Favre ponders retirement after early playoff exit

[Nick]

Favre ponders retirement after early playoff exit

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre doesn't want to go out like this -- although he just might.

Favre was in a reflective mood after throwing four interceptions in Green Bay's 31-17 loss to the hated Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

He said he didn't want his poor playoff performance to play a role in his decision whether to retire or return to Green Bay for a 15th NFL season.

"It would be easy to walk off the field after that game and say, 'I've had enough,"' Favre said. "But I'm going to try to be as fair to myself and to this team as possible. I've had a lot of great games. This obviously was not one of them. But I can't base my decision on this game."

Favre met with coach-general manager Mike Sherman for about 45 minutes after the loss to discuss his future.

"He just had a long talk, a good talk and he just wanted me to know that: don't make any decisions off of this one game, as tough as that may be. And he's right," Favre said. "I still feel like I can play."

Favre is still on top of his game -- he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns again this season -- and he's guided Green Bay to the playoffs 10 times, tops in the league during the salary cap era.

"There's no fine line here. I love to play the game, I don't think it's passed me by yet. It's a good thing to still have juice to play and still physically be able to play," Favre said. "But in some ways you almost want that decision to be made for you."

Favre suggested he give Sherman an answer by the draft in April but Sherman can't wait that long. He said before he flies home to Mississippi this week he expects to have a deadline from Sherman.

At 35, Favre feels the tug of family, not just football.

He's lost his father and his brother-in-law in the last 13 months. His oldest daughter attends high school in Mississippi and his wife, Deanna, is fighting breast cancer.

"It's not about me anymore," Favre said. "My wife has gone through some difficult times and continues to and so that is going to play into my decision-making. I know if my family was up here right now, they would say, 'He's coming back.' But I also have to be fair to them, too, and they're going to be involved."

Favre, scheduled to make $6.5 million in 2005, said he's never played for the money and won't start now.

"If I come back, I want to come back for the right reasons and that's to lead this team to the Super Bowl," Favre said.

He's pretty certain he has the offense to do that, but the dismal defense needs an overhaul so he's not always having to try to win shootouts like on Sunday.

Still, Favre said he didn't seek assurances from Sherman about personnel changes or acquisitions.

"You know what, I would not want the job of who to keep, who to pick up because you're damned if you do, damned if you don't," Favre said. "I've never been one to pass the buck, had I had this guy or had we had this ..."

By the end of his news conference, Favre was smiling, his shoulders loose. He looked relaxed as though the weight of the season and the team's expectations were finally lifted. Not in victory, but still.

He also seemed to be looking forward to getting away from football, for a while, at least.

"My vacation is going home to Mississippi and hiding," he said. "I'll probably think about this game until whenever. And to block this game out and make a decision is going to be difficult. But I will try my best."

[DJRamFan]

He needs to STAY, period.

[Nick]

He could probably play another season or two, but honestly, I think he hangs it up to be with his family.

[elAcky]

Bit of a shame... Favre has been the best redneck QB ever to play the NFL.

[txramsfan]

elAcky, couldn't you have said he's the best humble QB ever to play the game? That would have been better.

Anyway, Nick is right. He could hang it up easily after all the family issues that he's had recently and no one would blame him for it. His skills have diminished, just look at his stats over the last three years. Farve is also correct in saying he shouldn't consider retirement so soon after his last performance.

Either way, Brees in GB is looking awfully intriguing.

[HUbison]

Bit of a shame... Favre has been the best redneck QB ever to play the NFL.

That depends on how you look at it. If you're saying....
1. who's the best QB that happens to be a redneck, then yea, Favre hands down

but, if you're saying...

2. who's the best redneck that happens to be a QB, then you've got to go with Terry Bradshaw. I'm convinced his parents are siblings. Ok, that was a little harsh. No offense intended to Ma & Pa Bradshaw. But Bradshaw has to be the biggest redneck in the history of the NFL.

[HUbison]

elAcky, couldn't you have said he's the best humble QB ever to play the game? That would have been better.

Anyway, Nick is right. He could hang it up easily after all the family issues that he's had recently and no one would blame him for it. His skills have diminished, just look at his stats over the last three years. Farve is also correct in saying he shouldn't consider retirement so soon after his last performance.

Either way, Brees in GB is looking awfully intriguing.

I remember GB bringing in Tim Couch early in the season, but I haven't heard anything since. Is he still around or did they get rid of him?

[txramsfan]

He never signed with GB.

[elAcky]

That depends on how you look at it. If you're saying....
1. who's the best QB that happens to be a redneck, then yea, Favre hands down

but, if you're saying...

2. who's the best redneck that happens to be a QB, then you've got to go with Terry Bradshaw. I'm convinced his parents are siblings. Ok, that was a little harsh. No offense intended to Ma & Pa Bradshaw. But Bradshaw has to be the biggest redneck in the history of the NFL.

good point.. maybe Manning will take that pretigious honour in a few years though

[txramsfan]

Well, I hope I'm the best redneck moderator on the web. I would gladly like to be considered in the same category as Brett Farve and Peyton Manning.

[HUbison]

Well, I hope I'm the best redneck moderator on the web. I would gladly like to be considered in the same category as Brett Farve and Peyton Manning.

I would think growing up in the Missouri Bootheel gives you automatic redneck status.

It's our birthright, Tx.

[Nick]

Couch signed with Green Bay in June but looked horrible in the preseason. The Packers released him after failing to trade him, and I believe he was looking into an injury grievance because he's claiming he was injured when he was released. Now there's word he may sign with Chicago to be a back-up there.

Honestly, Favre has had some good regular seasons the past few years, but he's not done well in the playoffs. Picked off six times against the Rams in 2001, beaten at home by the Falcons in 2002 where he put up a passer rating of 54.4, 2003 was better but he threw that horrible interception to basically end the Eagles game, and now 2004 he's picked off four times at home against a weak Vikings defense that's missing some starters.

Again, he's remained consistently good in the regular season, but it seems to me the only reason Favre is still hanging around is the chance to get another ring. The way he's been playing in the post-season the last couple of seasons, combined with the Packers' defensive struggles, you have to wonder how realistic an expectation that is. I think he hangs it up.

[RammieGirl]

Brett Favre is one player that has always gotten my respect on and off the field and he deserves all the respect that does come his way. Although it's gonna be a difficult decision to make after so many years, but I bet he retires to spend time with his family. Life's too short....Perspective and Priorities are 2 very important words.

[theodus69]

Seems like every year the Packers exit early or don't make the playoffs it's an automatic " Favre thinks retirement". I know this has been a tough year for him , But he will be around another 4 yrs at least! Hell the guy is Superman! One tough SOB!

[Nick]

theodus, if you ever want to make a bet behind your prediction of Favre playing another four years, please let me be the first to find out.