When I woke up early this morning, I headed into the study to log on to the worldwide Web.
As the system was booting up, I had a degree of certainty that I would soon be reading headlines such as "Brett To Make Big Bucs" or "It's Official! Favre Has Been Tampa'd With" or some other corny headline confirming that the Green Bay Packers' legendary quarterback had been traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But no!
Brett Favre has signed for the New York Jets after being traded for a conditional draft pick. There had been rumors for weeks that Favre would end up in the green locker room of the Meadowlands, but something didn't just sit right.
I mean, Brett Favre, the tractor driving, alligator wrestling, squirrel shootin', country boy...in New York? Come on!
But now the trade is done and the dust on this whole brouhaha is starting to settle (please, God!). Oddly enough, the more I mull it over, the more it makes sense.
The Jets are a storied NFL franchise with a proud history and a loyal fanbase, who are a demanding and tough-loving bunch. They are coming off a not-so-good season in a division that is dominated by the New England Patriots.
But this could be a division in which Favre will flourish.
The AFC East is a very strange division. If anyone has seen the Adam Sandler movie The Wedding Singer, I liken this division to the Freaks At Table Nine (If you haven't seen the movie, just imagine a bunch of freaks...sitting at table nine).
The Pats are a monster of a team that were perfect in last years' regular season, only to lose the big one. Then you have the Miami Dolphins, a sorry bunch of fish that were one game short of being perfectly rubbish last year.
There's the nice, friendly, and not very dangerous Buffalo Bills, who went 7-9, but they don't look like they can go much better this year. Which brings us to the Jets. 4-12 last year without a quarterback. Hmmm, I see what they did there.
How does the Favre era on the East Coast of the AFC change this division?
My honest beliefs are that the Patriots will suffer a minor Super-Bowl-loss hangover. I also believe that having a bit more rivalry in the division now, thanks to a now-competitive Jets ballclub, could unsteady the Pats' ship, which has, let's face it, been on far-too-steady seas these past years.
There are other factors in New York that could help Favre settle in nicely. It's cold in winter. OK, not Green Bay cold, but still a bit nippy nonetheless. The Jets wear green. OK, not Green Bay green, but green nonetheless. And imagine the shopping the missus could do!
Joking aside, the point is that Brett and Green Bay had a messy divorce, one that was never to be reconciled. His return to the Packers would have lowered the team to the depths of the NFL (something I think Aaron Rodgers will do nicely on his own anyway, but that's another story).
There's no way he could have successfully gone back to Lambeau as a player.
New York is new for Brett. It's a fresh regime that needs a decent player under center to lead them. Brett is now that man.
Put simply, Favre needed someone to love and need him. New York will provide that. The Jets needed a QB that can lead the team and instill passion into their play. Brett Favre will provide that.
Favre and the Jets are like two elderly divorcees that settle for each other, as it could be their last chance of happiness.
A healthy Brett can lead the franchise to 10-6 this year, but more likely 8-8. If I were a Jets fan, I'd be turning hand spring at this news. Your team is back!
Broadway Brett has touched down in New York. It will be the first of many.
19 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
bob mantz 11 months ago
Awesome read. I'm looking for 11-5.
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Deborah Samuelson 11 months ago
In the infamous words of Homer Simpson, OMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD
Of course, I showed up at work today in green from head to toe.
I think it'll be 10-6 too.
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Dwan Samuel 11 months ago
I totally agree. I love your comparison to two divorcees. I also agree with what will happen in GB with Aaron Rodgers leading the way.
And Brett has Alan Faneca and D'Brickashaw Ferguson to assist in protecting him while he has Laveranues Coles to throw to (if he remains healthy). Thomas Jones and Leon Washington also make the offense look pretty good. I hope that they all produce big time this season.
If Broadway Joe could do the impossible, I'm certain that Broadway Brett can.
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Ryan Burns 11 months ago
nice article ben
i agree that Favre will be a good fit with the jets, however the division could be tough. Im not so sure about a Super Bowl hangover for New England because if I know Belichick, hes gotten the players to move on from that point. As for the Bills and the Dolphins, the Jets should have no problem disposing of these teams, and at least getting two division wins out of it. I honestly don't see them beating the Patriots this year, as the addition of Favre has certainly gave Bill extra incentive to kick ass. It's going to be a tough season, but the Jets should go 10-6 and grab a Wild Card spot. Awesome picture too, I've never seen that one before.
Ryan
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Trent Alderman 11 months ago
Gentlemen, as a man who has watched Brett Favre for years, I can say comfortably that you are living in the clouds. The might Jets who went 4-12 last year are going to turn around and become 10-6 with the addition of only one player? Ok Brett's great we all know that but what about the Jet's O-Line? They couldn't protect the crappy QB's they had and with an aging Brett Favre one hit could put him out for the season. Plus so what if they go 10-6 next year. What about the year after? Favre could end up playing the same little indecisive game with the Jets that he did with the Pack. Then what will they do? I watch football enough to know that one 10-6 season is not enough to build off of. Plus, like i said previously, how can you even imagine a 10-6 season with their cruddy defense and their barely nfl caliber wr's? Maybe i'm wrong but I just can't see it.
