The way we were with Brett Favre

Why, it seems like only yesterday. Actually, it really wasn't that long ago. The date was March 6.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre sat on a podium in an untucked gray dress shirt and a pair of jeans, and he announced his retirement. He was a bit emotional but thoroughly convincing.

How convincing? On a scale of 1 to 10, he was about a 12.

This was it. No way he was coming back. After years of hinting about retirement, the moment finally had come. He was walking out the door and not coming back.

That, however, has apparently changed. And now that we're living through it, it doesn't seem all that shocking that Favre is wavering. But today we look back at some of the things he said that fateful Thursday in late winter:

-- "Well, I think we all know why I'm here. I am officially retiring from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers. I've given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football, and I don't think I've got anything left to give, and that's it.''

-- "I know I can play, but I don't think I want to. And that's really what it comes down to. Fishing for different answers and what-ifs and 'will he come back' and things like that, what matters is it's been a great career for me, and it's over. As hard as that is for me to say, it's over.''

-- "I can't leave without saying thank you to the fans.''

-- "I'm much more aware of how hard it is to win in this league and to play at a high level. I'm not up to the challenge anymore. I can play, but I'm not up to the challenge.''

-- "I'm going out on top, believe me. I could care less what other people think. It's what I think, and I'm going out on top.''

-- "This is a new phase in my life. I don't know what that exactly means, but it's been a pretty good ride.''

-- "The last thing I want to be is one of those guys who hangs around and, because of my status, they keep me around. They don't know how to tell me no. Will I be a Green Bay Packer for life? Sure. That doesn't mean I come in and give my opinions and things like that. I wish the Packers well.''

-- "I wanted to say the right things. I wanted to come across as genuine. I wanted to leave gracefully. The more I thought about all those things, the worse it got. I have to admit that there's a little bit more of a relief right now.''

-- "I'm glad it's done. It was tough, it will be tough. Today was extremely difficult. But I believe it's the right thing.''

-- "I'm no fool. I know there's nothing out there like (football). So I'm not even going to try. But life does go on, and I will do something, whatever that may be. But it will be nice for a while, I think, to feel like I don't have to live up to certain expectations, not only that other people have of me, but I have of myself. I can just kind of, as they say, ride off into the sunset, whatever that means, just try to relax for once in my life and enjoy it.''

-- "From this day forward, I hope to kind of see things through the front windshield.''

-- "I think it's the right decision. It's a hard decision. I know for the last couple of years, I mean, I'm sure there a lot of people who said, 'Finally. Good or bad, he made a decision.' Believe me, it was hard. Very hard. Because that decision is made, don't think I won't question it. But that's life. For people who've never had to make a decision like the one I've had to make, I can't begin to explain to you how difficult it is. But I made it, and I have to be at peace with that.''

-- "It's only gotten tougher, and something told me, 'It's gotten too hard for you.' I could probably come back and do it, suck it up, but what kind of a toll would that take on me, my family or my teammates?''

-- "If I even question for a second that toll that it takes has affected at least one play, then it's time to leave. You can't second-guess any decision you make on the field or wonder did the pressure or stress get to you. I think if you're starting to question that at all, then it's probably time to go.'

-- "I keep going back to, I've done everything there is to do and then some, and then some. I would have liked to have won more Super Bowls, but you know what? I'm not disappointed about that. I gave it my all. I think people who know me know that. And I don't know if I had any more to give. There will be no what-ifs.''

-- "And as I walk away, I'm walking away on top, my head high, chin up. And it is on my terms. It is on my terms. Which is a good way to go out.''

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)