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Bucs Move On As Packers Deal Favre To Jets

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TBO.com

Published: August 7, 2008

As Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia passed by a group of reporters on his way to practice Wednesday, one asked him if he was walking the green mile.

"Yeah," Garcia responded. "Dead Man Walking."

Not anymore.

Though the Bucs were once believed to be the favorites to land quarterback Brett Favre, the Packers announced late Wednesday night they had reached a deal to trade the iconic quarterback to the New York Jets.

"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," Packers 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 early Thursday.

"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."

Foxsports.com said the Jets got Favre for a single draft pick that is believed to be a third-round selection that will become a first-round selection if Favre and the Jets reach certain performance levels.

The deal came several hours after Favre said his goodbyes in Green Bay and then said he was getting anxious to join a new team so he could begin to bond with new teammates.

"I don't want to say we are running out of time but I need to get in a camp somewhere and get used to the guys as well as the system," Favre told a TV station upon his arrival in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday.

Favre flew to Hattiesburg from Green Bay, where it had become clear that his days as a Packer were over. Where Favre's future would take him remained a mystery well into the night, however.

He acknowledged discussing a trade to either the Bucs or Jets with their respective coaches, but there were also indications Wednesday that Favre may also be considering going back into retirement.

Favre's agent made it clear Favre's desire to play for the Minnesota Vikings far outweighed his interest in either the Bucs or Jets.

"Brett, you know, had his preference," said agent Bus Cook, who flew from Green Bay to Hattiesburg with Favre and his wife.

Favre and Cook didn't have much say in the matter. The Packers could have traded Favre without his approval to the club of their choosing. As of Wednesday, Favre didn't seem too enthused with two dominant possibilities.

When asked upon his arrival in Hattiesburg who was in the bidding for his services he refused to give either Tampa Bay or New York a strong endorsement, saying only that he was "considering those guys."

The Bucs and Jets, meanwhile, were apparently trying to outbid one another for Favre's services. Neither, though, appeared close to meeting the Packers asking price until the Jets emerged with an acceptable offer late in the evening.

Peter King of SI.com reported the Jets have offered just such a third-round pick, but a report emanating from the Jets offices indicated that pick was a fourth-rounder that could become a second-rounder.

The Bucs offer was believed to be for something slightly less than what the Jets have offered. Surprisingly, that didn't seem to bother Bucs coach Jon Gruden.

Though many believed Favre would've have a hard time picking up Gruden's system in a short period of time, Gruden didn't seem to believe that a late start by Favre would have prohibited him from succeeding here.

"Everybody says our offense is like Greek, that it's hard to write," Gruden said. "Well, Bruce Gradkowski started as a rookie here. Garcia came in and went to the Pro Bowl his first year here.

"Brad Johnson won a world title and went to the Pro Bowl as a first-year player in this system. Cadillac Williams was a rookie of the year and Michael Clayton did well as a rookie here.

"I get tired of how hard it is. It's demanding now, especially in training camp. But anything is possible if you have a group of guys who are committed to getting it done."

Gruden would neither confirm nor deny meeting with Favre and Bucs general manager Bruce Allen refused to meet with the media after returning to camp from a labor relations meeting in New York on Wednesday.

It's clear, though, the Bucs had been very interested in bringing Favre to Tampa Bay.

"We're a good football team," Gruden said. "We're trying to become a great one."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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