Favre has a lot on his New York plate

Goodbye Cheeseheads, hello Big Apple. The Brett Favre comeback saga officially ended Wednesday night, when the Green Bay Packers traded the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to the New York Jets for a very conditional fourth round draft pick.

This past summer has felt more like a soap opera rather than a typical NFL off-season. It began when rumors swirled in the media that Favre was considering a comeback after retiring March 4. Favre animatedly denied initial reports as “all rumor” although he was ultimately re-instated at the beginning of August after a highly publicized debate between Favre and the Packers. Now, after back and forth arguing between Favre and the Packers in the media, Aaron Rodgers will be at the helm of the Green Bay Packers offense. So what’s next for Brett Favre?

 I’m optimistic about Favre as a Jet. There is a part of me that believes he will be able to do well. After all, he definitely has the credentials.

Since being drafted in 1991 by the Atlanta Falcons and traded to the Packers, Favre has built up his resume. He holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback, with 253 starts total. He holds the record for most quarterback wins with 160 victories, he has been to and won the Super Bowl. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time, back-to-back NFL MVP award winner (1995, 1996, 1997). Not to mention, he did lead the Packers to the NFC North Championship last season with a 13-3 season.

 It would appear Favre still has got the factor that makes him the player he is today.

However let’s face it, New York isn’t Green Bay. Is Favre really committed to playing football? The Mississippi native might be biting off more than he can chew. In his Jets introduction press conference Thursday, Favre admitted “To a certain degree, I don’t know what I’m getting into.” In other words, he might grow to regret moving to New York.

The cold climate might be right, but Favre is going to have to learn a completely new offense system in a short amount of time. The Jets preseason began less than 24 hours after Favre was traded to the team. In addition, he will have to be able to handle the notorious New York media, who has been known for its love and hate relationship with players.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson learned it the hard way when he had an altercation with a cameraman in the streets of New York shortly after joining the New York Yankees in 2005. He was traded back to the Diamondbacks in 2007.

I like to think of the Jets as the step brother to that other NFL franchise in New York, the New York Giants.

Expectations for Favre were going to be high regardless of the Giants, as the Jets are risking a bit for Favre. They released staple quarterback Chad Pennington and basically have to re-tool their offense for Favre, a middle aged quarterback with retirement in the near future, right before the start of pre-season.

While I don’t think they lose much in Pennington, who was best known for his 2002 season, changing quarterbacks right as the preseason begins is a bit dangerous.

With the Giants coming off a Super Bowl season, there is going to be constant comparison of the Jets to the Giants. Jets fans and the New York media are going to expect Favre to lead the Jets to a Super Bowl and win it, just as Eli Manning did for the Giants.

Now I know Favre will be happy in New York if he can lead the Jets in the right direction. It appears he is happy with the move, as he said the Jets were still an option when ESPN reported Tampa Bay was the front runner to win his services before the trade. He will also have some weapons to use on the Jets roster to make them a playoff team.

But my fear is that Favre won’t be able to take too much negative criticism and will give up and retire by the end of the season.

 I’m not getting down on Favre for wanting to play football. He’s an excellent talent and deserves the right to play. However, I hate to see a legendary player tarnish his legacy. It just wasn’t the same watching Michael Jordan in a Wizards uniform. And I’m sure it’s going to be weird for a lot of NFL fans to see Favre in gang green. He will have to get the monkey off his back.

Nobody remembers Michael Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards, who failed to make the playoffs his two years as a player on the Wizards.

He will always be remembered as a member of the Chicago Bulls that won six NBA Championships. Jerry Rice will always be a 49er, despite playing for the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos after 16 years in San Francisco.

No matter what Favre does in New York he’ll always be a Green Bay Packer. He was the face of the franchise for 16 seasons.

Despite this, the trade is a blessing for the New York Jets. The addition of Favre might be the best piece of news the franchise has had since winning Super Bowl III in 1968, 40 years ago. I am glad die hard Jets fans will once again have a player who can bring stability, leadership and the proven ability to win to the table.

He might become the next Joe Montana. In 1993, Montana lost his starting quarterback position on the 49ers to Steve Young.  However, he felt he still had the juice to continue playing and was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs tied a franchise record for wins with 13 total in 93 and made the playoffs both years Montana was QB.

Favre may always be a Green Bay Packer, but he has to be fully committed to playing if he wants to have a successful career as a New York Jet. I’ll never bet against him, as he’s proven over and over again that he will do whatever it takes to win.

Yes, he shouldn’t have said he was going to retire so quickly after the off-season, but every team in the Packers’ division has to be popping bottles of champagne and celebrating that Favre isn’t in their division.

I understand they want to give Rodgers his time, especially with this being the last year of his contract before he can test the free agent waters.

It might be unfair to Rodgers to make him play backup again, but the NFL is a business. It’s not about being fair.

There are going to be a dozen quarterbacks just like Aaron Rodgers. Favre is a commodity in this league and it’s ludicrous how the Packers treated Favre after all he’s done for them.

 That said, Favre better be ready to go through the storm, because I have the feeling being the Jets’ starting quarterback isn’t going to be a picnic. But I do hope Favre proves the Packers wrong and shows he’s still got the hunger to play and win that makes him a legend.

Matt Lindberg is a new sports writer and a graduate from the University of Kansas. He was born in Chicago and lived there for 13 years, before living in San Francisco, Kansas City and Dallas. He is an avid Dallas and Chicago sports supporter.