Favre familiar with Jets' schedule
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... There won't be that level of unfamiliarity for Brett Favre, not even though he spent his entire career in the NFC and the past 16 seasons with the ...

Redskins QB Campbell talks fishin' and football
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The family even accepted an invitation to fish on Brett Favre's farm one afternoon. He said that Favre was "off in the woods working on something," so they never saw him. ...

Favre: Both parties at fault
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... CLEVELAND -- New Jets quarterback Brett Favre said both he and the Green Bay Packers were to blame for their ugly and public split that culminated in a trade Wednesday night. ...

Favre shedding light
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... CLEVELAND -- During his introductory news conference with the New York Jets on Thursday, quarterback Brett Favre shed some light on a lot of reports and innuendo that took place over the past several weeks. ...

Favre blends past, present and future
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker CLEVELAND -- Brett Favre's first day with the New York Jets began with a media monsoon. Then came the actual monsoon. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback finally joined his new team Thursday, ending weeks of speculation and public infighting. The lightning and rain that caused an hour-long delay in New York's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns was a fitting backdrop to end of a bizarre series of events. Overall, the day was about Favre's ...

Chad Pennington Update
The Phinsider — ... The Jets released Pennington at 4 p.m. Thursday to clear salary-cap space for Brett Favre's arrival, but a half dozen teams already have contacted Pennington's agent, Tom Condon, to express interest in signing the eight-year NFL veteran, a source told ESPN.com. ...

Vikings players react to Favre trade
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Brett Favre trade ended a mildly interesting stretch at the Minnesota Vikings' training camp. If nothing else, the Vikings were closely monitoring the situation given Favre's thinly-veiled desire to play in Minnesota. There was never more than a remote chance that the Green Bay Packers would comply and, ultimately, Favre won't be joining former Packer teammates Ryan Longwell, Darren Sharper and Robert Ferguson. After their ...

Jets' Clemens accepts backup role
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... And Brett Favre -- a future Hall of Famer -- did most of the listening. It was another odd scene during an eventful day. Clemens, a three-year veteran, spent most of Thursday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns tutoring Favre, who has 17 years of experience, on the nuances of New York's offense. "It's different, it really is," Clemens said afterwards. "It's a situation here, for a little bit, where I'll be hopefully doing some teaching. Then, obviously, I'll be doing a whole lot of learning." Clemens said Favre ...

Jets welcome Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The score was inconsequential. The day was all about the arrival of starting quarterback Brett Favre, who was traded from the ...

Chad better than Brett on long balls
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 4 3.7 107.7 Favre 64 290 82 28.3 2963 ...

Pennington deal puts McCown, Beck on edge
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Graham DAVIE, Fla. -- After a week of unconvincingly contending they were happy with the three quarterbacks they have in camp, the Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with Chad Pennington on a two-year deal worth $11.5 million. Not only were the Dolphins in the market for another quarterback, but they also were willing to spend a nice chunk of change to get one. The New York Jets released Pennington on Thursday to clear salary-cap space for Brett Favre's arrival. Any gloom caused by ...

Jets enraptured by Favre scene
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... a couple days ago, when Brett Favre came ambling around the corner before their preseason game in Cleveland. ...

Rodgers starts the journey tonight
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... , spoke at a team meeting amid a national firestorm surrounding the pending departure of quarterback Brett Favre. And so it came to be that ...

McNabb on T.O., injuries and the NFC East
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... McNabb has at times lashed out at the constant scrutiny and even questioned the one man -- coach Andy Reid -- who's always stood by his side because, like it or not, he knows his day is coming. He observed the Brett Favre saga through a different set of lenses than most of us because it drove home the fact that the Eagles will some day move on without him. On this day, he seems completely comfortable with that fact. He thinks his knee will allow him to be himself again. ...

Rodgers survives preseason opener
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But tonight's preseason opener wasn't about such minutiae for Rodgers. It was just about getting there. After months of preparation and a few weeks of intense drama, Rodgers could finally begin the on-field process of replacing Brett Favre. ...

Lynch to Patriots? BINGO!
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... when the Broncos released him. "I still very much love it in my heart. I still feel like I can compete at a Pro Bowl level, but the situation is going to have to be right. I'm not going to just play for any team or any situation." How would the Patriots use Lynch? He's pretty close to the same player as Harrison, a 36-year old leader who hits hard but isn't what he used to be in coverage. If the Patriots use Lynch and Harrison both at the same time, tandems like Brett Favre and Dustin Keller sure would appreciate it. ...

So Favre, so good
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- There wasn't any calliope music drifting in the warm summer air around Giants Stadium. No men were barking through megaphones outside Gate D (that's been cleaned up). Nevertheless, the Brett Favre circus finally arrived in town. The show was short, but it was dandy. The iconic quarterback and sporting focal point of the Western Hemisphere completed five of his six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown tonight in his New York Jets debut. Favre emerged from the tunnel amid a booming roar and ...

Vikings regretting Favre-to-Jets a little more
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Maybe the Minnesota Vikings wouldn't mind parting with their next three first-round draft picks for Brett Favre. Then again, maybe that wouldn't be enough for the New York Jets anyway. News out of Baltimore is that Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson injured his right knee in the first quarter of tonight's preseason game against the Ravens. Speculation was plentiful about Favre heading to the Vikings when he un-retired and ...

Favre: 'I made the right decision'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre couldn't dismiss Saturday night as a mere exhibition or trivial tune-up. ...

Perfect storm hasn't arrived for Culpepper
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "When I visited the Packers, I felt real good about the opportunity to back up Aaron [Rodgers] on a good team. I just sensed that when it was time to negotiate, there were some unresolved issues that kept them from giving me a market-value offer. I think that the Brett Favre situation was in the background while they were dealing with me." ...

Pennington: Coles acting out of loyalty
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham DAVIE, Fla. -- New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles still hasn't spoken publicly about the team's decision to cut his close friend, Chad Pennington. The Jets had to dump Pennington to clear the way for Brett Favre's arrival two weeks ago. Coles' refusal to talk has been one of the more fascinating Favre-related storylines of Jets camp. Coles has been criticized for pouting, for petulance, for being selfish because his pal was unfairly treated. Some wondered if he would reject ...

Will Strahan answer the call?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... While Brett Favre's summer of angst heated up in July, Strahan seemed to embrace his decision to walk away. And it didn't hurt that his golden parachute included a lucrative deal with Fox. ...

How good is your backup QB?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham Sports Illustrated NFL writer Don Banks ranks all 32 backup QBs and makes some interesting choices not only in his slotting but also in who he chose to represent each team. Here are the four No. 2s from the AFC East: 9. J.P. Losman, Buffalo Bills 14. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins 22. Brett Ratliff, New York Jets 30. Matt Gutierrez, New England Patriots That Banks would rank Henne so high is surprising. Henne has look fabulous ...

Jets: Cutdown analysis
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... might be on the move. Jets coach Eric Mangini defused that talk by suggesting Clemens would be on the roster opening day as Brett Favre's primary backup. Because ...

An escalation in the annual border battle
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... So with particular interest, the Packers watched Minnesota launch into a free-agent spending spree within days of quarterback Brett Favre's retirement announcement. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf committed $60 million in guarantees to acquire defensive end ...

Jets-Dolphins becoming a national event
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Sunday will be Brett Favre's official Jets debut, and he will be making it against the QB the Jets released to make room for him: ...

Favre's legacy? Ask him in five years
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham DAVIE, Fla. -- One of the more hackneyed sports theories around is that a player who hangs around too long wears out his welcome and those who finish their careers in a different uniform tarnish their legacies. Yet we have to really stoke our synapses to remember Michael Jordan as a Washington Wizard, Eric Dickerson as an Atlanta Falcon, Bobby Orr as Chicago Blackhawk or Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave (look it up). Brett Favre, who started 253 straight games for the Green Bay Packers, is ...

Bills, Jets almost too close to call
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Tim Graham Buffalo Bills fans, I need to explain myself. I hope you'll understand. About a month ago, I didn't hesitate to call the Bills a playoff team in SportsNation chats and the AFC East mailbag. I like their offseason moves to shore up the defense. I like that MLB Paul Posluszny is healthy. I like that a nucleus of young, critical players such as QB Trent Edwards and RB Marshawn Lynch are a year older. I like that they drafted WR James Hardy to provide another option to help WR Lee Evans ...

Pennington on revenge: 'I'm just not going there'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... eight seasons, most of them good, with the Jets. He's the NFL's career leader in completion percentage among passers with 1,500 attempts. He was comeback player of the year in 2006. But he lost his job to Kellen Clemens last season, and although Pennington seemed to outplay him early in what was supposed to be an open competition in training camp, there was a strong sense the Jets wanted Clemens to take over in 2008. Then the Jets cut Pennington to make room for Brett Favre, who will be making his Jets debut Sunday. ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 1 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets pulled off the biggest blockbuster trade in franchise history and obtained future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre. The Dolphins wound up with a fine hand-me-down, signing ...

Audibles: NFC North Week 1 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... No less important, however, has been a quieter effort to improve a run defense that has ranked in the bottom third of the NFL for the past three years. Even after trading Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, the Lions are hoping to bring a scrappier and more effective run defense to Atlanta this weekend. They'll need it, considering the Falcons intend to rely on new tailback Michael Turner and holdover Jerious Norwood while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan adjusts to the professional game. Lions coach Rod ...

