Jets football blog

Jets release Favre

Although it's really been over since January, Brett Favre's ballyhooed stint as a Jet came to an official end yesterday when the team released the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback from the reserve/retired list.

That means, should Favre decide he wants to play again, he is no longer the Jets' property and is free to sign with any team.

"Brett requested his release some time ago," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "He has not indicated any desire to return to football and he remains retired. We wish him the best." Continue

Favre will fight any urge to return

Brett Favre still says he is retired and that his career is over.

However, come July and August, Favre admits he will undoubtedly get the urge to play again. This time, though, Favre says he will not return to play out of respect for the Jets and GM Mike Tannenbaum.

"I foresee getting the impulse to play," Favre told Sports Illustrated's Peter King. "But as good as Mike Tannenbaum has been to me, I could never bring myself to do it. I know I won't do it. If I did, I'd be putting the Jets in a tough spot, because I know they can't release me." Continue

End of error for Favre and Jets

The Jets were hoping for an indication of what Brett Favre would do next season by the NFL Combine, but ended up finding out his plans sooner than that.

ESPN's Ed Werder reported Wednesday morning that Favre told his agent, Bus Cook, to tell the Jets that he intended to retire. A Jets source confirmed that the call has been made.

In an e-mail to Werder, Favre thanks Jets management, specifically owner Woody Johnson, GM Mike Tannenbuam and fired head coach Eric Mangini. He also mentioned by name two teammates who had been critical of him after the season.

"Mike and Woody, as well as the entire organization, have been nothing short of outstanding,'' Favre said in an e-mail to Werder. "My teammates -- Thomas [Jones] and Kerry [Rhodes] included -- were a pleasure to play with. Eric could not have been any better. I enjoyed playing for him. My time with the Jets was short, but I'm honored to be given that chance.'' Continue

Jets play Favre waiting game

The countdown to The Brett Favre Decision has started. In 10 days, the Jets hope - emphasis on hope - to have an answer from Favre headquarters in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The Jets are in the same position the Packers were in the last several years and it's not comfortable. They are waiting for Favre to tell them what he's doing.

When the Jets made the trade in August, they got the entire Favre package: The leadership, the excitement, the improvisation and the interceptions. But they also acquired the aggravation of their life being put on hold as Favre takes his time deciding whether he's going to play in 2009. The Jets need to be pro-active rather than playing nice and feeding into Favre's diva act. Continue

Schott willing to coach Favre again

Brian Schottenheimer - like Brett Favre since the Jets' season of promise crashed and burned into a bitter, playoff-less disappointment - needed to get away.

So after Eric Mangini was fired days after the season ended, and Schottenheimer interviewed for the job only to finish runner-up to Rex Ryan, the Jets' offensive coordinator cleared out of town, fueling speculation that he would leave the team for another job. Continue

Even on Super Bowl Sunday, Brett Favre made news.

Even on Super Bowl Sunday, Brett Favre made news.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, speaking on NBC's pregame show early yesterday afternoon, reported that Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum had his first offseason conversation with Brett Favre this past week. Tannenbaum's message, according to King, was that the quarterback needn't "rush" his decision and that he can take "months" if necessary. Continue

Options look limited for Jets if Brett Favre calls it quits

Brett Favre is on a hunting trip in Louisiana, where he won't have much luck if he's misfiring as badly as he did last month on the field.

Soon enough, the Jets will be hunting, too - for Favre's potential replacement. And that could be a dangerous game.

As the future Hall of Famer mulls retirement after a physically and mentally taxing season, the Jets are preparing to formulate a contingency game plan in case Favre decides to quit, which appears likely. Ideally, they would like his answer by Feb.27, the start of free agency. Continue

Favre less fanfare this time around

Brett Favre promises there will be no tears this time. The Jets quarterback told ESPN yesterday if he decides to retire, he'll do so with little fanfare.

"I'm an emotional guy, and I'm sure people are tired of seeing me get emotional," he said. "People would probably say, 'Oh, here he goes again.' I think it would just be better for me to just thank the Jets, and I sincerely mean that. It was well worth what I invested. But I'm going to just quietly step away if that's what happens." Continue 

Thomas Jones' barbs irk Brett Favre

Brett Favre refused to fire back at teammate Thomas Jones, but the Jets' quarterback seemed annoyed by the bashing that occurred in the aftermath of the season-ending loss to the Dolphins.

"I'm not going to let one or two guys ruin a career for me or the relationship I had with my teammates," Favre told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald, his hometown newspaper, addressing the controversy for the first time. "If you polled my past teammates, I bet 90% would say they enjoyed playing with me. I'm not so insecure as to let the comments bother me." Continue

Brett to Jet? For Favre, retirement seems likely

Brett Favre's retirement is looking more and more likely.

One day after the Jets' season-ending loss to the Dolphins last Sunday, the future Hall of Famer told GM Mike Tannenbaum it "may be time to look in a different direction" at quarterback, NBC Sports and si.com reported Saturday.

Favre, in a Friday night interview with NBC's Peter King, shared an exchange from his conversation with Tannenbaum. According to Favre, Tannenbaum said, "If I ask you about your future now, I know what you'll say. So I'm not going to ask you." Continue