Green Bay trades Favre to Jets

Unretired QB finally has a new home as long ordeal ends

Chris Jenkins | Associated Press • Published August 07, 2008

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GREEN BAY, Wis. - The monthlong saga of Brett Favre's unretirement ended Wednesday night when he was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.

The Packers had been talking with the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers since deciding earlier this week that they could no longer coexist with the player who won a Super Bowl and three MVP awards in 16 years with the team.

Terms of the trade weren’t announced, but Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported that the Packers will receive a fourth-round draft choice that could become a first-rounder if Favre plays 80 percent of New York’s offensive snaps and the Jets win the Super Bowl.

According to Schefter, the Packers would get a third-round pick if Favre plays 50 percent of the time, or a second-rounder if Favre plays 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs.

Schefter also reported that the Packers would receive three first-round picks if the Jets trade Favre to Green Bay’s rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers decided to move forward with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback after Favre announced his retirement in March. Given their commitment to Rodgers, team officials weren’t particularly receptive when Favre decided a little over a month ago that he might want to play after all — the latest development in several years’ worth of flip-flopping about his football future.

“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,” Green Bay officials said in a statement.

“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.”

Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson issued a statement late Wednesday.

“I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform,” Johnson said. “He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible product on the field.”