Taking stock of the running game
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Packers, however, are more likely than the Vikings to adjust their offensive game plan if the running game falters early. Coach Mike McCarthy's offense has thrown nearly 1,200 passes over the last two seasons, an average of nearly 37 per game. Last week, McCarthy downplayed the conventional wisdom that suggests he would pull back his passing game following the departure of Brett Favre. ...

Pennington already getting booed
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Not nine minutes into his Miami Dolphins debut, QB Chad Pennington got booed. The New York Jets had taken a 7-0 lead on Brett Favre's gorgeous play-action fake and 56-yard strike to Jerricho Cotchery. Then the Dolphins took the field and sputtered some more. With 6:19 left in the first quarter, the Dolphins punt unit trudged onto the field and the crowd got sour. Three series into the game, Pennington was 1 of 6 for minus-1 yard.

Nugent injury forcing Jets to go for 2
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But the Jets, faced with a fourth-and-14 situation from the Dolphins, went for it. Jets QB Brett Favre escaped what appeared to be a certain sack and threw a jump ball that WR ...

Nugent returns to kick
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Nugent suffered a thigh injury in the first quarter and remained on the sideline despite a fourth-and-14 situation at the Dolphins 22-yard line in the second quarter. Brett Favre somehow completed a TD lob to ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 20, Dolphins 14
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets won, 20-7, because QB Brett Favre had a much better command of New York's offense than many expected him to have after 16 seasons in Green Bay. ...

Pennington hurting after Jets victory
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Worse yet was how the game unraveled. Pennington sputtered at the start, while his Jets replacement, Brett Favre, was glorious in the beginning. Favre generally was efficient, but a key touchdown came on a pass that would seem unlikely if it were coming out of anybody else's hand. ...

Domino effect: How Brady's knee impacts AFC
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... QB Brett Favre said of Brady's damaged knee. "They've always overcome injuries and things like that, but that's pretty difficult." ...

AFC East reacts to Brady injury
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... fans. I'd say Tom Brady and Brett Favre are my two favorite quarterbacks, and any time you have a chance to watch them play live or play against them, you want to do that. ...

Rapid Reaction: Packers 24, Vikings 19
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Packers were far from perfect but in a game that supposedly matched the top two teams in the NFC North -- apologies, Bears fans -- the game was not as close as the score indicated. For one week, at least, the post-Brett Favre Packers are still the best team in the division. ...

Carroll claims Cassel 'ready for this thing'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... visit the New York Jets in one of the most intriguing Week 2 matchups. "He'll be ready for this thing," said Carroll, who coached Cassel at USC but never started him because of Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. "It doesn't matter who you play. It just happens to be against one of the great all-time quarterbacks, which is bringing all kinds of hype and buildup. "He's fortunate to have this chance. He's got the chance to beat Brett Favre, which would be pretty cool." Carroll doesn't ...

Culpepper and Patriots a poor fit
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 86 Carson Palmer Bengals 86 Brett Favre Packers 78 Kurt ...

Alex Smith never had much of a shot
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The 49ers' signing of quarterback Jamie Martin does more than give the 49ers one of the NFL's oldest players. It also foreshadows the end for Alex Smith in San Francisco. Martin, 38, becomes the third-oldest quarterback in the league behind Dallas' Brad Johnson, 39, and the Jets' Brett Favre, who edges Martin by about four months. Smith, 24, isn't finished in the NFL just yet. But his days as a 49ers quarterback surely ended when the team placed him on injured reserve Wednesday. That is sad for all ...

Favre claims he was less prepared than Cassel
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham In September 1992, during a Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, football's Wally Pipp gave way to a prospect few knew anything about. Don Majkowski, the Pro Bowl quarterback, suffered an ankle injury. Although he would play several more games for them, his Green Bay Packers career was through. Brett Favre trotted off the sideline and took over. Favre, now of the New York Jets, will play against another relative unknown making his first NFL start because the leading ...

Best NFC North Rivalry: Packers vs. Vikings
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... And who can forget this summer, when the teams' front offices tussled over the future of quarterback Brett Favre? ...

Jets-Pats rivalry transcends games
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The New England Patriots and New York Jets have established their series as the NFL's most intense. They'll meet Sunday at the Meadowlands in a game that could symbolize a shift in the AFC East. The Patriots don't have star quarterback Tom Brady anymore and are considered the underdogs. The Jets have another first-ballot Hall of Famer in Brett Favre. "The New England Patriots are the standard bearers in the AFC East," said former Patriots and Jets running back Keith Byars. "But the Jets smell a little blood ...

Gruden's not ready to marry any quarterback
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... So what did Jon Gruden give those three quarterbacks in return? The heave-ho in the case of Johnson and Simms and, at very least, the heave for Garcia. Yes, Gruden is playing musical quarterbacks again -- this time yanking the chair out from under Garcia, who had grabbed it about the same time Brett Favre started singing "New York, New York''. ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 2 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... , QB Brett Favre will face a legitimate defense. The Jets' new-and-improved O-line will see how it matches up against an elite defensive front. The Jets' defense, particularly the secondary, will see if it has the talent to be great. ...

Smerlas: Jets are 'frauds'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... not surprisingly, he sees the division coming down to the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, a pair of teams he played for. He also takes exception to much of the media anointing the New York Jets the new team to beat. "The Jets are frauds," Smerlas said from his office in Marlboro, Mass. "They barely beat Miami, a team that absolutely sucks. I've watched tape of [the Dolphins], and they're in trouble. The Jets had a hard time with them. "Brett Favre is going off the cuff in the huddle. Favre, that pass he threw ...

Heat turned up for Pats-Jets
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre's playing conditions were more pleasant last week in South Florida. It's hot and humid at the Meadowlands, where the New York Jets will host the New England Patriots. An hour before kickoff the temperature already is 90 degrees. The humidity makes it feel more like 96 degrees, according to the Weather Channel. Skies are hazy. Conditions apparently are good for field goals. Jay Feely, filling in for injured Jets K Mike Nugent, is ...

Humdrum first half at the Meadowlands
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Jets QB Brett Favre's home debut has been about the same. He is 8 of 13 for 99 yards and no interceptions. He has been sacked once. ...

Rapid Reaction: Patriots 19, Jets 10
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets didn't score a touchdown until their first drive of the fourth quarter. Brett Favre completed 18 of 26 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and one ugly interception that set up the Patriots on the Jets 31-yard line for their lone touchdown. ...

Emotion doesn't play new Pats QB Cassel
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Cassel bemoaned some missed opportunities and a few erroneous reads. But he made one less major mistake than future Hall of Famer Brett Favre did for the Jets. ...

Let's be fair: Rodgers was ready
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Nothing seemed fair or right or particularly well-vetted during the summer-long saga that ended with Aaron Rodgers atop the Green Bay Packers' depth chart at quarterback. So why start now? In the spirit of apples and oranges, we present to you the key numbers for Rodgers and the man he replaced: Rodgers: 117.8 passer rating, 2-0 record Brett Favre: 104.1 rating, 1-1 record with the New York Jets All summer, Packers general manager Ted Thompson ...

Bills quietly turn the corner
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... coolly led them down the field against one of the NFL's better defenses. Edwards conducted a nine-play, 74-yard drive for the winning touchdown, a perfectly thrown jump ball to rookie James Hardy in the right corner of the end zone with 4:10 left in the game. ...

What AFC West teams need to do to improve
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Diego life in all three phases. Denver's coverage unit also gave up long returns to Oakland in the season opener. Kansas City: Quarterback play. Tyler Thigpen is getting his first start and he needs to take advantage of it. He doesn't need to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns. But Thigpen does need to manage the game against Atlanta and make good decisions. Oakland: Quarterback play. With Justin Fargas likely out and Darren McFadden slowed by a toe injury, JaMarcus Russell ...

New York Giants finally finding respect
Big Blue View — ... , Romo, Brett Favre and finally, in the Super Bowl, Brady. Manning is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, and he's in the toughest market of any player on this list. I'm impressed by his arm strength and maneuverability in the pocket, but what I love most is his laid-back demeanor. He doesn't allow a bad play to affect his overall performance. When he's in rhythm with the offense, Manning is a big-time quarterback who puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. ...

Audibles: AFC West Week 3 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The speculation prior to the April draft was that Kansas City could try to move up with its gaggle of draft picks and take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. ...

Audibles: NFC East Week 3 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But there's no way the Packers can hang with the Cowboys in a shootout, and that's what's going to happen. The Cowboys have some tape on Rodgers now. They played against him last season, and Rodgers played well in relief of an injured Brett Favre. Cowboys roll in this one. ...

Audibles: AFC South Week 3 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... fought fierce winds last week in Cincinnati. Barring such circumstances, we should get a better read on how the Titans' pass-targets respond to him as the starter. He needs only 90 yards passing to reach 35,000 for his career. When he gets there, he'll be the 15th quarterback all-time to hit the number and join Brett Favre and ...

Turnaround in San Diego depends on defense
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The last time Brett Favre played in an AFC West stadium on Monday Night Football, he won the game on a pass on the final play. ...

NFC Beast Rules
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... As I've said several times lately, the knee-jerk reaction in some precincts that the Packers are better off without Brett Favre has been absurd. After watching ...

Chargers' Jammer saves Cromartie
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Brett Favre pass that Cromartie let slip through his hands came after Cromartie read the play perfectly and got a break on the ball. Cromartie had the ball in his hands at Jets' 45 but flat-out dropped it. ...

Redemption for Chargers' Cromartie
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson SAN DIEGO -- Antonio Cromartie just made one up to himself. A series after dropping a sure touchdown return, Cromartie made a difficult play and got his touchdown to give San Diego a 17-7 lead. Cromartie stole a Brett Favre pass from receiver Laveranues Coles and returned it 52 yards for a score.

