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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Seemingly overmatched by an impressive group of core reporters, Giants safety Michael Johnson made a tremendous play Thursday when he picked off a Brett Favre retirement speech that would have put the Packers ahead of the Giants in press coverage.

As recently-retired Packers quarterback Brett Favre stepped back behind a podium Thursday, he saw an open room of reporters and released his retirement speech. However, the nine-time Pro Bowler failed to notice the Giants defenseman lurking near the middle of the room, and Johnson snatched Favre’s weakly tossed opening line away from members of the press, including two Peabody Award winners.

“I could see where he was going with it,” said Johnson of Favre’s telegraphed first passage. “I got a read on it and committed to taking it away to keep [the Giants] ahead in news stories.”

Favre, the all-time NFL pass completions leader, broke a five-week stretch without an interception when Johnson grabbed his first-line attempt. Favre last threw a pick during overtime in a January 20 game against the Giants, giving New York took a decisive lead in media exposure.

“The Packers were really threatening to make a run Thursday with that speech,” said Tom Coughlin, head coach of the Super Bowl Champion Giants. “The competition was tough, and it wasn’t a pretty win, but all that matters is that check mark in the sports column.”

Favre, who retired this week to spend more time with his family, hopes to bounce back next week with a more accurate and aggressive opening sentence when he announces his intention to return to the Packers for the 2008 season.