Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers calls signals against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on September 8, 2013. The 49ers defeated the Packers 34-28. UPI/Bruce Gordon | License Photo

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) looks downfield for an open receiver in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on November 5, 2006. (File/UPI Photo/Ed Wolfstein) | License Photo

(UPI) -- With the news that Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers could be out for a substantial period of time with an injury, it didn’t take long for the rumors about Brett Favre coming out of retirement to hit the Internet.

Surprisingly enough, longtime sportswriter Howard Balzer -- formerly of ESPN -- got the ball rolling. It’s unclear whether Balzer was just joking around, but when it comes to Favre, it doesn’t take much.


Word is the Packers have reached out to Brett Favre. — Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) November 5, 2013

The Sporting News turned that tweet into a story and the rest is history.

Aaron Rodgers is out for 3 weeks? Nbd. I'm expecting Brett Favre to give the Packers a call by the end of the week. — Quentin Carter (@QcarterJax) November 5, 2013

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"IF" Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (COLLARBONE not shoulder) is out for an extended period of time . . . Brett Favre, anyone, anyone??? — NFLVR (@NFLVR) November 5, 2013

Following the injury to Rodgers, Dan Patrick joked about whether Brett Favre would get a call on his show.

Other people had more sinister reasons for linking Rodgers with Favre:

@ESPN_FirstTake Richie Incognito says please bring up Brett Favre as a replacement for Aaron Rodgers so this story goes away — My Name Is A Brand (@CoachRod_I_AM) November 5, 2013