For months, Green Bay Packers fans have worried about Brett Favre's future, wondering whether the three-time MVP was going to return or retire.

They got delightful news Thursday when coach Mike Sherman told The Associated Press that Favre will play in 2005 - and maybe beyond - because his wife's recovery from breast cancer is going so well.

As word spread across the NFL, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle chimed in, issuing a statement of gratitude.

"Like all Packers fans, I am thrilled that Brett Favre will be returning to action next season for the green and gold," Doyle said. "He is probably the greatest quarterback of all time, and as long as he's around, the Packers will always be contenders."

Sherman said he had a two-hour conversation with his quarterback on Wednesday night. Favre informed him his wife is doing well in her cancer treatment, so he's planning to play at least one more season, maybe more if his health holds up.

Favre said after the Packers' playoff loss to Minnesota in January he wanted to reflect before committing to playing a 15th NFL season following a year of personal tumult.

His wife, Deanna, was diagnosed with her illness in October, a week after the death of her 24-year-old brother in an ATV accident on the quarterback's property in Mississippi.

And Favre was still dealing with the stunning news of Reggie White's death on the day after Christmas, which came about a year after the death of Favre's father, Irv, from a heart attack.

"After the season, he just needed to think about some things," Sherman said. "Any man would have to contemplate his future when his wife is fighting cancer. It's not like he had to work to make money. He didn't want to be a part-time husband and a part-time football player. It came down to his wife. If she's not healthy, it's obviously a different ballgame. But now she's doing good. She wants him to play."

Plaxico Burress' immediate future is still very much undecided.The former Pittsburgh wide receiver, expected to be one of the more desirable free agents on the market, was sent packing by the New York Giants Thursday after meeting with team officials and coaches.The Giants said in a news release that they pulled back their offer to Burress. In fact, the Giants have been silent most of this free-agent period about players they have signed, making official announcements in some cases long after the signings have become public knowledge.Burress' agent said the player turned down the team."The Giants made us an offer, we rejected, they upped their offer, we rejected it again, and that's when they said they had to rescind the deal," Michael Harrison told The Associated Press, saying Burress would next visit Minnesota.Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed re-upped with the Steelers, a $7.5 million, five-year deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus.