Favre: I'm Staying Retired

No comeback this time for Brett Favre. After a long flirtation with the Minnesota Vikings, Favre has told the team that he won't be signing and will instead stick to retirement, the Pioneer Press reports. "It's the hardest decision I've ever made," Favre told ESPN. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable."

Favre had shoulder surgery in May, and he complained about the toll all those quarterback sacks have taken on his nearly 40-year-old body. While he didn't explicitly rule out taking another crack at the NFL someday, he left the impression that this retirement is for keeps: "I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets, and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans." (More Brett Favre stories.)