Or should I rather say has just begun (muhahaha!). At 10:45 pm last night, Brett Favre was officially traded to the New York Jets and is allegedly prepared to report to camp as soon as he can. The winner in the battle royale for who would break the story first appears to be Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, but in the end I think we’re all losers in this crazy roller coaster ride….
The Brett Favre era in Green Bay is now officially over. But Favre’s legendary career is not.
The month-long saga has finally come to an end, with the Packers trading their future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to the New York Jets.
The exact compensation was not immediately known, but it is believed to be a single draft pick that increases in value depending upon how the Jets perform during the 2008 season.
As a result of this, the Jets will likely release a quarterback. Signs have been pointing to Chad Pennington as the likely culprit because the team will need to free up cap room to fit Favre’s contract under the salary cap.
To be completely honest with everyone, I’ve had this post ready to go for three days. Of course all the Jets mentions were Bucs mentions, but other than that everything has stayed the same. I knew Glazer was going to get to the story first, and I put together a cute little look back. Shall we?
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Best Quotes:
“I’ll practice my butt off, if it comes to that, and I think we all know what the end result will be, but this probably isn’t going to work.”- Brett Favre
“I do believe if the Packaneers and Buccaneers can get together on compensation, uh then it’s reasonable in light of the circumstances”- Chris Mortensen
“This has been going on for over a decade. Going into ’96, the Super Bowl that he won. He talked about it prior to that game that if he won that Super Bowl he may in fact retire. And since that time it’s been twelve years now that we’ve talking about whether or not Brett’s going to retire.”- Troy Aikman
“ESPN’s Michael Smith has confirmed that Brett Favre has been traded to the Jets.”- Stuart Scott (Well good for him)
“I’m a football coach. I know (talking to the media) is part of my job description, and I don’t mind doing it, but I have no desire to stand out there and answer all the political questions. I’m going to tell the truth, and that’s that. I’m not going to be politically correct. I’m sick of it.”- Packers Coach Mike McCarthy
“We are a good football team. We’re trying to become a great one. We’ll do anything we can to get better. And if that involves looking at other players, by George that’s our job. That’s our responsibility.”- Bucs Coach John Gruden
“Once you’re on another team, you’re on another team. I think for the most part the locker room would have liked to see him back here. But like I say, once you’re on another team…”- Packers CB Charles Woodson
“The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want. He needs to jump on the train and let’s go. Or, if we can’t get past things that have happened, I have to keep the train moving.”- Packers Coach Mike McCarthy
“Yeah, dead man walking.”- Jeff Garcia
“We’re talking to Tampa and the Jets. I don’t think anything has changed. We’ll see what happens.”- Brett Favre
Timeline:
-March 6: Favre’s tearful press conference.
-Week of March 24: During the coaching staff’s spring break, Packers offensive line coach James Campen, whose in-laws live in New Orleans, goes up to visit Favre in Mississippi on March 26. On the 27th, Campen tells McCarthy Favre is having second thoughts and McCarthy should call him.
-March 29: Favre calls McCarthy to deliver a message: Thanks, but no thanks.
-April 24: On the 24th, McCarthy explains the team’s decision to place Favre on the reserve/retired list.
-May 6: With the NFL draft out of the way, Thompson visits Favre in Mississippi and has lunch on his back porch. Thompson says they have a “good conversation,” but don’t spend too much time talking about the idea that he might be having second thoughts.
-June 7: During a staff retreat in Kohler, Wis., Campen says he’s worried about Favre. McCarthy tells Campen to go to Mississippi – not as an official team intermediary, but as Favre’s friend.
-June 16-20: Acting on Campen’s advice, McCarthy calls Favre. They play phone tag for a few days but eventually connect. “You and Ted need to have a plan if I do come back,” Favre says, according to McCarthy. “Either give me my helmet or give me my release.”
-July 4: Favre sends a text message to Thompson, who responds by saying he is traveling and asks if they can talk Monday. Cook begins texting Thompson, and a conference call is arranged.
-July 8: A conference call is scheduled involving Favre, Cook, Thompson, McCarthy and Russ Ball, the team’s VP of football administration/player finance, to discuss Favre’s request for a release.
-July 27: Packer players report to camp, without Favre, as the quarterback agrees to let Thompson try to work out a trade solution in hopes of keeping Favre from coming to Green Bay.
-July 29: Favre finally faxes his official request for reinstatement to the league.
-July 30: Reports leak that Packers president Mark Murphy flies to Mississippi to extend a lucrative olive branch: $20 million over 10 years for Favre to stay retired and remain with the Packer organization in a marketing capacity.
-July 31: Trade talks become serious with the New York Jets. Favre apparently decides he doesn’t want to play for that team, and reportedly considers the marketing offer.
-August 3: Favre flies to Green Bay at the same time the Packers are having their Family Night scrimmage. He’s greeted at the airport by cheering fans.
-August 4: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates Favre, and the Packers add him to the 80-man roster. McCarthy is scheduled to meet with Favre, then address the team, then address the media. However, his meeting with Favre extends to roughly 4 hours — Thompson also meets with Favre — and the team meeting and media conference are canceled. Goodell also rules the Vikings didn’t tamper with Favre.
-August 5: Favre and McCarthy meet again at Lambeau Field. Then, Favre, Thompson, Murphy and others meet at Favre’s home in Ashwaubenon. McCarthy indicates Favre’s mindset isn’t right for him to rejoin the team, but says he plans to speak to Favre again in the evening.
-August 6: Favre is traded to the New York Jets.
Media Winner: Jay Glazer of Fox Sports
Jay had both the trade story today and the overnight report that Favre and the Packers were at a standstill after all night meetings. I don’t know how he does it, but the guy can’t be sleeping more than 4 hours a night.
Media Loser: ESPN
They’re not necessarily a loser in all of this, but they threw everything at this and got scooped once again. I don’t entirely blame them for their over-the-top coverage, but you could tell that they wanted to break the story live on a “Sports Center Special” for the last two days. Glazer also reported the story about an hour before ESPN did, and Sal Pal was still on Sports Center talking about the Bucs deal as FOX’s story went live. It seems like they’ve been scrambling all night and ESPN.com still doesn’t have a full story up as of midnight. They sure did try though and I feel bad for Wendy Nix after being stuck in Green Bay for what seems like three months.
Also, their hole plan for Brett Favre’s jersey retirement ceremony before the opening Monday nighter is trashed and they have to go back to the drawing board. At least they have a new angle now.
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In the end I think the process gave ESPN a good look at how draining the 24-hour news cycle can be and they have to now be more prepared than ever to go live with Sports Center next week. The bottom line though is that a majority of Country honestly cared about the outcome (I don’t care what you all say) and all of the outlets searching for more and new information is a great thing. Say it loud and say it proud New York….
Brett Favre is the quarterback for your New York J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!
Packers trade Favre to Jets (FOX Sports)
Packers detail timeline of Favre’s decisions (FOX Sports)
Favre timeline: It’s been a strange 5 months (Packer News)
(Photo via FOX’s Alex Marvez)
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