Reports: QB Brett Favre will retire after 17 seasons

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons.

FOX Sports first reported Tuesday that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. ESPN.com said that according to Favres agent the quarterback told coach Mike McCarthy of his decision.

The team did not immediately confirm or deny the report. An assistant to Packers general manager Ted Thompson said he was in meetings all day but would release a statement later Tuesday morning.

The news was a surprise to at least one of Favres teammates. Most players expected Favre to return after a successful 2007 season.

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

The 38-year-old Favre, a three-time NFL MVP and one of the NFLs grittiest players, has made his annual flirtation with retirement a winter tradition in Wisconsin. He has taken weeks and even months to make his decision after recent seasons, with Cheeseheads hanging on his every word.

But unlike the final game of the 2006 seasonwhen Favre provided a cliffhanger by getting choked up in a television interview as he walked off the field in Chicago, only to return once againnearly everyone assumed he would be back this time. They were wrong.

Only two years removed from perhaps his worst season, Favre had a resurgence in 2007. He broke several career records. Among them was Dan Marinos career mark for career touchdown passes. He powered the Packers to an NFC North title and a 13-3 regular-season record and earned his ninth Pro Bowl spot.

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.

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

Given Favres career resurgence, it was widely assumed that he was leaning toward returning for the 2008 season.

He even said as much just before the Packers Jan. 12 divisional playoff game against Seattle, telling his hometown newspaper that he wasnt 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 havent thought this could be my last game, Favre told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald. I would like to continue longer.

Those comments sent premature shock waves across the stateall the way up to the governors office, where the political version of a false start was committed.

Like all Packer fans, I am thrilled that Brett Favre will return to action next year for the green and gold, Gov. Jim Doyle said in a statement. Brett Favres tremendous work ethic and willingness to go out and play hard every day represent the true spirit of Wisconsin. I am hopeful that with this announcement behind us, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers can focus on the task at hand: defeating the Seattle Seahawks.

The governors office later amended the statement to say Doyle was excited to hear Brett Favre talking about returning to action next year.

It was another example of the states fascination with the future of its favorite quarterback.

Favre then finished the season on a sour note, suddenly showing his age in the Packers 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

Favre struggled in subzero temperatures, throwing an interception on the Packers second play from scrimmage in overtime to set up the Giants game-winning field goal.

After that game, Favre was noncommittal on his future. McCarthy said he wanted Favre to take a step back from the season before making a decision. But it was widely assumed he would be back.

I think hes going to come back, Packers receiver Donald Driver said in early January. I wouldnt be surprised if he comes back. Hes having a great year, so itd be great to see him come back if he decides to.

Retiring Packers chairman Bob Harlan figured Favre would be back, too.

Yeah, I think hell be back, Harlan said, on his final official day as the Packers top executive. And I felt that way the last couple years, when weve had these long debates about it. I just think hes such a competitor that as long as he feels he can compete, hes going to keep coming back.

Still, in the week leading to the playoff game against Seattle, Favre said his injuries were starting to linger.

Im not getting any younger, Favre said. I wake up some days and think I cant even touch my toes. I think about that. I think, well, next year is not going to be like some refreshing, awakening season where all of a sudden youre going to feel great. Thats not going to happen.

I carry some of these things with me that maybe you wouldnt see. I tend to dwell on them, at least internally, more than I used to. I dont write them off as quickly as I used to.