By Matt Valentine
The Favre saga in Green Bay has finally come to an end…allow me a moment to rejoice.
With a late night deal announced around 12:30 AM EST the Favre era in Green Bay officially came to an end and a new chapter will begin in the city that never sleeps.
Favre who is no stranger to the camera, will now find himself paying under the bright lights of Broadway, or more accurately the bright lights of Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It must be a stunning upset to Buccaneers fans who thought they were the front runners in the Brett Favre sweepstakes, only to wake and find that the Jets had lured Favre to New York for a conditional draft pick in 2009.
According to NFL.com, the Packers will receive a fourth-round draft pick in 2009. The selection would turn into a third-rounder if Favre plays in 50 percent of the plays this season, a second-rounder if he plays in 70 percent and the Jets make the playoffs, or a first-round pick if he plays in 80 percent and the Jets make it to the Super Bowl.
Favre will most likely have to pass a physical before the trade becomes official, but the more important aspect of the deal is that Favre, who was once seemingly opposed to playing in New York, apparently signed off on the deal.
Favre’s arrival in New York signals the beginning of one era and the end of another, that is the end of the Chad Pennington era. Pennigton who is due to make $6 million will be traded or released by the Jets to make room for Favre who is scheduled to earn $12.7 million in 2008. I feel for Pennington, who was a player that poured his heart and soul into the Jets organization fighting throw significant arm injuries to return to the team he loved. Yet, there are plenty of teams out there, perhaps the Bucs or Vikings, who could use the services of the weak armed but accurate QB.
The Jets stock has risen on many fronts with what could prove to be one of the best off seasons in the leagues history. The Jets made significant additions through free agency to shore up some of their most glaring weaknesses. Particularly the addition of Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca to a young and improving line that contains promising starters Nick Mangold and D’brickashaw Ferguson should provide Favre with plenty of time to air it out.
How long Favre will be a Jet remains to be seen. The Jets have stated that they are taking it year by year and with the way Favre has handled things in the past that’s probably the best way to look at the situation. For now though, the Jets may have just turned themselves into a legitimate playoff contender and could even challenge the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East.
Now that the move has finally been made, the media can focus on Brett’s moves on the field instead of off the field and I for one am happy as hell. Still, I wonder if the Packers and Favre will ever be able to mend their relationship in the future, considering that just a brief time ago the two were pretty much synonymous with one another.
And while Green Bay fans are probably in a state of deep mourning, or anger depending on how quickly they’re moving through the grieving process, Jets fans are in a deserved state of euphoria.
A euphoria which will only last as long as the Jets and Favre win.