So the Packers are so desperate to avoid trading their all-time QB to their arch rivals, they are willing to give Brett Favre $25 million to stay retired.

Packers' brass is calling it a "marketing agreement".

Sounds like a bribe to me.

It has become clear that the Vikings are at the top of Favre's list and may be the only team he's willing to come out of "retirement" to play for other than returning to the Pack as a starter.

If he was willing to play for the Jets or Bucs, I would have thought a deal would've been done by now.

Favre holds most of the cards at this poker table.

If he shows up at camp, the media circus would be a huge distraction to what the Pack is trying to accomplish in training camp and he would get even more attention which is what our favorite drama queen thrives on.

He has the power to veto any trade.

I am really enjoying this soap opera especially since it is making Cheeseheads everywhere squirm.

Lord knows they've enjoyed our pain through the years ( Love Boat, K-Rob, Dwight Smith , Daunte etc.).

The Twins finally made the move we've all been waiting for.

They called up Francisico Liriano and released Livan Hernandez.

Livan had become a major liability in the rotation with his batting practice fastball.

Hopefully Liriano has worked out his problems in the minors and is ready to help get the Twins back to the playoffs.

He had nothing left to accomplish in the minors and with Livan getting pummeled on a regular basis the time was right to give Liriano his chance.

He won't be as dominating as he was in 2006 given that his velocity on his fastball is in the low 90's currently but he still should be effective.

The Twins also designated Craig Monroe for assignment and called up Randy Ruiz to fill in until Cuddy comes off the DL.

By the way, it's official-- I can't stand Jim Souhan of the StarTrib. (This portion of this post is dedicated to my brother who I know will enjoy this as he makes his way down south.)

In his column today, he stated his opinion that the Twins should have traded Liriano to the Mariners for Adrian Beltre.

He ripped Liriano for his injuries, DUI in the offseason last year and for requesting to be called up.

It's way too early to give up on Liriano and trade him for a rent a player who wil be gone in a year or two.

Souhan also showed his arrogance by slapping Twins fans in the face (again) for being stupid enough to cheer for Lew Ford during his stay with the Twins.

FSN at least has done us a favor lately and kept Souhan off the air.

If I hear him ask one more player "What was your mind set?" I think I'll hurl.

Gee Jim, why don't you have the players lay down on a couch while you interview them and ask them how hitting that home run "made them feel".

Go Twins!!

Discussion about a Vikings stadium has begun again, this time centering around Minneapolis.

I believe the Vikings will eventually either end up remodeling the Metrodome or tearing it down and building a new stadium on the same site -- similar to what happened in St. Paul when the Xcel Center was built at the site of the St. Paul Civic Center.

Currently the problem with remodeling the Metrodome or building a new stadium on that site is that the Vikings would not have anywhere to play while construction is underway.

That problem will be solved when the University of Minnesota opens its new stadium in 2009 which is 2 years before the Vikings lease runs out.

The Vikings could play at the Gophers stadium until their new stadium was finished, much like the Bears did when they played at the University of Illinois while Soldier Field was renovated.

The biggest advantage that Minneapolis has over the other sites such as Blaine is that the necessary infrastructure is already in place.

Adequate highway access along with the light rail system, which will most likely expand, are already available.

The other sites would need millions of dollars to improve roads and other infrastructure in addition to the money already needed to build the stadium.

I doubt that the legislature would approve building a new stadium in the suburbs once building in downtown Minneapolis becomes a viable option.

It'll be interesting how this story unfolds over the next year or two.