I was on holiday when the Favre trade went through (can?t I turn my back for a minute without something weird happening to my team?) My initial reaction was disappointment and sadness. I?ve gone on record on this site as saying I didn?t think the Jets should have made a move for Favre and I?m not going to back away from those words now. I fervently hope that Favre plays great football for the Jets for two or even three years, but I fear that he will play good-to-mediocre football for one year. This is only part of the issue, of course, because Chad Pennington was my current favourite Jet player. I?ve also gone on record on this site to say that Chad had become boring, the methadone of NFL quarterbacks, and I won?t back away from those words either. My liking of Chad went deeper than his physical limitations. They were built by his explosive contribution to the 2002 season and the fact that, ever since, he has done nothing but claw his way back from one injury after another. He is an incredibly strong individual whose body sadly cannot keep up with his mentality, yet every season I have hoped that this would be the year that he finally bounced back from the wrist/shoulder/shoulder/ankle injury that had hampered him the year before. Despite my liking of Chad, I knew that time was running out. I knew he had to really step up this pre-season or give way, hopefully to a hard-charging Kellen Clemens. If Chad had to bow out I wanted it to be to a player the Jets had brought in and groomed for the job, because there?s a sense of continuity there and that makes it easier to adapt to the change. When the Favre circus started I just wanted the guy to pull himself together and make up his damn mind, but I realise that wasn?t fair. I think Favre scared himself to death with a taste of retirement when he felt he was still able to play in the NFL. I hope that fear lasts for three more years. But I also saw a man who wanted to play for the Packers. Or the Vikings. Or maybe the Bucs. I didn?t see a man who wanted to play for the Jets. At the press conference he gave after signing I saw a man who was willing to play for the Jets because it was his only option, but he didn?t look or sound thrilled. That may not turn out to be significant. This was a shocking process for everyone involved and he had a right to be shocked. Imagine how Pennington felt on that flight home to New York on his own after being informed that he was no longer part of the team. Imagine how Favre felt starting out with a new team, one that wasn?t his first or even second choice, after so long in one of the NFL?s iconic franchises. I?ve heard this likened to being kicked out by your wife of 16 years, then remarrying the next day to someone you?ve never met before. But even if this is a marriage of convenience, it can still work out ? it will just take time. It will take time to think of Brett Favre as a Jet, because he?s always been a Packer (the first year in Atlanta hardly counts). But each practice that goes by in which Favre shows a developing chemistry with his new team-mates, and after each session in which he demonstrates that old devil-may-care attitude and sense of fun, it will get easier. It?s getting less jarring every day to see him in a white helmet, easier every day to accept that he?s the quarterback of the New York Jets ? and each time he throws the ball 65 yards to a streaking Jericho Cotchery, it gets even easier. Favre promises to make the Jets entertaining to watch for the first time since the opening weeks of the 2004 season. And that?s really going to make a welcome change.
Amen. While Favre's play likely won't be at the same level as last season, he still will improve the passing the game with his deep ball. Plus secondary's respect Favre much more than they did Pennington or would Clemens. And what is an added bonus of an improved passing game? An improved running game.
I can see why people are excited to have someone who can stretch the field with the deep ball, but his arm strength is most importantly about velocity and quickness, not going deep. His best pass is the slant. So be excited about the deep ball, but hope for him to pick teams apart with short and midrange passes.
Very nice post, UK Jets Fan and very well written. Yes, Favre was a bit apprehensive about the move to NY, but I think it was mainly the fear of the "unknown" not only a new team, but a new city. I've been a Packer fan my entire life. My dad was always a Packer fan, but ironically, I picked the Jets as my second favorite team, because I'm from New York and I don't like the Giants. I am really glad Favre is here. I was celebrating when I found out he was coming here and not going to the Bucs.
i actually feel quite similiar UKJetsFan. The press conference was almost uncomfortable to watch..it was so ill prepared..it felt so unprofessional. But i guess this was a direct result of it being tied up so quickly and the reality of the situation was still so shocking. One reason I will miss Chad is the genuine person he appeared to be. With that being said, watching the EA Sports Madden 09 preview with Favre picking apart the Patriots secondary gave me shivers. Cheers.
Dear UKJetsFan, I really love the title of your piece. Also, my feeling is that Brett got talked into the NYJs by his wife who was very nervous about him playing swathed in his "comfort zone". If a 38 year old is going to rise above his rapid descent into old age on the NFL field, he has to have some serious motivation. Jumping into a warm water pond was not his wife's idea of the "right stuff". The NYJs is more akin for Brett to jumping into a thinly covered icy lake and breaking through to the frigid water underneath immediately. New system, new coaches, new team mates, blazing spotlights so the electron microscope can sort out every wrinkle, flaw, and mole. If you think a Brett INT is going to be glossed over at the Meadowlands, you had better buy yourself another espresso and put some sugar in it. We are in a honeymoon period here during these last three pre-season games. I only hope that the CS gets the whole team to work their asses off so that they meld into an integrated team as best they can. There is definitely a book on Brett in the defensive backfields of the AFC teams. All his success has happened "over there" in the NFC, to hear them tell it "over here." To the extent Brett reverts to his 'tried and true' ways with these receivers, the NYJs will be in trouble. These guys and Brett have to learn to play together well, if we're going to get out of a losing season successfully. It has to be some Brett and some NYJs mixed together to come up with something different and "mo bettah" than either one of them before this trade.
That's an interesting take. It certainly will be a challenge for Brett to excel in New York, but I don't know if that's why he's here - the strength of the challenge. I don't think he had any option, except re-retiring. I just hope that if your analogy holds true, Brett doesn't drown!
I like all you say in this thread. I have the same reservations about this situation but am starting to warm to the idea that Favre might work out for us. Whilst I love Favre's deep threat I think I'm most excited about our run game. I honestly believe we are being overlooked on the ground and Jones, Washington and Keller can have huge years for us. With teams now respecting the laser arm of Favre I can see us having a big year. I'm dissapointed Chad's gone to the fish but he will always be a legend to me; who can ever forget that 2002 season?
uk, the best thing about getting Favre is we really don't have to lean on his arm as governing the success of our season. Sure it helps as a "good to have", but there are so many other things that will influence situations like our improved running game (we better have one), improved receivers, better against the run, and a big increase in sacks and turnovers in our favor. I remember last year I don't think we recorded our first sack until, I think, game 6 which is just horrible (pathetic even). I feel safe in saying we will not see that again.
And lest we all forget from time to time, in the words of Mike Ditka the other day on The Fan: "The quarterback gets too much credit and too much criticism. There's eleven guys out there."
