MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Brett Favre has handed the Minnesota Vikings
one more loss.

   The 39-year-old Favre called Vikings coach Brad Childress on
Tuesday to tell the coach he won't be coming out of retirement to
play for Minnesota.

   "It was 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. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers,
Jets and Vikings -- but, most importantly, the fans."

   The decision, which was first reported by the Star Tribune of
Minneapolis, is a stunner for the Vikings after they openly courted
Favre all summer. Adding him would have been viewed by many as the
final piece for a team that already has star running back Adrian
Peterson and a stingy veteran defense that returns nearly intact
from last year's NFC North title season.

   "It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not
only a future Hall of Fame quarterback but one that is very
familiar with our system and division," Childress said in a
prepared statement. "That does not detract from the team that we
have."

   Last year, Favre tearfully retired from the Green Bay Packers
after 17 seasons in the NFL and three MVP awards -- then made an
about-face and was traded to the New York Jets. He retired again,
had surgery in May to alleviate a torn biceps tendon and then
flirted with the idea of coming back again with the Vikings, the
Packers' NFC North rival.

   "When I heard the news, I was probably as surprised and shocked
as everybody else," linebacker Ben Leber told The Associated Press
in a phone interview. "The writing on the wall was as long as his
arm was healthy he was going to play. I thought it was just a
contractual deal that was taking so long and I really expected him
to be at camp."

   Favre turns 40 in October and didn't think he had enough left to
get through a full season.

   "I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons,"
Favre said. "They were telling me, 'You went through all this, you
had the surgery and you've got to finish it off.' But I have
legitimate reasons for my decision. I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to
my name."

   Now Childress has some damage control to do with Tarvaris
Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, the two veterans who were expected to
compete for the job before the latest Favre drama began.

   Both were peppered with questions about Favre during the team's
minicamps this summer and are suddenly back in the mix.

   Jackson's agent, Joel Segal, said he spoke to his client shortly
after the news broke.

   "He was his usual cool, calm and collected self," Segal said.
"He said, 'Great, let's get ready for camp."'

   Favre holds almost every NFL career passing record that matters,
including touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards
passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions
(310). Many thought he could help the Vikings land that elusive
Super Bowl championship, even if he was reviled by fans here during
his incredible run across the state line in Wisconsin.

   Favre instead passed on a chance for revenge on GM Ted Thompson
and the Packers, whom he felt gave up on him too soon when deciding
to move forward last summer with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He was
sent instead to the Jets, where arm problems contributed to a 1-4
finish that kept them out of the playoffs.

   Childress said Favre's decision does not temper the team's high
expectations.

   "As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our
team and they have put forth a tremendous effort this offseason
preparing for the season ahead," he said. "With this behind us,
we look forward to getting to Mankato and getting training camp
under way."

   Of course, this is Favre, which means there's always the chance
that he will change his mind. Former teammate Matt Hasselbeck
tweeted that "Brett has always been predictably unpredictable."

   As far as Leber is concerned, however, the case is closed.

   "In my mind this should be the end of it," he said. "To be
respectful of the players that are involved and the team as a
whole, you have to put an end to this and you can't let it linger
on."
 
   (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
   APTV-07-28-09 1910CDT