Perfect how Favre left us wanting more

What's that they say about always leaving you wanting more?

Brett Favre did exactly that Tuesday.

By retiring after a season in which he was absolutely brilliant, Favre goes out on top and leaves a football fan wanting more amazing throws and more absurd plays only he could make.

Who knows, maybe he'll change his mind again and give us exactly that. In the meantime, this gunslinger leaves on his terms, before being forced out by inconsistency and age, which is great for Favre but bad for Green Bay and any fan of the game.

More Coverage Links Packers announce Favre's retirement

You can understand a Bears supporter hating Favre for the beatings he delivered, but he always did it with class and dignity, and he was so good at it that even a Bears fan could admire him, if not actually like him.

While the Bears went through 21 quarterbacks, never finding one who could sustain Pro Bowl play the last 17 years, Favre took nine trips to Hawaii.

While the Bears tried to give us the likes of Chad Hutchinson and Moses Moreno, Favre was becoming the NFL career leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards, passes thrown, passes completed and -- most impressive of all -- career QB victories.

While the Bears lost quarterback after quarterback to injury, Favre merely played every game of every season, and just kept showing up to beat the Bears.

Tough to watch in Chicago, but impossible not to enjoy.

Even during the tough times, Favre's love for the sport made it impossible for him to walk away.

After the Bears pounded the Packers in the opener in 2006 in Green Bay, there was much talk about how Favre was the problem, but those watching closely saw something else.

Sure, late in the game, as he tried desperately to make something happen, he threw the ball up for grabs, but by then it was no contest and his offensive line was a joke.

Early in that contest, before it was a blowout, Favre was on target with his throws, and several were dropped by a woeful receiving corps. The 26-0 final was indicative of the lopsided field, but not of Favre's arm strength, accuracy or will to succeed.

Afterward, you would have expected a miserable Favre to wonder why he had returned for that season, but not only did he have no regrets, he actually talked about how he saw hope for the future.

Besides, he said, he loved playing football, even if it sometimes looked like bad football.

When he was on the field, he said, he was as happy as he could possibly be anywhere in the world.

That's what you'll miss, that unabated joy of a man playing a kid's game, taking risks and making plays against all odds.

But when the Packers lost in the NFC title game to the Giants six weeks ago, amid the ferocious winds of Lambeau Field that made Favre look ordinary in the fourth quarter and overtime, the 38-year-old QB looked mentally exhausted.

Can he still play the game? Definitely.

But he did the math and obviously came to the conclusion that it is a very long journey indeed from minicamp to the Super Bowl, and the odds of any team getting that close and returning are never very good.

The Packers couldn't have been in a better spot this time around, and yet couldn't get in, so to go through it all again with the prospect of falling short was too much to ponder.

Thus, Favre leaves with his legacy assured and his reputation in tact, heading home to finally spend the fall with his family, in many corners considered the greatest quarterback ever, and in everyone's top five.

There can be no discussion of Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, John Elway, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady without wondering where Favre fits among that group. For my money, Favre may not be alone driving the team bus, but he takes a back seat to no one in that group.

Someone asked Tuesday morning what I'd remember most, and that's impossible to say, with so many great highlights in my head of the circus acts Favre performed.

But there was a moment from that 2006 opener in Green Bay that is memorable for a different reason.

It was late in the game and Favre was still trying to make a play, even though the game was hopeless.

After a scramble and an incompletion, as he walked back to his huddle, Favre passed by Brian Urlacher, who was clearly headed in a different direction, on his way to an easy victory and, ultimately, the Super Bowl.

Favre was going nowhere fast, but Urlacher was nonetheless amazed by something Favre had done, and as they walked by each other, Urlacher smiled at Favre and stuck out his hand for a low-five, hardly visible to anyone but those down on the field.

No words were said -- or needed.

It was pure respect for a man who had given his heart, soul and body to the brutal game of football for two decades, still fighting to the end, fruitless as it may have been, never giving in to anyone.

Pure respect.

Brett Favre deserves that from all of us as he leaves the game.

And leaves us wanting just a bit more.