Favre adding to interception record
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... There was talk that the Jets would unleash Brett Favre in his third game and he is throwing often. However, two throws have been intercepted and another sure interception was dropped. The interception that was returned by ...

Halftime: Chargers 31, Jets 14
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Brett Favre needs a big second half to avoid starting his New York career 1-2. Favre is a tad wild already with two interceptions. It will be interesting to see how he reacts when he is in full passing mode trailing by 17 points. ...

Rapid Reaction: Chargers 48, Jets 29
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... San Diego bounced back from two narrow defeats to dispatch Brett Favre and the Jets, 48-29, on Monday night. ...

Rivers outshines his boyhood hero
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers is a big Brett Favre guy. Rivers, 26, has followed Favre, 38, since he was a ball boy for his father's high school team in Alabama. He couldn't get enough of Favre. What was there not to like? Favre was a Southern boy just like him. He was a son of a football coach. Most of all, he was a gunslinger quarterback. Rivers was sold. This summer, when Favre's saga in Green Bay was in full insanity mode, Rivers politely declined to comment on the ...

Panic Button: Chargers' pass defense
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Solution: While the Chargers defense had some issues against Brett Favre on Monday night, there were good signs that the pass defense is getting better. ...

Panic Button: Giants, Eagles missing key players
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Those poor Patriots were stunned by an ol' SEC trick that Dolphins quarterbacks coach David Lee had in his hip pocket. And Jets fans can't believe the Brett Favre honeymoon phase already has ended. ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 4 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets are coming off a wobbly all-around game. They opened up their offense for Brett Favre, who nearly threw what seemed like 13 interceptions and injured his ankle. The defense allowed 48 points and yielded a slew of critical plays, especially after nose tackle ...

Cards providing sweet therapy for Jets
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... by ESPN.com's Tim Graham The New York Jets are unleashing their frustrations in the Meadowlands. After two weeks of unpleasant discovery, the Jets are rolling it up on the Arizona Cardinals, 24-0, with 3:32 left in the first half. The Jets have pulled off several game-changing plays in their favor. They've intercepted Kurt Warner twice (one by Darrelle Revis for a touchdown), recovered two fumbles and blocked a field goal. Brett Favre has shaken off a bad cross-field interception to throw two ...

Jets' second quarter one for the books
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... in a game only once last year, beating the then-winless Miami Dolphins, 40-13, on Dec. 2. ESPN Research dug up the best quarters in Jets history. Their previous record was 30 points in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins in 2000. The Jets scored 28 points in the second quarter against the Dolphins in 1986 and in the fourth quarter versus the Boston Patriots in 1968. A slew of Cardinals mistakes in the first half sent the Jets on their way. Brett Favre zipped a 12-yard pass to Laveranues Coles for the ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 56, Cardinals 35
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Cardinals watched Brett Favre toss six touchdown passes, but Favre couldn't have done it without Warner repeatedly handing the ball back to him. ...

Almost 39, Favre still breaking records
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Seventeen years into his sensationally productive career and two weeks shy of his 39th birthday, who could've imagined Brett Favre still had the ability to outdo himself? ...

Cardinals keep defeat in perspective
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre tossed a career-high six touchdown passes. Kurt Warner racked up 472 yards. The New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals combined for 91 points. ...

Coles, Favre beyond warmed up
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... in the Meadowlands. Brett Favre threw six TD passes, a personal best for him, in the second-highest scoring game in Jets history. ...

Boldin situation triggers blame game
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Mangini ordered a 2-point conversion after Brett Favre's sixth touchdown pass extended the Jets' lead to 19 points with 2 minutes remaining. ...

Rodgers can't win in Favre comparisons
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Rodgers' consecutive game streak stands at four, leaving him 253 behind former Packers starter Brett Favre. Rodgers, however, is struggling to make it to five; the shoulder injury is largely preventing him from throwing this week and has left his status uncertain for Sunday's game against Atlanta. ...

A different Griese returns to Denver
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "Any time you follow a guy like a John Elway or a Brett Favre, what Aaron [Rodgers] is dealing with now, it is tough,'' said ...

NFC West: Where has the defense gone?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... , though ranked 12th in yards allowed, can relate to their defenseless divisional brethren. The Cardinals watched Brett Favre toss six touchdown passes during a 56-35 defeat to the ...

Audibles: AFC North Week 6 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... past three games by an average of 6.7 points per game, including last week's solid outing in a 31-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Cincinnati starting quarterback Carson Palmer (elbow) could be a game-time decision for the third week in a row. He was held from throwing in practice during the week to rest his arm. The Jets are coming off a bye week after putting up 56 points in a victory two weeks ago against the Arizona Cardinals. New York quarterback Brett Favre has nine touchdown passes in his last two starts. ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 6 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... New York on paper is better than four of those five teams. The bye week should have assisted Brett Favre's development within the Jets offensive system, and running back ...

Mangini's youngest son forever connected to Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham That Eric and Julie Mangini's third son was born on Brett Favre's birthday was a coincidence. The boy's middle name was not. Zack Brett Mangini was delivered at 7:43 a.m. Friday, the same day Favre turned 38. Turns out the New York Jets head coach half-jokingly offered his son's middle name while selling Favre on the Jets family. "That was locked and loaded in the negotiations," Mangini said. "But we couldn't have planned [delivering on Favre's birthday] if we wanted to. Pretty ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 26, Bengals 14
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker Another week, another loss for the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Brett Favre and the New York Jets pulled away in the second half to take a 26-14 victory over the Bengals. It marked the first 0-6 start of the Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati. The Bengals played tough for three quarters but eventually were outmanned and outclassed by a more talented New York team. The Bengals were within 17-14 midway through the third quarter before the Jets scored nine ...

AFC East no longer open-and-shut case
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... going to happen at some point. When that blooms anything can happen there." New England also has shown troubles on defense, particularly in the secondary. Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington owned the middle of the field in an eye-opening 38-13 laugher in Gillette Stadium. San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers chose to drop bombs on the Patriots' cornerbacks in Sunday night's 30-10 rout. New York Jets (3-2) The more Brett Favre becomes familiar with the Jets offense, the tougher ...

Scouts Inc.: Favre learning fast in New York
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The New York Jets' offense is finally starting to take shape as Brett Favre continues to get more and more comfortable with the playbook. It is a versatile group with multiple playmakers who can put pressure on opposing defenses. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is playing to everyone's strengths and utilizing all his weapons, not just Favre. He is finding ways to have success on a weekly basis. ...

Source: Romo's ready to go Sunday
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... I'm told the club is fearful that Romo could end up missing more time if he returns too quickly. On Tuesday, Jets quarterback Brett Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder that he'd encouraged Romo to play through the pain if he could. But I don't think Favre's advice is directly responsible for Romo wanting to play Sunday. ...

Favre returning to scene of his masterpiece
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham On a Monday night in December 2003, Brett Favre played the signature game of his illustrious career. ...

Scouts Inc.: Ryan is a difference-maker in Atlanta
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... As we inch toward the midway point of the 2008 season, the clear-cut front-runner for the NFL's rookie of the year award is Atlanta's Matt Ryan. The Falcons raised eyebrows when they selected the Boston College product with the third overall pick of April's draft, choosing a quarterback of the future over defensive help that appeared to be a more pressing need. Now first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff looks like a genius for jumping on Ryan. ...

Audibles: AFC West Week 7 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The last time Brett Favre visited Oakland was unforgettable. While with Green Bay, just days before Christmas in 2003, Favre arrived in the Bay Area on Sunday to prepare for a Monday night game. Hours after his arrival, Favre was delivered the shocking news his father and mentor, Irv, died suddenly of a heart attack. After making the agonizingly decision to play, Favre threw for 399 yards and destroyed the Raiders. It was a legendary event in Favre's career. It was expected to be his final trip to Oakland. However, with his trade from ...

Audibles: AFC South Week 7 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... According to the Elias Sport Bureau, Rodgers has completed at least one pass for 40 yards or more in all six games this season, equaling the longest single-season streak of Brett Favre's 16-year career in Green Bay. Favre had only one such streak of six games (2004). ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 7 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets are in position to make a push in the AFC East standings if they take care of business this week and next week, setting up a potential battle for first place against the Bills on Nov. 2. Brett Favre will return to the site of his most memorable game, where he threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns to rout the Raiders a day after his father passed away in December 2003. Favre's development is coming along, and the Jets are in a segment of their schedule that takes pressure off of him to win games by himself. They kept ...

Patriots have secondary concern against Broncos
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... leads the NFL with 43 receptions despite being suspended for the season opener. Eddie Royal's 30 catches are tied for 11th even though he missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Royal is probable for Monday. ...

Patriots have secondary concerns against Broncos
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... leads the NFL with 43 receptions despite being suspended for the season opener. Eddie Royal's 30 catches are tied for 11th even though he missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Royal is probable for Monday. ...

Cable invokes the past and gets his first win
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... alive. In town for a team memorial for the late Gene Upshaw, former Oakland greats Ken Stabler and Raymond Chester came to the team's hotel Saturday night to try to fire up the 2008 version, a team that looks nothing like the 1970s Raiders. At 1-4 and coming off a 34-3 loss in New Orleans to kick off the Cable era, the Raiders were in need of much more than a pep talk from the former stars. It appears to have helped. And after a 16-13 overtime win over Brett Favre and the New York Jets, it was all about the past for the ...

