Fantastic "4"

He’s a Superhero! Well at least Jet fans would agree. Besides just being a living legend and a guarantee first ballot Hall of Famer, he is a top ten quarterback in NFL history looking to recapture the magic he had for 16 seasons in Green Bay. Brett a Jet! It just sounds compelling and brings true excitement to this team for the first time in quite awhile. Brett Favre’s jersey sales as a NY Jet skyrocketed with the most purchases in a single day. Their offseason was already productive, but #4 puts the icing on the cake making this team as promised earlier, worth writing about.

Of course there will be skeptics and disbelievers about Favre and the Jets marriage being simply a spectacle with no results in the end. Yes Favre is on the cover of Madden, and his gun slinging mentality might not necessarily fit Coach Mangini’s mantra of playing ultra conservative; however, the Jets are still a playoff bound team. Brett Favre will still have enough time in camp to become successful with his new receivers who are scarily similar to his old ones. Laveranues Coles is 5-11 who had 55 receptions last year. Greg Jennings also 5-11 had 53 receptions last season. Still do not believe me? Jerricho Cotchery who stands at 6 feet caught 82 passes for 1,130 yards with 2 Touch Downs. Donald Driver also a 6 foot receiver had 82 catches of his own for 1,048 yards with 2 Touch Downs. Besides the Coles-Cotchery connection, Favre has other strong options including the first round selection Dustin Keller and an old friend of his from Green Bay in Bubba Franks. Add Thomas Jones to the back-field with newly acquired seven time pro bowler Alan Faneca protecting center and this offensive may now be as productive as say one was in Green Bay a year ago!

Besides having a more than respectable offense then years past, this defense made significant upgrades as well. Adding productive veterans in Calvin Pace and Kris Jenkins will help solidify their defense. They further increased their line backing core, through the draft, by selecting Veron Gholston. Getting versatile players who not only fill a specific void in last year’s team but players that can rush the opposing quarterback and stop the run, will pay vast dividends for a team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme.

While it is hard to argue that the Jets can win the AFC East with the New England Patriots standing in their way, history may support me on this one. The Patriots may be dealing with a super bowl hangover after falling one quarter shy of the perfect season. Seven of the last ten super bowl losing teams did not even make the playoffs the following season! On top of that, the Jets have an easier schedule then last year. Rather than playing the NFC East teams which delivered 3 playoff teams including the Super bowl Champion Giants, the Jets face the NFC West. Other then the Seattle Seahawks, the St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ners are as pathetic as the news of Clay Aiken artificially inseminating someone so he can become a father! With Oakland, Kansas City and the one win Dolphins of last year on their schedule twice, it seems fair to argue their win total of four will increase dramatically.

Last but not least, this trade for Favre is a low risk high reward type deal. Giving up a fourth rounder with the potential of it becoming a first rounder is worth it. If the Jets make it all the way to the Super bowl, fans will not care or remember they lost a first round pick in the process. The deal is simple, who would you rather have leading your team, the best quarterback in their history other than Joe Namath with Brett Favre or sticking it out with Chad Pennington whose arm strength is as powerful as my grandmother. I actually liked Pennington {though most New Yorkers could not be happier to see him leave}, but no person in their right mind can make a legit argument he is better than Brett Favre. Even years seem to be in the Jets favor as 2002, 2004, and 2006 were all playoff seasons. Now as 2008, approaches the playoffs seem more realistic than ever before and once you make it there anything is possible even if it is indeed a wild card spot. Just look at the other team from New York!