With 'some sadness,' Packers deal unretired quarterback to New York
The Green Bay Packers traded their three-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback to the Jets on Wednesday, ending an emotionally grinding month of indecision over Favre’s future.
The move ends a remarkably ugly split between Green Bay and one of its most beloved players, allows the Packers to move forward with new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and gives Favre a fresh start — although not exactly the one he wanted, as Favre’s first choice was widely believed to be the Minnesota Vikings.
“It’s like a marriage that ends,” Packers president Mark Murphy said at a news conference Thursday. “It happens. Neither party is at fault.”
Favre was scheduled to leave Hattiesburg, Miss., Thursday morning and the Jets said he would be at a 6 p.m. EDT news conference in Cleveland, where New York plays the Browns in a preseason game later Thursday.
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.
“I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform,” said Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson in a statement issued early Thursday. “He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible team on the field.”
Green Bay had been talking with the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers since deciding earlier this week that they could no longer coexist with Favre.
The Packers decided to move forward with Rodgers after Favre retired in March. Given their commitment to Rodgers, team officials weren’t particularly receptive when Favre decided just over a month ago that he might want to play after all — the latest development in several years’ worth of flip-flopping about his football future.
“I think all parties involved felt this was the best result for a difficult situation,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said.
Thompson said the Packers will review how the situation was handled, saying “I’m not sure we didn’t make mistakes.”
The agreement was first reported by Fox Sports on its Web site.
“We just felt like this was an opportunity to go get somebody of Brett’s stature and what he’s accomplished,” Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said during a conference call early Thursday morning. “We felt it was in the best interest of the team and when the opportunity presented itself, we felt it was the right move for us to make and we went ahead and did it.”
A number of fans made it clear throughout training camp that they wanted Favre on the Jets with signs and “Get Brett!” chants. Favre’s new No. 4 Jets jersey already was for sale on the team’s Web site about an hour after the trade was announced.
Tannenbaum, who said he had a “good” conversation with Favre, wouldn’t speculate whether the quarterback will play in New York beyond this season.
“We had discussions with him and his agent, Bus Cook,” Tannenbaum said, “and we’re going into this and we’re going to take this one year at a time and we’re excited to have Brett on the team this year.”
The arrival of Favre signals the end of Chad Pennington’s career with the Jets. Tannenbaum said there would be another transaction regarding Pennington, who spent his first eight seasons with the Jets.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for us,” Tannenbaum said. “I have all the respect in the world for Chad as a person, as a player. We’ve accomplished a lot of good things with Chad ... He gave his heart and soul to this organization for a long, long time. I really appreciate everything he’s done.”
Favre left Green Bay on Wednesday, boarding a private plane that left for Hattiesburg with his wife, Deanna, and Cook. Favre’s family home is near Hattiesburg.
The 38-year-old Favre holds most major NFL passing records and led the Packers to the NFC championship last season, where they lost to the New York Giants. Favre threw what would prove to be the decisive interception in overtime.
“We wish him the best,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s no ill feelings. He has a positive reputation within this organization.”
The Jets went into training camp with an open competition between Pennington and Kellen Clemens after neither established themselves during a 4-12 season. Pennington was 1-7 as the starter and was benched midway through the season. Clemens went 3-5, but Pennington actually had the better season statistically.
After some hope for reconciliation between Favre and the Packers earlier this week, the final split became obvious Tuesday evening.
McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that after approximately six hours of what he called “brutally honest” conversations over two days, the coach had determined that Favre doesn’t have the right mind-set to play for the Packers.
McCarthy said Favre couldn’t seem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensions mounted in recent weeks — even with the chance to win his starting job back potentially on the table.
“He wants to play,” McCarthy said Thursday. “He should play and we got to a tough spot, and that’s why we’re here today.”
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