Good article on today's TC

10,500 FLOCK TO SEE FAVRE PRACTICE
BRETT TO START SATURDAY AGAINST WASHINGTON

August 9, 2008

At 1:20 this afternoon, Elvis entered the playing field wearing a New York Jets uniform for the first time.

When Brett Favre appeared wearing his red No. 4 quarterback jersey, the fans overflowing the grandstands and swelling around the practice field cheered loudly with a standing ovation.

When Favre acknowledged the crowd with a wave, the cheers grew louder.

Never before has a Jets training camp session had this kind of buzz. Team officials estimated that there were 10,500 in attendance, an absurd number by comparison to what usually turns out for these practices, which usually attract about a quarter of that.

"This is a lot of people . . . even for New York," Kellen ClemensKellen Clemens said.

As Favre began taking snap drills with the other quarterbacks, Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" blared from the sound system speakers.

The Jets hope this is the beginning of glory days for their franchise, which is coming off a 4-12 season and desperate to get back to the postseason.

Favre received gasps and wild cheers for merely completing passes to his receivers during drills that included no one playing defense. When he completed a deep pass over the middle to Jerricho CotcheryJerricho Cotchery , who made a one-handed snare in an 11-on-11 drill, the fans erupted. They even cheered Favre for throwing the ball out of bounds when there was no receiver open.

Favre, who hadn't worn full pads since the Packers' NFC Championship loss to the Giants last January, looked remarkably sharp during his reps. He never really let the ball fly, perhaps saving himself, but he looked as prepared as a player who had been in camp all summer.

Clemens, Favre's backup, was impressed.

"The arm strength is everything you heard it would be and probably more," Clemens said. "And as the season goes on, you'll probably see more eye-opening things from him."

Favre, conceding he "didn't want to look bad," said he went after it perhaps a bit more than he should have for a first day.

"I was probably overly excited as I started practice, and I'm going to pay for that (Sunday)," he said. "I'm really a rookie. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm not going to tell you that I've got this offense down and I'm not going to tell you that I knoww everyone in the locker room.

"I'm two weeks behind in camp. And I'm 38 years old, which puts me behind."

He'll catch up by starting in Saturday's preseason game against the Redskins at Giants Stadium, a game that will be nationally televised.

The consensus among Jets players is that Favre appears to be picking up the offense well in a short time.

"He's a really smart guy; he's picking up on it real fast," Clemens said.

"There is definitely a heightened sense of awareness from everyone to get o n the same page as him," said left guard Alan Faneca, who was part of the recruiting process, speaking to Favre the day he signed to give him a newcomer's perspective on the team.

Safety Kerry Rhodes said the presence of Favre and the huge crowd that came to see him "gave us a certain energy that, if it's going to be like this the whole year, is definitely a plus."

Even Eric Mangini, as he surveyed the overcrowded press room, seemed to get some energy from the vibe.

"Guess word's out how much better my press conferences are," he quipped.

Turning more serious, Mangini spoke about some things he told the team, about not expecting Favre to be wearing a Superman cape.

"You can add one person, but there's no magic formula; there's no magic dust," Mangini said. "It's going to take a team effort. And, (Favre) won't be playing the kickoff team. He won't be on kickoff return. He's not going to stop the run."

Mangini is trying to retain as much normalcy around his team despite the circus that has followed Favre here.

"He's under the same rules as the rest of the team, and that's what he wants," Mangini said. "That's what I liked about him when I talked to him early in the process. He's not looking to be any different than any of the other guys.

"I recognize that it is different. It is unique. But he's unique in that sense too. He's a regular guy."

 

Aug 9 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP)?Brett Favre stood in front of yet another throng of reporters, a towel draping his shoulders and a bead of sweat dripping from his gray-speckled hair.

The New York Jets? newest quarterback was a bit weary after his first practice Saturday.

?There were times at practice today,? he said, measuring his words, ?I was wondering if I made the right move.?

Don?t worry, Jets fans. He was joking?sort of.

?It?s been difficult,? the 38-year-old Favre said. ?It?s a pretty difficult offense to learn and I?m sure the one I?ve been in the last 16 years has been difficult, too. It?ll take some time, but I think we?ll be fine.?

