Green Bay’s Favre retires after 17 seasons
Quarterback says he’s tired
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 10:51 AM PST
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| Mike Roemer | Associated Press
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre waves to spectators as he leaves the field following the Packers' 9-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., in this Dec. 21, 2006 file photo. Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons. FOX Sports first reported Tuesday that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. |
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Another Super Bowl, another record, another roar from the crowd — none of it was enough.
Brett Favre couldn’t stomach the thought of forcing his battered body and mind through another year of tedious practices and merciless hits, only to have another chance at a championship yanked away in an instant.
So the 38-year-old icon turned his back on a promising young team Tuesday, telling the Green Bay Packers he finally is tired enough to retire.
‘‘I know I can still play, but it’s like I told my wife, I’m just tired mentally,’’ Favre told ESPN. ‘‘I’m just tired.’’
With that, Favre walked away from a wild 17-year ride marked by fist-pumping highs and head-shaking lows owning every quarterback record worth having.
But he’s leaving on a sour note: His interception in overtime of the NFC Championship game, a mistake that set up the New York Giants’ field goal that sent the Packers home instead of to the Super Bowl.
And he leaves most folks feeling he had at least another good year left in him.
‘‘I think he could have played again at the level that he just played this past season,’’ Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ‘‘The film reflects that. The statistics reflect that. I thought he played at a very high level this year and definitely had a lot left in his tank.’’
This certainly isn’t Favre’s first flirtation with retirement. He’s made speculation about his football future an annual rite of winter in Wisconsin for several years running.
So is Favre just crying wolf, only to get the itch to return this summer?
‘‘He seemed to be pretty good, at peace with his decision,’’ Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. ‘‘But as I’ve also said, it’s a very complicated decision process that he has go to through on this. I guess you never say never, but I wouldn’t anticipate that.’’
Favre talked to McCarthy by telephone twice Monday night, indicating he intended to retire, then spoke to Thompson to finalize his decision Tuesday morning.
Thompson and McCarthy insisted it was clear the team wanted Favre back.
However, Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said: ‘‘Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door, but then nobody encouraged him not to go out that door, either.’’ He spoke to the AP by phone from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office.
