luncheon Wednesday afternoon. "We all anticipate that he'll make a decision very soon. Probably this week sometime. Before the end of the month of February."

Murphy told a gathering at St. Norbert College in De Pere essentially the same thing during Nicolet National Bank's Business Pulse breakfast Wednesday morning.

Last week, Thompson said he "never" has put a deadline on Favre while admitting "there are things that one must do depending on that decision, and (Favre) is aware of those things."