Quick takes: When Favre knew he was done
CANTON, Ohio: Here are some quick takes from Brett Favre’s 44-minute news conference Friday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
» After multiple retirements and returns to the NFL, Favre knew he was retired for good after the 2010 season when he watched the Minnesota Vikings’ 2011 opener.
“The good news was, the first regular-season game was underway the year after I retired, I didn’t feel like I needed to be there,” Favre said. “In fact, I remember the Vikings were playing at San Diego and Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and I was sitting there making a sandwich, Deanna and I were in the kitchen, and San Diego had the ball and went three-and-out and Minnesota had the ball and I was watching and thinking, ‘Boy, I’m so glad I’m not there.’ I knew then and there I had made the right move.”
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» On a question about his wardrobe for the Hall induction ceremony Saturday night, Favre revealed the funny nickname former Packers coach Mike Holmgren calls him.
“Mike Holmgren sent me a message earlier in the week,” Favre said, “and his nickname for me for whatever reason is Billy Bob, he said, ‘Billy Bob, we wearing a tie for your party?’ I can’t believe he would ask me that. I said, ‘Heck no.’ He said, ‘Hey, thank you, see you at the party.’ Maybe he’s returning the favor for all the times I dressed up for him. But we’re casual.”
» Plenty of current Packers are planning to attend Favre’s induction, possibly including quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers play in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night against Indianapolis.
“I saw (team president) Mark (Murphy) just shortly ago, he was strolling through and he said that he thought 20, 30, 40 (players) would come. I didn’t ask him who. If Aaron comes, that would be a really cool thing, considering they have a game and just logistical stuff. But if he comes, would love to see him, I really would if we can make it work. I’m sure we can make it work.”
» Favre has said numerous times in the past that his favorite team growing up was the Dallas Cowboys, and his favorite players were Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. One of Favre’s highlights for Hall induction so far was a recent email he received from Staubach, a fellow Hall of Famer.
But Favre also was curious enough about the league while growing up in Mississippi that he researched a little about the 1960s Packers.
“I was a die-hard (football fan), I did my first book report in third grade on Paul Hornung,” Favre said. “I couldn’t tell you where Green Bay was. I knew it was somewhere way away, but I knew all about the Packers. I knew all about Paul Hornung. Did I think I would ever play for them? No. I thought I was going to be a Cowboy.”