Minnesota wide receiver Bobby Wade shared an alleged conversation he had with Brian Urlacher about Jay Cutler. "Jay Cutler is a good player," Wade said. "Obviously, it's a much different environment going from Denver to play in Chicago. Chicago is a tough club to play for. What is so funny, I actually saw Brian Urlacher this past weekend in Las Vegas, and we had a long conversation. I don't want to get him in trouble, but it wasn't what [the Bears] expected. Pretty much [Urlacher] said Jay Cutler was a [deleted], for the most part." The deleted word begins with the letter 'P'. Urlacher told the Tribune: "That's just Bobby being Bobby. That's just stirring it up before camp."

Kenechi Udeze, the Vikings defensive end who missed last season because of leukemia, has retired. Coach Brad Childress said Wednesday that Udeze, the team's first-round draft choice (20th overall) in 2004 out of Southern California, has ended his comeback attempt. Udeze tied for the team lead in sacks in 2007, but got sick following the season and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February 2008. He had a bone marrow transplant last July and felt well enough to participate in this spring's minicamps and organized team activities. But after the practices, Udeze apparently decided he needed to devote his time to fighting his illness. After a June workout, he told the Star Tribune: "I'd be lying if I said it was easy. There was never an easy point. The first time I went back to USC and started working out with the fellas, I fell. I took two steps and I fell. I took small steps at first and, to where I am now, I can't complain."

There is mounting evidence that Brett Favre is interested in playing football if he can somehow shorten the season as it applies to him. According to Pro Football Talk, some within the Vikings organization are convinced that Favre will contact the team about a return a few weeks into training camp. People within the organization also believe that Minnesota head coach Brad Childress would welcome him with open arms.

The Vikings have signed second-round pick Phil Loadholt. Minnesota announced the move on Wednesday, assuring that the rookie right tackle will report to training camp on time. The first practice is on Friday.

Minnesota quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson aren't concerned with the fact that the team was heavily recruiting Brett Favre. Rosenfels told the Pioneer Press that Vikings coach Brad Childress told the team in one of their last organized team activities that they should prepare as though Favre wasn't going to join the team. "He said: 'I'm not sure what's going to happen. But prepare as if he's not coming,' " Rosenfels said. "I would have done that, either way." "Tarvaris is very even-tempered," the quarterback's agent said. "He's got a very calm demeanor. No matter what he's always ready to compete."

Brett Favre says that opting against playing for the Vikings this season was the hardest decision he's ever made. "It was the hardest decision I've ever made," Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings -- but, most importantly, the fans." He added that he is unlikely to ever consider playing in the NFL again. "I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons," Favre said. "They were telling me, 'You went through all this, you had the surgery and you've got to finish it off.' But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."

The Star Tribune is reporting that Brett Favre has decided to remain retired. Judd Zulgad of the Tribune had a conversation with Brad Childress on Tuesday, during which the Minnesota coach admitted that Favre won't be joining the team this season. "I just think it was a rare opportunity to explore a Hall of Fame quarterback who had background in the NFC and in this division," Childress said. "He knows our system inside out ... This doesn't change anything about how I feel about our football team."

Agent Bus Cook says that Brett Favre is still mulling over whether he should play for the Vikings this season. Favre told The Associated Press earlier this month that he would gave Minnesota a final answer by July 30, but Cook told ESPN's Rachel Nichols on Monday that nothing has been decided.

John Elway and Joe Montana both believe that Brett Favre should return to the NFL for another season if he truly wants to. "If he decides not to play now and doesn't come back, I think he'll question that for the rest of his life," Elway told The Los Angeles Times. Montana added, "If he's ready to play, then yeah, he should." However, Montana did say that Favre needs to decide soon so that his potential teammates aren't left in limbo. "But usually when you're waffling like that it makes it difficult on everybody," he told the Times. "If it was the first time he's done it, it would be different. But we've seen it already, and here we go again. I'm sure that's all (the Vikings) are thinking about."

Agent Bus Cook expects Brett Favre to make a decision on his return next week. A number of reports claimed that Favre would make a decision on Friday, but that obviously didn't end up happening. "I think he's more likely to wait until the beginning or middle of next week," Cook told ESPN of when he thinks his client will finally decide. Cook spoke with Favre on Friday morning, and said that the quarterback is still worried about all the mental and physical factors that would come along throughout the season.