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It sure sounds like it. ... As ESPN first reported this morning, Favre has informed the New York Jets Wednesday that he plans to retire. The Jets subsequently confirmed the initial report.

In an e-mail to ESPN's Ed Werder, Favre indicated he had no regrets about finishing his career with the Jets rather than with the Packers franchise he represented for his previous 16 NFL seasons.

He specifically praised Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, team owner Woody Johnson and fired head coach Eric Mangini -- and even mentioned Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes, both of whom were publicly critical of Favre after the team's collapse in the final month of the season prevented the Jets from making the playoffs.

"Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding," Favre said in the e-mail. "My teammates -- Thomas and Kerry included -- were a pleasure to play with. Eric could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him.

"My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance."

The Jets also had nothing but good things to say about Favre.

"I had a great conversation with Brett this morning," Johnson said in a statement. "Considering that he came from a totally different environment and joined our team during training camp, his performance last season was extraordinary. As I spoke with people throughout the organization, they all told me how much they enjoyed working with him. Brett Favre is a Hall-of-Fame player, but he is also a Hall-of-Fame person. ..."

Said Tannenbaum: When we acquired Brett, we knew we would get everything he had. He took the time to mentor younger players and his competitiveness and enthusiasm at practice and during games was contagious. I spoke with him this morning and told him that he will be a friend of the Jets for years to come and it was an honor to work with him."

Those feelings of déjà vu you might be experiencing about now are understandable.

Favre announced his retirement in a tearful press conference on March 4, 2008, a surprising move after the Packers went 13-3 and came within one game of the Super Bowl.

But in mid-July, Favre asked the Packers for his release just week after dismissing reports of his possible return as "rumors."

The Packers refused to grant his release and told the icon he could return only as a backup to Aaron Rodgers, who was named Green Bay's starting quarterback, precipitating an ugly month-long saga that finally ended with his trade to the Jets on August 7.

It looked like a perfect marriage at the outset, as Favre led the Jets on a five-game winning streak and an 8-3 record before the late-season collapse.

The three-time MVP threw two touchdown passes and nine of his league-high 22 interceptions as the Jets lost four of their last five games to squander a playoff spot.

The ugly ending prompted criticism of Favre by some of his teammates, particularly Jones, who said Favre should have been benched.

The NFL's career leader in a number of passing categories, Favre had hinted at the end of the season that his health -- particularly an ailing right shoulder -- would be a factor in his future.

Despite the late-season flameout, the Jets still went 9-7 with Favre following a dismal 4-12 mark in 2007.

Favre walks away from the game having made a league-record 269 consecutive starts. He completed his career as the NFL's all-time leader in touchdowns (464), completions (5,720), attempts (9,281), yards (65,127), wins (169) and interceptions (310).

Prior to last season, Favre spent all but one season with Green Bay, when he was acquired in a trade from the Atlanta Falcons in 1999.

Favre supplanted Don Majikowski in the starting lineup on September 20, 1992, starting the stretch of 269 starts that finally was ended by Wednesday's retirement.

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio noted, the move will give the Jets $13 million in 2009 cap space. If, come July, Favre decides to come back, the Jets immediately will have to account for that amount.

Based on recent history, a return obviously isn't out of the question.

But. ... Adding to the perception this retirement will be more permanent are the late-season struggles and having suffered a biceps tear and calcification in his throwing shoulder.

Also. ... NFL Network insider Adam Schefter reports that when Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook was asked this morning whether this retirement was for good or whether Favre could change his mind this summer.

Cook responded, "For good."

My initial thought? We'll see. ...

As Yahoo! Sports columnist Jason Cole wrote on Monday: "Even if [Favre] declares that he's done, that means nothing. What most people who know him expect is that sometime around June, he'll get the itch to play again. If he does, look for him to make a pitch to play for Minnesota."

Or as Florio put it: "This one won’t be over until Favre doesn’t come back in 2009. Or 2010. Or 2011. ..."

Assuming for now it is final; it would mean the trade compensation on Favre is complete. New York will surrender its third-round pick in April to Green Bay and the Packers will send the Jets their seventh-round pick in 2010.

Working under that same assumption, the Jets find themselves with an unproven group of quarterbacks in Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge.

Schefter reports that the Jets believe Clemens "easily" can be their new starting quarterback.

My initial thought there? Again, we'll see. ...

Clemens was limited to mop-up duty in '08. Ratliff was impressive in the summer and has passed Clemens in the minds of some within the organization. Ainge got very little practice time and is a future project at best.

Some observers believe the Jets might have to look toward a free agent such as Jeff Garcia or Byron Leftwich as a stopgap measure. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay believes the team will add a signal caller early in April's draft.

Stay tuned. ... I'll certainly be following along.