Patriots Defense In For A Fight
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... leads the NFL with 43 receptions despite being suspended for the season opener. Eddie Royal ’s 30 catches are tied for 11th even though he missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. Royal is probable for Monday. Cutler’s other targets include ...

Verbatim: Favre news conference
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... quarterback Brett Favre spoke extensively Wednesday about a September conversation with former Detroit president/general manager Matt Millen. We'll have more on this story as the day progresses, but for now here is a transcript of the applicable questions from Favre's news conference: ...

A couple of thoughts on the Favre story
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Brett Favre's news conference Wednesday should mark the end of a media brouhaha about his month-old conversation with former Detroit president/general manager Matt Millen. Unless Favre lied during a televised news conference, we now know that Millen initiated a telephone call that lasted no more than 25 minutes. Based on Favre's account, Millen received no proprietary information. ...

Edwards outplaying Favre in fourth quarter
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 133.1 Brett Favre 110.2 Chad Pennington 77.2 Matt Cassel ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 28, Chiefs 24
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In the end, it was another Brett Favre comeback. But in Kansas City, this gut-wrenching loss will be remembered for more than another Favre magic trick. Yes, the Chiefs lost because of a Favre touchdown pass to Laveranues Coles from 15 yards out with a minute remaining in the game. But in Kansas City, this game will be remembered as the day the Chiefs stood up and fought. They fell to 1-6 amid adversity, but the Chiefs nearly won. They probably should have won. This is a team that was ...

Favre gets the glory, Thigpen opens eyes
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre's latest magic show was already complete. Yet another chapter in Favre's storied comeback had already been published. ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 28, Chiefs 24
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Brett Favre was the main source of indigestion. He threw three interceptions. One went for a 91-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs a 24-21 lead with 9:39 to play. But Favre managed to pull it out, hitting ...

Bills still in first, but AFC East story far from over
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... New York dodged what could have been a disastrous loss at home to lowly Kansas City. Brett Favre threw three interceptions -- one for a 91-yard touchdown the other way -- but was bailed out by a sensational ...

Take your pick: Pennington or Favre?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham MIAMI -- Did the New York Jets really need to trade for Brett Favre? Maybe not. ...

Tampa Bay's ageless Carter is thriving
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... family. I play on a team that has a really good coach and in a great scheme that allows me to play to my strengths and do the things I like to do. I'm really enjoying myself.'' That state of mind might be the main reason Carter still is going strong at an age where he once thought he'd be retired. With 216 consecutive games played (that's every game of his career), Carter is tied for third among active players with Brooks. Only Giants punter Jeff Feagles (327 games) and Brett Favre (262) have appeared in more consecutive games. ...

Asomugha lives on a lonely island in Oakland
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Listening to opposing coaches, it doesn't sound like the Asomugha boycott will end anytime soon. It's doubtful that Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan will take on Asomugha on Sunday when the Falcons visit Oakland. Saints quarterback ...

Audibles: NFC North Week 9 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... At 1-6, the Chiefs aren't exactly a compelling study heading into the final nine games of their slate. However, Thigpen added some intrigue to their season. A whole lot of it. In his second NFL start, Thigpen, who was horrible in his first start, played shockingly well in the Chiefs' last-minute 28-24 loss to the Jets last Sunday. Thigpen threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns and he wasn't intercepted. He completed his first 10 pass attempts. Thigpen outplayed Brett Favre for much of the game. With quarterbacks Brodie ...

Favre gives up another pick 6 to enliven Bills
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- NFL Network reporter Kara Henderson told me to go ahead and admit that I had written off the Buffalo Bills off as the first paragraph for this entry. So here it is ... I was, in fact, in the middle of writing my story about the Bills losing to the New York Jets -- and that still might happen -- when I was reminded of how one Brett Favre pass can swing a game. The Jets were up 13 points in the fourth quarter and had the ball after an unsuccessful Rian ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 26, Bills 17
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... will tumble out of first place if the New England Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. In back-to-back games the Bills have lost to the two teams that were below them in the division standings. Now they're snugly among them. Buffalo couldn't overcome a rough first quarter in which Trent Edwards lost a fumble and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, terminating a possession that lasted 7:57. Jets quarterback Brett Favre tried to keep the Bills in it with an interception of ...

Favre or not, Jets are a running team
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Three straight runs with Brett Favre in smelling distance of the end zone? Puh-lease. What was the use of acquiring Favre if the Jets weren't going to use him? Funny how a few games have changed that attitude. Jets fans should beg head coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to run, run, run. Despite the connotations of what a Favre stewardship is supposed to be, the Jets further established themselves as a run-oriented football team in Sunday's 26-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills at ...

Favre short and sweet in victory over Bills
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Brett Favre is dialing it back. Favre throws short ...

NFC North midseason awards, Take II
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Rookie of the year: Chicago tailback Matt Forte He hasn't had a 100-yard game since the opener, but Forte's steady work has put him on pace for an 1,100-yard season. His best contribution might be as a receiver, where he is more comfortable than anyone could have imagined. UPDATE: Obviously, we knew it was a matter of time before Forte got his second 100-yard game. It came Sunday against Detroit, putting him on pace for a 1,280-yard season. Coach of the year: Chicago's Lovie Smith ...

NFC North midseason awards
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Rookie of the year: Chicago tailback Matt Forte He hasn't had a 100-yard game since the opener, but Forte's steady work has put him on pace for an 1,100-yard season. His best contribution might be as a receiver, where he is more comfortable than anyone could have imagined. UPDATE: Obviously, we knew it was a matter of time before Forte got his second 100-yard game. It came Sunday against Detroit, putting him on pace for a 1,280-yard season. Coach of the year: Chicago's Lovie Smith ...

AFC East midseason awards
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... . They traded for Jenkins and were aggressive in landing quarterback Brett Favre. The Jets' draft mostly has been barren, with fourth-round pick ...

Long-distance relationships hurting defenses
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Quarterbacks named to the most recent Pro Bowl had the following passer ratings last season: 117.2 (Tom Brady, Patriots) 104.1 (Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers) 98.0 (Peyton Manning, Colts) 97.4 (Tony Romo, Cowboys) 95.7 (Brett Favre, Packers) 94.6 (Jeff Garcia, Bucs) 91.4 (Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks) 82.5 (Derek Anderson, Browns) Quarterbacks facing NFC West defenses have posted the following cumulative passer ratings ...

Take your pick: AFC East defensive MVP
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... That sentiment, of course, can be proven any number of ways, but I was reminded of it while taking a look at reader reaction to recent posts in which I claimed Brett Favre's value is overrated this year and wondered out loud how much different the Jets' record would be if ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 10 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... After last Sunday's victory over the Bills, in which quarterback Brett Favre left his six-shooters in the locker room, the Jets claimed they merely were taking what the defense was giving them. ...

Law narrowed choices to Jets, Pats, Browns
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "Just coincidentally it's against his former team. That's an interesting move. I'm anxious to see if he has any participation in the game with such short preparation time, but good acquisition. He's 34, in Brett Favre's generation and he still has some football left. ...

Audibles: First place on the line
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "It's a big opportunity for us, obviously," Jets quarterback Brett Favre. "I think every one of our guys are aware of that. ...

Scouts Inc.: Favre-Belichick a unique chess match
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Keith Kidd Every week in the NFL is full of chess matches, but the matchup between New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is unique. Belichick has had the upper hand in the last four matchups between the two teams, but a lot has changed since the Patriots' 19-10 win in Week 2. The teams are tied atop the AFC East and Thursday night's winner will have a leg up in the race for the divisional crown. Let's take a deeper look at how the Jets ...

Rapid Reaction: Jets 34, Patriots 31
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... scored what many figured would be the winning touchdown. Brett Favre completed 26 of 33 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. ...

Jets edge forth in battle for AFC East
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But Brett Favre also rifled the ball around the field much more emphatically than he had in recent weeks and seems to be building a nice rapport with rookie tight end ...

Belichick's overtime mojo not enough
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Brett Favre and Bill Belichick went into Thursday night with impressive regular-season histories in overtime. ...

Thigpen may be in midst of changing K.C.'s plans
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... In the past three games, Thigpen has been one of the more intriguing players in the league. He outplayed Brett Favre in his second start and caught a touchdown pass in his third. He engineered a near game-winning drive in the final minute in his fourth start. The 1-8 Chiefs lost all three games, but they may have gained a future quarterback. ...

Rapid Reaction: Packers 37, Bears 3
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Meanwhile, this is the kind of game many people expected from the Packers when the season began: A notable transition to a power-running game after the departure of quarterback Brett Favre, along with an active defense that harasses the quarterback and makes a few big plays. ...

Fitzgerald seventh in Pro Bowl voting
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog —

Where AFC Southies stand in Pro Bowl balloting
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky Led by the undefeated Tennessee Titans the AFC South is making a strong showing in fan balloting for the Pro Bowl. Fan voting at NFL.com continues until Dec. 9. It then counts as one-third of the overall ballot, which also includes player and coaches' votes. Here's a look at the division in the fan polls so far with appropriate context and a bit of commentary: Quarterback: 1) Brett Favre, 402,514; 2) Jay Cutler, 308,166; 3) Peyton Manning ...

Favre, Collins at 57 miles and counting
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The old-man references won't be thrown around like they were a year ago when Brett Favre faced Vinny Testaverde, but there's plenty of mileage between the quarterbacks in Sunday's game between the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. How many clicks on the odometer? Over 57 miles. The Elias Sports Bureau computes that Favre and Kerry Collins will have the third-most most combined yardage between opposing quarterbacks in NFL history with 100,364 yards. Dan Marino and John Elway set the ...

