As we inch closer and closer to the long-awaited matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings -- a game that will pit Brett Favre against his old fans -- it's hard to believe just how long the Favre retirement saga has gone on. In fact, here are some excerpts from a New York Times article in 2002 (seven years ago) where he said he was nearing the end.

Brett Favre is thinking about retirement. He said so last week.

He didn't put a date on it, but the thought has started circling inside that bright yellow helmet, swimming along with the X's and O's he has so brilliantly maneuvered as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

It does seem a little dubious that the 33-year-old Favre is thinking about anything but bringing another Super Bowl title to Green Bay, especially when the Packers are 5-1 after Sunday's 28-10 victory over the New England Patriots and when Favre continues to escape trouble as if he were Indiana Jones in cleats.

But last week, he and his wife, Deanna, talked about retirement. And now, he freely tosses it out there whenever someone asks.

''I am thinking about retirement,'' Favre said. ''I think it's only fair. My wife and I were talking, and she was telling me what they were saying during the telecast Monday night, about how I can play until I'm 40. I was telling my wife: 'Look, one thing I know for sure is that I am playing well right now. But I don't ever want to get to a point where I'm not playing well and it forces me out.' ''

''I am happy,'' he said. ''I have played well. I'm making good decisions and helping our team win. But at some point, either injury or lack of performance will step in, and I just hope that I will leave the game before that happens.''

There you have it. It's been seven years -- that's right, seven -- since Brett Favre inclined that he was on the way out. To put that in perspective, keep in mind that LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade had not even been introduced to the public. As long as you've seen LeBron James, Favre has been contemplating retirement. Crazyness.

But hey, you can't say that Favre isn't having fun right now. Minnesota is looking damn good, and with Adrian Peterson there helping him out, his shoulder should be in better shape by the end of the season than it was last year. Sunday should be interesting.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)