A legend says goodbye
By Michael Thayer
On Pro Football

In the world of sports, there are those names that will always be synonymous with greatness. Names such as Ruth, Gretzky, Ali and Jordan. In the football world, you can add the name Favre in that list with little hesitation. As of March 3, those names can all share another similarity: retirement.

It was on that warm Monday evening that Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre informed his team of 16 years that he would not return for another season.

“I’m just tired mentally,” Farve said in a voicemail message to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. “I’m just tired.” For the majority of that Tuesday, this was the only statement released by the future Hall of Famer. Favre’s announcement comes just six days after Packer’s president Mark Murphy assured fans that he felt certain the quarterback would return for the 2008 season.

Throughout his 16 years in Green Bay, the quarterback became a legend. He was a hero on the field, but also somebody to idolize off the field. Favre had the “working man” image to his fans and teammates alike. The bond and respect even carried to his opponents.

Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan acknowledged, what he called, the best quarterback ever.

“He was the face of the Packers and a great credit to our game,” he said. “It was an honor to coach against him.”

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who has been dubbed one of the best quarterbacks in the league, said, “while the NFL loses one of its greatest players, I join football fans everywhere in saluting Brett Favre. Brett was one of the game’s unique players, and we all were fortunate to witness his remarkable 17-season career.”

To his fans, he was human. He made mistakes, just like anybody else. After all, his final play in the NFL was a mistake, throwing an interception in the overtime loss that prevented his team from going to the Super Bowl. However, he can still leave the game with confidence that his legacy is set.

In 1991, the Atlanta Falcons drafted a young quarterback, with a name even the NFL Commissioner couldn’t pronounce during the draft announcement. A year later, he was traded to Green Bay to back up Don Majkowski. When Majkowsi went down to injury in the third game of the season, Favre was given his shot. He started the remaining 13 games of the season, leading the Packers to a 9-7 record.

Favre would set one of many NFL records by starting the next 253 games, through the 2007 season, a record among NFL quarterbacks.

More records came for Favre, who passed for 61,655 yards in 5,377 completed passes for 442 touchdowns, breaking NFL records all previously held by former Miami Dolphin Dan Marino. His final passing attempt capped off another record, as he threw 288 interceptions in his career. He also leads in most seasons with more than 3,000 passing yards.

The future Hall of Famer was awarded three Most Valuable Player awards, and was selected to nine Pro Bowl teams, scoring 160 wins along the way, another record.

The retirement has been felt across the NFL, with even the commissioner making a statement toward the quarterback.

“It has been a joy and privilege for all of us to watch him play,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

As the Packers are faced to look forward, the team will now rely on backup quarterback Aaron Rogers to lead the way. Rogers, who was picked up in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, has played in seven games, scoring only one touchdown.

“I know fans are absolutely devastated today,” team General Manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday. “The Packers will move forward, but certainly we’ve all been blessed to see this man play the game the way he played it.”

In 2007, Favre lead his team to a 13-3 regular season record and second place in the NFC. Every player hopes to go out on top, and Favre may have done just that.

Thompson understands this clearly, saying “He is able to walk away from the game on his own terms — not many players are able to do that.”

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