For some reason, the Jets couldn’t give a simple answer yesterday to what would seem a simple question:

Did Brett Favre ask for his release? Favre didn’t seem to have a problem answering, though he went on and on after a simple “no” would have sufficed.

Asked during a conference call if he asked the Jets to release him, Favre said: “No, it doesn’t matter one way or the other. It all comes down to physically how I feel. Once again, that could change, based on arthroscopic surgery or whatever, but I’m not willing to do that, and I’m not willing to take that chance and that more than anything is why I’m retiring. No, we didn’t ask for a release.”

Favre said an injured throwing arm led him to decide to retire, though there are thoughts he would have continued to play somewhere other than New York, perhaps for the Minnesota Vikings.

If the Jets released Favre before he retired, he would have been a free agent able to sign with any team. If the Jets traded him to Minnesota, the Jets would owe the Packers a first-round draft pick.

By putting Favre on the retired list, the Jets retain his rights.

Yet, asked — twice! — if Favre or his agent asked for his release, GM Mike Tannenbaum refused to say.

The first time: “We had a great conversation today and he said that he was done playing. We’re taking him at his word on that. He talked to Rex (Ryan), talked to Woody (Johnson), and he talked to myself. We had a great conversation and everything was about him no longer wanting to play.”

The second time: “Again, I’m not going to get into any specifics that I have in conversations with agents. All I can reiterate is that he told us today he no longer wanted to play football. He was done and he was moving on and that was the entire extent of things.”

Either Faved did ask, “Yes” — or he didn’t, “No.” It’s not that hard.