Jets QB Brett Favre retires after 18 seasons

[February 12, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Brett Favre's record-breaking right arm made the decision easier for him this time.

The 39-year-old quarterback insists he's done playing football, telling the New York Jets on Wednesday that his injured shoulder is still bothering him and he's retiring after 18 seasons.

And he really means it -- at least for now.

"I have family and friends who are like, 'All right, Brett. Is this the real deal?'" Favre said. "To me, it is. It is. Believe me. It's been a wonderful career, I couldn't ask for anything more. It was worth a shot for me to go to New York. I wish I could've played better down the stretch. I didn't.

"It's time to leave."

Favre, who struggled with his decision to retire last March only to return a few months later, kept this goodbye simple -- no tearful farewell or jam-packed news conference. He spoke to owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan and informed them he was calling it a career.

"I have no reason to wonder why you would be so skeptical," Favre said with a slight chuckle.

The Jets placed Favre on the reserve-retired list, meaning the quarterback's retirement paperwork had been filed with the NFL -- something he didn't do last winter with the Green Bay Packers.

"Emotionally, I'm OK with it," said Favre, who spent the day on his bulldozer and doing yard work on the grounds at his home in Kiln, Miss. "I really felt like it was time. Obviously, the circumstances last year were a lot different. Physically, if I felt better, we may not be having this conversation, but I think that's more than anything the writing on the wall."

Favre, still recovering from a torn biceps tendon, had two years left on his contract and was due $13 million next season, clearing a chunk of salary cap space for the Jets. His decision came six weeks after his only season in New York ended in disappointment as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs.

A major reason for the collapse was Favre, who threw nine interceptions in those five games. He said he played with the injury that got worse later in the season and needed a cortisone injection after the team's game at San Francisco in Week 14.

"It's something that obviously I was able to play with," he said. "I don't think I was nearly as productive as the season progressed, but it very well could be fine next year. I'm well aware of that. But then again, it could linger and bother me throughout the year and I just felt like it was time. I think that, to me more than anything, was a wakeup call."

Favre insisted that even if his shoulder felt better next season, he's still done with playing.

"It's nothing I would second-guess, no," he said.

If this is indeed it for Favre, he leaves the game with a slew of records, including career touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions (310).

"With Brett, there was always the possibility that he wouldn't play the second year," Johnson said. "We were hoping to get one good year out of Brett Favre. We picked him based on, in our opinion, his giving us the best chance to win last season. We were disappointed not to have made the Super Bowl, but we did some very good things with Brett."

The team improved from 4-12 in 2007 to 9-7, but the late-season woes cost Eric Mangini his job -- and perhaps tarnished Favre's legacy a bit.

"You name it in professional football, and I've done it," Favre said. "Very few people, if any, can say that. I've received way more honors than I probably deserve. I've had my share of mistakes. I've had my share of lucky breaks. I wouldn't trade my career for anything."

The three-time NFL MVP holds the mark among quarterbacks with 291 consecutive starts, including the playoffs, despite playing through several injuries throughout his career.

"The longevity of his career and his love for the game is truly inspiring," All-Pro kick returner-running back Leon Washington told The Associated Press. "I'm privileged to have played with not only a Hall of Fame QB, but also a great role model."

After the Jets' season-ending 24-17 loss to Miami, Favre said he felt discomfort in his arm "for quite a while." It turned out to be a torn biceps tendon, and he opted not to have surgery.

It wasn't all bad with the Jets for Favre. He threw a career-high six touchdown passes, tying Joe Namath's team record, in a 56-35 victory over Arizona in Week 4. Favre also helped rejuvenate the franchise, drawing thousands of fans to training camp practices.

He finished with 3,472 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, but the 22 interceptions were his most in three seasons.

"It would've been fantastic to be coaching Brett," Ryan said. "It's a sad day to see him leave, to see him retiring."

New York now will move forward with a new quarterback, perhaps with Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff or Erik Ainge. The Jets could also look to sign a veteran free agent such as Jeff Garcia, Kerry Collins, Byron Leftwich or Rex Grossman, or target a quarterback with their first pick -- No. 17 overall -- in the draft in April.

"If an opportunity presents itself, we'll measure it carefully and then make the best decision for the Jets," Tannenbaum said. "But going into the league year, we feel good about the players we have."

[Associated Press; By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.]

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