Favre Says He Will Retire (Again)

Teacher Mark · February 12, 2009

Quarterback Brett Favre has told the Jets he is retiring from the N.F.L. after 18 seasons, according to his agent and the team. On Wednesday morning, Favre’s Web site linked to an article on ESPN.com, which first reported that he had decided to retire.

“I had a great conversation with Brett this morning,” Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, said in a statement released by the team. “Considering that he came from a totally different environment and joined our team during training camp, his performance last season was extraordinary.

“As I spoke with people throughout the organization, they all told me how much they enjoyed working with him. Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame player, but he is also a Hall of Fame person. Brett, Deanna and his family will always be a part of the Jets family.”

Of course, Favre retired 11 months ago as well, in a tear-filled news conference, only to return again to the N.F.L. The Jets had been hopeful that Favre would announce his intentions before the N.F.L. scouting combine on Feb. 18, or at least by the start of free agency on Feb. 27. The team had two plans in place: one with Favre and one without him. Without him, it turns out.

In an e-mail message to Ed Werder of ESPN, Favre indicated he had no regrets about the season he spent in New York. He also praised General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and the fired Coach Eric Mangini and his teammates.

Johnson said that when Favre spoke with him, he also reflected on when he first joined the Jets. “We talked about how difficult an experience this was,” Johnson said. “He said he had trepidations, really, right from the beginning, right from when he started. All those concerns, which are natural, kind of dissipated.”

Favre told Tannenbaum during Super Bowl week that he was leaning toward retiring. The Jets were careful not to rush Favre, and Tannenbaum and Johnson stated publicly that they wished he would return for another season.

Asked if he was disappointed that Favre played only one season with the Jets, Johnson said: “There was always, with Brett, there was always the possibility that he wouldn’t play the second year. We were hoping to get one good year out of Brett Favre. We picked him based on 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.”

Pressed repeatedly, neither Johnson nor Tannenbaum would address the hypothetical of Favre changing his mind in a few months. They said he was unequivocal when they spoke with him.

“We’re taking him at his word on that,” Tannenbaum said. “Everything he said today was about him no longer wanting to play.”

By retiring, Favre saves the Jets about $13 million in salary cap room. The team also saved $5.1 million in cap space by releasing the veteran cornerback David Barrett on Tuesday. These moves put the Jets well under the salary cap, leaving them more room to sign free agents in the coming weeks.The Jets are likely to explore the market for a veteran quarterback, someone like Kerry Collins, for next season. They do have three quarterbacks — Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge — on their roster, but only Clemens has started an N.F.L. game.

Tannenbaum said only that the Jets feel comfortable with their salary cap situation.

Both Johnson and Tannenbaum said they are comfortable with the three quarterbacks already on the roster. Tannenbaum had high praise for Brett Ratliff, saying: “When he played as well as he did in the preseason, nobody in the building was surprised. There are reasons to be encouraged. He has earned the right to be in the mix. He’s the earned the right for the opportunity.”

Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start in 2008 that included a comeback victory over the Patriots in New England and a convincing victory over the Titans in Tennessee. Those wins had the Jets dreaming of a Super Bowl appearance and experts ranking the team as a contender in the American Football Conference.

But the Jets collapsed down the stretch, losing four of their last five, as Favre threw nine interceptions and only two touchdown passes in that five-game stretch. After the season Favre told multiple news outlets that he had a torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm and that doctors had instructed him to have surgery if he wanted to play next season. He said no.

In the last four Decembers Favre threw for 13 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He is a lock for the Hall of Fame, as he holds career records for almost every significant passing category, including touchdowns.

“It was an honor to coach against Brett over the years,” said the Jets’ new head coach, Rex Ryan, in a statement released by the team. “If he’s not the best quarterback ever, then he’s certainly in the conversation. I have great admiration for him as a player and a person. I wish him only the best in his life after football.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/sports/f...ml?ref=football