The Green Bay Packers welcomed back quarterback Brett Favre from the reserve-retired list Sunday knowing full well that they’ve already taken the first step toward trading him to the Minnesota Vikings.

An executive in personnel for an NFL team with close ties to clubs in the NFC North Division told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Packers called the Vikings on Friday informing them that Favre was available.

“They’ve kind of said through one of their (front-office) guys that if Favre did report they would potentially trade him within the division,” the executive said late Sunday afternoon.

The source said the conversation between officials from the two bitter rivals was brief. There was no discussion about possible compensation.

James “Bus” Cook, Favre’s agent, has not been involved in talks with the Vikings regarding a possible restructuring of his contract, according to the source.

The contact by the Packers was termed “a feeler” in the event Favre rejected the multimillion-dollar marketing and promotional agreement offered by Green Bay.

“They thought he would agree to it,” the executive said. “Evidently, he didn’t agree to it.”

The Vikings, according to the source, remain convinced that the Packers don’t want Favre on their roster in 2008.

It appears more and more as if the Vikings are the only team in the NFC North with legitimate interest in Favre.