Favre To Vikings -- Update

[SoFlaJets]

The St. Paul Pioneer Press speculates "if the Vikings are unable to trade for Matt Cassel of New England or Matt HasselbeckGoing-Long-With-a-Seahawk of Seattle, it wouldn't be shocking if they made a run at [brett] Favre should he become available, as expected."

Writer Charlie Waters says the JetsNew York Jets could waive Favre to clear his $13 million from their tight salary capthe-1-executive-club Mar-26-2008 .

The Vikings were thought to be Favre's preferred destination last summer, but to keep him out of the NFC North the Packers traded him to the Jets.

A condition of that trade stated that the Jets would owe the Packers three first-round draft picks if they traded Favre to the Vikings.

On Tuesday, Favre confidant Peter King of SI.com may have tipped the quarterback's hand when he told ESPN he had "a gut feeling" Favre would consider a return if he could somehow play for the Vikings.

Super BowlBetting-on-the-Super-Bowl Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported "that Favre could be anglingThe-New-Fly-Fishing to join the Vikings, but such a move would not happen via trade because it would cost the Jets multiple first-round picks (according to ProFootballTalk.com)."

[SoFlaJets]

Starting Up the Jets Off-Season

By Joe Caporoso

Here are nine things to think about for the New York Jets as the NFL off-season officially begins:

1. When is Brett Favre going to make up his mind? The Jets organization needs to be fair to itself, the fans, and the rest of team by making Favre let them know within the next 3 weeks, to allow them to properly prepare for the combine and free agency. Favre's decision changes the entire complexion of the Jets cap situation and who they will target to add to their team.

2. The Jets have the number 17 overall pick in the first round, and one pick in each subsequent round. Glancing through a few early mock drafts, I have seen Percy Harvin mentioned a few times along with a couple of different corners and linebackers. It is still too early to tell who will be on the board when the Jets pick and if they will consider moving up or down. You would have to think the top needs of right now are: QB (pending Favre's decision), WR, CB, DL, S, LB and OL depth.

3. Who is going to be released? I would imagine that David Barrett, Bubba Franks, Drew Coleman, Mike Nugent, and a few others are absolute goners. What about Laveranues Coles, though? Will the Jets re- negotiate his contract to make him happy? Will seasoned veteran Shaun Ellis return or last year's other defensive end Kenyon Coleman?

4. If Favre retires and clears cap space for the Jets, will they pursue a big time receiver like Anquan Boldin or TJ Houshmanzedah, or will they try to add a few smaller pieces at corner and safety?

5. If the Jets can find some cap space, expect them to pursue a few of Rex Ryan's former players, most notably safety Jay Leonhard and inside linebacker Bart Scott.

6. Going back to the receiver position, the Jets need to decide if they are satisfied with Coles and Jerricho Cotchery as starters and if they are, then they will need to redo Coles' contract, if not then Coles will be released, meaning the Jets will have to add somebody through the draft or free agency. I'd be shocked to see the Jets land a big name free agent, which puts pressure on them to come up with somebody in the draft.

7. Hopefully, they will re-sign Tony Richardson to another one year deal. You need a good fullback, and the Jets have one with T-Rich.

8. If Favre retires, are the Jets satisfied letting Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff compete for the starting job? If not, who are they going to sign? I keep hearing Byron Leftwich's name, and he might make the most sense because if you think Eric Mangini is sending Derek Anderson here, you are crazy.

9. Will Rex Ryan cut ties with Eric Mangini favorites who haven't produced....Brad Smith, Eric Smith, Sione Pougha I'm looking at you.

[SoFlaJets]

Jets fans settle in to wait on Brett Favre's decision

by John Shabe / NJ.com

It's Groundhog Day, but all New York Jets fans want to know is how much longer they'll have to wait to hear Brett Favre's plans for the 2009 season. The Star-Ledger reported that Favre doesn't have months and months to decide, which contradicts a report made on NBC during the Super Bowl. Either way, Jets fans just want an answer already.

Brian Bassett wrote on The Jets Blog:

For this team to not have this matter put to bed by the time free agency starts is a crime against us, the fans. Rex Ryan needs to be able to upgrade some positions on defense, and with Favre in the picture, there's no chance of the team having any wiggle room to sign even a single player at the start of free agency.

Fans in NJ.com's Jets Forum are talking about the Favre waiting game. NJ.commer newjets2008 wrote:

[The Jets] should have the guts and give a stern deadline .As if the Jets don't have other things to fix this season!

NJ.commer steeltoeboot wrote:

We already know we're going with [Kellen] Clemens and [brett] Ratliff, so Favre can take all the time he wants to "decide" because he's not coming back here anyway. If he retires he retires, and if he doesn't retire he'll be cut. Either way he's gone and the Jets have an extra $13 million to spend on FA's and draft picks.

