Brett Favre

By JEFF CAPELLINI, WCBSTV.com Senior Sports Producer
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Now what?

Brett Favre said goodbye to the Jets and the NFL on Wednesday, we think. The announcement, which came weeks before the team expected an answer, opens the door to what is seemingly the most pressing question of the offseason:

Who will be the team's quarterback in 2009?

If not for the fact that new head coach Rex Ryan had previously been part of an organization that didn't put much stock in the experience of its quarterbacks, this would be a huge deal. It turns out it probably isn't.

That's because the Jets are going to be a defense-first outfit from this point forward. Of course having someone under center who can manage a game, or better yet not give one away, is very important, but needing someone who can throw for 4,000 yards and 30 TDs likely isn't high on Ryan's priority list.

Favre's departure does several things to the makeup of this team. First, it rids the Jets of a $13 million obligation for 2009. Add that money to the $5 million they are saving with Tuesday's cut of veteran defensive back David Barrett and the Jets suddenly have some maneuverability.

There are probably more cuts to come. If the Jets play their cards right and release the players that don't have a future with the organization or let their own free agents they have no plans for walk, they could be well under the salary cap. That could mean adding a star like Ray Lewis could become less a pipe dream and more a viable option.

No matter how much money the Jets have on hand come the free agent signing period, which begins at the end of February, there's really no getting around the fact that this team will in some form be a carbon copy of the Baltimore Ravens. Following that design would be a stroke of genius on Ryan's part because one can't argue with success. The Ravens from top to bottom are a premier franchise in the NFL and if their blueprint for success works in the Inner Harbor, there's no reason in the world it can't work in the swamps of New Jersey.

But getting back to the QB situation, with Matt Cassel franchised by New England and names like Derek Anderson out there, the Jets don't appear poised to push the button on a major signing. They could trade for a QB, but there haven't been any rumblings on players they may be targeting.

So it appears the odds-on favorite to win the job next season is Kellen Clemens, who has shown that he has an NFL arm, but also a penchant for throwing interceptions and taking his happy feet out for more than an occasional stroll.

Clemens might have more physical gifts than Joe Flacco. He also might have more shortcomings than the Ravens' soon-to-be second-year quarterback, but he's basically raw and moldable. If Ryan can get Clemens to make smarter decisions with the ball the Jets will probably be able to live with his lack of experience.

That's because the Jets may set an NFL record for rushing attempts in a season in 2009. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington will be utilized to the max and the offensive line, already one of the better units in the entire league, will be drilled until the cows come home. No matter who is under center, the Jets' line will be better at both run- and pass-blocking.

If by some chance Clemens shows he's not worthy of the job in training camp, there is a running fascination out there right now about Brett Ratliff. It's largely based on a 2008 preseason game when he threw for huge numbers against Cleveland. He appears to also have a good arm, but overall is such a wild card it's really not known what he's capable of. Expect Ratliff to get a serious look in camp, but don't expect him to win the job unless Clemens totally stinks up the joint.

Then there is the draft. The Jets are reportedly dissecting the available field with a fine-toothed Telestrator. The upcoming draft seems top heavy and with the Jets picking down around No. 17 there's likely only an outside chance that a player like USC's Matt Sanchez will fall to them. They'd have to sell off big parts to move up for any shot at Georgia's Matthew Stafford, largely believed to be the best signal-caller available.

They could grab a QB like a Curtis Painter from Purdue late in the first round or in the second round and pray for a quick ascension, but that's always a long shot.

Regardless, the Jets could very well draft a quarterback. Who is anyone's guess. Sanchez looks like he could play now and considering Ryan's track record he'd have no problem starting a rookie if that rookie had enough upstairs to manage things and not kill the team in big spots. Sanchez was a star at USC and considering the QBs that have come out of that fine institution – Carson Palmer, Cassel and Matt Leinart, to name a few – he has the upbringing to make it at the highest level. The problem is getting him. How the Jets will go about doing this also remains to be seen.

Though Favre would have given the Jets their best chance to win in 2009, Ryan has changed the entire thought process within the organization. The idea now is to win, but to win any way you can. If that means winning 3-0, 3-2, 5-3, 7-3, 7-6 or even 2-0 Ryan will take it.

So will Jets' fans because although screaming about player production on talk radio is en vogue, it will prove to be a futile exercise because this team will be built to win in spite of its quarterback. If fans want to get upset about the run-blocking, that will have merit, but worrying about Clemens throwing for 115 yards and no TDs in any game will be a waste of time.

It will be all about the defense, all about Jones and Washington, all about Alan Faneca, Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Damien Woody.

That is until Favre changes his mind in late July.

And we all lose ours.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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