GREEN BAY — His daughter Alexandra's end-of-season basketball awards dinner was about to begin when Mike McCarthy's cell phone rang in his pocket.

It was the call that would change the Green Bay Packers — and the NFL as a whole — forever. Brett Favre had decided to retire.

"He informed me it was time for him to 'hang up the cleats,' as he referred to it," McCarthy said of the legendary quarterback.

And when McCarthy heard those words — having just walked into a banquet hall in Austin, Texas — the Packers coach turned and left the room.

"I had to remove myself from where I was standing, because I was taken aback," McCarthy said Tuesday afternoon during a press conference with general manager Ted Thompson at Lambeau Field.

Favre did not attend the press conference, and the team was unsure when he would speak publicly. As of Tuesday evening, Favre's only public comments were in a voicemail he left for ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen Tuesday morning.

"We (had) talked on Thursday and we went through all the different scenarios, pros and cons. Just a lot of daily detail things. Things that we could possibly change to help him," McCarthy said. "Physically, he's feeling better. But (the phrase) 'mentally tired' was the constant.

"I was surprised (Monday) night when he told me, no question. (But) it's something he's given a lot of thought and going off our Thursday conversation and the last words that he left, he needs to dig deep in his heart and make the right decision."

And to Favre, the right decision was to walk away — at age 38, after 17 NFL seasons, the last of which was downright magical: He completed a career-best 66.5 percent of his regular-season passes for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a 95.7 passer rating (his best since 1995) while leading the team with the youngest opening-day roster in the NFL to the NFC Championship Game, where the Packers lost in overtime to eventual the Super Bowl XLII-champion New York Giants.

"I know the fans are absolutely devastated today," Thompson said. "I think we're all a little bit disappointed, but at the same time, we respect Brett's decision. And this was his decision.

"This decision was a complicated decision. It's not as simple as even I might think it is. 'Do you want to play or don't want to play?' It's more complicated than that. He wants to know a couple of things. 'Do you still want me, and can I still play?' Obviously both Mike and I were very positive in that regard and said, 'Definitely we do.' After having said that, then there are other factors that weigh into his decision-making process. ... It's not as easy as one might think."

'A challenge ... I wasn't up for'

Favre spoke of his mental fatigue in the voicemail message he left for Mortensen, and Favre's words left the distinct impression that the Packers' surprising 13-3 record and unexpected success often were more stressful than enjoyable for him.

"I (was) just stressed, studying every week, preparing. And the more we won, the more stressful it got. Which, you would think otherwise," Favre said in his message. "I was always trying to top what I'd done the previous week. And I felt like coming back this year, this upcoming season, the only way to me — and (wife) Deanna and I talked about this — that it would be successful is to go to a Super Bowl.

"And if we did that and lost, that would almost be worse than anything. So anything less than (what we accomplished) this year would have been disappointing for me and probably for a lot of people because expectations are obviously going to be high.

"I know it shouldn't be (viewed as) an unsuccessful year, but to me the only way to come back and feel like I made the right decision would be to come back and win a Super Bowl. And the odds of that are, I mean, they're tough. And so that's big shoes to fill for me. And it was a challenge I guess I wasn't up for."

Favre, who came to the Packers via a February 1992 trade with the Atlanta Falcons, retires with 5,377 career completions in 8,758 attempts for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions, all NFL career records.

He also won a record 160 regular-season games at quarterback and started an NFL quarterback record 275 straight games, including playoffs.

He is the only three-time MVP in league history, led the club to its first title in 29 years when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997 and appears to be a lead-pipe cinch to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

Is this really it?

However, Favre has not officially turned in his retirement papers to the league office, and the news release from the team did use the phrase "intends to retire."

And Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, said he had been expecting Favre to play next season.

"Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door, but then nobody encouraged him not to go out that door, either," Cook said.

Cook had even stronger words in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, saying the Packers did not give the quarterback the impression that they really wanted him back.

"It's my opinion," Cook told the newspaper's Web site. "I know he wants to play one more year. I do not know much conversation there was (between Favre and the Packers) and I don't think anyone forced him to make that decision. But I don't know that anyone tried to talk him out of it.

"I think he wanted to play. I think he's still got it. He knows he's still got it. I think he felt he could play one more year. I don't know if they told him they really wanted him to play. That's just the feeling I got."

Asked whether he thought Favre could be talked into returning, Cook replied, "I don't know."

Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, now a Fox TV analyst, said he "wouldn't be surprised at all if (Favre) changes his mind," and Favre's retired teammate, LeRoy Butler, is convinced that Favre isn't finished.

"I really feel like he'll play again," Butler said. "When you're on that carousel and that music is playing, when you get off of it, and the carousel still goes around and the music still plays, you tend to want to play again."

Asked if he thought Favre might have a change of heart, McCarthy replied, "I would say that's all speculation. Not based on the conversations I've had with Brett."

Thoughts changed

Favre's decision is a surprising about-face from late in the season, when Favre told his sportswriter friend Al Jones of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald that he was leaning toward returning for an 18th NFL season, in part because of the Packers' surprising NFC North title and berth in the conference title game.

Favre's final pass in that 23-20 loss to the Giants — and now, the final pass of his NFL career, if he stays retired — was an overtime interception to Corey Webster that set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal.

"For the first time in three years, I haven't thought (about how) this could be my last game," Favre told Jones shortly before the Packers' NFC divisional playoff victory over Seattle. "I would like to continue longer."

Also, during a conference call with Seattle-area reporters earlier that week, Favre said his daughters — Brittany, a freshman at the College of Charleston, and third-grader Breleigh — both told him he should keep playing.

In his interview with Jones, Favre said the conversation took place during a trip to an ice cream parlor.

"Breleigh spoke up and said, 'Dad, don't retire.' And Brittany said, 'Dad, I think you need to play one more year,' " Favre said. "I have a lot to think about. It's been a fun year and winning has made it a good year. For the first time in a couple of years, at this point, my focus is solely on Seattle and winning a playoff game at home."

Now what?

Now, the Packers' focus will turn to backup Aaron Rodgers, their 2005 first-round pick who spent his first three NFL seasons behind Favre.

But in their press conference Tuesday, McCarthy and Thompson continually deflected questions about Favre's heir apparent.

"There will be plenty of time for us to talk about our future," Thompson said. "I think this is a day probably to focus a little more on Brett."

As for Favre, Butler said he doesn't expect his former teammate to become a television commentator, and McCarthy said he doesn't think Favre will get into coaching.

"I'd be shocked," McCarthy said.

Instead, the image for most is of Favre, if he indeed stays retired, riding his tractor off into the sunset.

"He was clearly wanted back. How could you not want Brett Favre's career to continue? Clearly one of the greatest or the greatest football player to ever step on the field," McCarthy said. "In my opinion, I think he could have played again at the level that he just played this past season. The film reflects that. The statistics reflect that. I thought he played at a very high level this year and definitely had a lot left in his tank.

"I was fortunate to be his position coach (in 1999) and his head coach. He's a tremendous player. He was a joy to coach, day in and day out, (with a) unique personality, the way he could affect people, the way he can walk into a room, the effect he had on the room, regardless of the age or the type of people in that room. Clearly (he was) one of the most unique individuals I've had the opportunity to work with."