The Packers placed quarterback Brett Favre on the NFL's reserve / retired list Friday and waived three other players to reduce to 68 the number of players counted against the active roster.

Offensive linemen Tony Palmer, Chris Patrick and Cliff Washburn were placed on waivers.

Favre, the NFL's all-time leader in every major career passing category, announced his retirement from football March 6 but continued to count against the league's 80-player roster limit.

"Today's moves are procedural in nature," general manager Ted Thompson said. "Both (head coach) Mike McCarthy and I have spoken to Brett over the past several days. Brett knew this change in his roster status was coming, and he fully understood our need to make the move in advance of the NFL Draft.

"The NFL does not require a letter for a player to be placed in a reserve / retired status. Brett has announced his retirement publicly and this is simply a personnel transaction made to develop a roster opportunity for the Packers."

Palmer played in a pair of 2007 games before suffering a season-ending neck injury in the Packers' road victory over the New York Giants. Both Patrick and Washburn had stints on the Green Bay practice squad in '07 before signing for the 2008 season this past January.