SATURDAY, May 6, 2006, 2:54 p.m.Brett Favre's press conferenceBetween the Green Bay Packers’ two practices Saturday, Brett Favre met with the media for the first time since informing general manager Ted Thompson on April 25 that he would return for a 16th season. The press conference was held in the media auditorium and lasted about a half-hour. There was no significant news to come out of it; it was just a typical Favre press conference.His answers were long and delivered impassively.Here are some of the highlights spliced from his often rambling answers.Question: Brett why did you come back?Favre: Ultimately, I still wanted to play. I still felt I could help this team win. I wondered what it would be like at home on Sunday’s next year, saying, ‘I could be doing that.’ Obviously, it was a long decision, a difficult decision, but basically that’s what it came down to. I still think I could be doing that and I still believe I want to do that and for the Green Bay Packers, not another team. I know there was a lot of talk about being traded and wanting to play for another team. I’ve told you guys over and over again, I didn’t want to play for another team and that’s the truth. Never once did I mention trade. This is where I wanted to be the whole time. Question: Was whom they (the Packers) were going to bring back or might sign in free agency a factor?Favre: That was talked about a lot. Sure, I made those comments I was waiting to see what we’d do in free agency. I think the biggest part of it was buying time. It was a difficult decision. It was a family decision. To be totally honest with you, it didn’t come down to this, but we had a vote within the family: Deanna, the two girls, my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, wife’s sister. They all put their answers in a hat and everyone came back, ‘Play.’ Not that I said, ‘Okay, I’ll do what you guys want me to do.’ It just kind of reaffirmed what I was thinking. I know there’s the risk of being 4-12 again. As with any season there is optimism. I’m well aware that we lost five games by just a few points. With all the injuries we had and the fact these guys could come back healthy, there’s always a chance. To be totally honest with you if I can help this team, and play at a high level, then I can make a difference. Last year was no fun. People will say he’s coming back for money, he’s coming back for records. ... None of those are true. I’d love to get this team back on track and go to the playoffs. ... That’s it.Question: After you made the decision how did you feel?Favre: I’m not going to lie. I wondered if it was the right decision. I really believe if I decided to retire there would have been times throughout the season where I would have said, ‘I should have gone back.’Question: What did you hear from Mike McCarthy when he addressed the team that you hadn’t heard before?Favre: For the most part, I heard what I expected to hear. Mike coached me in ’99. ... I like Mike. ... I think the things he said were right on. ... Before I came here, it had been 25 years, I guess, since the Packers had been in the playoffs. You almost start believing, not so much that losing is okay, but that’s the way we do things. ... You have to believe from the start that you’re going to win. I know when Mike Holmgren took over in that first meeting, we believed it. He said, ‘We’re not going to be the Packers of the last 25 years.’ . ... I think how you say it and how believable it is makes a big difference. ... I thought (McCarthy’s message) was believable.Question: Will this be your last year?Favre: I know I said that. ... I’m going to play this year, give it my best and not talk about it. I’m sure it will come up at some point. But it has been a distraction not only for me, but I think for the guys I played with here in the past. I’m not going to talk about it this year.Question: What about McCarthy’s offense?Favre: We were pretty good here in the past. I have a lot of respect for Mike Sherman. But from Ted’s standpoint, it was time for a change and maybe to go in a different direction offensively and he went with it. Up to this point, I’ve had numerous conversations with Mike (McCarthy) and he’s kind of addressed some of the things we’re going to do. Maybe push the ball downfield a little bit more. ... We have some bigger receivers, have some speed there. But, ultimately, it comes down to running the football. I really believe that. You have to be able to slow the pass rush down. One of the things Mike said and Jags (Jeff Jagodzinski) said yesterday and I agree with is that we’re not going to let the defense dictate to us what we’re going to do. We want to attack them and have them play on their heels. ... That was Mike Holmgren’s approach all the time: ‘We’re not going to wait and see what they’re doing. We’re going to what we do and be fairly simple.’Question: Do you regret how things turned out with Javon Walker?Favre: I think he’s a great player. I don’t regret anything I said. I’m sure Javon will help Denver. ... The situation is what it is.Question: Have you thought about changing the way you play?Favre: When you throw 20 touchdowns and 29 interceptions, all the experts have their opinions and theories. To be honest with you, I don’t think I played any differently than any other year. ... Being 4-12 was obviously different for me. We were playing from behind. There was a different guy in the huddle every time. Maybe I should have made some different decisions at times, but we had to try and win the ballgame with whoever was in there. ... When you’re down, you have to take chances. And sometimes you take chances and know the odds are against you. But I’m not going to sit there and throw three-yard checkdowns and let the clock run down. I’m going to take chances. There are people who are going to agree with that and people who don’t agree with it, but I really don’t care.Question: Are you ready to take the ball again with two minutes to go?Favre: I’m here. When I told that to Chris Mortensen, I wasn’t here. ... If I didn’t want the ball, believe me, I wouldn’t be here.