Blogger debate: Jets vs. Titans
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Paul Kuharsky: Well, Timothy, it's hard to argue against Brett Favre's contagious enthusiasm, but ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 12 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets have the fourth-ranked run defense, which should neutralize rookie running back Chris Johnson and ...

Pats have decisions to make on Cassel, Brady
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Note: With Pro Bowl quarterback Chris Miller in Atlanta, he traded raw prospect Brett Favre. ...

Titans' Carr will wear a target
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But coming off the bench as a third-string corner is a whole different deal than being in line to start all week. With Nick Harper (ankle) on the shelf, Carr is in the lineup at left cornerback against the Jets. It seems obvious that Brett Favre and Jerricho Cotchery and other New York receivers have studied Carr this week and will have several different approaches to going after him. Will he play to last week's level or will he struggle in a tougher matchup and bigger game? The Titans will be in trouble if they ...

Titans' defense already needs to adjust
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets just got a crisp, efficient opening drive -- moving 76 yards to a touchdown. Brett Favre hit on all six of his passes to get his team up 7-0. ...

Death by drops so far for Titans
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans' defense finally made an appearance, and maybe just in time. In position to go down at least 10-0, Jevon Kearse made a play. As Brett Favre read the end and pitched a pass to Thomas Jones, Kearse turned and got to Jones, stripping him. Kevin Vickerson recovered the fumble. Kearse showed he can still use his quickness to make plays -- he closed on Favre to make him make the throw, then turned and made it to Jones to make a play. But ...

Titans fortunate to be within TD at half
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Put running back Chris Johnson -- guilty of a drop himself -- out wide a bunch and let him show the Jets you do have a guy who can get separation. ...

This time, Titans can't overcome spotty play
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Give a Brett Favre-led offense 40:30 in time of possession ("Yikes," Bulluck said when he learned that number), allow a season-worst 192 yards rushing and score all of three points when the outcome is in doubt and odds are not in your favor. ...

Audibles: AFC West Week 13 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... quickly. If the Chargers are going to stay in the AFC West race, they will have to come up with big stops for the first time in Rivera's tenure. Things are better in San Diego on defense, but it is not to the point where it needs to be. If the Chargers don't fix that problem this week, the Falcons will beat them and the Chargers' season will be in dire straits at 4-8. Denver Broncos (6-5) at New York Jets (8-3), 4:15 p.m. ET Will Brett Favre have another career moment against the Denver ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 13 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets are being debated as the team to beat in the AFC and a Super Bowl contender. Brett Favre is generating MVP talk, but running back ...

Audibles: NFC West Week 14 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Jets haven't exactly played their best on the West Coast this season, but the 49ers' season-long issues at safety could make them vulnerable against Brett Favre. ...

Coles not entirely thrilled with Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham When the New York Jets traded for quarterback Brett Favre and made room for him on the roster by cutting Chad Pennington, receiver Laveranues Coles took a temporary vow of silence. ...

Was Favre trade truly necessary?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... In addition to what they've done on the field, there were circumstances to consider when the New York Jets decided to trade for Brett Favre and cut Chad Pennington. Both sides needed a change of scenery. The Jets had lost confidence in Pennington's ability to get them over the hump, and Favre is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who could provide the needed jolt. How sad it seemed when Pennington landed with the 1-15 Dolphins. He looked like a castoff desperate to prove he still was good enough to start. Yet here we ...

Jets turn wild expectations into a lofty standard
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... coach Eric Mangini. Fans are expressing sentimental regret over Chad Pennington's departure. "I don't want to say I'm hitting the panic button," said Jets linebacker and captain David Bowens, "but the leaders need to step up." The Jets' front office spent lavishly on free agents in hopes of barging into a New York sports consciousness so occupied by the Giants and Yankees. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum executed daring trades for quarterback Brett Favre and nose tackle Kris Jenkins, each transforming the ...

AFC East MVPs
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Sorry, Brett Favre fanatics. He has been important to the Jets' success, but they don't go much of anywhere without the season Jones has had. In fact, Favre also is behind nose tackle ...

AFC South MVPs
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... by division here at ESPN.com were asked for a one-through-five MVP ballot earlier this week. Today's Hot Read is on the top six, but here are the results in their entirety. Voting was on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, and first-place votes are in parentheses: 1. Kurt Warner 32 (5) 2. Eli Manning 19 (1) 3. Drew Brees 16 4. Adrian Peterson 14 (1) 5. Michael Turner 9 (1) 6. Troy Polamalu 6 7. Albert Haynesworth 5 8. Brett Favre 4 9t. Jay Cutler 3 9t. Peyton Manning ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 15 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "If the Jets could ever play the way they played against the Titans, they could run the table," Reese said Friday afternoon. "The defense stopped the run. They put pressure on the quarterback. They created turnovers. Brett Favre managed the game. And they ran the ball very well. ...

Mourning Cassel will start for Patriots
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... play at the level he's been playing, you'll wonder how will this affect his focus," Dilfer said. "Being back with his team and with his teammates may be good for him, but the challenge for him will be at the end of the week. How exhausted is he from the mourning and the grieving? Can he muster enough to perform regardless of that fatigue and the toll the grieving takes?" One of the legendary performances in NFL history happened in Oakland on a night Brett Favre was grieving the sudden loss of his father. Favre ...

Decision to go with Griese a short-term fix
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Griese might stick around, but primarily as a backup. Gruden tried to go out and get a big name (Brett Favre) before this season and it didn't happen. It's a pretty safe bet that Gruden will try to get a big-name quarterback again. ...

Favre runs 27 yards on tone-setting drive
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... On the Jets' opening series, Brett Favre made a sensational fake on a third-and-inches play, rolled left behind ...

McKelvin goes 100 yards for Bills -- hold it ...
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... safety, was caught holding to wipe out Leodis McKelvin's 100-yard kickoff return. The touchdown would have put the Bills ahead 27-24 early in the fourth quarter. ...

Rapid Reaction: Patriots 49, Raiders 26
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 18 completions to help the Patriots remain tied with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins atop the AFC East. All three teams won Sunday and are 9-5 with two games left. With the Patriots' postseason hopes on the line, many were concerned if Cassel could cope. The alternative would've been to insert rookie Kevin O'Connell. But Cassel insisted on playing, a decision that inspired his teammates. Five years ago this month and on the same field, Brett Favre threw four first-half touchdown passes to beat the ...

Bills throw away victory, Jets run with it
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "I, probably like most people, was thinking they were going to run the clock out, and we were going to be saying "What if?' " Jets quarterback Brett Favre said. "All I could say was 'Wow.' There were several things on that play that makes you scratch your head, but I'm just glad it was in our favor." ...

Miracle not enough to mask Jets problems
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... number plunged to 10 percent in their loss to the 49ers. The Jets finished Sunday with a middling 36 percent, but all four of their third-down conversions came early. They failed to convert any of their final six third downs. The Bills, meanwhile, converted six of 14 third downs and both times they went for it on fourth down. The 49ers converted 52 percent of their third downs and their only fourth-down attempt against the Jets a week earlier. 3. Brett Favre's pedestrian numbers. Favre's best passer ...

Pro Bowl analysis: AFC North
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Brett Favre, New York Jets Jay Cutler, Denver Running back Thomas Jones, New York Jets Chris Johnson, Tennessee Ronnie Brown, ...

Pro Bowl analysis: AFC East
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... will start in their first Pro Bowl appearances. Guard Alan Faneca is returning for his eighth straight season. Nose tackle Kris Jenkins will be back a fourth time. None of the selections could be argued, especially not Jones. With two games left, he already holds franchise records for points by a non-kicker (90), rushing touchdowns (13) and consecutive games with a touchdown (eight and counting). Chosen as Pro Bowl reserves were quarterback Brett Favre, center Nick Mangold and cornerback Darrelle Revis ...

Pro Bowl analysis: AFC South
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The Titans had the best record in the league when player and coach balloting was conducted, and they got three starters in the Pro Bowl in Mawae, Haynesworth and Finnegan. They will be joined by running back Chris Johnson, left tackle ...

Pro Bowl analysis: AFC West
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... One Denver player, tackle Ryan Clady, was snubbed. Clady has given up half a sack and he has shut out superstars ...

Will Brett Favre be back in 2009?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... On a Miami-based radio station last week, ESPN's Chris Mortensen predicted Brett Favre would retire after the season. ...

Cassel continues to dazzle NFL insiders
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Cassel briefly left the team and missed an important practice, but -- on the same field Brett Favre famously threw four touchdown passes the day his father died in 2003 -- he was sensational. Cassel would've finished with even more prolific numbers Sunday had the game not been so lopsided. ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 16 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Brett Favre has thrown three touchdowns and five interceptions in his past four games, but that's OK. Only one team has intercepted fewer passes than Seattle's six. ...

Audibles: NFC West Week 16 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... (3-11), 4:05 p.m. ET Mike Holmgren's final home game as Seahawks coach should be memorable. Light snow and winds projected to exceed 23 miles per hour could turn Qwest Field into a winter wonderland. The Seahawks have played hard for Holmgren down the stretch and that should continue against the Jets. An inspired performance from Seattle, backed by an emotional home crowd, should give the Seahawks a chance. Brett Favre and the Jets have struggled in West Coast defeats against San Diego, Oakland ...

Rapid Reaction: Seahawks 13, Jets 3
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... at the Meadowlands. The playoffs will be on the line. Jobs will be on the line in the front office, on the sideline and on the roster. Brett Favre could be playing his last game. ...

