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(AP) - After flirting with retirement for years, Brett Favre means it
this time. The Green Bay Packers quarterback retired after a
17-season career in which he dazzled fans with his grit, heart and
rocket of an arm.

      "I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm
just tired mentally. I'm just tired," Favre told ESPN's Chris
Mortensen in a voice mail message.

      Tuesday's surprise move comes after the 38-year-old three-time
MVP set several league records, including most career touchdown
passes, in one of his most successful seasons.

      Favre's agent, Bus Cook, said the quarterback told him of his
decision Monday night.

      "Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door, but then nobody
encouraged him not to go out that door, either," Cook said by
phone from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office.

      Packers general manager Ted Thompson thanked Favre for 16 years
of wonderful memories with the team.

      "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," Thompson
said in a statement.

      Favre led the Packers to the NFC championship game in January,
but his interception in overtime set up the New York Giants'
winning field goal.

      "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. "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."

      The news was a surprise to teammates.

      "I just saw it come across the TV," Packers wide receiver
Koren Robinson said, when reached on his cell phone by The
Associated Press.

      Last season, Favre broke Dan Marino's career records for most
touchdown passes and most yards passing and John Elway's record for
most career victories by a starting quarterback.

      He retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for
61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions.

      In his final season, Favre also extended his quarterback-record
streak of consecutive regular-season starts to 253 games -
illustrating his trademark toughness. Add the playoffs, and Favre's
streak stands at 275.

      In the past several offseasons, Favre's indecision about his
football future became a winter tradition in Wisconsin, with
Cheeseheads hanging on his every word.

      Unlike after the 2006 season - when Favre choked up in a
television interview as he walked off the field in Chicago, only to
return once again - nearly everyone assumed he would be back next
season.

      It was a remarkable turnaround from 2005, Favre's final season
under former head coach Mike Sherman, when he threw a career-worst
29 interceptions as the Packers went 4-12.

      Surrounded by an underrated group of wide receivers who proved
hard to tackle after the catch, Favre had a career-high completion
percentage of 66.5. He threw for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and
only 15 interceptions.

      Before the Packers' Jan. 12 divisional playoff game against
Seattle, Favre told his hometown newspaper that he wasn't
approaching the game as if it would be his last and was more
optimistic than in years past about returning.

      "For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this
could be my last game," Favre told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald.
"I would like to continue longer."

      But Favre finished the season on a sour note, struggling in
subzero temperatures in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York
Giants in the NFC championship game.

      Afterward, Favre was noncommittal on his future. McCarthy said
he wanted Favre to take a step back from the season before making a
decision.

      "The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude," Thompson
said. "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."
     

Gallery

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has decided to retire
from the NFL after 17 seasons. The team confirmed his decision Tuesday morning.

Brett Favre retires after 17 seasons with the Packers

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