Partial
11-21-2007, 04:19 PM
Now that the Green Bay Packers are winning again, might Brett Favre once again put off retirement and return to play next season?
Favre hasn't said that himself, preferring to delay his now-annual retirement saga until after the season. But in a conference call with Detroit reporters on Tuesday, Favre at least hinted that the Packers' successful season makes him more likely to return next year.
"If last season gave me hope, if I felt optimistic after our Chicago game last year at 8-8 and not making the playoffs, sure, I obviously have to feel a little bit better -- especially individually," Favre said.
Still, Favre made it clear that nothing is assured.
"If the season was over today, I could look in a mirror and say, 'You can play. You don't have to say I think I can. You know you can,"' Favre said. "Now, with each year -- and it'd be 18 years -- there's a lot of factors that go into decision-making now that I never thought I'd have to make at five years. Never thought I would be playing at 17 years, or would be dealing with some of the things I have to deal with. We have a daughter in college, we have one in the third grade and physically, for the most part I feel fine. I don't do some of the things I used to do quite as well. And I have to envision next year that would be a little bit worse."
Favre said he was "ecstatic" about the Packers' unexpected 9-1 start.
"But I also know where we go from here defines a lot of things," Favre said. "And if we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, that's really how you're judged one way or another."
Favre hasn't said that himself, preferring to delay his now-annual retirement saga until after the season. But in a conference call with Detroit reporters on Tuesday, Favre at least hinted that the Packers' successful season makes him more likely to return next year.
"If last season gave me hope, if I felt optimistic after our Chicago game last year at 8-8 and not making the playoffs, sure, I obviously have to feel a little bit better -- especially individually," Favre said.
Still, Favre made it clear that nothing is assured.
"If the season was over today, I could look in a mirror and say, 'You can play. You don't have to say I think I can. You know you can,"' Favre said. "Now, with each year -- and it'd be 18 years -- there's a lot of factors that go into decision-making now that I never thought I'd have to make at five years. Never thought I would be playing at 17 years, or would be dealing with some of the things I have to deal with. We have a daughter in college, we have one in the third grade and physically, for the most part I feel fine. I don't do some of the things I used to do quite as well. And I have to envision next year that would be a little bit worse."
Favre said he was "ecstatic" about the Packers' unexpected 9-1 start.
"But I also know where we go from here defines a lot of things," Favre said. "And if we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, that's really how you're judged one way or another."