Mangini talks about his job, Jenkins and Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... group playing sound defense. When you do that, that opens up opportunities for different players along the front or in the back end. It's not just Brett [Favre] on offense and it's not just Kris on defense. It's all of us. There's definitely a heightened awareness of his ability to affect the game. I think that has come into a lot of game plans. I don't blame our opponents for doing that. He's been very effective -- so a combination of all those things. On whether Brett Favre will play next year: EM: He ...

Season on the line: Favre or Pennington?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Enamored with the chance to add a legendary quarterback to their tricked-out roster, the Jets traded for Brett Favre in training camp. To make room they dumped ...

Young says he's doing great, ready for some work
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... VY: "That's Pops, talking to him, talking to [Donovan] McNabb, talking to a lot of guys, Brett Favre, I have talked to a lot of people and they have given me a lot of inspiring words to use for my next time playing football how to handle certain situations and things like that. So it's going to be fine for me." ...

Audibles: AFC East Week 17 preview
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... as much as possible. Jets quarterback Brett Favre has thrown one touchdown and six interceptions in his past four games. ...

Rapid Reaction: Dolphins 24, Jets 17
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... outperformed Brett Favre in a big way, completing an efficient 22 of 30 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. ...

Favre To Undergo MRI Today
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — Favre To Undergo MRI Today EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brett Favre will have an MRI exam Monday on his ailing right shoulder, a procedure that will help the 39-year-old quarterback decide whether he’ll return for another season with the ...

Mangini Out In New York
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... , 1050 ESPN Radio and various other New York media outlets are reporting. Mangini and the Jets missed out on  the playoffs after losing to Miami on Sunday. The Jets lost four of their last five games to finish 9-7. Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will appear at a 10 a.m. ET news conference. Mangini is not expected to attend. Mangini, 37, was 23-26 in three seasons with the Jets, including 0-1 in the playoffs. The Jets acquired Brett Favre before the season started and ran off to an 8-3 start. But losses to Denver, at San Francisco, at Seattle ...

With Mangini gone, what next for Jets?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... questions when reporters tried to get specific reasons why Mangini was fired. Maybe Mangini refused to accept demotion to the cafeteria. We're not sure yet. Johnson suggested he had decided a change was needed early in the season, but there's no way Mangini's dismissal would be in the cards in November, when they were the fashionable pick to win the AFC and perhaps play an all-New York Super Bowl against the Giants. Tannenbaum, who made the decision to trade for Brett Favre and cut Chad Pennington, apparently is safe. ...

NFC North team evaluations
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Biggest surprise: There was a general consensus that Matt Forte could be a 1,000-yard back in the NFL. But Forte not only rushed for 1,238 yards, but he also led the team with 63 receptions. Those weren't all dump passes into the flat, either. Forte showed a natural ability to position his body for red zone receptions and was by far the most important player on the Bears' offense this season. ...

NFC South team evaluations
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... wasn't enough to put them over the top and they still have to pay the price with missing draft picks. Too bad, because they'll need them to overhaul their defense for the second straight year. Although Vilma helped and rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis had some bright moments, the defense wasn't much different than last year. Injuries on defensive, poor play in the secondary, inconsistency in running the ball and a brutal schedule all took a toll on the Saints. Even with a huge year from quarterback ...

AFC East team evaluations
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... dropped his clipboard and executed the offense. Rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo emerged as a stud. Second-year safety ...

Favre Has Torn Biceps Tendon
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... : Brett Favre has been told by doctors that pain in his right shoulder is from a torn biceps tendon and some calcification in the area, but the ...

Injured or not, should Jets want Favre back?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... ESPN's Ed Werder is reporting Brett Favre finished the season with a partially torn biceps tendon in his throwing shoulder, but won't require invasive surgery to repair the damage. That probably explains why Favre faltered over the final five weeks, but how the news will affect Favre's decision to play for the New York Jets in 2009 is hard to say at this early juncture. The diagnosis should only reinforce Woody Johnson's desire to have him back. Werder's story states Favre would need nothing more that arthroscopic ...

Jets want big coach? No Tannenbaum a refrain
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... But Shanahan also ran football operations in Denver and likely wouldn't curtsy to the thirty-something Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum made several daring moves over the offseason to rebuild the Jets, who went 4-12 last year and improved by five victories. They fired Eric Mangini on Monday morning. Tannenbaum signed All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, tackle Damien Woody, fullback Tony Richardson and outside linebacker Calvin Pace and traded for quarterback Brett Favre (releasing Chad Pennington to make room) and nose ...

Report: Jets locker room resented aloof Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... A distaste for Brett Favre apparently isn't limited to head coaching candidates, Newsday reporter Arthur Staple writes in an article for Thursday's editions. ...

Jets Have Eye On New Candidates
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... Whether Brett Favre plays for the Jets’ new coach remains to be seen. The 39-year-old quarterback reportedly has a torn biceps tendon in his right arm that doesn’t require major surgery, but he’ll likely take several weeks before deciding whether he wants to return for a 19th season. Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum have both said they’d like to have Favre back. But whoever is hired as the head coach will have significant input on the decision, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the individual wasn’t authorized to discuss the ...

San Diego's Rivers leads charge into playoffs
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... and New York's Brett Favre were the AFC's three quarterbacks selected to play in Hawaii in February. Rivers was the first alternate. With Favre injured, Rivers is likely to replace him. ...

Here we go again
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Can you hear it? That's a round of cackling coming from Green Bay as the topic of Brett Favre's future consumes another organization. ...

Here we go again with Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Can you hear it? That's a round of cackling coming from Green Bay as the topic of Brett Favre's future consumes another organization. ...

Pennington passed over for MVP
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham DAVIE, Fla. -- This isn't an egregious error like the one committed for the Pro Bowl. Whereas Brett Favre didn't warrant a trip to Honolulu ahead of Chad Pennington, it's difficult to argue Peyton Manning didn't deserve the MVP award. ...

Jones Changes His Tune
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... clarified on Friday his critical comments of earlier this week on Brett Favre , saying he would expect the record-setting quarterback to answer questions the same way about him if he had performed poorly in a key game.“I’ve got most respect for Brett,” Jones said in an interview on ESPN’s First Take. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. He’s a great teammate, you know, he brought a lot to our team this year.” ...

Could the Dolphins have done it with McCown?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... I don't agree because I have confidence in myself," said Josh McCown, who the Dolphins dealt to the Carolina Panthers after they acquired Pennington. "But at the same time I can't play that game. I can't get in a time machine to prove myself. "I just give Chad all the credit for getting it done. He ran that offense and made the most of that opportunity." That McCown wasn't the Dolphins' quarterback this year was a series of "ifs" come true. If Brett Favre hadn't decided to play again ... and if the Green Bay ...

Days later, Mangini looks better than Jets
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... rather than the source of the Jets' problems. We thought he walked away from the Jets facility in dire need of career rehab. Instead, the Jets might have done him the ultimate favor. A brief timeline: Chad Pennington steps over the Jets' corpse on his way to the playoffs with the Miami Dolphins. Owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum hold a ham-handed news conference to announce Mangini's firing. Tests reveal Brett Favre played with a shredded arm. Bill Cowher and Mike ...

Favre Leaning Towards Retirement?
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — Favre Leaning Towards Retirement? From ESPN.com : The NFL regular season has been over for less than a week but the speculation over New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre ’s future has already begun. [image] Favre said when he spoke to Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Monday, he told him “it may be time to look in a different direction” at the quarterback, Peter King of SI.com reported. King spoke to Favre on Friday about his plans. Favre and the Jets finished the season by losing four of their last five. The skid cost coach Eric Mangini his job. ...

Pennington's great season ends with one bad day
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... criticized his coaching staff for not pulling Brett Favre from a Week 17 loss to the Dolphins. Favre threw three interceptions while Pennington, cast aside by the Jets to make room for Favre, efficiently outworked his former team. ...

Hentrich confident he's figured out source of slump
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... across the ball and doing all kinds of weird things. If I can just get this drop straightened out I'll be OK..." "My confidence level the last couple games has just been horrible. To go out there not knowing where the punt's going to go is pretty scary because I've really never had that problem for this long." Hentrich has 21 games of playoff experience in a 15-year career with Green Bay and Tennessee. Only Adam Vinatieri, Tedy Bruschi and Brett Favre have more than his 21-games of playoff experience. ...

Top 20 AFC East stories of 2008
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 2. Brett Favre trade: The entire division hinged on Favre's decision to play again and his subsequent trade to the ...

Relaunching 2008 in the AFC East
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... To stay in the spirit, let's relaunch this season for the AFC East with tweaks to the script. What do you think would've happened: 1. What if Tom Brady didn't get hurt? The New England Patriots finished 11-5 with Matt Cassel at quarterback but needed one more victory to reach the playoffs. How much would their record change with Brady healthy? Would Cassel have remained anonymous his whole career? 2. What if Brett Favre stayed retired? The New York ...

What's next for Mangini?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... 2008. Perhaps Mangini wants to look at both young signal callers with his own eyes before reaching a determination. He may also like having the quality depth of two quarterbacks to protect the Browns from injury. If that's the case, another training camp battle could be brewing in Berea. It's also possible that Mangini could stay the course, stick with Quinn, and eventually trade Anderson, who wasn't happy about losing his job last season. After dealing with the Chad Pennington-Brett Favre saga in New York, more QB controversy could be the last ...

