McCarthy, Thompson Say Packers Were Surprised By Favre's Decision

Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said he spoke to Brett Favre twice by telephone Monday night and was told of the quarterback's decision to retire.

"He informed me that it was time for him to hang up the cleats, as he referred to it," McCarthy said at a news conference late this afternoon. "It was really a very similar conversation to the conversations we've had the last four weeks. Really, he's mentally tired."

McCarthy said Favre first had raised the possibility of retirement last Thursday.

"I thought he was going to play," McCarthy said. "Last week was the first time, of all the conversations we've ever had, that the word retirement was ever spoken. He was consistent throughout. It was a personal decision. He was clearly wanted back. How could you not want Brett Favre's career to continue?"

Packers General Manager Ted Thompson spoke to Favre by phone this morning.

"I think we're all a little bit disappointed," Thompson said at today's news conference. "But at the same time, we respect Brett's decision, and this was his decision.... All of a sudden it kind of hits you. It's like, Brett Favre is not going to be our quarterback any more."

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, suggested earlier today that Favre might have wanted to play one more season and the Packers perhaps did not push hard enough to convince Favre to return. Thompson and McCarthy denied that.

"He wants to know a couple of things: 'Do you still want me and can I still play?' " Thompson said. "Obviously both Mike and I were very positive in that regard and said definitely we do.... It was important for Brett to make this decision for Brett, and not to be badgered. He doesn't want to be talked into doing something one way or the other.... We felt like the communication lines were open and we gave him enough space to make the right decision for him.

"... I just think it's a decision that he has constantly wrestled with in terms of trying to make the right decision and leave at the right time. And I believe he thinks this is the right time for him," Thompson said.

Said McCarthy: "The thing it really kept coming back to is physically he's feeling better but he's just mentally tired. 'Mentally tired' was the constant. I was surprised last night when he told me, no question.... It's something he's given a lot of thought."

Both said the club's decision not to pursue free agent wide receiver Randy Moss in recent days was not a factor in Favre's decision. They said Favre never mentioned Moss in his conversations with them.

By Mark Maske |  March 4, 2008; 6:41 PM ET  | Category:  Packers
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