Brett Favre Retires

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Quarterback Brett Favre is retiring from the Green Bay Packers, Fox Sports and ESPN report on their websites.

ESPN says agent Buss Cook confirmed that Favre has notified the team that he won't be playing next season.

The (Biloxi, Miss.) Sun Herald says it confirmed the news with Favre's brother, Scott.

"A sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer, Favre, acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, led the Packers back to the NFL's elite," ESPN says. "He retires with 5,377 carrer completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions."

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has informed the team that he plans to retire. Favre called coach Mike McCarthy to tell him the news Monday night.

FoxSports.com first reported the news Tuesday morning, and numerous news outlets followed. The team confirmed Favre's decision with a statement from general manager Ted Thompson on Packers.com:

"Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL," Thompson said in the statemetn. "He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever. Brett's many accomplishments on the field are legendary. He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated.

"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

At age 38, Favre had a turn-back-the-clock year in 2007, completing a career-best 66.5 percent of his regular-season passes for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a 95.7 passer rating, his best since 1995.

Late in the season, Favre told his sportswriter friend Al Jones of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald that he was leaning toward returning for an 18th NFL season, in part because of the Packers' surprising 13-3 regular-season finish, which led to a berth in the NFC Championship Game.

Favre's final pass in that game was an overtime interception that set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal.

"I am trying to enjoy it because this could be my last game in Green Bay," Favre told Jones shortly before the Packers' NFC divisional playoff victory over Seattle. "(But) for the first time in three years, I haven't thought (about how) this could be my last game. I would like to continue longer."

Also, during a conference call with Seattle-area reporters earlier that week, Favre said his daughters — Brittany, a freshman at the College of Charleston, and third-grader Breleigh — both told him he should keep playing. In his interview with Jones, Favre said the conversation took place during a trip to an ice cream parlor.

"We didn't argue about it being my last game like we have in the past," Favre told Jones. "We talked about Brittany coming back in this weekend … for what could be my last game.

"Breleigh then spoke up and said, 'Dad, don't retire.' And Brittany said, 'Dad, I think you need to play one more year.'

"I have a lot to think about. It's been a fun year and winning has made it a good year. For the first time in a couple of years, at this point, my focus is solely on Seattle and winning a playoff game at home."

After the initial news broke of Favre's retirement, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on the network's First Take program that according to Favre's agent, Bus Cook, Favre informed McCarthy of his decision shortly after New England wide receiver Randy Moss re-upped with the Patriots, signing a three-year, $27 million contract.

Favre had pushed hard for the Packers to trade for Moss last offseason, but the Oakland Raiders sent him to New England instead. Favre criticized Thompson for not making the deal, and sources said in the wake of the trade that Cook went to the Packers and told them his client wanted to be traded. Favre later denied demanding a trade.

Mortensen reported that Favre had once again pushed for Moss to join the Packers. Favre had spoken to Moss late last week and was willing to commit to return for more than just this season if Moss and the Packers could come to an agreement. But the Packers did not pursue Moss, who then re-signed with the Patriots.

After Mortensen reported that, Favre called Mortensen and left lengthy voicemail backtracking on that idea and explaining his decision.

Instead, Mortensen said Favre's message focused on how he felt worn down by the demands of the game, adding that he and his wife Deanna thought anything short of a Super Bowl title would be a disappointment and not worth the mental wear and tear.

Cook told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he believes Favre wants to play another year but the Packers did not give the quarterback the impression that they really wanted him back.

"It's my opinion," Cook told the newspaper's Web site. "I know he wants to play one more year. I do not know much conversation there was (between Favre and the Packers) and I don't think anyone forced him to make that decision. But I don't know that anyone tried to talk him out of it.

"I think he wanted to play. I think he's still got it. He knows he's still got it. I think he felt he could play one more year. I don't know if they told him they really wanted him to play. That's just the feeling I got."

Asked whether he thought Favre could be talked into returning, Cook replied, "I don't know."

At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last month, McCarthy said he and Thompson sat down during the bye week of the playoffs and determined that Favre could still play. Asked if he wanted Favre back, McCarthy replied, "Absolutely."

After WISN-TV, an ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, reported that Favre was unhappy that Thompson had not called him since the season ended, Thompson called Favre and afterward said the two were "fine."