In the span of a week, Mangini back in action
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Some of his last images on the Jets sideline were of pained exasperation, wondering rhetorically what in the heck Brett Favre was doing. As Mangini's close friend, boxing trainer and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas noted to the New York Post, Mangini went into 2008 intending to base the offense around running back ...

In about a week, Mangini back in action
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Some of his last images on the Jets sideline were of pained exasperation, wondering rhetorically what in the heck Brett Favre was doing. As Mangini's close friend, boxing trainer and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas noted to the New York Post, Mangini went into 2008 intending to base the offense around running back ...

Favre doesn't need to redeem himself
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham Brett Favre isn't making excuses or apologies. Favre, in an interview Wednesday with ESPN's Ed Werder, sounded satisfied he had given his all to the New York Jets even if he wasn't satisfied with the outcome. And for those who believe Favre will be back because he can't leave the game with such a foul ending, think again. Favre helped lead the Jets to an 8-3 record and had much of the football world buzzing about a return to the Super Bowl, but they won once in the last five games, ...

AFC East generates low All-Pro wattage
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins and Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter made second-team All-Pro. The Jets had an NFL-high seven players selected to the Pro Bowl. Six Jets found their way onto All-Pro ballots, but not all of them were Pro Bowlers. Running back Thomas Jones didn't elicit a single vote, but it's hard to generate attention at a position with MVP runners-up Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner. Quarterback Brett Favre was the other Jets Pro Bowler who didn't receive any All-Pro votes. ...

Taking a stab at 2008 awards
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Rookie of the Year: Chicago tailback Matt Forte Hard to argue with a performance that produced the NFL's third-best total of yards from scrimmage (1,715 yards). Forte also led the Bears with 63 receptions accounted for 34.99 percent of their total offense -- the highest such percentage in the league. There has been some debate about whether he will be an elite player or merely a workhorse as his career progresses. But in 2008 he was the Bears' most important offensive player. (Midseason pick: Forte). Best end-game sequence: ...

Bidwill, Cardinals finally get over hump
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... carried 16 times for 73 yards -- a 4.6-yard average -- providing the balance Arizona needed to keep defenders off Warner. We must also recognize James' 22-yard run in the first half. James' teammates love the way he fights for yardage, falling forward instead of dancing. But when the Cardinals need to pick up yardage in fat chunks, he usually isn't among their options. James, after all, finished the regular season with one rushing play of 20 yards or longer, same as Brett Favre. The 22-yarder against the Eagles proved James has unusually fresh ...

Fittingly, Favre and Peters out of Pro Bowl
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham No big surprise here, but New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre has withdrawn from the Pro Bowl. He was diagnosed with a torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm after the season. Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers was the first alternate, but he declined because of a knee injury. Kerry Collins of the Tennessee Titans was the second alternate and accepted. Also named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday was Miami Dolphins rookie Jake Long, the No. 1 pick in last ...

Collins in Pro Bowl shows system needs overhaul
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... He's an injury replacement for Brett Favre, who backed out. But Collins wasn't the first alternate, he was second behind ...

Cutler and Rivers won't be teammates after all
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... because of knee soreness that is not expected to hinder his offseason work for the Chargers. When Brett Favre of the Jets bowed out with a shoulder injury, Rivers was named to the team because he was the No. 1 alternate. Tennessee's ...

Ryan to NFL: 'The Jets are coming'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Four of the first six questions were about Brett Favre and whether Ryan wanted the legendary quarterback to return. Ryan was diplomatic in his responses, praising Favre while not making any declarations. ...

Schottenheimer Will Stay in NY
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... . The Jets’ biggest offseason issue on offense is whether Brett Favre will return. The 39-year-old quarterback is mulling retirement again after tearing a biceps muscle and throwing nine interceptions in the Jets’ last five games — the Jets lost four of them after an 8-3 start and missed the playoffs.

Jackson discussion underway in Minnesota
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Vikings coaches and front office officials are having that conversation as we speak. (For now, I'm going to consider it a coincidence that Sports Illustrated's Peter King suggested that Minnesota is the place that Brett Favre would "really like to play" during an appearance on ...

Jackson discussion under way in Minnesota
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Vikings coaches and front office officials are having that conversation as we speak. (For now, I'm going to consider it a coincidence that Sports Illustrated's Peter King suggested that Minnesota is the place that Brett Favre would "really like to play" during an appearance on ...

Favre plans to retire -- again
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Without the tearful public ceremony that accompanied his retirement announcement from the Green Bay Packers just 11 months ago, quarterback Brett Favre has instructed agent Bus Cook to inform the New York Jets Wednesday that he plans to retire. In an e-mail to ESPN's Ed Werder, Favre indicated he had no regrets about finishing his career with the Jets rather than with the Green Bay Packers franchise he represented for his previous 16 NFL seasons.

Favre has made it difficult for us to believe him
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Call me a cynic. I apologize in advance. But am I the only one who has trouble believing Wednesday morning that Brett Favre has absolutely, positively and without question retired from the NFL? ...

Nice try, but Favre decision was a Jets fiasco
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... ' Brett Favre experiment officially is over. With no shot at redemption in 2009, we permanently can label it an utter failure. ...

Jets react to Favre's re-retirement
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham The New York Jets have sent out a news release with quick takes from their front office on quarterback Brett Favre's decision to retire. A conference call with owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum has been scheduled for noon Wednesday, but in the meantime, here are some reactions. Jets owner Woody Johnson: I had a great conversation with Brett this morning. Considering that he came from a totally different environment and joined our team during ...

Jets first look to roster for Favre's replacement
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... general manager Mike Tannenbaum was coy on the subject of acquiring a new quarterback, but he and owner Woody Johnson conveyed optimism in a Wednesday afternoon conference call that Brett Favre's replacement already is on their roster. ...

Tonight on Masterpiece Theater: More Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert I was all set to reveal to you, dear readers, my Grand Conspiracy Theory before the pesky Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette beat me to it. Here it is anyway. The short version: If Brett Favre really wanted to, he could force the New York Jets into a chain reaction of moves that could end with him landing at a seemingly impossible destination: Minnesota. When they traded Favre to the Jets last year, the Packers insisted on a "poison pill" provision that would ...

Tonight on Masterpiece Theatre: More Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert I was all set to reveal to you, dear readers, my Grand Conspiracy Theory before the pesky Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette beat me to it. Here it is anyway. The short version: If Brett Favre really wanted to, he could force the New York Jets into a chain reaction of moves that could end with him landing at a seemingly impossible destination: Minnesota. When they traded Favre to the Jets last year, the Packers insisted on a "poison pill" provision that would ...

Packers will honor Favre -- eventually
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Last summer's messy divorce notwithstanding, Brett Favre's No. 4 will still be retired at Lambeau Field some day. That's the upshot of a statement released Wednesday by the Green Bay Packers. Here's the full text: Congratulations to Brett on a remarkable career. The Packers organization wishes him and his family well. Brett always will hold a special place in Green Bay Packers history, and we remain committed to retiring his number at an appropriate time in the future. ...

Ryan wants run game to temper Jets' QB transition
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... are confident they can locate Brett Favre's replacement by sorting through their existing depth chart is because new head coach Rex Ryan is committed to the ground game. ...

Ryan wants run game to temper Jets QB transition
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... are confident they can locate Brett Favre's replacement by sorting through their existing depth chart is because new head coach Rex Ryan is committed to the ground game. ...

Favre on his shoulder and the Packers
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Just got off a teleconference with newly retired quarterback Brett Favre, who left very little room for the change of heart ...

Favre: Jets endeavor 'wasn't all that bad'
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... made their decision with eyes wide open. They knew Brett Favre might be a one-and-done addition, that 2008 might be their lone shot to win with the legendary quarterback. ...

Favre finds Jets understudy options adequate
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Not that it matters, but Brett Favre has signed off on the idea of one of the three young quarterbacks already on the New York Jets' roster taking over the job. Favre didn't reveal who the likeliest candidate would be out of Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge. The legendary quarterback did, however, agree that one of them would prove to be good enough. "One of those three is very capable of leading that team," Favre said Wednesday night on a conference call. "I really, truly believe that. I ...

Hot Button: AFC East
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Solution: The Dolphins are searching for a center to anchor their offensive line. Free agency is an option, but drafting a center such as Alex Mack of California or Max Unger of Oregon creates a tantalizing proposition of a formidable line that can stay together for years. Satele could shift to guard and provide depth. Thomas will be back. No. 1 draft pick Jake Long went to the Pro Bowl. ...

Losman to Jets? Joyner likes that idea
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Despite Losman's reputation in Buffalo as a stumblebum, Joyner recommends the Jets sign Losman to replace Brett Favre as their next quarterback. ...

Sparano: Pennington makes Henne better
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Sparano didn't come out and say it, but he strongly suggested Chad Henne would have been the Miami Dolphins' opening-day quarterback last year had Chad Pennington not materialized. Sparano, however, is glad he didn't have to go with Henne -- not because the Michigan rookie wouldn't have been able to handle the gig, but because a year under Pennington provided priceless schooling. "We're fortunate that we have Chad Pennington and we didn't have to [start Henne] right ...

Warner's future hangs in the balance
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... per year. Another estimated the quarterback's market value between $8 million and $10 million. The Cardinals are reportedly offering around $10 million per year. It's tough to find logical destinations for Warner beyond Arizona's borders. The quarterback-challenged Minnesota Vikings play half their games in a dome, and their running game would take pressure off Warner. The New York Jets could use a productive quarterback after whiffing on Brett Favre. As much as Warner enjoyed playing for Haley, he presumably ...

