Brett Favre has handed the Minnesota Vikings one more loss.

The 39-year-old Favre called Vikings coach Brad Childress yesterday to tell the coach he won't be coming out of retirement to play for Minnesota.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever made," Favre told ESPN. "I didn't feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans."

The decision, which was first reported by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, is a stunner for the Vikings after they openly courted Favre all summer. Adding him would have been viewed by many as the final piece for a team that already has star running back Adrian Peterson and a stingy veteran defense that returns nearly intact from last year's NFC North title season.

"It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback but one that is very familiar with our system and division," Childress said in a prepared statement. "That does not detract from the team that we have."

Last year, Favre tearfully retired from the Green Bay Packers after 17 seasons in the NFL and three MVP awards — then made an about-face and was traded to the New York Jets. He retired again, had surgery in May to alleviate a torn biceps tendon and then flirted with the idea of coming back again with the Vikings, the Packers' NFC North rival.

"When I heard the news, I was probably as surprised and shocked as everybody else," linebacker Ben Leber told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "The writing on the wall was as long as his arm was healthy he was going to play. I thought it was just a contractual deal that was taking so long and I really expected him to be at camp."

Favre turns 40 in October and didn't think he had enough left to get through a full season.

"I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons," Favre said. "They were telling me, 'You went through all this, you had the surgery and you've got to finish it off.' But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I'm 39 with a lot of sacks to my name."

Favre holds almost every NFL career passing record that matters, including touchdown passes (464), completions (5,720), yards passing (65,127), regular-season victories (169) and interceptions (310).

Now Childress has some damage control to do with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, the two veterans who were expected to compete for the job before the latest Favre drama began.

OBITUARY

EAGLES COORDINATOR JOHNSON DIES AT 68

Jim Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Philadelphia Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68.

Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson was considered one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for complex schemes that confused opponents and pressured the quarterback from every angle. His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the league, including last season, when the Eagles finished third in total defense and fell one victory short of the Super Bowl.

From 2000-08, Johnson's Philadelphia defenses ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390). During his 10-year tenure, the Eagles made the playoffs seven times and he produced 26 Pro Bowlers.

"For 10 years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being," said Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie. "As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be — a teacher, a leader, and a winner... It was easy to feel close to him."

Earlier this week, the team announced that Sean McDermott would replace Johnson, who had been Andy Reid's only defensive coordinator in his 10 seasons as Eagles head coach.

LAW AND ORDER

GRAND JURY WILL HEAR BURRESS' CASE TODAY

Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will testify before the grand jury that is investigating weapons charges against him, his lawyer said yesterday.

Attorney Benjamin Brafman said Burress would testify at 10 a.m. (EST) today in New York.

"He's going to go in and tell the truth," Brafman said.

Burress, 31, shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub early on the morning of Nov. 29. He was accompanied by teammate Antonio Pierce, who still could be charged in the case.

Burress was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison. Burress has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail. The Giants released Burress in April.

ELSEWHERE

Browns: Cleveland has placed wide receiver Braylon Edwards on the non-football injury list. The team did not specify an injury in making the announcement. Edwards had 55 receptions and three touchdowns last season.

Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has signed with Cleveland. Massaquoi was the 50th overall selection in the NFL draft out of Georgia.

Raiders: Oakland second-round pick Mike Mitchell (safety, Ohio), third-rounder Matt Shaughnessy (defensive end, Wisconsin), fourth-rounders Louis Murphy (receiver, Florida) and Slade Norris (linebacker, Oregon), and sixth-rounder Brandon Myers (tight end, Iowa) have signed contracts.

Cardinals: Arizona has agreed on a contract with second-round draft pick Cody Brown, a defensive end from Connecticut. Brown recorded 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and a career-high 56 tackles last season.

Bengals: Cincinnati has signed third-round draft choice Chase Coffman. The 6-foot-6, 257-pounder from Missouri is the career NCAA tight end receptions leader with 247.

Colts: Indianapolis has agreed on a four-year contract with third-round draft pick Jerraud Powers. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound cornerback left Auburn after his junior season.