Brett Favre held up his new No. 4 jersey -- in a different shade of Green
The star quarterback joined the New York Jets on Thursday evening before their exhibition game in Cleveland against the Browns, hours after he was traded by the Green Bay Packers. He was introduced at a news conference at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
He says, "The last 24 hours have been crazy."
Favre said he never thought he would become a Jet, but said he's excited to play for New York. The three-time MVP said he's "a little out of shape, compared to the other guys," but is eager to play.
Favre told the Jets he wanted to make the trip to Cleveland to meet his new teammates, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter. The team wasn't planning on him going initially, but Favre insisted.
Needing to get up to speed with the Jets' offensive playbook, Favre wanted to join his new team as quickly as possible so he can get ready for the club's season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. NFL Week One
Five months after a tearful goodbye to a Hall of Fame career, Favre, who won a Super Bowl title and three MVP awards in 16 seasons before his acrimonious split with the Packers, is joining a Jets team which went 4-12 last season.
For the moment, Favre brings the Jets publicity -- second stringers in the New York area, they're far overshadowed by the champion Giants.
Already, his jersey is being scooped up by fans who awakened Thursday morning to the news that the Mississippi country boy with the cannon right arm is on his way to the big city.
Until the deal was announced, it appeared the 38-year-old might be on his way to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But the Jets, who went to camp with Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens battling to be the starter, persisted and landed Favre for a fourth-round draft pick in 2009.
Details of the deal The Green Bay Packers traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets for a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2009, but the deal comes with a number of stipulations, NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports.» If Favre takes 50 percent of snaps this season, the Packers get a third-round pick. At 70 percent of snaps and if the Jets qualify for the playoffs, Packers receive a second-rounder.
If Favre takes 80 percent of snaps and Jets make the Super Bowl, Packers receive first-rounder.» If Favre retires after one year and Packers get Jets' first-round pick, Packers would send Jets a fifth-rounder in 2010. Additionally, Favre must play in at least 50 percent of one playoff game for Packers to get that compensation. If Packers get second-rounder, Jets would get back sixth-rounder in 2010.
If Packers get Jets' third-rounder, Jets would get seventh-rounder in 2010.» The "poison pill" scenario: If Favre is traded to any team in NFC North, Jets would surrender three first-rounders to Green Bay. Trade also includes provisions preventing trade to another team if that new team were to trade him to NFC North.
