After 17 seasons of crouching under center for the Green and Gold, Brett Favre decided Tuesday to retire from the NFL.
I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired,"" the three-time NFL MVP told ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a voicemail message.
While Favre's retirement isn't that big of a shock - most fans have been ready for this move for several years - it still comes as a bit of a surprise considering the state of the team. Green Bay is a young team, yet proved last season to be a winner and is expected to achieve great things: And everyone expected Favre to go along for the ride.
""I just saw it come across the TV,"" Packers wide receiver Koren Robinson said, when reached on his cell phone by the Associated Press, according to ESPN.
In the end, Favre just felt he couldn't stand up to - of all people - himself.
""If I felt like coming back - and Deanna [Favre's wife] and I talked about this - the only way for me to be successful would be to win a Super Bowl. To go to the Super Bowl and lose, would almost be worse than anything else. Anything less than a Super Bowl win would be unsuccessful,"" Favre said in the message.
Favre's decision came down to a simple ultimatum: Either play and win a Super Bowl, or don't play at all. When looked at from that position, Favre's decision seems to have been an easy one. The Chicago Bears went to the Super Bowl two years ago, and didn't even have a winning record last season.
Overall, Favre holds NFL records for most career touchdown passes and passing yards, as well as most victories by a starting quarterback. Favre also holds the record for most consecutive starts among quarterbacks with 253 - 275 including the postseason. He retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions.
There are no guarantees in today's NFL, but Favre was the exception. Favre could always be counted on to play his hardest and walk away without any regrets. There was no ball he couldn't throw, no window he couldn't fit the ball into.
Favre will be missed, that much is certain. But the impression he has left on the Packers and in Green Bay will be remembered for years to come.
