In one of those rare moments during which a palpable sense of unfolding history flows through every tick of the clock, Packers quarterback Brett Favre formally announced his retirement on Thursday in a press conference in Green Bay.

It was memorable, it was emotional, and above all else it was clear that it is final.

“It’s over,” Favre said as he fought at times successfully and at times in vain against the tears.  “As hard as that is for me to say, it’s over.”

He spoke from the heart, without notes.  Unshaven and dressed casually, wearing a slightly rumpled, partially buttoned shirt with a collar over a white cotton “T”, Favre was honest, riveting, and real.

“I thought about wearing a suit.  I thought about shaving,” he said.  “What you see is what you get.”

And as to his football career, what we’ve already seen is all we’re ever going to get.

“I don’t think I’ve got anything left to give,” Favre said.  “I know I can play but I don’t think I want to.”

As to questions regarding why he’d leave after throwing a conference-title-deciding interception with his last official on-field action, Favre said more than once, with a hint of defiance in his voice, “I’m going out on top.”

He said later in the session, “We could have gone 3-13 this year, [but] I’m going out on top.”

Still, he acknowledged that there will be regrets.  “I will wonder if I made the wrong decision.  On Sundays, I’ll say I could be doing that and should be doing that.”

He thanked many former coaches by name, and he expressed awe over the fact that he will be mentioned in the same breath as other Packers greats.  “There’s no better place to play,” he said.

But in the end he decided that he wasn’t enjoying the game as much as he used to.  He said he spent more time in 2007 watching film, and he said he wasn’t relaxed.

Most importantly, he said that nothing that anyone from the Packers could say or do would get him to change his mind.

And so it’s over.  He won’t be back.  The door is shut and he is moving on.

“Its been 275 games,” he said.  “At some point, it’s gotta end.”