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Francois Gendron 11 months ago
The Jets will defeat the Pats at least once this season.
Time to resume the practice of my new chant...
J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!
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Fun Ston 11 months ago
i am a jets fan, but i unfortunately, do not think that the trade will work out. two words...Madden Curse.
he will get injured, and/or play terribly, and the Jets will not win with him at the helm.
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Silver Fox 11 months ago
Good, objective article. It will take a while for Brett favre to learn his new offense, get his timing with his receivers, become acclimated, etc. 8-8 or 9-7 are realistic expectations. 10-6 is possible if the Jets defense keeps the team in games for Favre to win it in the 4th quarter. 11-5 or better is hard to imagine because of their competitive division and conference. This Carolina Panthers fan wishes you Jets fans the best of luck this 2008 season.
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TJ Zwarych 11 months ago
Favre screwed up his whole legacy in the short time of a month. He will no longer be remembered as the best Packer quarterback ever, but as the guy who was a big distraction and finished his career in a losing season with the Jets.
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bendernet bender 11 months ago
Favre to Coles...TOUCHDOWN!
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Jets will double their win total from last year from 4 to 8, maybe 9. You need 10 to make the playoffs in the AFC. With games against the Pats twice, Chargers, Broncos, road games at Tennessee and Seattle, I don't see the Jets making the playoffs.
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James Paese 11 months ago
I think it's laughable that people are saying he ruined his legacy. What a pathetic joke! Being rushed into retirement by a management team that has been planning Brett's retirement for a couple years now, only to immediately regret and wish to come back, doesn't tarnish his legacy. It's funny what some people like to read into things. Sure, they offered to visit Brett and talk about it. What's funny is people pretending to know the motives and spirit of that conversation, as if Ted Thompson and company were all excited about jumping on a plane and "deal" with a guy they thought they'd gotten rid of. Brett picked up on their lack of enthusiasm and changed his mind, in order to save himself some humiliation. Where's the big story? He finally got over the emotions of feeling unwanted and his desire to play the game overrode that and he came back. Pretend that the Packers Management welcomed him back with open arms to suit your fantasy, but anyone paying a trivial amount of attention knows that just wasn't the case.
The fact that all of these so-called sports fans are so quick to make fun of and ridicule some of the world's top athlete's is comical to me. I'm sure all of those so quick to criticize the decisions of professional athletes at the top of their field in high-pressure situations, are at the top of THEIR prospective fields.
The fickleness of sports fans has always been a sore spot with me. How do you make fun of anyone doing more with their lives and having more impact on the world than you? I could never make sense of it all. The WORST professional athletes are heads and shoulders above most of their so-called fans in terms of accomplishing life goals and being successful. I'm not putting down people who have to work crap jobs, I just find it ironic when those people are so quick to point out the "mistakes" that famous athletes apparently make, like they have done so much better with their own lives. Instead of respecting people who gave up everything for a chance at being in such a small fraternity and do something they love, they criticize, I think out of envy because they haven't accomplished as much with their lives.
I wonder what these top achievers would actually do if faced with the same gravity of decisions that these athletes face on a daily basis?
I think Ted Thompson made a business decision, and tried to lead with his head and not his heart. He's done a lot to turn the Packers around in a short time, but this may be a situation where he might have done better to let his heart have a little say in this situation. Turning away the only 3-Time MVP SuperBowl winning QB who ranked 2nd last year in MVP voting was NOT in the best interest of the Packers, in my opinion. It was in Ted Thompson's best interest in his vision of the Packers. Anyone who honestly thinks that anyone in the Packer's organization believes they have a better chance at the SuperBowl this year with Aaron Rodgers should be drug tested. Brett already got them there twice, won it once, and almost got them there last year. Aaron is a promising QB, but he was NOT the Packer's best chance for a ring this year.
I feel kinda bad for Chad Pennington, but it sounds like there was writing on the wall before the Jets started talking to Favre. I like Chad Pennington, and it seems the only dis on him is that he doesn't throw the greatest long ball in the league. He comes across though as a guy similar to Brett, someone who loves the game and takes the risks necessary in order to reap the rewards. I hope he finds a home and continues to play in the NFL.
At the end of the day, nobody from the NFL sends me a check for being a fan, so I try to keep it all in perspective. Since the advent of free agency, I've slowly learned to accept the NFL for what has become, and I will continue to be a fan of the game and respect those athletes who were good enough to make the roster on ANY team. That is a truly selective bunch of individuals, and most of them deserve a LOT more respect from their fans than they get.
I've always had this fantasy that a team would one day get sick and tired of out-of-shape wannabes yelling from the stands, and grab 11 of them and throw them on the field to see if they could do better. I would pay a lot of money to watch that!