Personally I think Favre winds up in Minnesota, which is where he wanted to be in the first place. So maybe he's hoping the Jets will cut him so he can make a deal with the Vikings?

NJ.commer trademike1 wrote:

Best possible outcome would be for Favre to retire in the next few weeks and clear that $13 million from the cap number. The worst thing that could happen is if Favre drags out the decision and the Jets are hamstrung this off season. Please Favre, Retire!!!!

What's your take on the Favre situation? Do you think he'll deliver a decision before Valentine's Day?

[JiFtheOracle]

The St. Paul Pioneer Press speculates "if the Vikings are unable to trade for Matt Cassel of New England or Matt HasselbeckGoing-Long-With-a-Seahawk of Seattle, it wouldn't be shocking if they made a run at [brett] Favre should he become available, as expected."

Writer Charlie Waters says the JetsNew York Jets could waive Favre to clear his $13 million from their tight salary capthe-1-executive-club Mar-26-2008 .

The Vikings were thought to be Favre's preferred destination last summer, but to keep him out of the NFC North the Packers traded him to the Jets.

A condition of that trade stated that the Jets would owe the Packers three first-round draft picks if they traded Favre to the Vikings.

On Tuesday, Favre confidant Peter King of SI.com may have tipped the quarterback's hand when he told ESPN he had "a gut feeling" Favre would consider a return if he could somehow play for the Vikings.

Super BowlBetting-on-the-Super-Bowl Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported "that Favre could be anglingThe-New-Fly-Fishing to join the Vikings, but such a move would not happen via trade because it would cost the Jets multiple first-round picks (according to ProFootballTalk.com)."

So if we cut him, then we are not trading him and the picks are ours.

Problem is the Jets FO seem to want him back, I dont know if the HC does?

So its more in Farve's lap. Maybe he'll retire again and the get reinstated and then join the Vikings.

I would put it past his Diva ass at all.

[faba]

The only thing I want is some resolution to this -is Favre going to be with us next year or not. Lets get that straightened out so we can plan the right way .

[SoFlaJets]

The only thing I want is some resolution to this -is Favre going to be with us next year or not. Lets get that straightened out so we can plan the right way .

e Jets want an answer in two weeks Faba-that's when the combine starts

[ZachEY]

I wonder what the deal is with some kind of three way trade... if we trade Favre to another team and then they trade him to the Vikings, getting a mid round pick for their services as a 'middle-man'.

[Aten]

I wonder what the deal is with some kind of three way trade... if we trade Favre to another team and then they trade him to the Vikings, getting a mid round pick for their services as a 'middle-man'.

What do you think the deal is? You think nobody in Green Bay thought of that?

[SoFlaJets]

I wonder what the deal is with some kind of three way trade... if we trade Favre to another team and then they trade him to the Vikings, getting a mid round pick for their services as a 'middle-man'.

the only thing we'll get for Favre is 13 million in cap space EY-which is good enough for this Jets fan

[ZachEY]

What do you think the deal is? You think nobody in Green Bay thought of that?

I'm sure they did. But how could they stop it?

The Jets ARE allowed to trade Favre. Just not to the Vikings.

How can the Jets be responsible if another team in which they did trade him to, decided to trade him to the Vikings. Technically, that's out of the Jets control.

[rillo]

the only thing we'll get for Favre is 13 million in cap space EY-which is good enough for this Jets fan

Agreed, good riddance, lets get the money.

[Bob]

the only thing we'll get for Favre is 13 million in cap space EY-which is good enough for this Jets fan

Ditto.

[SoFlaJets]

Ditto.

yea it's what, like 10% of our total cap?

[shutout]

I thought the Favre-to-Vikings trade stipulation was only for last year?

[glenn212]

Face it jet fans you are stuck with the INT machine another year..For 13 mil Mr. Good ole Boy ain't going anywhere..and he plays all 16 games unless injury puts him out..you better hope he retires

[Aten]

I'm sure they did. But how could they stop it?

The no trade clause isn't necessarily phrased as such. What it probably says is that if Favre is acquired by an NFC North team without being released by the Jets we owe picks. That stops direct and indirect trades to the North but still lets us trade him elsewhere by just passing the penalty clause along to the acquiring team. Not rocket science.

[LiveMike]

I can't imagine any scenario that ends with Favre ending up in Minny. If he plays in 2009 it's probably going to be for the Jets.

[rillo]

I can't imagine any scenario that ends with Favre ending up in Minny. If he plays in 2009 it's probably going to be for the Jets.

Maybe the Jets cut him?

[glenn212]

Maybe the Jets cut him?

HUH?? No way..The dead cap space will be too big and never mind

the distraction of cutting #4..NOT gonna happen..If he doesn't retire he is the Jets starter Day 1 period. No one walks away from 13 million

[Aten]

HUH?? No way..The dead cap space will be too big and never mind

the distraction of cutting #4..NOT gonna happen..If he doesn't retire he is the Jets starter Day 1 period. No one walks away from 13 million

I don't know what you think dead cap space is but if we cut Favre we're off the hook for his whole salary.

