Channel3000.comWisconsin Sports

Related To Story

Jets Introduce Favre As Newest Team Member

Legendary QB Traded Wednesday

UPDATED: 1:23 pm CDT August 8, 2008

The Green Bay Packers reached an agreement late Wednesday night to trade quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets.

VIDEO: Thompson Talks About End Of Favre Era | TALKBACK: What Do You Think? | READ: Life Lessons From Favre Fiasco | READ: Survey Shows Sharp Decline In Favre's Popularity | SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Packers Training Camp

Though the Packers did not release terms of the trade, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported the Packers will acquire a draft choice as compensation. The paper also quoted an NFL source who revealed the draft choice may increase in value depending on how well Favre plays this season.

During a news conference on Friday, Packers general manager Ted Thompson admits he's not comfortable that he will, historically, be known as the man who traded away Favre.

Thompson said he, in fact, didn't want to be the one who signed the trade papers when they arrived at the Packers' offices, but knew he had to.

President Mark Murphy and coach Mike McCarthy joined Thompson at a news conference in Green Bay.

Murphy said that if Favre wanted to come back to the Packers, they would have welcomed him. McCarthy said the Packers would have let Favre compete for the quarterback position, but it never got to that point.

Murphy said Packer executives had to do what was in the long-term best interest of the organization. He said Favre wasn't sure he wanted to return to the Green Bay Packers.

McCarthy and Thompson both said that the communication between the two sides could have been better.

The NFL Network is reporting that the Packers get a conditional fourth-round draft pick, which could be higher based on how much Favre plays this year. It would reportedly turn into a third-round pick if Favre plays 50 percent of the snaps. It would be a second-rounder if he plays in 70 percent of the plays and the Jets make the playoffs. And the Packers would get a first-round pick if Favre takes 80 percent of the snaps and the Jets make it to the Super Bowl.

Part of the deal reportedly involves the Packers making sure Favre doesn't end up with the Minnesota Vikings. It is being reported that if the Jets traded Favre to the Vikings, the Jets would have to surrender three first-round picks to the Packers.

  SURVEY
Do you think the Packers made the right decision in trading Brett Favre?

Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy and Thompson released a joint statement earlier on Friday.

"Brett has had a long and storied career in Green Bay, and the Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for everything he accomplished on the field and for the impact he made in the state," the statement said. "It is with some sadness that we make this announcement, but also with the desire for certainty that will allow us to move the team and organization forward in the most positive way possible.

"We respect Brett's decision that he could no longer remain here as a Packer. But there were certain things we were not willing to do because they were not in the best interest of the team. We were not going to release him nor trade him to a team within the division. When Brett ultimately decided that he still wanted to play football, but not in Green Bay, we told him that we would work to find the best solution for all parties involved. We wish Brett and his family well."

Favre had said "the bottom line is playing football" and said he's looking forward to playing in a place where he can be "fully committed" to playing. He said he couldn't do that any longer in Green Bay.

"I'm tired. I knew going up (to Green Bay) it was more formality than anything. It was something I had to do," Favre said before the trade. "I was asked the question if I was totally committed to the Packers. I know that's well documented, and I posed the same question back to them. And I don't think either side could totally commit after all that's happen. I know people said, 'You need to put the personal issues aside.' And I agree, but I couldn't do it."

The Jets have Favre's No. 4 jersey already up for sale on the team's Web site.

Late Wednesday night, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum held a conference call and revealed details of the acquisition. He said the club had multiple discussions with Favre, going over all the concerns of bringing him into the Jets' fold. A transcript of Tannenbaum's news conference about the trade can be read here.

Favre will be going to a new city with a new system after 16 seasons in Green Bay.

"We got to a spot where we felt comfortable with things," Tannenbaum said. "We're excited that he's here."

Tannenbaum added that the Jets were "just kind of monitoring" the situation, but jumped when the opportunity presented itself.

"Really, we had a cursory monitoring situation going on. We just kind of put an oar in the water," Tannenbaum said.

Before the news of the trade was announced, WAPT-TV caught up with Favre as he spent Wednesday afternoon practicing with the Oak Grove High School football team in Hattiesburg, Miss. Favre was asked about leaving the Packers.

  SURVEY
Brett Favre is reportedly going to the New York Jets in exchange for a singe draft pick. Do you think this is a fair trade?

"It's a tough decision -- one I never thought I would have to make. But I am excited about the opportunity," said Favre. "I've always felt throughout my career that when I'm on the field I give us a better edge. I think any good player -- any good competitor -- should feel that way. It's not being cocky, it's being confident."

Asked if this will be his last year on the field, Favre said "God only knows. The one thing that I know is that when I play, I play 100 percent. It may be ugly, it may not be pretty, but I give it everything I've got."

Some Packers fans said they are not happy about the trade. Don Harvey, of Ashwaubenon, was carrying a life-size cutout of Brett Favre at training camp and said he was so disgusted with management he planned to sell his season tickets.

Todd Brown, of Green Bay, held up a "Bring Brett back" sign at training camp. Brown said he was disappointed with the way Favre was treated by Packers management and urged coach Mike McCarthy to apologize to Favre.

Favre was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Sunday after retiring in early March in a tear-filled press conference. He was added to the Packers' roster on Monday but did not practice with the club. Favre left for his Mississippi home Wednesday afternoon.

Favre is coming off one of his best seasons ever. He led the Packers to a 13-3 regular season record in 2007 while throwing for 4.155 yards, 28 touchdowns and a career-best 66.5 completion percentage.

Favre leaves Green Bay as the NFL's all-time leader in most major passing categories -- touchdowns (442), yards (61,655), completions (5,377) and attempts (8,758) -- and his 253-game starting streak remains intact. By playing 16 seasons in a Packers uniform (1992-2007), he matches Bart Starr (1956-71) for the longest tenure in team history among his 30 team records. Now he brings those startling credentials to the Jets.

He is the only player to ever receive the Most Valuable Player award three years in a row and led the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.

"I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform. He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible product on the field," Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson said. "Mike Tannenbaum and his football administration staff did a great job of navigating this complex process."

Favre's arrival in New York will likely displace quarterback Chad Pennington, who has played with the Jets since 2000. In 69 career games with the club, he has completed 1,259 of 1,919 passes for 13,738 yards and 82 touchdowns.

"I have all the respect in the world for Chad as a person and a player," Tannenbaum said. "He gave his heart and soul to this organization for a long, long time."

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.



Sponsored By:







Sports Survey

Who will be the Packers big rivals this season?

Sports E-News

Sign up to receive daily sports headlines.