Favre tearfully retired??That seems like so long ago, it seems like a dream??then came out of retirement and, after a messy divorce with Green Bay, was acquired by the Jets late Wednesday night. Leaving no doubt as to Favre?s standing with his new team, coach Eric Mangini announced that he?d start next Saturday at home against Washington.

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?I?m not going to sit here and tell you that I?ve got this offense down, that I know every guy in the locker room or they know me,? Favre said. ?It?s a routine and I?m just kind of following them. That?s different for me.?

After 16 years with the Packers, the last few days have been a whirlwind for the iconic quarterback. Favre flew to Cleveland to be on the sideline for New York?s preseason opener Thursday, had a meeting with the mayor at City Hall on Friday and then had to cram for his first test back on the field with his new teammates Saturday.

?I was really surprised that today I was as effective as I was, and I?m not saying that that was good,? he said. ?I?m just saying I was able to take a snap, call a play, we were able to break a huddle and I was able to complete passes in some sort of rhythm.?

Judging by the velocity on some of his passes, the Jets expect Favre to get up to speed fairly quickly.

?Hey, he can zip it now,? said wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who did extra hand strengthening exercises before practice. ?All the rumors about him throwing hard, yeah, they?re true.?

Favre worked mostly with the first-team offense, and his every completion was cheered by the estimated crowd of 10,500 delirious fans?over 8,000 more than the Jets usually draw to practice at Hofstra University.

?As soon as we stepped out here, the stands are filled and it creates a new energy for the team,? Cotchery said. ?Practice went by so fast today.?

The fans, hundreds decked out in green and white No. 4 jerseys, crammed into the metal bleachers and some stood about 10 deep behind the fence that borders the practice fields. A number of them wore cheesehead hats, a reminder of Favre?s Packers past, and a half-dozen even caught a glimpse from the roof of the university?s swim center a few yards from the practice facility.

?I came here as a kid and there were always a few people here and there, but nothing like this,? said Scott Myers, 28, of nearby East Meadow. ?It?s an event right now.?

His buddy, 27-year-old Brett Rudin, also of East Meadow, came to practice wearing his new Favre jersey.

?Anytime you have a chance to get a guy like Brett Favre, you?ve got to go get him,? Rudin said. ?Now, with him, they?re going to go at least 10-6.?


Sounds good, but Favre has resisted the urge to make any guarantees since becoming the biggest superstar to play for the Jets since Joe Namath. He wasn?t tricked when he was asked how this chapter of his life would end if it were a movie.

?Of course, I and this team would come out being victorious,? he said. ?I hope at the end of this season, I really do, that I feel like I made the right decision. I hope the Jets fans and the people throughout the NFL world feel like I made the right decision. At this point, I think it was the right decision. I?d love to win the Super Bowl; I would?ve loved to have gone and won it last year. As I said yesterday and the day before, my intentions are to help this team win.?

Favre received a standing ovation as he jogged on the field and waved to the overflow crowd. The fans remained on their feet while he took practice snaps from center Nick Mangold. When asked if he and Favre had to make any adjustments to each other on snap exchanges, Mangold smiled.

?How do you tell Brett Favre to adapt to you?? he asked.

You probably don?t, but with someone with his experience, you probably don?t need to worry much.

?It?s all brand new,? Mangini said. ?He?s trying to learn everybody?s name, trying to figure out where the cafeteria is and the dorm rooms and all that other stuff.?

The fans cheered each of Favre?s completions, including a pretty 40-yard pass to Cotchery that drew the biggest oohs and ahhs. Favre wasn?t perfect, though, as evidenced by a that was intercepted by Matt Chatham.

?There?s nothing for me to do than try to get this offense down,? Favre said, ?get acclimated with the guys, the system and that will take awhile and that?ll be tough.?

Favre reminded everyone that it was the first time he had put pads on since losing to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game, and at times he might have been overly excited.

?I?m two weeks behind as far as practice and I?m also 38 years old, so I?m a little bit behind there, too,? he said. ?My arm feels fine. It?ll be tired tomorrow and it?ll be sore because there?s no substitute for getting into game-type situations and putting the pads on.

?I didn?t want to look too bad, so I tried to put as much into it as I could, and I?ll pay for it tomorrow. But, I?ll be OK.?