Favre, who came to the Packers via a February 1992 trade with the Atlanta Falcons, retires with 5,377 carrer completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions, all NFL career records. He also started an NFL quarterback record 279 straight games, including playoffs. He is the only three-time MVP in league history and led the club to its first title in 29 years when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997.

Bart Starr takes the field

Green Bay - Bart Starr, the Packers' honorary captain just walked onto the field to a huge ovation.

The Packers are now waiting in the tunnel, waiting for Fox to give them the go-ahead to take the field.

Plaxico Burress

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Wow, those two can really go at it. Just saw several shots of the two battling and picking at each other. And it figures, Burress just caught a big one.

All 45 players wearing a Giants uniform will hear the call to arms, but for some, the call resonates just a bit more loudly.
The Giants need everyone if they are to upset the Packers tomorrow night in the NFC Championship game at arctic Lambeau Field, but they likely will need some to rise up higher than others by winning their individual battles — not on one play or a handful of them, but all game long.

When Eli Manning fades to pass, he must see a streak of white and blue, and that means when Plaxico Burress is lined up across from cornerback Al Harris, Burress must escape and excel. The same for Amani Toomer when he's dueling with Charles Woodson.

When Brett Favre fades to pass, he must see the menacing rush of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora bearing down on him, their hot breath filling the icy evening air. For that to happen, Strahan whips right tackle Mark Tauscher and Umenyiora dominates left tackle Chad Clifton.

This is not about artistry. It is about physicality.

"This is going to be the most physical game any of us have ever played to this point," Burress said. "Even when guys are lying on the ground with guys taking cheap shots and things like that. This is the game to get to the Super Bowl."

With these specific confrontations in mind, the keys to victory:

Armed combat

Normally a physical receiver can escape the jam at the line from most any cornerback, but this is different. Toomer and Burress are long, strong athletes, and they've got to use their arm strength and leverage with their shoulders and hips to wriggle through the clutches of Harris and Woodson.

They play differently than most cornerbacks," Toomer said. "They are the macho, showdown type. ... They're standing right in front of you, they're not going anywhere, they're not backing off"

Keep cool

Toomer and Burress, along with rookie Steve Smith, will be held, grabbed, poked and prodded. It's the way the Packers operate in the secondary, and there's no way an official can call a penalty on every play. That's where patience must come in. If the receivers get frustrated by these tactics and search for a flag, they'll have already lost.

"They're going to test the legality of illegal contact on each and every play," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride warned. "Our players know that, know that's part of the game. We have to do everything we can to not let that be a factor that affects us negatively. And hopefully we can get some calls."

Accept the challenge
Burress has gone against Harris in the past. Toomer has run routes on Woodson. In fact, they were teammates at Michigan, so they go back a ways. There won't be anything fancy here, no diabolical schemes. Me vs. You. You vs. Me. May the better man win.

"It's going to come down to us, basically, going out and making plays against them," Burress said.

Batter Brett

Putting Favre on his backside is the goal but it can't be the only way to contain him — he's been sacked 15 times all season and only once in the past six games. Favre still moves well at 38 years old, but if the defensive linemen can't get to him, they have to impede his ability to see downfield.

"He throws the ball very, very quick," Umenyiora said, "so we are going to have to really try to get our hands up, get in his face a little bit and see if we can play the game that way."

Extra batteries

The Giants last week for the entire first half — and nearly for the first three quarters — got little pressure and few hits on Tony Romo. A defense with less mental toughness would have crumbled after repeated rushes generated nothing. The Giants kept going after it and gradually — and forcefully — pummeled Romo.

Stay the course

After 15 seasons there remains life in Strahan's legs and fire in his belly. He's had nine and eight tackles in the past two playoff victories, the most he's ever had in the postseason. If Favre is a marvel, then Strahan at 36 years old is marvelous, and motivated.

"To be honest with you, now I feel better than I've felt all season," Strahan said. "Heck, if I can get out there and do it then I know that they can because the guys are younger and faster and all those other things, and I'm sure hopefully I can inspire those guys to go ahead and win on Sunday."

