Favre turns down Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brett Favre has handed the Minnesota Vikings one more loss.

The 39-year-old Favre called Vikings coach Brad Childress on Tuesday to tell the coach he won't be coming out of retirement to play for Minnesota.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever made," Favre told ESPN. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings, but most importantly, the fans."

The decision, which was first reported by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, is a stunner for the Vikings after they openly courted Favre all summer. Adding him would have been viewed by many as the final piece for a team that already has star running back Adrian Peterson and a stingy veteran defense that returns nearly intact from last year's NFC North title season.

"It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback but one that is very familiar with our system and division," Childress said in a prepared statement. "That does not detract from the team that we have."

Quarterback Brett Favre plans to remain retired and won't try to play for the Vikings this season. (AP file photo)

Last year, Favre tearfully retired from the Green Bay Packers after 17 seasons in the NFL and three MVP awards -- then made an about-face and was traded to the New York Jets. He retired again, had surgery in May to alleviate a torn biceps tendon and then flirted with the idea of coming back again with the Vikings, the Packers' NFC North rival.

"When I heard the news, I was probably as surprised and shocked as everybody else," Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. "The writing on the wall was, as long as his arm was healthy, he was going to play. I thought it was just a contractual deal that was taking so long and I really expected him to be at camp."

Favre turns 40 in October and didn't think he had enough left to get through a full season.

"I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons," Favre said. "They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you've got to finish it off.' But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."

Job competition

Now Childress has some damage control to do with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, the two veterans who were expected to compete for the job before the latest Favre drama began.

Both were peppered with questions about Favre during the team's minicamps this summer and suddenly are back in the mix.

Jackson's agent, Joel Segal, said he spoke to his client shortly after the news broke.

"He was his usual cool, calm and collected self," Segal said. "He said, ‘Great, let's get ready for camp.'"

Favre holds almost every NFL career passing record that matters, including touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions (310). Many thought he could help the Vikings land that elusive Super Bowl championship, even if he was reviled by fans here during his incredible run across the state line in Wisconsin.

High expectations

Childress said Favre's decision does not temper the team's high expectations.

"As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team and they have put forth a tremendous effort this offseason preparing for the season ahead," he said. "With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato and getting training camp underway."

Of course, this is Favre, which means there's always the chance that he will change his mind. Former teammate Matt Hasselbeck tweeted that "Brett has always been predictably unpredictable."

As far as Leber is concerned, however, the case is closed.

"In my mind, this should be the end of it," he said. "To be respectful of the players that are involved and the team as a whole, you have to put an end to this and you can't let it linger on."