GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers seem to be getting closer to ending their 16-year relationship.

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A private plane left Green Bay Wednesday with Favre and his wife, Deanna, on board as trade talks heat up with Tampa Bay and the New York Jets.

Favre's agent, "Bus" Cook, told the Jackson, Miss., Clarion-Ledger that a trade to either Tampa Bay or the New York Jets is imminent.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson postponed his press conference Wednesday morning, one of several signs a trade could be in the works for Favre.

The Tampa Bay Tribune reported late Tuesday night that a deal for Favre could be finalized by Wednesday as Favre stated he wouldn't void a trade to the Buccaneers, though no details of the trade have surfaced.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette also reported that talks between the clubs have intensified.

Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers coach, refused to address the situation on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers have yet to confirm publicly that they are interested in Favre. But, Gruden conceded that Favre's situation is "unprecedented" and acknowledged that he's always willing to explore ways to improve his team.

On Tuesday, ESPN.com reported that Favre, after a 16-year tenure with the Packers, acknowledged that he was at loggerheads with the organization and believed the "best thing for this team is for us to part ways."

The Bucs, who are $26 million under the salary cap, open the regular season Sept. 7 at division rival New Orleans with veteran Jeff Garcia likely to take the starting snaps under center if Favre doesn't end up in Tampa.

McCarthy talked to reporters about the standoff over Favre's retirement after practice on Tuesday.

The coach said he and Favre had "a ton of conversations" over the past couple of days about the quarterback's desire to come back and play in the NFL, but McCarthy wasn't convinced that Favre wants to be part of the Packers.

"I have to keep the train moving," McCarthy said.

McCarthy said that when he asked Favre whether he was committed to playing for Green Bay, "that's not where he was."

McCarthy said that no decision has been made on whether Favre will play for the team again but reiterated that Favre "is not in the mindset to play here."

After a six-hour meeting with Favre Monday night, McCarthy said that he and Favre would meet again Tuesday night. What will be talked about at that meeting isn't known at this point.

Throughout Tuesday's press conference, McCarthy noted numerous times that Favre is "in a tough spot right now" and also that Favre is "emotional."

Regarding Monday's talks, McCarthy said, "I respect his feelings but I disagreed with some of those."

One reporter at the news conference asked McCarthy why Favre isn't the Packers starting quarterback and McCarthy responded, "That's a good question. You need to ask Brett."

McCarthy continued, "He is a great football player and I love coaching him and seeing him play."

McCarthy also focused on the team's current starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. "I've prepared Rodgers to be our starting QB since he (Brett) retired."

It is not known at this time when Favre plans on addressing the media and McCarthy said that he doesn't know when Favre plans to do so.

Fans and team management alike aren't the only ones who want the situation resolved. As McCarthy said, "The players want it resolved."

He added, "It's been an extraordinary challenge dealing with this situation and we'll learn a lot from it."

McCarthy also stated that Rodgers "has done everything right."

After Favre left Lambeau Field Tuesday, he gave ESPN the following statement:

"The problem is that there's been a lot of damage done and I can't forget it. Stuff has been said, stories planted, that just aren't true. Can I get over all that? I doubt it," said Favre. "So they can say they welcome me back but, come on, the way they've treated me tells you the truth. They don't want me back, so let's move on. I don't know where it's headed. We'll see."

Favre asked the team for his release earlier Tuesday according to ESPN.com.

Favre and McCarthy were supposed to talk on Monday night about Favre's commitment to football and his role on the team. The fact the meeting ran several hours over its allotted time was a strong hint that it went beyond simply welcoming Favre back to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting quarterback job.

The two left Lambeau Field separately in their SUVs shortly before midnight Monday.

"We're at a stalemate," Favre told the Web site. "(Coach) Mike McCarthy and I both agreed last night that me being out there is a distraction and will continue to be a distraction. We all know the reason I'm here is because the commissioner [Roger Goodell] reinstated me so we have a lot of things to figure out. It's simple and complicated, both at the same time."

Favre also said the team once again rejected his request to talk to teams about a trade within the NFC North.

Favre is friends with Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, as well as offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and it's believed the signal caller would like to play with Minnesota this season.

Favre originally faxed his letter requesting reinstatement to the league on Tuesday of last week. Favre was activated by the team on Monday.

The 38-year-old Favre retired in early March at a tear-filled press conference, but has apparently had the itch to return for a 17th season. He met last Wednesday with club president Mark Murphy in Mississippi.

After Favre's retirement, Rodgers was given the starting QB job, a position from which the Packers have remained steadfast.

Now that Favre is reinstated, the Packers have three options. Most sports watchers said that the most unrealistic is just releasing him from his contract. The team could trade him and there remain a lot of rumors the Packers are still trying to make a deal. Lastly, the club could just give Favre a shot at the quarterback position.

The team had previously offered Favre a long-term, multimillion-dollar marketing agreement that likely would have kept him retired. Favre's decision to report to camp makes such an agreement far less likely.

In related news, Goodell announced on Monday that he has ruled the Vikings didn't tamper with Favre in trying to get the quarterback to sign with them.

Goodell said that while there were conversations between the then-retired Favre and Vikings coaches, none of the conversations suggested Favre was soliciting a job or that anyone was soliciting his services.

The Packers had filed the charges, based at least in part between records of phone conversations between Favre and Darrell Bevell, Minnesota's offensive coordinator. Bevell is a former Green Bay assistant and a friend of Favre's.

Meanwhile, Vikings coach Brad Childress said on Monday that his team hasn't had contact with the Packers regarding a potential trade for Favre.

Childress dismissed a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that said the Packers have made preliminary contact with the Vikings about Favre.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson said last week that he wouldn't consider trading Favre to an NFC North competitor.

Last season, Favre led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game after throwing for 4,155 yards with 28 touchdowns and compiling a 95.7 passer rating during the regular season.

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