Monday night Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced to Head Coach Mike McCarthy that he is going to hang up his cleats and settle into retirement. Favre has dazzled fans at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a strong right arm and a fierce drive and passion for the game of football that set him apart from other quarterbacks. The decision does not come as much of a surprise to Favre fans.  Favre has been contemplating retirement for a few years now and after a stellar 17th season he made it official.  After all, it makes sense to quit while you're still ahead.

Favre leaves behind a legacy for the ages full of superstar accolades.  In 17 seasons he was a two-time Super Bowl champion in 1996 and 1997, as well as the only NFL player to win three MVP awards. Favre's strong arm allowed him to throw into tight coverage to his receivers with great accuracy, even in very dicey situations with the game on the line. He will be retiring with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for a total of 61,555 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions, which passed Dan Marino's all-time mark this past season.  Favre's all-time career record for wins and losses is 160-93. 

"I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired," said Favre, to ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a voice mail message.  Favre, 38, seemed to make it a tradition each year to flirt with retirement.  But unlike the final game of the 2006 season -- when Favre provided a cliffhanger by getting 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.

The news, however, was a surprise to one of Favre's teammates, ex-Seahawk wide receiver Koren Robinson.  Robinson said regarding Favre's retirement plans, "I just saw it come across the TV." 

Favre will be remembered as a player who always brought his A-game and left it all out on the field.  "Brett Favre will always be remembered as one of the greatest players and fiercest competitors in NFL history," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "His long list of accomplishments both on and off the field is remarkable.  It has been a joy and privilege for all of us to watch him play." 

The city of Green Bay and NFL fans across the nation will miss # 4, and he leaves behind a great legacy at Lambeau, as well as some very big cleats to fill at the quarterback position.  Favre also has an almost guaranteed Hall of Fame spot to look forward to in the not too distant future. 

Sources
1.) www.espn.com 


Dan Olson writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.