Favre Never Wanted To Retire

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Monday, August 11, 2008



HEMPSTEAD, NY - Record crowds didn’t bombard the practice facility to watch Brett Favre undergo his first practice with a new team the last time he was traded for a draft choice. Before the 1992 season, the Atlanta Falcons shipped Favre to Green Bay for a first-round pick; a move that resulted in three MVP awards, two Super Bowl appearances and one championship for the Packers franchise.

Favre forged a career that should land him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. But 15 years after arriving in Wisconsin, the storybook ending of the Packers legend retiring at the top of his game was nullified when Favre decided to return to the NFL. Deciding to move on, Green Bay finally ended the nearly two-month long soap opera by shipping him to the Jets for, you guessed it, a draft choice.

The Jets surrendered a conditional pick for Favre that could turn out to be a first round choice if Favre meets performance standards and takes Gang Green to a Super Bowl. But the circumstances involving Favre’s second trade are vastly different than the first, and the 38-year-old recapped the offseason drama after his first practice with the Jets on Saturday.

“I never at any point thought I never wanted to play,” Favre said following his practice in front of over 10,000 people at Hofstra University.

Favre retired in March, replete with a teary news conference to make the news public that he would be finished after 17 professional seasons. His decision prompted Packers general manager Ted Thompson to comment, "I think the finality of it just kind of hits you. Brett Favre's not going to be our quarterback anymore."

That sentiment still rings true even if Favre will no longer being his customary uniform for Green Bay. Wearing a protective no-contact red practice shirt while throngs of Jets fans sported newly purchased No. 4 Jets replica jersey, Favre said his premature retirement decision came in part because the Packers were pressing for a decision.

“On March 3, when I made that announcement, I was not committed 100 percent,” Favre said in front of Weeb Ewbank Hall. “They wanted an answer at that time. No one one held a gun to my head, but I was honest. At that time, I was not 100 percent committed.

“I knew a month later, I may be. I didn’t know, but I knew there was a good chance I would want to play again.”

The Packers have moved on with Aaron Rodgers, who will likely be the team’s first QB other than Favre to start a regular season or playoff game since Don Majowski. Contrast that stability with the Jets penchant for quarterback troubles with efficiency and avoiding injuries. During Favre’s NFL-record stretch of 253 consecutive starts, the Jets have utilized 15 different starting quarterbacks.

But coach Eric Mangini said the Jets will break in the Canton-bound passer slowly. Favre’s first game action since last season’s NFC Championship Game will come this Saturday when he will start the preseason game against Washington at Giants Stadium.

“I think it's very realistic and we will cater the program and the learning,” Mangini said. “He’s been working incredibly hard. Obviously, he has a busy schedule. Him and [offensive coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer have been spending a lot of time (together), and we'll take it in chunks.

“With training camp, you don't ever use all the stuff from training camp in any given game. I think it’s very realistic for him to be able to learn what he needs to know.”

Added backup quarterback Kellen Clemens: “The arm strength is everything you heard it would be and probably more. As he gets more and more comfortable, I’m sure we’ll see more eye-opening things.”