The trade of Brett Favre to the New York Jets ended the Favre era in Green Bay. The Jets now have their undisputed starter at quarterback. Would this be the year when head coach Eric Mangini and his team replaces New England as AFC East Champions?
If Favre was tired after the Packers playoff run last year, he really has a lot of work to do now in this one. Favre will have to learn a new system and a new lifestyle in New York. And he also will have to deal with the New York media.
Brett is no doubt a country boy, born and raised in Mississippi. Playing and living in Green Bay was just like the south, now he will be one of the most important players in one of the biggest cities of America. Could he get used to the bright lights and the busy streets of New York? Could he return the Jets to the Super bowl? Only the time will tell.
It’s going to be a big step for someone that was too tired to continue his NFL career back in March. Learning the new strategies and type of play of his new teammates won’t be easy. Favre will have train harder this year than in previous years with the Green Bay team.
The Packers got what they wanted by trading Brett out of the NFC. Tampa Bay was thought to be Brett’s new team but the New York Jets were more determined to land the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Depending on the Jets win-loss record and Favre’s playtime the draft pick traded for Favre could be between a first and fourth round pick.
The Release Of Chad Pennington
With the new quarterback on the roster, Chad Pennington’s job in The Jets is over. Pennington was released allowing the young Kellen Clemens to assume the role of backup and learn a lot from a legend. This trade could help New York in the present and future. The pressure is on for Mangini to win, and adding Favre to the team could guarantee at least a playoff spot in 2008.
The New York team now find themselves as legitimate contenders to dethrone the New England Patriots. If the Jets can maintain a running attack, allowing Favre to do play action and roll out passes, the famous legend could be very successful in New York. He knows football so learning the Jets style of play shouldn’t be too hard for the experienced quarterback.
Brett Favre’s New Offense
The New York team had a busy off-season and added some solid new and old talent on both sides of the ball. Favre will have a hard offensive line anchored by free agent guard Alan Faneca along with talented youngsters Nick Mangold at center and D’Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle.
Having time to find the open receiver will not be a problem for the Jets new quarterback.
Talking about receivers, Favre has a few talented ones to throw to. Laveranues Coles has had a productive career and had six touchdowns the last year. Along with the veteran Coles are other younger and skillful receivers like Jerricho Cotchery, Wallace Wright, and Brad Smith. Not the best group in the league, but Brett has been successful with less talented receivers in the past.
Favre will also benefit himself by being able to hand the ball to the former Bears running back Thomas Jones. Jones is a great player that will take pressure of Favre to be perfect every week. Along with free agent fullback Tony Richardson, an excellent blocker, the New York Jets offense is enormously improved from the 2007 squad.
Favre: Playoffs or Get Out
The legend Brett Favre needs to have a solid year in The Jets for this trade to make sense. If he doesn’t play good and the Jets don’t reach the playoffs, the media in New York will strongly criticize Favre and the Jets. It is a love-hate relationship between the Jets fans and their professional teams, so by adding Favre to the team the fans expect the best in 2008.
If Brett does not perform well and the Jets don’t make the playoffs it could be Brett’s last year. There still two years remaining on Favre’s contract so his intent may be to finish out his current deal, but failure is not an option in the New York team. A 6-10 season and the fans will be asking for Favre’s release.
With this player’s ability though, he should have no trouble turning the Jets back into contenders. He better hope he can anyway. After all the fuss to play anything less than success will be highly scrutinized.