article: #4 Honored to be Jets Captain- NY Post

NO. 4 'HONORED' TO BE CAPTAIN
By LENN ROBBINS
Posted: 3:59 am
September 4, 2008

Call him Capt. Brett.

The JetsNew York Jets voted Brett Favre As one of their six captains for the season, an outcome that left the sure-fire future Hall of Fame quarterback ambivalent about the honor.

"I'm honored," Favre said. "I told [coach] Eric [Mangini] that I felt a little uncomfortable. I felt like I need to earn it. I don't want it to be based on past performances or longevity. All those things are important, but what's important is what I do here and how I carry myself as a teammate."

The other captains voted are guard Alan Faneca on offense, safety Kerry RhodesKerry Rhodes and end Shaun EllisShaun Ellis on defense and running back Leon Washington and linebacker David Bowens on special teams. Rhodes wasn't shocked by Favre's selection.

"He brings a certain aura to a team," he said.

Favre, who after his split from Green Bay was portrayed as an aging veteran who spent little time with his Packers teammates, pounced on the opportunity to clarify that depiction.

"Did I go hang out with the guys? No," said an impassioned Favre. "I couldn't tell you where all the guys lived. I quit drinking 10 years ago. I have a family. So if I was not studying or at the stadium, I was home, or I was out either hunting or playing golf - mostly hunting. That was just a chance for me to get away and spend some time with myself and kind of get away from the daily routine.

"If you want to call that being a loner, I felt like any guy on that team could come to me and ask me a question," said Favre. "I know they could. I would give them whatever answer I could give them. If guys wanted to watch film with me, which we did, we'd watch film together."

Favre, speaking as passionately as he has since coming to the Jets, said his priority as an older player was to be ready to perform at his best on game day. Based on stats last season - he completed 66.5 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns and 15 picks - he accomplished that.

"What I did away from the stadium, to me what does that matter, really?" he said. "I've got a daughter almost as old as some of the guys that came in. Because I didn't go hang out with them and shoot pool or whatever to me it means nothing as far as how you play.

"I was at practice every day," Favre said. "I studied film with guys. I was there for them whenever they needed me. Eight o'clock at night, I was at home reading a book with my daughter. So if that's bad, then I'm sorry."

 

Article: Keu issues for Jets- Newsday

Key issues facing JetsERIK BOLAND
September 4, 2008
1 ISSUE: Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre.



DISCUSSION: Is there any other issue? Of course there is, but the Jets unquestionably became the league's No. 1 story heading into this season by dealing for Favre before the stroke of midnight Aug. 6. Teammates have raved about how quickly the quarterback has latched on to the Jets' system, though that remains a work in progress. There will be some early miscues, but any objective analysis of this move says the Jets made a major upgrade at the most important position on the field.

2 ISSUE: Favre, as he learns the offense, will at least be protected.



DISCUSSION: He should. He'd better be. The Jets spent lavishly this offseason - on Alan Faneca and Damien Woody - to improve a line that protected neither Chad Pennington nor Kellen Clemens last season. Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is the real deal and his presence should help left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson immensely. Woody is a bit more of a question mark as he's still learning the nuances of right tackle.





3 ISSUE: The season ending almost before it begins.



DISCUSSION: Even the most optimistic Jets fan anticipates losses in Week 2 and 3, to the Patriots and Chargers, respectively. Every week - insert clich? alert here - is important, but the significance of Sunday's opener in Miami can't be overstated. A 1-2 record can be overcome to make the playoffs; 0-3 not so much. And whatever the Jets front office says publicly, the Favre move goes down as a colossal failure if this team doesn't make the postseason.



4 ISSUE: The Jets will actually be able to rush the passer this season.



DISCUSSION: The discussion: That appears to be the case. Outside linebacker Calvin Pace, a free agent pickup from the Cardinals, looks as if he's been in the Jets 3-4 system his entire career and nose tackle Kris Jenkins, acquired in a trade with the Panthers, has experienced minimal struggles in adapting to a new position. Jenkins won't rack up significant sack or tackle totals but his 359-pound presence will allow several others to.