Favre says he's primed to lead Jets
CLEVELAND — Stepping down from the dais after a news conference where he didn't shed a single tear, Brett Favre squeezed the green No. 4 jersey in his hands.
Before the door to New York's locker room was shut, the Jets' new quarterback was asked one final question.
"Brett, is this a one-year commitment?" he was asked.
"We'll see," Favre said.
Goodbye, Green Bay. Hello, Gotham.
Favre closed a summer of discontent and opened a new chapter in his Hall of Fame career Thursday by joining the New York Jets, who stunned the NFL by outbidding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and trading a future draft pick to the Packers for the 38-year-old superstar.
One of the toughest ever to line up under center, Favre showed the slightest bit of anxiety about leaving the Pack after 16 seasons.
"To a certain degree, I don't know what I'm getting into," he said.
Favre brings instant relevance to the Jets, who went 4-12 last season and haven't had a quarterback of his stature since Joe Namath ruled Manhattan more than 30 years ago.
Favre, though, isn't trying to match Joe Willie.
"I'm here for one reason. Not to do commercials, Broadway all those things," Favre said before the Jets rallied to beat the Browns 24-20 in their exhibition opener. "I'm here to help the Jets win."
The three-time league MVP is expected to practice with his new teammates for the first time Saturday, but there's plenty to do before taking the field.
Today, Favre will be welcomed to New York by Mayor Michael Bloomberg during a morning ceremony at City Hall. Then, he'll begin devouring the Jets' playbook, which will have different terminology than the one in Green Bay he knew so well. Favre even joked that he's looking forward to his first conditioning test after being away from football longer than he has since high school.
"I'm a little out of shape, compared to the other guys," he said. "The last 24 hours have been crazy. This offseason has been bizarre. But I'm excited by this opportunity."
As for New York and all its trappings, Favre says bring it on.
"I know how tough it can be," he said. "And I know how great it can be in this city. Am I ready to face it, handle it, deal with it? I think so. I think it's a great opportunity. It can be as good as you want to make it."
Favre capped a whirlwind day and arrived at Browns Stadium a little after 6 p.m. On his way to the Jets locker room, he recalled a few previous visits to Cleveland with the Packers before meeting with New York coach Eric Mangini, who is a year younger than his new QB.
Before the Jets received the opening kickoff, Favre and his new backup, Kellen Clemens, talked briefly on the sideline. Favre clutched a card containing New York's offensive sets and after each snap, he discussed what transpired with quarterback Brett Ratliff, who in an instant went from raw rookie to teaching one of the game's greats.
Favre is eager to put his messy breakup with Green Bay behind him and so, too, are the Packers.
"It's like a marriage that ends," Green Bay president Mark Murphy said. "It happens. Neither party is at fault."
That was Favre's read as well.
"I think we're probably both at fault," he said. "I'm not going to blame one side or the other. A lot of things happened this season, a lot of shocking things. But at this point it's irrelevant."
