Happy birthday: Favre hits the big 4-0

To most folks, 40 is comfortable middle age. But to football players, it's ancient. Vikings QB Brett Favre, celebrating his 40th birthday today, keeps coming back for the thrill of Sunday afternoons but ponders retirement because of the agony of Monday pains.

AND WHAT WILL HIS TEAMMATES BE DOING AT 40?

Pat Williams, 36: "I'm going to be home sitting in a rocking chair, chilling. I'm not going to be in a locker room. I ain't staying that long."

Cullen Loeffler, 28: "We will be celebrating my daughter's 13th birthday party. My daughter will have shot her first deer."

Artis Hicks, 30: "Fishing and enjoying my life. I understand where he's coming from, though. In the offseason, as much as we look forward to having a little down time and vacation time, when you're not around the guys you miss that."

Chad Greenway, 26: "Driving my kids to school and retired. The only football I plan on being around is hopefully some high school football."

FAMOUS OCT. 10 BIRTHDAYS

Guiseppe Verdi (1813) Refused to retire. Died at age 87. Composed romantic operas, none set in Green Bay.

Thelonious Monk (1917) The great jazz pianist retired when he was 54. Packers fans preferred accordion players.

Tanya Tucker (1958) The country singer's "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane" is interpreted by some as Favre's ode to Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1974) NASCAR star does good-old-boy commercials, just like No. 4. Has no retirement plans.

OTHER FAMOUS ATHLETES BORN IN 1969

Michael Schumacher: Formula I superstar retired at the top of his game in 2006. Might come back next year.

Steffi Graf: Tennis star retired in 1999. Has played exhibition matches recently and might return ...

Ken Griffey Jr.: The Mariners want him to retire. He wants to play. Ed Werder is monitoring.

ONE OF 17

Favre is the 17th 40-year-old to play quarterback in the NFL. The others:

Starters: Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde

Part-timers: Charlie Conerly, Len Dawson, Vince Evans, Brad Johnson, Sonny Jurgensen, Johnny Unitas

Backups: George Blanda, Zeke Bratkowski, Steve DeBerg, Joe Ferguson, Doug Flutie, Jim Hart, Dave Krieg, Earl Morrall