Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

After spending seven days in Green Bay, Wis., last week, I can repeat the words from memory.

"Aaron Rodgers is our starting quarterback."

That's how Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy answered every question about the possibility of former starter Brett Favre rejoining the team's roster.

"The organization has moved on."

That's another way that McCarthy and other team officials explained Rodgers' seemingly unchallenged status.

Yes, Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy went to great lengths Sunday to say the Packers have halted their march forward. And we're very much aware of multiple reports suggesting the team will host an open competition between Rodgers and Favre for the starting job.

But sorry, we're not yet convinced this will be a fair fight. In a truly open competition, it's hard to imagine Favre losing. Maybe this is all a ploy to increase Favre's trade value. Let's be real: It has seemed pretty evident for the past few weeks that the Packers didn't want him on their team, let alone as their starting quarterback.

McCarthy has spent the past four months telling his players and assistants that Rodgers was his starter. He has told Rodgers the same thing. Part of the reason Rodgers appeared so calm during last week's media firestorm is that he felt secure the job wasn't about to be yanked out from under him.

What does McCarthy tell Rodgers and his locker room now? That he changed his mind? That his hand was forced? Those responses won't exactly strengthen his credibility among players.

About the only thing McCarthy can say is what every coach tells his team during training camp: That no jobs are guaranteed and that every player must perform at a certain level in order to win or maintain a position.

In the end, McCarthy could use that definition to map out his quarterback "competition." In other words: Rodgers is the starter and will remain in that position as long as he performs at a prescribed level.

This is not to imply that Rodgers is better qualified to be the Packers' 2008 starting quarterback. We just wonder if they'll give Favre a real chance to win the job after feuding with him all summer and all but begging him to remain in retirement.

From a public standpoint, McCarthy has no choice but to declare the competition open. He can't permanently assign Favre to the scout team and blatantly scuttle his opportunities, not with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell serving as a vested observer.

But McCarthy and the Packers have done what they were required to do: They have responded to his reinstatement by choosing to create a roster spot for him, rather than trade him (yet) or grant an outright release. What the Packers do next, however, is up to them.