GREEN BAY — Brett Favre is seriously considering accepting the Green Bay Packers' $20 million personal services contract offer, but the retired-for-now quarterback admits he still wants to play within the NFC North — for someone other than the Packers if necessary.

Favre sent text messages to ESPN's Ed Werder Thursday night confirming he's mulling over the Packers' much-publicized 10-year, $20 million offer, which a source close to the negotiations told the State Journal was part of an ongoing negotiation on a long-term marketing and licensing agreement between the sides — and not a last-ditch attempt to pay Favre to stay away from training camp.

Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy's eight-hour meeting with Favre and agent James "Bus" Cook on Wednesday at Cook's Hattiesburg, Miss., office was the continuation of talks that began not long after news of Favre's retirement broke March 4, the source said.

"In no way were they trying to bribe Brett or buy their way out of the situation," the source told the State Journal. "That's just not something they'd do. They started talking to (the Favres) about this shortly after he retired."

According to the source, the sides have continued to discuss such a deal throughout the melodrama that has unfolded regarding Favre's desire to play football again.

"They've continued to pursue this, regardless of the football situation," the source said. "It's really been on parallel tracks."

In his text message to Werder, Favre said of the offer: "There isn't a perfect solution to this, but Mark Murphy is at least trying. We know what they want and where I stand. (Murphy's) solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end."

An NFL source that has been in contact with Favre over the last few days told the State Journal Favre still very much wants to play for the Packers' division rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Asked what his objective is in wanting to play again, Favre texted Werder, "My intentions have been to play, and with Green Bay. They say no, so I still want to play in this division for obvious reasons, which I made clear to management. If they won't let me play in Green Bay, let me play against you. That's where I am."

According to another NFL source, the idea of trading Favre to division rivals Minnesota or the Chicago Bears has always been viewed within the organization as an absolute last resort, and the team still doesn't consider such a deal a viable option.

"If you can trade and get something for him, it's better than releasing him, but they would really be reluctant to trade him within the division," the league source said.

However, the source that has been in contact with Favre said of a possible deal with the Vikings, "I think it's closer (to happening) than anyone thinks."

The Packers' tampering charge against the Vikings for communication between Favre and Vikings coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is still pending.

While Favre may still want to play, he also sees the value in the marketing contract with the Packers, the source familiar with the negotiations said. However, the offer is not contingent on Favre retiring and staying retired. It would remain available to him even if he played this season.

The story of the offer began when, citing sources close to Favre, WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee reported Murphy presented Favre and Cook with an offer in which the Packers would pay Favre $2 million per year over the next 10 years to stay retired.

The report intimated the offer was a new development in the ongoing Favre saga, which began when Favre informed coach Mike McCarthy June 20 he was considering a comeback and the club wasn't as receptive to the idea as Favre had hoped.

But given the way the situation has played out in the past several weeks, Favre's football-playing options may not appeal to him — the Packers have made it clear Aaron Rodgers is their starter even if Favre is reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, and the Packers have refused to grant him the outright release he sought in a July 11 letter — and an NFL source said the quarterback may scuttle his comeback bid altogether.

According to multiple league sources, the Packers have engaged in trade talks with both the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers regarding Favre, but while both clubs have been granted permission to talk to the quarterback, Favre himself had not spoken to either club, making a deal difficult. Although the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Thursday night the Packers and Cook were engaged in "serious talks" with the Jets about a trade, a league source said nothing had changed.

"He says he wants to play, but now he looks at the options he has now and they're not really that attractive to him," the source said.

It appeared the Buccaneers' interest might intensify after quarterback Jeff Garcia suffered a right calf injury and had to be carted off the practice field Thursday morning, but Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said Garcia is day-to-day.

"I don't believe it's serious," Gruden said. "We're going to get the information. He might not have much at all. Right now, until we evaluate it further, we really can't say much else.

"I think it was just a freak thing. He was dropping back and took off as he always does, changed directions and felt a little pull in there."

Meanwhile, Goodell chose to wait another day to reinstate Favre, who faxed his paperwork into the league office Monday. An NFL spokesman said in a statement Goodell wanted to give Favre and the Packers more time to keep talking.

As a result, Favre did not board a plane bound from Hattiesburg to Green Bay as planned, and Cook told a Mississippi-based Associated Press reporter Favre wouldn't come to Green Bay until Goodell ruled on his application.

"He's ready to go back, but he can't go back until the commissioner reinstates him," Cook said.

Asked about the potential circus atmosphere at Packers camp should Favre report, Cook replied, "He's prepared to deal with it."

McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson have maintained publicly the team would welcome Favre back. The Packers are prepared for his arrival at camp — a Packers source said they have a room ready for him at St. Norbert College in De Pere — but it appears unlikely that Favre would be on the field with the team before next week if he were reinstated and did report.