Brett Favre throws td pass in jets debut

Brett Favre looked fairly sharp to start his tenure as the NY Jets starting QB, throwing a TD pass and completing 5 of 6 passes before being lifted for a backup after two series. Lost in the Big Apple media’s Favre histrionics was the fact that the Jets were on the wrong end of a 13-10 decision to Washington. While it’s just preseason, it may be a harbinger of things to come.

#4 got a huge standing ovation from the New York fans when introduced before the game, and they continued to cheer his every move during his short stint under center. His first drive stalled after a sack and the Jets were forced to punt, but he moved the offense well on the second drive which culminated in a 4 yard TD pass to Justin Keller. Most encouraging was his decision-making, with none of his trademark forced balls into double coverage that end up getting brought back the other way.

Favre’s arm showed a lot of his trademark zip, though Jets’ coaches and fans can’t exactly be encouraged by his recent comments that both he and his arm “feel fatigued”. After the game, Favre was back into his duplicitous “aw shucks” mode noting that he felt “nervous and excited” in making his Jets debut. After 14 snaps and the TD pass he gave way to backup Kellen Clemens and spent the rest of the evening mugging for TV cameras on the sidelines.

The Jets will host their “crosstown” rivals (who actually play in the same stadium) next week in their traditional preseason meeting with the NY Giants. Favre should see even greater playing time in this game, but will likely be pulled quickly in the team’s preseason finale on 8/28 in Philadelphia. The reception he receives from the always belligerent Philly fans should be particularly interesting, but he probably won’t play more than a couple of series.

The Jets begin the regular season on 9/7 against the Dolphins in Miami, and Favre will make his regular season home debut with the team the following Sunday against New England in what should be a ‘marquee matchup’ for the FOX TV television coverage.