Thu Mar 6 14:40:39 2008

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Packing it in: Favre discusses retirement

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Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre held a candid press conference on his retirement on Thursday, and made it clear that he would not return.

On Tuesday, the 38-year-old Favre apparently informed the Packers of his decision, news that came out from the club. On Thursday, Favre spoke publicly for the first time, and answered questions for more than an hour -- but made it clear his career was over.

"I've given everything I possibly could give to this organization. I don't think I've got anything left to give," Favre said. "I know I can play. But I don't think I want to, and that's what it really comes down to."

Favre will leave the game as the NFL's all-time record holder in several categories including wins by a starting quarterback, passing yards, touchdowns and consecutive games started.

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

During his press conference, Favre said several times that he could still play -- something that was a probability for 2008 after last season's success.

The 38-year-old has flirted with retirement over the last several years, but came back each time and rebounded to have one of his best seasons a season ago. This time around, however, he left little room for that possibility.

"Fishing for different answers and 'What ifs?' and 'Will he come back?', things like that," Favre said. "What matters is it's been a great career for me, and it's over. As hard as that is for me to say.

"There's no guarantees next year, personally and as a team. I'm well aware of that," Favre said. "It's a tough business, and last year and the year before, I questioned whether or not I should come back because I didn't play at a high enough level. I didn't question my commitment (then). I'm not up to the challenge anymore...I'm going out on top, believe me."

Favre, unshaven and dressed in a simple button-down shirt, started to tear up less than a minute into the press conference, and was choked up during his early comments. Throughout, Favre appeared at times subdued and emotionally tired.

As Favre spoke, he revealed the amount of conflict that went into his decision. While he mentioned how hard Sundays would become -- "I'll say I could be doing that, I should be doing that." -- Favre said he didn't think he could give anything else to the game.

Even watching his own highlights, from what he called 16 wonderful years in Green Bay, became hard to do, as he hit a somber note.

"I was watching at home last night, I actually broke down (watching) some of the footage. How could you not?" Favre said. "I realized what it's like to die. As I'm watching TV last night, I said this is what it's like for me to die."

Such highlight montages are really only a celebration of Favre's career, in which he was three-time NFL MVP, seven-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

He has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 61,655 yards and 442 TDs over 17 NFL seasons, the last 16 of which were played in Green Bay after the Packers acquired him from the Atlanta Falcons.

But for all the numbers, Favre said his career was more about the accomplishments of the Packers, whom he led to two Super Bowls; a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and a loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII.

For Favre, there was "no better" place to play.

"It's been a great relationship, and I hope this organization and fans appreciate me as much as I appreciate them," Favre said.

Favre did not have concrete plans for life after football, and only said it would be nice for a while to "not live up to expectations."

The Packers will now look for Aaron Rodgers, a former first-round pick out of California, to take over the reins of the team.

Rodgers has had few opportunities to play since being taken with the 24th overall selection in the 2005 draft.