Green Bay Wisconsin

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Wisconsin-Milwaukee 65, Wisconsin-Green Bay 61

Paige Paulsen had 19 points and nine rebounds as Wisconsin-Milwaukee beat Wisconsin-Green Bay 65-61 Saturday night.

Allan Hanson's pair of free throws with 7.8 seconds left sealed the win for Milwaukee, which nearly let a 12-point second-half lead get away before pulling out its third victory on a four-game road trip.

Mike Schachtner led the Phoenix with 18 points, while Ryan Tillema added 14 points in the Horizon League game. Green Bay dropped its third straight game overall and lost at home for the first time all season.

Marcus Skinner finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Panthers.

Skinner also tapped a crucial offensive rebound to teammate Charlie Swiggett with under 10 seconds to play that helped preserve the win.

Ricky Franklin scored 14 points and Hanson finished with 10 for the Panthers, which won in Green Bay for the second straight season.

Randy Berry chipped in 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds for Green Bay.

After a 1-for-6 start and an early 10-4 Green Bay advantage, Milwaukee found its rhythm on offense, hitting 12 of its next 23 to take a 32-28 lead into the half.

That lead stretched to as large as 52-40 after a technical foul on Green Bay's Terry Evans with 10:50 left. The Phoenix whittled the lead down to as little as two points on two separate occasions, but the Panthers never lost the lead.

Milwaukee (10-8 overall, 5-3 Horizon League) endured a six-game losing streak earlier in the season but has won seven of its last eight.

The Phoenix (9-8, 3-4) are 9-1 when leading or tied at the half and winless when trailing at the break, fell to 0-7 when trailing at the break.


The Wall

Three guys, a Dallas fan, a Packer fan, and a Viking fan are out walking together one day. They come across a lantern and a Genie pops out of it.
“I will give you each one wish, that’s three wishes total,” says the Genie.
The Dallas Fan says, “I am a farmer, my Dad was a farmer, and my son will also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Texas.”
With a blink of the Genie’s eye, ‘FOOM’ the land in Texas was forever made fertile for farming.
The Viking Fan was amazed, so he said, “I want a wall around Minnesota so that no infidels, Bear Fans, or Packer Fans, can come into our precious state.”
Again, with a blink of the Genie’s eye, ‘POOF’, there was a huge wall around Minnesota.
Izzy, the Wisconsinite asks, “I’m very curious. Please tell me more about this wall.” The Genie explains, “Well, it’s about 150 feet high, 50 feet thick and completely surrounds the state; nothing can get in or out.”
Izzy says, “Fill it up with water.”

The Ice Bowl

Pro football fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin have always been recognized as a loyal and hearty bunch. But one wouldn’t have faulted even the most loyal “Packer Backer” if he’d decided not to attend the 1967 NFL Championship game between the Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Played at Lambeau Field on December 31, the temperature at game time registered a frigid 13 degrees below zero. Nonetheless, more than 50,000 parka-clad fans braved the elements that New Year’s Eve and watched in awe as the Packers claimed their third consecutive NFL title, with a 21-17 victory.

1967_Championship_GameFrom the start, Green Bay fans felt their team had a distinct advantage over the warm-weather Cowboys, After all, the Packers lived and practiced in the cold Wisconsin climate. Green Bay’s early 14-0 lead probably convinced fans that they were right. However, the severe weather affected the Packers too. Dallas scored a touchdown and a field goal after two Packer fumbles and added a second touchdown in the fourth quarter. Suddenly, with 4:50 left in the game the Packers were behind, 17-14.

The Packers literally and figuratively “kept their cool.” Behind the leadership of future Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, they marched down field. With sixteen seconds remaining and the temperature down to eighteen below zero, the Packers found themselves about two feet away from victory. Starr called time out. The field was like a sheet of ice. The two previous running plays had gone nowhere. With no time outs left, a running play seemed totally out of the question. A completed pass surely would win it. Even an incomplete pass would at least stop the clock so the Packers could set up a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. After consulting with Packers coach Vince Lombardi, Starr returned to the huddle.

Starr took the snap from center Ken Bowman. Bowman and guard Jerry Kramer combined to take out Dallas tackle Jethro Pugh. With Pugh out of the way, Starr surprised everyone and dove over for the score. “We had run out of ideas,” Starr said of the play. However, Lombardi put it another way, “We gambled and we won.”