During his interview on HBO's "Joe Buck Live," Brett Favre made a seven-word statement that, when taken in the context of his comments around them, makes perfect sense.

"I play because I love to play."

He was discussing how, as he put it, he's not motivated to consider coming back in the 2009 season by the things that surround the game.

But I guarantee you, the "where he's playing," the Minnesota Vikings - the only team he's considering playing for, the one he referred to as "we" in this talk with Buck - is not because he loves to play.

I am still convinced it's because he wants revenge on Packers General Manager Ted Thompson.

Did he come out and say on Joe Buck's show that he wants two shots at the Packers so he can get back at Ted Thompson for what he perceives Thompson did to him?

No.

That already came out of his mouth in his statements to ESPN when he discussed how playing last year was all about "sticking it to Ted (Thompson, Packers General Manager)."

He tried on Buck's show to explain away his thoughts about why it's the Vikings because of his familiarity of the system the Vikings run - thanks to their offensive coordinator, former Packers quarterback coach Darrell Bevell.

"It makes perfect sense, because it is an offense that I ran for 16 years," said Favre to Buck.

"I could teach the offense. Going to the Jets was tough since I was 2 weeks late and it was a completely new offense. The coaches were great to me because the condensed the offense so I can at least call the plays. It is like learning a different language."

Does it make sense that going back to the Vikings would be easiest for him and can bring him more possibilities of success because of the familiarity of the system?

Sure.

But I'm still not convinced that's his reason, that's his motivation, for choosing the Minnesota Vikings.

"Some things happened there that may have ruffled the feathers for both sides," he admitted on Buck.

We all know the reasons why those ruffles are there, and why Favre couldn't stomach having to eat those ruffles.

Hence, that's why I believe he still wants to put a purple and gold crunch on the Packers by playing in the NFC North.

Amazingly, he attempted to spin the story by using the example of a legendary Packers coach who, 40 years ago, unretired from coaching.

"Vince Lombardi left Green Bay to go to the Washington Redskins, and his name is on the trophy that we give out every year."

Why did he go to the Washington Redskins, Brett? Was it revenge? Was it "sticking it to" the Packers?

Not at all.

Lombardi left because he, as general manager, had hired Phil Bengston to be his head coach in 1968, and he refused to do what Pat Riley did to Stan Van Gundy and the Miami Heat by demoting him so he could win a championship as head coach again once the coaching bug returned.

The Packers were not on the 1969 Redskins schedule, nor was Washington located in the NFC Central Division in 1969.

The Packers are twice on the 2009 Vikings schedule, and every Minnesota win makes it harder for Ted Thompson's team to return to the playoffs in a year where not doing so could cost him his job.

That, I'm sure, would make Brett Favre smile. Certainly, it would make a number of Packers fans who side with Favre be filled with glee.

But is it right for him to act out of revenge? As I said in a previous analysis: no way.

Did he come out and say directly to Joe Buck that he wants to play for the Vikings because he wants to "stick it to Ted?"

No.

But I'm still convinced it's why.