Now that Brett Favre has filed his reinstatement papers and could potentially report to Packers training camp, one hypothetical scenario has the Green Bay locker room instantly becoming divided between those who favor Favre and those who favor Aaron Rodgers as the team's starting quarterback.
But the players emphasized after Tuesday's practice that there will be no division amongst themselves, no matter how the Favre situation plays out.
"I don't think that's going to happen at all," third-year receiver Greg Jennings said. "I think we're too close of a group, a team, to let something like this divide us."
Several veterans echoed that sentiment.
"Nah, not at all," insisted veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, who had some fun with the media after practice by chanting 'We want Brett' as he walked past the horde of reporters waiting for the start of Head Coach Mike McCarthy's press conference.
"We're expected to be professionals and handle it that way. What we understand is A-Rod is our guy, he's always been our guy, as far as starting quarterback the whole offseason, starting camp. There's no reason for anybody in this locker room to take sides or say in the media they prefer one guy over the other. It's A-Rod's job, and at this point it's his job to keep."
McCarthy said Favre would be treated pretty much like any other player should he report to camp. He'd have to pass his physical and a run test, and in the meantime, McCarthy said he would discuss a practice plan with Favre before divulging publicly what that plan would be.
But McCarthy, even as awkward as it might be to have Favre at practice as a backup, believes his players have handled the potential distraction well, and any speculation about division within the team is off-base.
"I think it all goes back to the organization, starting with Ted Thompson and the selection process," McCarthy said. "We have high-quality individuals in our locker room. It's a young group that's really come together, starting with the offseason program, and now we get the test of all the different obstacles that go with winning, and this particular situation is another challenge."
The players believe the best way to deal with the challenge is to let the front office handle the business end of things, and for them to just focus on football when they're on the field. That's what they've done through the first two days of training camp, and that won't change.
"We really can't get caught up in all of it," offensive tackle Mark Tauscher said. "We keep hearing about it from you guys (in the media), and that's really the only time it's on our minds is when you guys come in here (to the locker room), and we have to think of what answers to give you guys. That's really what it comes down to.
{sportsad300}"When we're out there playing and preparing, trust me, I don't think there's anybody in this locker room that's thinking about this scenario. We're thinking about the execution of the plays we've installed and going out and playing football."
Like any training camp, plenty of players have their own roster spots and/or playing time to be concerned about, so the Favre situation is just something to watch unfold on the TV news, not weigh on their minds during practice or meetings.
"I'm competing for my own job right now, so I've kind of put that one aside," said third-year lineman Daryn Colledge, in a full-fledged competition with Allen Barbre for the starting left guard spot. "I'm taking snaps with whoever's out there.
"I've got my own things going on every single day. I don't have time to worry about what they're doing."
Added Woodson: "It's a big deal because it is Brett, but for the rest of the guys on the team, you've got to worry about yourself, your job, and worry about doing what you can for the Green Bay Packers."
