Postgame interview appears like farewell for Favre
By Rob Demovsky
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CHICAGO — Brett Favre sure sounded like a guy who was saying goodbye.
It was not only in his words but in his tears.
Though he made no official announcement retirement, anyone who was convinced the Green Bay Packers' quarterback was going to play in 2007 sure has reason to think otherwise.
Simply listen to the 2½-minute interview he gave to NBC following Sunday's season-ending 26-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. Standing in the southeast corner of Solider Field less than 5 minutes after the game ended, Favre got emotional after only a few words.
"If it is my last game," Favre said. "I want to remember it."
Then, it was almost as if he could no longer speak. After an uncomfortable pause, Favre's voice cracked but managed to say: "It's tough. It's tough."
Then Favre uttered perhaps the most telling words about his future. Asked what a performance like Sunday's — in which he was sharp, throwing for 285 yards — does for his decision-making process, Favre said this:
"It makes it harder," he said.
Though things always can be read into what Favre says, it would seemingly only make his decision harder if he was leaning heavily toward retirement.
Favre did take more questions from reporters after the game, but in an 8-minute news conference, he wouldn't comment on his future except to say he planned to have surgery to remove bone spurs from his ailing left ankle today in Green Bay and then return home to Mississippi.
If the 37-year-old Favre never plays in another NFL game, his 16-year NFL career will have ended with 1 minute, 53 seconds remaining in Sunday's game. That's when Packers coach Mike McCarthy sent rookie quarterback Ingle Martin in to relieve Favre. When he got to the bench, Favre hugged several teammates, including receiver Donald Driver, his favorite target this season. Driver picked up Favre in a fireman's carry just as Favre had done to Driver after touchdown catches this season.
"We were all kind of watching," Martin said. "We almost got a delay of game."
As the Packers ran out the final seconds of their 8-8 season, Favre hugged several players and coaches on the sideline. When the game was over, he met Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher near midfield and the two embraced.
With cameras following his every move, he gathered with his offensive linemen, finally took his helmet off and posed for a picture.
"The guys wanted to take a picture," Favre said, "so we took a picture."
When asked in his TV interview when he'll make his decision this year, Favre said: "Soon."
"I'll discuss it with my family, but ultimately, it's my decision," he said. "What I'm willing to put myself through to play or not to play. The 3 hours on Sunday are easy. It's the time you put in during the week or in the offseason."
Even with his ailing foot, Favre showed an ability to slip around the pocket on Sunday against the Bears. He showed good footwork on a couple of difficult throws that would suggest he still has enough agility to be productive.
Of Favre's first 18 completions, 13 were for first downs. He finished 21-for-42 for 285 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
"(Playing well) sure beats the alternative, playing crappy, because I've had my share of those, too," Favre said during his news conference.
"I know I can still play. I'm not going to lie to you, but there's been times where I've questioned a play, a game, a negative result (and said), was it me? I've wondered if it's me. I've always felt like I could still play at a high level and today just kind of reassured me as well as others that I still can play."