Brett Favre began hinting at a comeback almost immediately after retiring in March. (Mike Roemer/Associated Press)

If Brett Favre wants to come out of retirement, he'll have to do it as a member of the Green Bay Packers.

The veteran quarterback retired from the game on March 6 but earlier this week demanded his release from the Packers so he could continue his career with another team.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy told the Associated Press on Saturday that they don't plan to release him.

Both Thompson and McCarthy said Favre was welcome to rejoin the team but would have to serve as the team's backup.

Favre, 38, is on the reserve-retired list after announcing on March 6 that he was walking away after a 17-year NFL career.

Favre, though, began hinting at a comeback almost immediately after retiring, and talk of his potential return picked up in earnest last week when ESPN reported that Favre told Packers coach McCarthy he was feeling the "itch" to play again.

According to ESPN, Favre stated emphatically that he wanted to play again during a Tuesday conference call with Thompson, McCarthy and his agent James Cook.

The Packers haven't exactly welcomed Favre with open arms, leading to speculation about rising tension between the future hall of famer and the team.

Green Bay released a statement on Friday saying Favre now has the right to petition NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to be reinstated, at which point he would return to the team's active roster.

But the statement did not specify what the Packers would do after that, beyond doing "what's right and in the best interest of the team."

If the team has committed to moving forward without Favre, their options once he was reinstated would include trading him to another team or releasing him so he would be free to sign with the team of his choice.

"As with all Packers greats, Brett's legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions," the statement read. "Brett and [wife] Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family."

Green Bay has planned to use Aaron Rodgers, who has attempted just 59 passes since being drafted in 2005, as its starting quarterback next season.

With files from Associated Press