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Wow! So Brett’s a Jet.
Arguably the most bizarre story in the history of pro football, and maybe even professional sports for that matter, a sweeping saga that lasted just over five months and featured more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, has finally ended.
Or has it?
The Brett Favre show has unbelievably moved to the Big Apple. The next Letterman show should be a real beauty. A whole new layer of hype is in the offing, friends.
If Favre’s John Deere somehow ends up being the lead vehicle in a Super Bowl-induced motorcade down Broadway next February — a scenario that Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Eric Mangini actually feel is possible — the Packers will reportedly receive a first-round pick. At worst, the Jets will deliver a No. 4 pick in exchange for Favre's services.
But for that to happen, Brett Favre’s MINDSET (heard that word lately?) needs to be totally focused on the Jets' offensive playbook. We’re talking 24/7 film-watching, folks, which seemed much more likely in Tampa Bay, where Favre and Jon Gruden could have arrived at the Bucs’ headquarters every morning at 3:13 a.m., gigantic cups of coffee in hand, intent on doing what it takes to reach the next level, to gain that extra edge.
How committed will Favre be? How long will it be before the bright lights of 42nd Street burn him out — again?
One thing’s for certain: At least he's not the Packers’ problem anymore.
Aaron Rodgers is a different story, though. Now that Favre has split the scene, Green Bay has unequivocally become Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood. With Favre peering down on him from an executive suite at the Packers’ recent Family Night scrimmage, Rodgers looked about as shaky as a quarterback can look. Clearly, “Favregate” had run the risk of turning him into an ineffective basket case.
In the meantime, the Packers couldn’t come out with an official statement on the Favre trade any quicker.
“We appreciate the tremendous passion shown by our fans,” the statement said. “We, like them, always will see Brett Favre as a Green Bay Packer and our respect for him never will change. Moving forward, we are dedicated to delivering a successful 2008 season for all Packers fans.”
To make 2008 as successful as they’d like, the Packers must hold off the hard-charging Vikings, who in the eyes of many league observers, made the most aggressive moves of any team this offseason.
Until, of course, the Jets pulled the trigger late last night, culminating an offseason chock full of eye-opening moves.
In summary, it’s all good. At least I think it's all good.
Brett’s still playing, in New York of all places, right down the block from Letterman and Roger Goodell, for God's sake. Now that's entertainment.
Meanwhile, life goes on in Green Bay, where the messy divorce with Favre will fade into the background quicker than we all might expect should the Packers pick up where they left off last season with Rodgers carrying the baton.
Yeah, it’s all good. And it’s all oh so weird.
I have this vision of the Favre family sitting at home this morning watching a DVD of “West Side Story,” watching Russ Tamblyn dancing and singing, “When you’re a Jet, you’re the top man in town, from your first cigarette ... .”
Sorry, friends. “Favregate” has really played games with my mindset the last five months.
I’m afraid I’m still a bit loopy.
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