Packers' Favre tired of retirement talk
Posted: Wednesday July 23, 2003 5:21 PM
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Is this Brett Favre's final season? Even he doesn't know for sure.
"You guys will probably be asking me the same thing three years from now," Favre said Wednesday.
That's not to say the Green Bay Packers' 33-year-old quarterback wants to stick around until he's 36 although that's certainly not ancient for his position.
He just doesn't know what his future holds and doesn't have a grand plan to spend autumn afternoons on his tractor or the golf course.
Favre recently revealed that a year ago he was planning on calling it quits after the 2002 season. He changed his mind after the Packers went 12-4 and he narrowly missed his fourth MVP award.
So, what's he thinking as he enters his 13th NFL season?
"I'm still having fun, still feel I can play at a high level. Obviously the Packers feel like I can still play. And as long as we all feel that way, I don't see any reason why I should leave," Favre said. "I still enjoy it and still feel like I can play with anyone in this league."
Favre said during one of the team's minicamps that all the retirement talk wore on him last year and that he wasn't going to address the topic anymore. Then, he did just that with reporters back home in Mississippi.
"People keep asking," Favre explained. "If you don't ask me about it, I won't talk about it."
Former Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who engineered the trade that brought Favre from Atlanta to Green Bay in 1992, said he thinks Favre has three good years left in him.
"I probably do," Favre said. "But time will tell. There are a lot of factors. Looking at me right now and the way I played last year and the way I'm practicing, yeah, it would seem that way. And I don't see any reason why that would change. We'll just have to see."
Favre said he can't envision himself playing into his late 30s the way Dan Marino and John Elway did, however.
"I think they had something more to play for than I did. Both of those guys hadn't won a Super Bowl," Favre said. "Obviously, Elway went out winning two. Who wouldn't want to go out winning two?"
Favre would much rather walk away before his time.
"I think Robert Smith said it a couple years ago: 'I'd rather walk away early than limp away late.' I think that's a great way to look at it," Favre said in a reference to the former Minnesota running back.
Favre, who has started an NFL record 190 consecutive games, could eclipse a slew of NFL passing records if he plays several more seasons at his usual high level. He's third in touchdowns (314), fifth in attempts (5,993), fifth in completions (3,652) and sixth in yards (42,285).
Favre wants another ring, not more records.
"Trust me, if that's what I'm sticking around for, I won't stick around long," Favre said.
Favre's oldest daughter, Brittany, is 14 and will stay back in Hattiesburg, Miss., to attend high school when his wife, Deanna, and 4-year-old daughter Breleigh join him in Green Bay.
"It is hard to believe I have a kid starting high school," Favre said. "Man, I'm getting old."
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