Green Bay QB Brett Favre exits with numerous records, including 3 league MVP awards

In the end, Brett Favre felt he was too tired to keep playing. Tired of trying to live up to the legend he created as one of pro sports' most dynamic players.

Thus ended one of the most remarkable careers in league history. After 16 seasons as the Green Bay Packers' quarterback, Favre retired. It will never be the same in Green Bay now that No. 4 has called it a career.

"He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms — not many players are able to do that," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. The uniqueness of Brett Favre, his personality, charisma and love of the game — undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

Favre, 38, agonized over retirement each of the previous three years, before returning.

He was coming off a stirring performance in 2007, leading the Packers to a 13-3 record and to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the New York Giants in overtime. Many teammates, as well as the coaching staff, said they believed Favre would be back.

"I just saw it come across the TV," said ex-Seahawk Koren Robinson, a Green Bay receiver, of Favre's retirement.

Team president Mark Murphy said last week that he expected Favre to be back.

But Favre, who was with Atlanta in the first of his 17 pro seasons, told Packers officials Monday night he intended to retire.

"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," Favre told ESPN on Tuesday morning in a voice-mail message. "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's agent, Bus Cook, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that it was his impression the team didn't want Favre back.

"I think he wanted to play," Cook said. "I think he's still got it. He knows he's still got it. I think he felt he could play one more year. I don't know if they told him they really wanted him to play. That's just the feeling I got."

But coach Mike McCarthy and Thompson said at a news conference in Green Bay that they did want Favre to play in 2008.

"We felt like it was important for Brett to make this decision for Brett," Thompson said. "He had some questions: 'Can I still play?' and 'Do you want me?' It was 'Yes' and 'Yes.' After that, he had to make the decision."

There also has been speculation Favre might have been upset the team did not try to sign free-agent receiver Randy Moss away from the New England Patriots, and that it contributed to his decision. But Favre made it seem more as if he was tired of the grind.

McCarthy said he sensed over the last several weeks that Favre might have been ready to step away. McCarthy said he spoke with Favre again Thursday about retirement, and the two spoke twice Monday night.

"After our Thursday conversation, he said he needs to dig deep in his heart to make the right decision," McCarthy said. "He's given a lot of thought to it."

McCarthy indicated he was willing to change the team's practice format to make it easier for Favre next season. But it wasn't enough.

"I'm just tired," Favre told ESPN. "Mentally, I'm tired. Physically, I feel OK, but it's the stress, studying every week, preparing. The more we won, the more stressful it was. I'd always tried to top what I'd done the previous week."

Favre's retirement was met with surprise but universal agreement that he had enjoyed one of the most brilliant careers in league history.

Last season, Favre surpassed Dan Marino's career records for touchdown passes and yards passing.

Favre also extended his quarterback-record streak of regular-season starts to 253. Including playoffs, he started 275 consecutive games.

Ex-Packers coach Mike Sherman, who is the coach at Texas A&M, said he figured Favre would go out with more fanfare.

"I always envisioned his teammates carrying him off the field — and his arm falling off as he left," Sherman said.