Announcement

**BallHawk** · 08-07-2008, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by MJZiggy

I will still wear the #4 I have, but I'm also trying to decide between a Jennings and a Bigby this October...

How is that a decision? Jennings, hands-down.

**Freak Out** · 08-08-2008, 01:25 AM

With Hired Gun Favre, Jets Embark on a New Era
By JUDY BATTISTA

CLEVELAND — Only at the end, after he had said all the right things about being excited for the opportunity, after he had held up the jersey in the unfamiliar shade of green, after he had revisited all that had gone wrong in Green Bay, did Brett Favre admit to just how fragile his new union with the Jets is.

“Was this just a one-year commitment?” someone asked as Favre walked out of the room.

“We’ll see,” he responded, disappearing into the locker room.

Somewhere, a Jets executive surely shivered. On Thursday, the Jets officially introduced Favre, culminating a stunningly swift courtship that led to his trade from Green Bay on Wednesday night. They took him on a helicopter ride over New Jersey, the better to view the new training facility the Jets will soon move into, and perhaps the fine fishing and hunting sites sure to appeal to him. Then Favre alighted in Cleveland, where the Jets opened their preseason against the Browns.

But as Favre arrived to a wave of euphoria, Chad Pennington, the former starter, left on a private jet provided by the team. He was released Thursday afternoon. Pennington recently bought a home in New Jersey, in anticipation of the Jets’ move there in September, and that makes one team interested in signing him particularly intriguing: the Giants.

Favre had resisted even talking to Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum for weeks, and his rationale must have given the Jets pause: He did not want to be persuaded to go to New York and he did not want to have to make another decision. The split with the Packers had taken its toll on him and his wife, Deanna, and it would be so much easier, he figured, to just go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But at the behest of his agent and others, Favre listened to Tannenbaum’s pitch. They spoke about the talent level of the Jets. Tannenbaum shipped information about the team to Favre’s home in Mississippi. The team owner, Woody Johnson, had been intrigued by Favre since it became clear he could not stay in Green Bay — “Why wouldn’t you pursue Brett Favre?” he said — and the Jets finally broke through.

Favre still wanted to go to Tampa Bay, but its offer was not in the Jets’ league, so late Wednesday, Favre became a Jet.

“To a certain degree, I don’t know what I got myself into,” Favre said. “What can I do in a short amount of time to help this team win?

“Did I ever think this scenario would present itself? No. I hope I play at the level I’ve always played at. There are no guarantees. I hope to bring the leadership and durability.”

Wearing khaki shorts, a Jets T-shirt and a lot of stubble, Favre threw footballs on the sideline during a lightning delay in the game against the Browns. He will not practice until Saturday; his conditioning test is Friday, and he acknowledged that he was a little out of shape. But his impact on the Jets has already been profound, long before his first meaningful rocket pass is caught. Perhaps Jets fans had a hard time keeping up with his movements. The team’s Web site crashed after receiving 1.2 million hits in the last 24 hours — nearly as many as it had in July.

Of all of Favre’s impressive statistics — he holds nearly every meaningful career passing record, to say nothing of his staggering consecutive-games streak — that one may reveal what Favre really means to the Jets. As much as he was desperate to play football again, as much as he clearly wanted the drama to end this week, the Jets need him at least as much as he needs them.

For a franchise that, despite spending $100 million in an off-season makeover and readying a state-of-the-art practice facility, is toiling in the considerable shadow cast by the Giants and their Super Bowl championship, Favre’s arrival swept away all the other headlines and captivated New York. He will be welcomed at City Hall by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Friday.

When Favre was told that more than 3,000 of his No. 4 Jets jerseys had been sold online, he said, “That’s all?” Still, it was the busiest day ever at the N.F.L.’s online shop, and the Jets sold more Favre jerseys in one day than the total number of their jerseys sold since January.

Favre’s arrival inevitably raises the profile of the team at an important time. They are about to sell personal seat licenses for a stadium that Favre will probably never play in. Johnson said the only goal was to improve the team, but the Giants can count on the good will generated from their surprising Super Bowl run to ease the pain of the big ticket. The Jets needed a cushion, too, and whether intended or not, Favre will be it.

“Internally, everybody was feeling good,” said Thad Sheely, a Jets executive vice president. “We were poised to turn it up. It was a two-year process. That got collapsed into the last 24 hours.”

A person close to Pennington, who did not want to be identified because he had not been authorized by Pennington to speak to reporters, said that Pennington was “at peace” with his fate. Johnson said his regard for Pennington made the decision to pursue Favre difficult.

In addition to the Giants, other teams believed to be interested in Pennington include the Miami Dolphins, where Bill Parcells, who drafted Pennington in 2000, presides; and the Kansas City Chiefs, where the former Jets coach Herm Edwards is in place. Carolina, Oakland and Buffalo are also thought to be interested.

Pennington hopes to start, which makes the Giants less attractive than Miami, where the Dolphins are having their own quarterback competition.

In Green Bay, General Manager Ted Thompson, appearing publicly for the first time since the trade, said he was not particularly comfortable with his legacy as the man who traded Favre.

“When the trade papers actually came, and I was going to sign it — which would be my job — I almost wanted someone else to sign it,” Thompson said.

Favre seemed exhausted by the topic, but he insisted he was not a traitor and said he hoped his jersey would someday be retired in Green Bay. When asked about playing in New York, he showed his lingering fondness for the Packers. “Green Bay is a small market, but is there a bigger team?” he said.

With Favre, the Jets might have gotten closer to being in the Packers’ company.

Pat Borzi and Karen Crouse contributed reporting.

**mission** · 08-08-2008, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by BallHawk

Originally posted by MJZiggy

I will still wear the #4 I have, but I'm also trying to decide between a Jennings and a Bigby this October...

How is that a decision? Jennings, hands-down.

Hands down?

Are you fuckin kiddin me bro? From a coolness perspective, Bigby is like the coolest jersey you could get. I think wearing another man's jersey is kind of gay actually but I happen to have a Bigby gettin custom done despite my convictions...!!

course, now that i say that, it probably makes zig's decision to get a jennings one that much easier lol

**mmmdk** · 08-08-2008, 01:33 AM

Got my AJ & Favre already; now it's a toss up between Rodgers, Grant or Jennings (in october).

**mission** · 08-08-2008, 01:34 AM

“When the trade papers actually came, and I was going to sign it — which would be my job — I almost wanted someone else to sign it,” Thompson said.

damn. that's a moment that only one man will know...

wonder how his stomach felt ... eww. tough job TT has ....

**Pugger** · 08-08-2008, 08:39 AM

I have never purchased a players' jersey just because most players don't stay on one team their entire career! I would not want anything - t-shirt, hat, etc., with the Jet's logo cuz I'm a Packers fan!

**Ballboy** · 08-08-2008, 09:05 AM

Why would I buy a Jets jersey.....it doesn't say GB anywhere on it!!!

**Rastak** · 08-08-2008, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by mission

“When the trade papers actually came, and I was going to sign it — which would be my job — I almost wanted someone else to sign it,” Thompson said.

damn. that's a moment that only one man will know...

wonder how his stomach felt ... eww. tough job TT has ....