By EVAN NEMEROFF
Brett Favre, the long-time Green Bay Packers quarterback, suddenly will be wearing a new green jersey this season. The Jets acquired Favre for a conditional fourth round pick in 2009.
Many fans from the Five Towns are optimistic about the Jets chances with Favre leading their team's offense.
"With Favre being the icing on the cake, there is no reason why we should not be a serious playoff contender," said Steven Engel, a fan from Hewlett. "This is the year we have been waiting for for a long time."
The conditional pick could turn into a second or third round pick to Green Bay depending on Favre's percentage of plays. It could even turn into a first-round pick if Favre has 80 percent of the plays and the Jets make it to the Super Bowl, which any Jets fan wouldn't mind.
Besides the addition of Favre, the Jets also revamped their offensive line by bringing in Alan Faneca and Damien Woody. Another addition on offense is tight end Bubba Franks, who played with Favre in Green Bay.
The Jets also bolstered their defense by trading for lineman Kris Jenkins, signing free agent linebacker Calvin Pace, and drafting defensive end Vernon Gholston in the first round from Ohio State.
"I believe the Jets were a playoff team before we had Favre with all the acquisitions they made in the off-season," said Jeff Gordon, a fan from Woodmere. "Now, with Favre, the Jets are legitimate Super Bowl contenders and I am expecting big things this season."
By getting Favre, that means one Jet had to leave the team and that man was Chad Pennington, who had donned the green-and-white jersey for eight years until his release last week.
Many Jets fans are not disappointed with Chad Pennington leaving New York, who recently signed with the division rival Miami Dolphins.
"I was tired of watching Chad throw interceptions," said Max Brooks, a fan from Cedarhurst. "I'm excited to watch Favre and everything he could bring to the Jets."
Others, like Gordon, expressed an understanding that there is a constant movement of players in the National Football League because it is a professional business.
"It was time for Chad to move on," Gordon said. "We appreciate what he has done for the team and the organization, but the Jets were presented with an opportunity to upgrade the team and have a chance to win now and that's what they did. It's unfortunate, but it's business."
Even with the addition of Favre and their other acquisitions, some people believe it still may be a challenge for the Jets to make the playoffs because they play in the competitive American Football Conference.
"Brett Favre is a warrior and a great player," said Bryan Assael, a fan from Hewlett. "But, the Jets aren't even the best team in their division and may be the sixth-best team in the conference."
Jets fans won't have to wait long to watch Favre take his first snap, as he is expected to start in Saturday's pre-season game against the Washington Redskins. The game begins at 7 p.m. at Giants Stadium.
About 10,000 people attended Favre's first practice with the Jets at their training facility at Hofstra University in Hempstead.
For those that love an intriguing match-up, the Jets open the regular season on Sept. 7 against an old friend, Pennington, when they travel to Miami to face the Dolphins.
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