Getting back on field perfect tonic for Favre
editor1 |Aug 17,2008
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By Tom Torrisi
PA SportsTicker Pro Football Editor
Brett Favre's offseason of discontent is fading in his rear-view
mirror.
The decision to retire in March, and un-retire four months, led
to a messy and very public divorce from the Green Bay Packers,
his employer for 16 seasons.
The ugly spat threatened to permanently tarnish the reputation
of both an NFL icon and the legacy of one of the league's
storied franchises.
As it turns out, Favre just needed one thing for all to feel
right in his world - to get back on the football field.
And, judging by the early returns, the New York Jets will
benefit most from Favre being back where he belongs - in the
position where he has been for 253 consecutive regular-season
starts.
Favre, who was dealt to the Jets 10 days ago, made his eagerly
anticipated preseason debut for the Jets in a 13-10 loss to the
Washington Redskins on Saturday night and looked like he never
had been away from the field - much less like a player who had
turned in his pads for a rocking chair.
"I knew I was out there for the right reasons. Obviously a lot
of things have gone on the last few months," Favre said. "I'm
not going to sit here and say I haven't second-guessed
decisions, not only this year but along the way. One thing I
know for sure, when I step on the field as I did tonight I knew
I made the right decision."
It showed in his play.
Favre wasn't perfect, but he was close. The league's only
three-time MVP completed 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards, including a
4-yard scoring pass to rookie tight end Dustin Keller to give
the Jets a 7-0 lead with 5:25 left in the first quarter.
"It was an excellent start," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "He
moved the team down the field and put us in a position to
score."
"He was flawless, wasn't he," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "He
did a nice job for being around for a short period of time. It
shows what type of veteran he is. He just drove down and
scored. It just shows his expertise at the quarterback
position."
After receiving a warm and rousing welcome from the Jets fans as
he came out the tunnel, Favre offered a glimse of what they can
expect by completing his first three passes - none longer than
11 yards - before he was sacked and threw his first and only
incompletion.
"I wasn't that nervous. I thought it was more butterflies,"
Favre said. "Considering it was a preseason game and I had a
little built-up anxiety. I wanted to get this game over with. I
wanted to play in it, but I wanted to get it over with and just
go on."
On the Jets' second possession, Favre directed the team 46 yards
and six plays for a touchdown. He threaded a pretty 19-yard
pass to Jerricho Cotchery on a 3rd-and-three to give New York a
first down at the Redskins 20.
All the completions, I like best. I don't know if there's one
particular one," Favre said. "You would think the deeper pass
obviously to Jerricho. My arm feels great. I've been throwing
the ball well. Once I get the timing down with these guys I'll
be OK."
After a pair of running plays, Favre flicked a 4-yard scoring
pass to Keller in the end zone. Considering Favre is the
league's career leader with 442 touchdown passes, it was nothing
out of the ordinary.
To Keller, however, it bordered on the extraordinary, catching
his first NFL touchdown pass from a first-ballot Hall of Famer
in waiting. And the rookie was even more impressed with the way
Favre handled it.
I flipped the ball to the ref and came to the sideline. (Favre)
said, 'Hey, what are you doing? Why didn't you keep that ball?'"
Keller said. "Favre came to me later in the game, and said, 'I
was going to let you have the ball but I think I am going to
keep that one.'
"I said, 'OK, that's cool. I will keep the next one.' Then as
soon as we get into the locker room, I got a ball that says
'Congrats Dustin on your first touchdown' and he signed it for
me. It's really cool. It's something that I can keep forever."
Favre's night was over after the scoring pass to Keller.
Heplayed 14 snaps before heading to the sidelines in favor of
Kellen Clemens.
While admitting he wanted to play longer, the biggest adjustment
for Favre may have been wearing a uniform that did not feature
the green of the Packers.
"It was a little weird. For the most part I felt comfortable in
this uniform. I feel comfortable in this locker room," Favre
said. "I had numerous people on the Redskins team say , 'It
almost don't look right.' It's got to start looking right. I'm
having a good time and I know we're gauged on wins and losses.
"It's just my first preseason game but I'm pleased the way it
worked out. We still have a long way to go. It was a little
awkward. I knew they had to get that out of the way in order to
get where we wanted to be."
And to get Favre back to where he wanted to be - on the football
field.
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