So it's the New York Jets, who undoubtedly will welcome Favre for
more reasons than his passing ability and leadership. From the New York
Times:
He will be a huge draw for the Jets, who
will move to their new training complex in New Jersey at the end of
training camp, and he gives the Jets a face as they begin a campaign
centered around the eventual opening of the stadium they will share
with the Giants. Favre had to be persuaded to join the Jets only in the
last 48 hours after declining for weeks to even speak with them.
The
new stadium, by the way, opens in 2009, and who knows if Brett will be
there then. Not that it's going to be a good fit. The Jets had been an
outsider in the who-gets-Brett race. Again, the Times:
Favre
has no prior relationship with Coach Eric Mangini and the offensive
coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and he will be forced to learn an
unfamiliar offense on the fly, while surrounded by unfamiliar faces
even as he tries to find his comfort zone.
Well, if anybody can adapt, it's Favre. But what of the Green Bay Packers?
The
report is that it's a "conditional" draft pick, probably to be settled
after the season on a how-many-games, where'd ya finish formula. At
least they got something, and managed to steer him out of the NFC.
According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps
with the Jets in 2008, the fourth rounder becomes a third-round pick.
If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it
becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the
Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick. The second of
those two is most likely. Especially with news that Chad Pennington is
out in New York.
Even if it's a first draft pick, there will be
those who say it isn't enough. But it seems fair. I'd bet the Packers
end up with a third, maybe a second if the Jets reach the playoffs.
Other
than that...well, good luck Aaron Rodgers. Shame you can't get a chance
to talk to Richard Todd, Phil Bengtson, Mike Davis, Drew Carey and
Harry Truman. They might give you some advice on how to replace a
legend.
The basic advice: you can't. Nobody can. Just
concentrate, do your job the best you can, and ignore those who are
heartbroken and blaming it on you.
As for the front office -
well, dealing with Favre like this wasn't as bad as, say, hiring
professional liar Ari Fleischer. This is rare for Green Bay - a deal
that has fans up in arms. I don't think trading Bart Starr in 1970
would have aroused this much passion.
But the Packers were forced to do something.
Here's
a hint - next time you have a longtime hero retiring, make it clear
that you're taking him seriously and he won't be welcomed back if he
changes his mind.