Living legend Brett Favre has called it quits from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers, according to numerous reports from media outlets in both Mississippi and nationally. Having waffled over retirement the past few years, Favre has decided to hang up the cleats for good, and goes out on his own terms, holding most of the NFL's career passing records. Favre will leave the game holding the records for most career touchdowns (442), interceptions (288), pass attempts (8,758), completions (5,377), yards (61,655), and games with at least 3 touchdowns (63), wins by a starting quaterback (160). Favre will go down as the NFL's "Iron Man," as he also holds the record for most consecutive games started by a quarterback (253 games), which ranks second at all positions only to defensive end Jim Marshall (270 games).When NFL historians look back at the career of Favre, they will see the NFL's only 3 time MVP winner, and a man who overcame substance addiction and personal loss on his way to eventually becoming the League's most prolific passer in history. Adored by Green Bay fans, and hated by Chicago Bears fans, who he continually tormented in his personal domination of the Bears, Favre lead the Packers to two Super Bowls, including a win in Super Bowl XXXI. He was a 9 time Pro Bowler, and was elected to the NFL's distinguished All-Pro team a whopping 7 times.
Favre's departure leaves former 2005 1st round draft pick Aaron Rodgers as the starting quaterback for the Pack, and journeyman Craig Nall as the backup. Rodgers has appeared in 7 games, mostly in mop-up or injury relief duty, and completed 35 of 59 passes for 1 touchdown and 1 interception, good for a 73.3 quarterback rating. A broken foot in 2006 and 2007 will raise questions about the durability of Rodgers, but now is his chance to shine. Favre was scheduled to count against the 2008 salary cap for $12.8 million ($12 million base salary, $800K prorated signing bonus), so the Packers will gain the $12 million minus the prorated signing bonus amount, and are now under the projected $116 million salary cap for 2008 by about $36 million.
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