Aug 6, 2008 7:00 pm US/Eastern
BAY WATCH: Jets May Be Pawns In Favre's New Play
NFL Legend Leaning Toward Trade To Bucs, Could Be Trying To Leverage Gang Green For Packers' Sake
Report: Jets Offer Conditional 4th Round Pick
By JEFF CAPELLINI, WCBSTV.com Senior Sports Producer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Brett Favre let one go against the Jets on Dec. 3, 2006 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. The Jets defeated the Packers 38-10.
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
It appears Jets fans are being played in a big way. Or maybe not. One thing is certain. We should know very soon.
The Jets have reportedly offered the Green Bay Packers a conditional fourth-round draft pick for Brett Favre. According to ESPN, the pick could turn into a second-rounder depending on how well Favre does in 2008.
Despite the apparent offer the feeling in NFL circles is Favre is just using the Jets to get a better offer from Tampa Bay so his soon-to-be old team can do better than the going rate for a player who, largely through his own antics, has destroyed his value on the trade front.
As of 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, various media reports had the Jets offering the better package for Favre. The Jets, of course, are not saying anything as is their custom with regards to, well, anything.
At this point, whoever gets Favre would probably not have to give up more than a third- or fourth-rounder. Initially, the Packers were said to be looking for a first-round pick, but that was weeks and many publicized arguments ago. The NFL legend has played a big role in dragging out this saga for so long the Packers are not in a position to ask for anything substantial. Any potential trade partner has the hammer.
However, don't be fooled by Favre's words over the last few days. He may be angry things didn't work out in Green Bay, but that doesn't mean he's not nodding and winking at Packers GM Ted Thompson from afar, a little "I'll continue to scratch your back if you scratch mine."
Translation: Favre is now and will always be loyal to Green Bay, probably wants to go to Tampa Bay now that he has few options and the Jets, in all likelihood, are the suckers the Packers will try to exploit.
If this indeed is the case, what kind of precedent will it set? What if Green Bay and Tampa Bay meet in a meaningful game at some point this season? Will Favre be worrying too much about Mike McCarthy's feelings or Jon Gruden's?
If by some miracle Favre does get traded to the Jets, Chad Pennington will likely be released. After thinking long and hard about this, Favre's behavior over the last few weeks has to give all Jets fans a moment of pause.
Yes, he's still Brett Favre, NFL quarterback extraordinaire, but who's to say he won't start trouble? If we've learned anything about Favre it is this: He wants complete control over everything that has anything to do with him. That could mean he walks into Eric Mangini's office and tries to get him to revamp the playbook. It could mean he could try to use his stature to influence personnel.
Both are probably a reach, but the point is does anyone actually trust this guy to just shut up and play football? On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, Favre is ready to give New York a go. Who really knows?
The loser in this thing will likely be Pennington or Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia. Each has been outspoken during training camp, but has also handled the situation with class.
Regardless of how this saga ends, the legend of Brett Favre has been tarnished to a degree. Here's a guy who has excelled at everything he's ever tried to do in this game. One last crowning achievement could be guiding a team that has forever been not only the second team in New York, but also one of the most picked on franchises in all of sports, to sustainable respectability. He could play a big role in creating something that turns the once downtrodden into men with heads held high and fans with aspirations that reach the moon.
But the odds of him coming here are still less than 50-50. At the end of the day, Favre is a small-town guy with small-town thoughts. His actions over the last few weeks speak volumes. Maybe his wife will get through to him that New York offers everything while Tampa, Fla., while beautiful whenever a hurricane isn't looming, will never have the brightest lights to play under.
Ultimately, though, Favre, despite still having all the tools, may not have the heart at this point to take his best stab at Gotham.
And without that intangible, the Big Apple will turn you into Swiss cheese.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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