Double Coverage: Cassel vs. Cutler
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Tim Graham: Let's go ahead and cut to the chase, Bill. Cutler is one of the worst decision-makers in the NFL. He might be the league's most reckless starter now that Brett Favre has retired. McDaniels was raised within the Patriots organization, which places a premium on efficiency and accountability. McDaniels groomed Cassel from a player who hadn't started since high school into one of the NFL's more trustworthy passers. Cassel had a 2.1 interception percentage compared to Cutler's 2.9, but he rarely killed a drive with a bone-headed play. ...

Meet the replacements
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... to improve the competitive balance and shake up rosters on an annual basis. This year is no different. The AFC North lost a wealth of talent over the past two weeks, as teams outbid and traded for players such as Bart Scott, Jason Brown, Kellen Winslow Jr., T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Bryant McFadden. Therefore, meet the replacements -- AFC North style. There are no Shane Falcos in this group, although Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco developed that "The Replacements"-inspired nickname with his team last ...

Scouts Inc.: Jets need to address passing game
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson Behind rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and an ordinary receiving corps, the Baltimore Ravens advanced to the NFL's 2008 postseason final four. In fact, the Ravens won more than their share of games with what we will graciously call a lackluster passing attack. Often, the Ravens' saving grace was their staunch defense led by coordinator Rex Ryan. ...

Suggestions For New ESPN.com/ Links
SimonOnSports — ... Nobody Loves it More Than Mike Piazza so espn.com/HEARTSTHECOCK is his. Man of mystery Marko Jaric gets a link that sums up what people think about him. espn.com/HOWTHEHELLDIDHELANDADRIANALIMA In honor of going from 33 to 34 Vlad gets espn.com/THISYEARMYBIRTHDAYCOUNTEDTWICE Bernard Pollard gets the important tagline espn.com/HERO Brett Favre gets what everyone wants him to do. espn.com/PLEASESTAYFUCKINGRETIRED Ray Lewis gets the tag the court couldn't pin on him. espn.com/MURDERER The Sporting ...

McDaniels handles Cutler circus
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Yes, McDaniels was issued No. 6 with Cutler's name on it. Could you imagine Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy having to hold up a Brett Favre jersey last summer or Philadelphia coach Andy Reid having to hold up a ...

Pennington knows Henne will take over Fins
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... The veteran isn't making any bold proclamations about stiff-arming young challenger Chad Henne for the starting job. Pennington was a guest Wednesday morning on ESPN's "First Take" and sounded resigned to the fact this probably will be his last year at the helm. ...

The meter is rising
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... from last summer's bitter dispute between Green Bay and quarterback Brett Favre. I just wanted to make sure it actually happened. ...

Instant analysis: Scouts, Inc., on the trade
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "They had a tremendous rapport at Vanderbilt, and that's actually a big deal when you talk about quarterbacks and receivers. While he was a disappointment last year, you could see a guy like Bennett being much more viable now -- particularly on out routes and intermediate routes. I don't think he's going to be a field stretcher. That will be Devin Hester's job. But Cutler is going to help guys like Bennett, [tight end] Greg Olsen and even [tailback] Matt Forte be more productive in the passing game." ...

Instant analysis: Scouts Inc. on the trade
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... "They had a tremendous rapport at Vanderbilt, and that's actually a big deal when you talk about quarterbacks and receivers. While he was a disappointment last year, you could see a guy like Bennett being much more viable now -- particularly on out routes and intermediate routes. I don't think he's going to be a field stretcher. That will be Devin Hester's job. But Cutler is going to help guys like Bennett, [tight end] Greg Olsen and even [tailback] Matt Forte be more productive in the passing game." ...

What will Cardinals get from Warner?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... would have been prescient. Like Alexander, Warner is nearing the end of the expected shelf life for players at his position. Unlike Alexander, Warner has quite a few ascending young players around him on offense. That should help him. Also, my perception is that quarterbacks generally do not fall off as quickly as running backs once they hit a certain age. A few quarterbacks over the past 25 or so years have exceeded 3,000 yards passing past age 37. Warren Moon, Brett Favre, Vinny Testaverde, Doug Flutie, Joe Montana and ...

Will Freeman still visit Bucs this week?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... exactly light up practices last year, although he does have some physical skills. The guess here is the Bucs still will let Freeman make his visit. Not because they're going to draft him, but to continue the smokescreen and hope some other team thinks there's still a chance they might. That way, someone ahead of the Bucs might take Freeman and the Bucs can get a player they really want and need. Heck, if Jon Gruden still were running the show, the Bucs would have signed Brett Favre and Jeff Garcia, too. And Gruden still would go out and draft Freeman.

Did Jets give up too much for Sanchez?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... months after they traded for Brett Favre, might be the starter for 2009, but he just got knocked down a few pegs in terms of his long-term outlook with the Jets. ...

AFC East draft analysis
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... They obviously haven't been satisfied with Clemens as an option. They wanted him to seize the job last summer, but Pennington outplayed him. The Jets, eager for a solution, boldly traded for Brett Favre and cut Pennington. Favre lasted one season before arm problems forced him to retire again, putting Clemens back atop the depth chart. ...

Jets release Favre, clear way for possible return
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... If Brett Favre wants to play football again, he won't need to go through any crazy machinations like he did last year. All the legendary quarterback needs to do is find somebody willing to give him a contract. ...

Favre sneaks back into the news
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Exactly 75 days. That's how long it took for Brett Favre's name to reappear on this blog in a substantive way. By now, you have probably heard the news. The New York Jets released Favre on Tuesday, a paperwork shuffle that nevertheless could have significant impact in the NFC North -- if Favre decides to un-retire. (Not that he's ever given us a reason to think he might do that, but....) By releasing Favre at his request, the Jets nullified the so-called poison pill that previously had ...

Greatest Favre Entry Ever!!! Bye-Bye OI' Boy
YouGabSports — NEW YORK -- Brett Favre was released from the reserve-retired list by the New York Jets on Tuesday night, making the quarterback a free agent if he decides to again come out of retirement. ...

Here's progress: Minnesota won't rule out Favre
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- I take back what I said earlier about rookie minicamps. It's been a pretty interesting day here at Minnesota's practice facility, where not only did we get word of Percy Harvin's hospitalization but also heard coach Brad Childress comment for the first time on the potential availability of retired quarterback Brett Favre. ...

Favre To Meet With Childress
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... head coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of the former Packers and Jets quarterback renouncing his retirement from the NFL to play the 2009 season with the Vikings, according to a source with direct knowledge of discussions between the two parties. ...

Scouts Inc.: Minnesota doesn't need a gunslinger
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... I just got off the phone with Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson, who put a succinct voice to the objections some of you already are making to Minnesota's dalliance with "retired" quarterback Brett Favre. ...

What's motivating Favre?
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... At some point very soon, Brett Favre needs to consider a critical question. Maybe Minnesota coach Brad Childress will ask him at their meeting later this week: ...

Here We Go Again: Favre Might Play For Vikings
FakeTeams — ... head coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of the former Packers and Jets quarterback renouncing his retirement from the NFL to play the 2009 season with the Vikings, according to a source with direct knowledge of discussions between the two parties. ...

Diner Morning News: The Favre Saga
The National Football Post » Hot News and Rumors — ... head coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of the former Packers and Jets quarterback renouncing his retirement from the NFL to play the 2009 season with the Vikings, according to a source with direct knowledge of discussions between the two parties. Favre has not been working out and declined to have surgery to repair the torn biceps tendon that plagued him the final month of last season. Favre may believe the injury can heal on its own as did a similar problem with his left ...

No turning back now for the Vikings
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... I'm partially amused and somewhat alarmed by Minnesota's apparent desire for quarterback Brett Favre to participate in its offseason program and/or minicamp, as reported by ...

Favre... Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo
YouGabSports — ... head coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of the former Packers and Jets quarterback renouncing his retirement from the NFL to play the 2009 season with the Vikings, according to a source with direct knowledge of discussions between the two parties. ...

Report: Childress, Favre will meet tonight
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... Minnesota continues to pursue retired quarterback Brett Favre in expedient fashion. Vikings coach Brad Childress is scheduled to begin meeting with retired quarterback Brett Favre over dinner Wednesday night in Mississippi, according to the ...

Sharper followed a similar, if less noticed, path
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... spent eight seasons in a Packers uniform before signing with the Vikings in 2005. Sharper left Minnesota this spring to sign with New Orleans, and on Wednesday he made the media rounds as the Brett Favre story gained steam. ...

Keeping Up With Brett Favre
Acme Packing Company — ... Ed Werner would tell you where and when Brad Childress and Brett Favre will meet, but then he'd have to kill you: Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week. From Chris Mortensen: RT @Mort2u: Dungy did tell me that if Favre meets with Childress, then he's sure Brett will play with Vikes. As a Packer fan, I'm not used to seeing Favre hatred, so I'm surprised how deep it ...

Childress is in Minnesota this morning
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Here is one thing we can tell you with relative certainty: Minnesota coach Brad Childress was at the team's practice facility early Thursday morning. Here is video from FOX-9 in Minneapolis to prove it. This evidence could mean two things: Childress has already returned from a reported meeting Wednesday night with retired quarterback Brett Favre. He didn't make the trip. ESPN has reported Favre and Childress would meet at an unidentified location sometime this week. ...

It's time for damage control in Minnesota
ESPN.com - NFL Nation Blog — ... . ("Favre rebuffs Vikings, will remain retired.") Maybe you thought the same thing: That Brett Favre will remain retired today. ...