Brett Favre is a New York Jet. In related news, the sun began revolving around the earth, Isiah Thomas was named executive of the year, and OJ found the real killers. But seriously folks...the New York Jets pulled off one of the most shocking trades in recent memory last night by sending a fourth round pick (which may eventually become a first round pick) to Green Bay in exchange for the greatest player in Packer history. Just yesterday, the talking heads were saying there was no way Favre would end up in New York. By morning, Favre was a Jet, the Packers had begun a new era, and the Big Green were officially relevant once again. It was a good day all around.
The Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl this year. They might not even make the playoffs. They play in a conference that has New England, Indy, San Diego, Jacksonville, etc and even if they didn't, they were never just a Brett Favre away from title contention. But while adding Favre might not bring Jets fans their first Super Bowl title in nearly 40 years, it certainly gives them a lot to look forward to for at least the 2008 season.
Before this morning, the Jets were largely irrelevant. They were coming off a 4-12 season, had two mediocre quarterbacks competing for the starting job, and shared a stadium with the Super Bowl champs. They were coming dangerously close to becoming the Clippers of the NFL. But today, everything changes. For the rest of the season, the Jets will be the top story in every NFL broadcast. They will sell a ton of new merchandise and will gain monetary momentum in terms of building their new stadium. And, most importantly, they will improve as a football team. Favre will add a leadership that Jets fans haven't seen in a quarterback since Vinny T in 1998. They may not be the best team in the AFC (or even the fifth or sixth best team), but Favre gives them a chance to win any game they play. Whereas Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens were liabilities, Favre will bring the talent, experience, and leadership necessary to help carry the Jets to the playoffs. Whether or not they get there is another story; my point is that now they have the potential.
The Packers are also in a better position now that Favre has moved on from Green Bay. By sticking with Aaron Rodgers during this whole fiasco, they ended an era of uncertainty that threatened their future and could have derailed the kid's confidence. Though it was sentimentally and politically tough to ditch Favre, the Packers made the right move in doing so. Rodgers has shown tremendous class, grace, and humility during this entire saga, displaying the character necessary to fill Favre's shoes. The Pack has faith in his playing ability and can now have faith in his leadership ability as well. Favre, on the other hand, acted like a little kid this off-season, changing his mind, selfishly keeping himself in the spotlight, and blaming others when he went back on his word. While I wrote back in March that Favre's character was unimpeachable, I now believe that he is a prima donna whose ego got the best of his formerly characteristic class.
Though Favre went from a title contender to, well, the Jets, the change will give him an opportunity to fill a new and exciting role. Had he spent the season in Green Bay, he would have been a relic, hanging onto his glory days and keeping the franchise in the past. As a Jet, he will have a chance to help his team climb from the bottom, bringing hope to a perennial loser and teaching his teammates how to win in the future, even after he finally hangs it up for good.
Lets talk about a total professional and a person who should be recognized for this.
Not Brett Farve, but Chad Pennington. This man may not be the most talented, but the manner in which he coducted himself through all the adversity he faced, he is to be commended.
To change it around the impersonator, Frank Calendo who does John Madden says they need to elimate the number four and replace with the word Farve. 1, 2,3, farve, 5,6....13, farveteen, etc.
We will celebrate independence day as July Farve.
Posted by: Indy | August 07, 2008 at 05:42 PM