No second thoughts as Brett Favre packs it in

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre bid an emotional goodbye to the NFL on Thursday, making it clear he had no second thoughts about his decision to retire.

Two days after informing the Packers he would not be back for an 18th season, Favre met with the media at Lambeau Field and within seconds of stepping to the podium was waging a losing battle to hold back the tears.

"As they say, all good things must come to an end, I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me," the 38-year-old told a televised news conference, his voice cracking. "It's been a great career, it's over.

"I've given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football and I don't think I've anything left to give.

"I know I can play but I don't think I want to."

"I'd like to thank the Packers for giving me the opportunity...I hope that every penny they spent on me they know was money well-spent."

Few would argue that Packers fans did not receive full value during a dazzling 17-year career that saw Favre rewrite the NFL record book.

The only player in NFL history to win three MVP awards, Favre exits with every meaningful quarterback record including marks for most touchdown passes (442), passing yards (61,655) and pass completions (5,377).

FAVRE'S PASSION

For all his records, honors and accomplishments, including leading the Packers to victory in the 1997 Super Bowl, Favre is likely to be best remembered as a man who played the game like a boy.

Favre's unbridled passion, boyish enthusiasm and fierce competitiveness awed team mates, opponents and fans as much as his cannon right arm.

But Favre's most amazing feat and one many believe will never be broken, is his quarterback ironman record of 253 consecutive regular season starts and 275 including playoff contests.

Having not missed a game in almost 16 years, Favre conceded that as the new season approaches he fully expects the sport to pull at his heart strings.

"Last year, the year before I was tired, I took a while but I came back," said Favre. "Something told me this time not to come back.

"What matters is it's been a great career for me and it's over. As hard as it is for me to say, it's over.

"I will wonder if I've made the wrong decision.

"I'm sure on Sundays I will say, 'I could be doing that, I should be doing that'.

"I'm not going to sit here, like other players have maybe said in the past, that I won't miss it because I will."

Favre offered no hints of what the future might hold for one of the NFL's all-time greats, though it is bound to include a visit to Canton, Ohio for an induction into the Hall of Fame.

"As time passes I do not know what I will do," said Favre. "People say, 'do you have a plan'?

"No I don't. This is all I've ever done. I'm proud of the fact I've done it this long and at a high level.

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

(Writing by Steve Keating in Detroit, editing by Trevor Huggins)