Right to the end, Brett Favre was unpredictable.

And this came as a surprise to anyone who has watched him quarterback the Green Bay Packers for 16 seasons?

Indeed, people expected the greatest player in Packers history to retire every year for the last four or five, particularly as his play and that of the team declined.

Yet for years, Favre kept going home and mulling it over before deciding to return.

This year, people expected Favre to return, particularly since he was coming off an I've-still-got-it season at age 38 and the team had reversed its field and reached the NFC title game.

So what does Favre do?

He shocks the world by pulling the plug. In the end, it was typical Favre. He left the game the same way he played the game — unpredictably.

If you're looking for a sliver of hope that his retirement announcement is just a knee-jerk reaction to some perceived slight from Packers management or renewed resentment over their failure to sign wide receiver Randy Moss in free agency, Favre's impulsive nature might be the one thing you can cling to.

As much as Favre has vacillated on the subject over the years, who's to say he won't wake up someday soon, call general manager Ted Thompson and tell him it was all a big mistake?

Favre's history gave his retirement story a surreal feel all day Tuesday. There was just something curious about the timing of the story and the many attempts at damage control it inspired.

It made you wonder if Favre really does want to retire.

First came the news Favre had called up Packers coach Mike McCarthy Monday night and informed him he was calling it quits. Of course, earlier that same day Moss had re-signed with New England. Since Favre had campaigned for the Packers to sign Moss last year and the two share an agent, that looked like more than a coincidence.

Then the agent, James "Bus" Cook, said the Packers didn't push Favre to retire but they didn't exactly encourage him to stay, either. Cook later backpedaled from that statement, saying it was only his impression.

Meanwhile, Thompson and McCarthy said they clearly wanted Favre back but, just like last year, had given him space to make what they called a very personal decision.

Still, one can't help but wonder where Cook got the impression Favre wasn't feeling enough love from the Packers.

Even Favre's phone message to ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen looked like a belated attempt to spin the story.

Favre said he could play another year physically but he was mentally exhausted from the grind and the Packers' personnel decisions played no role in his retirement.

He also said he felt pressure last year to play better every week, that the only way for the upcoming season to be successful would be to win the Super Bowl and that losing a Super Bowl would be worse than anything he's experienced in football.

Sorry, but there's not much in that voicemail that sounded like the Brett Favre we've been watching since 1992.

Where is the passionate, fun-loving, all-world competitor we've come to know?

Long before Moss was available to the Packers and long before the notion surfaced that Green Bay didn't want him back, Favre talked about burnout.

Indeed, years ago he said it wouldn't be the three hours on Sunday that drove him from the game, it would be the drudgery of offseason workouts and in-season meetings and practices.

He reiterated that point after the Packers lost in the NFC title game in January.

But is it like Favre to turn down a challenge? Is it like him to fear success? Is it like him to pass on another season with a team that has a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl when getting back there is all he's talked about?

And, finally, if he thinks he can play another year, then why isn't he?

Something does not compute here, which is why it's hard not to be skeptical about the reasons for Favre's retirement, and why it would come as no great surprise if he should change his mind.

"He seemed to be at peace with his decision," Thompson said. "I guess you never say never, but I wouldn't anticipate that."

Nor should anyone else. That doesn't mean they should give up hope, though. After all, Favre is nothing if not unpredictable.

Contact Tom Oates at toates@madison.com or 608-252-6172.