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Joe Willett 11 months ago
Rushed into retirement...at 38...you have got to be kidding me. That is ancient for an athlete.
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James Paese 11 months ago
I think it's laughable that people are saying he ruined his legacy. What a pathetic joke! Being rushed into retirement by a management team that has been planning Brett's retirement for a couple years now, only to immediately regret and wish to come back, doesn't tarnish his legacy. It's funny what some people like to read into things. Sure, they offered to visit Brett and talk about it. What's funny is people pretending to know the motives and spirit of that conversation, as if Ted Thompson and company were all excited about jumping on a plane and "deal" with a guy they thought they'd gotten rid of. Brett picked up on their lack of enthusiasm and changed his mind, in order to save himself some humiliation. Where's the big story? He finally got over the emotions of feeling unwanted and his desire to play the game overrode that and he came back. Pretend that the Packers Management welcomed him back with open arms to suit your fantasy, but anyone paying a trivial amount of attention knows that just wasn't the case.
The fact that all of these so-called sports fans are so quick to make fun of and ridicule some of the world's top athlete's is comical to me. I'm sure all of those so quick to criticize the decisions of professional athletes at the top of their field in high-pressure situations, are at the top of THEIR prospective fields.
The fickleness of sports fans has always been a sore spot with me. How do you make fun of anyone doing more with their lives and having more impact on the world than you? I could never make sense of it all. The WORST professional athletes are heads and shoulders above most of their so-called fans in terms of accomplishing life goals and being successful. I'm not putting down people who have to work crap jobs, I just find it ironic when those people are so quick to point out the "mistakes" that famous athletes apparently make, like they have done so much better with their own lives. Instead of respecting people who gave up everything for a chance at being in such a small fraternity and do something they love, they criticize, I think out of envy because they haven't accomplished as much with their lives.
I wonder what these top achievers would actually do if faced with the same gravity of decisions that these athletes face on a daily basis?
I think Ted Thompson made a business decision, and tried to lead with his head and not his heart. He's done a lot to turn the Packers around in a short time, but this may be a situation where he might have done better to let his heart have a little say in this situation. Turning away the only 3-Time MVP SuperBowl winning QB who ranked 2nd last year in MVP voting was NOT in the best interest of the Packers, in my opinion. It was in Ted Thompson's best interest in his vision of the Packers. Anyone who honestly thinks that anyone in the Packer's organization believes they have a better chance at the SuperBowl this year with Aaron Rodgers should be drug tested. Brett already got them there twice, won it once, and almost got them there last year. Aaron is a promising QB, but he was NOT the Packer's best chance for a ring this year.
I feel kinda bad for Chad Pennington, but it sounds like there was writing on the wall before the Jets started talking to Favre. I like Chad Pennington, and it seems the only dis on him is that he doesn't throw the greatest long ball in the league. He comes across though as a guy similar to Brett, someone who loves the game and takes the risks necessary in order to reap the rewards. I hope he finds a home and continues to play in the NFL.
At the end of the day, nobody from the NFL sends me a check for being a fan, so I try to keep it all in perspective. Since the advent of free agency, I've slowly learned to accept the NFL for what has become, and I will continue to be a fan of the game and respect those athletes who were good enough to make the roster on ANY team. That is a truly selective bunch of individuals, and most of them deserve a LOT more respect from their fans than they get.
I've always had this fantasy that a team would one day get sick and tired of out-of-shape wannabes yelling from the stands, and grab 11 of them and throw them on the field to see if they could do better. I would pay a lot of money to watch that!
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James Paese 11 months ago
It's a good thing that most sports teams don't generalize as much as their fans. Yeah, Brett sure sucked last year. Runner up for MVP and took a young team to the NFC championship game. Yup, he's washed up allright. Whatever. At 38, he's still one of the top QB's in the league. Instead of appreciating it, you sound like one of the fickle fans who turn on athletes just because of their age. Let's not forget that this "old man" also holds the NFL record for consecutive starts. He has hit the field more consistently than any other player in the history of the game, and has a great year last year, and he should retire just because he's 38. Yeah, he's ancient. Sheesh. Once again, it's so easy to throw stones at people who have done so much more with their lives. He deserves a bit more respect than being told to quit just because he's getting older.
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Fun Ston 11 months ago
Madden Curse
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Wade Schilling 11 months ago
madden curse will finally end because let's face it, that's been going on too long, favre is the first player on madden that is pictured in the wrong uniform, thus, the madden curse falls on Green Bay Packers this year
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Wade Schilling 11 months ago
prediction: packers under a-rod, brohm, and pennington (they each start 5 games), 9-7, only because their defense rocks, 1st round out in playoffs to the vikes
jets under favre - 10-6 and a playoff appearance, no super bowl
there you have it
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Tyler Hill 11 months ago
I can't belive he's in New york,I thought he ws a Buc for sure
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