Tomlinson says Favre was forced to retire

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he thinks fellow NFL MVP Brett Favre was forced to retire prematurely and that the Green Bay Packers are making a mistake in not welcoming him back.

The 38-year-old Favre retired in March after 17 seasons in the NFL and said in an interview with Fox News that he felt pressure at the time to make a decision. Favre, like NFL rushing leader Tomlinson, led his team to within a win of the Super Bowl last season.

"Brett Favre should have the opportunity to control his own destiny,"

Tomlinson, who won the NFL's MVP in 2006, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "If he wants to come back and play football, then let him come back. I think that he was forced to retire prematurely. He finally realized that's not what he wants to do."

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN Wednesday that the next move belongs to the Packers. "Brett has made it pretty clear that he is not willing to come in as a backup," Cook told ESPN.