WILLIAMSBURG Of all the numbers that defined Brett Favre's NFL career, he does not hesitate to list one as most important -- 275.

That's the number of consecutive games, playoffs included, Favre started in his 17-year pro career.

"None of the others, good or bad, would have come without playing," he said. "And there's no way I would have played 275 if I hadn't played them in a row."

Favre, who retired after the 2007 season, started more games than any quarterback in NFL history. His 253 consecutive regular-season starts are second in NFL history to Jim Marshall's 270.

"I grew up a baseball player, and in baseball, you play every night," Favre said. "If you go 0 for 4 three or four nights in a row, people will say you're in a little bit of a slump. If you go 3 for 4 the next night, everybody forgets about it.

"If you go 0 for 4 three weeks in a row in football, they'll probably replace you. You have only 16 games, three hours once a week, to show what you can do. To do it every week, and yeah, there were some bad games here and there, but for the most part, they never had to worry about that position."

Favre was here at the Colonial All Pro Football Camp at William and Mary yesterday.

He looked fit and relaxed. He talked with all the campers and spent about 30 minutes throwing passes, all lobs, to the youngest campers.

"Retired or not, it's what I do," Favre said. "I will always be a football player at heart."

Few players played as well or with as much enthusiasm as Favre. He passed for 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions. He led the Packers to two Super Bowls and one Super Bowl championship.

Last season, after several years when critics wondered if Favre was long past done, he led the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC championship game.

"If you look at the numbers, it was not the best," Favre said of the 2007 season. "But I consider it my best year.

"Just look at the whole picture. There were the expectations or lack of. Throw in the age factor, which is a bigger story for other people. Every player thinks he can play until the day he doesn't play. Had I not had the year I had, I would have been considered one of those guys."

Favre completed 66.5 percent of his passes in 2007 for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His quarterback rating, 95.7, was the third highest of his career.

"Did I start questioning it the last few years?" Favre said. "Yeah. I wondered, 'Is it me? Is it the circumstances? Is it a combination?' As the season progressed, I wasn't thinking, 'This is something magical.' I'm thinking, 'This is what I thought was possible.' And I knew I was running out of time to prove that."

Favre, 38, was a second-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, then was traded to Green Bay for a first-round draft choice in 1992.

His life in Green Bay is over now, but rumors are certain to occur regarding his comeback.

"It's going to come up, wouldn't you think?" Favre said. "Meanwhile, I'll be on a tractor or something like that."

For now, Favre has no plans to return to the field, or do anything else, for that matter.

"I'm not in a hurry to do anything," Favre said. "People ask about TV or coaching? I've thought about all that stuff, but why jump into something that's going to take as much time as football when that's one of the biggest reasons I got out.

"In some ways, it's nice not to have to worry about doing anything."

There are a number of NFL defensive players who feel the same way now that Favre no longer plays in Green Bay.
Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.