[ZachEY]

The no trade clause isn't necessarily phrased as such. What it probably says is that if Favre is acquired by an NFC North team without being released by the Jets we owe picks. That stops direct and indirect trades to the North but still lets us trade him elsewhere by just passing the penalty clause along to the acquiring team. Not rocket science.

If the penalty can be passed along, then great. If it can't, then that's a problem and I can't imagine Tannenbaum agreeing to it if that were the case.

But, I don't know that the Packers could put that kind of 'bounty' on a player for the rest of his career... With Favre, that's not long, but what if he was 25? And if they could, then wouldn't every single team do that any time they traded a player, so it never came back to haunt them?

[BroadwayJ667]

Starting Up the Jets Off-Season

By Joe Caporoso

Here are nine things to think about for the New York Jets as the NFL off-season officially begins:

1. When is Brett Favre going to make up his mind? The Jets organization needs to be fair to itself, the fans, and the rest of team by making Favre let them know within the next 3 weeks, to allow them to properly prepare for the combine and free agency. Favre's decision changes the entire complexion of the Jets cap situation and who they will target to add to their team.

2. The Jets have the number 17 overall pick in the first round, and one pick in each subsequent round. Glancing through a few early mock drafts, I have seen Percy Harvin mentioned a few times along with a couple of different corners and linebackers. It is still too early to tell who will be on the board when the Jets pick and if they will consider moving up or down. You would have to think the top needs of right now are: QB (pending Favre's decision), WR, CB, DL, S, LB and OL depth.

3. Who is going to be released? I would imagine that David Barrett, Bubba Franks, Drew Coleman, Mike Nugent, and a few others are absolute goners. What about Laveranues Coles, though? Will the Jets re- negotiate his contract to make him happy? Will seasoned veteran Shaun Ellis return or last year's other defensive end Kenyon Coleman?

4. If Favre retires and clears cap space for the Jets, will they pursue a big time receiver like Anquan Boldin or TJ Houshmanzedah, or will they try to add a few smaller pieces at corner and safety?

5. If the Jets can find some cap space, expect them to pursue a few of Rex Ryan's former players, most notably safety Jay Leonhard and inside linebacker Bart Scott.

6. Going back to the receiver position, the Jets need to decide if they are satisfied with Coles and Jerricho Cotchery as starters and if they are, then they will need to redo Coles' contract, if not then Coles will be released, meaning the Jets will have to add somebody through the draft or free agency. I'd be shocked to see the Jets land a big name free agent, which puts pressure on them to come up with somebody in the draft.

7. Hopefully, they will re-sign Tony Richardson to another one year deal. You need a good fullback, and the Jets have one with T-Rich.

8. If Favre retires, are the Jets satisfied letting Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff compete for the starting job? If not, who are they going to sign? I keep hearing Byron Leftwich's name, and he might make the most sense because if you think Eric Mangini is sending Derek Anderson here, you are crazy.

9. Will Rex Ryan cut ties with Eric Mangini favorites who haven't produced....Brad Smith, Eric Smith, Sione Pougha I'm looking at you.

1. uhh no, forget harvin. the only recievers worth looking at in the first round are Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin and Hakeem nicks, and i recommend nicks. he's got it all short of 4.3 speed, but they said Larry Fitzgerald was too slow so what do they know.
   
2. its Jim Leonhard, ****nut
   
3. Brad is good on special teams, the other two, one can only hope
   
4. who the **** is Joe Caporoso and why should i care what he thinks, if he's that fat loser on sny.net, go kill yourself
   

[Aten]

If the penalty can be passed along, then great. If it can't, then that's a problem and I can't imagine Tannenbaum agreeing to it if that were the case.

Think about it. You just write the same penalty into the deal with the team you're trading him to.

[ZachEY]

Think about it. You just write the same penalty into the deal with the team you're trading him to.

Yes, the Jets could do that, my point was that I'd be surprised if the Packers could police his entire career like that. I would think once he was off the Jets officially, their obligation would be done as to where he goes.

[CoachTsurfing]

So if we cut him, then we are not trading him and the picks are ours.

Problem is the Jets FO seem to want him back, I dont know if the HC does?

So its more in Farve's lap. Maybe he'll retire again and the get reinstated and then join the Vikings.

I would put it past his Diva ass at all.

I think Favre would have to wait until his contract is up to resign with a team if he retired. Otherwise we retain his rights. Help me out here if I'm wrong.

[LWC611]

I think Favre would have to wait until his contract is up to resign with a team if he retired. Otherwise we retain his rights. Help me out here if I'm wrong.

You are right. If he retires we still retain his rights. If he plays out his contract, he is a free man, but one year older.....

I am sure the Vikes would not do this but if they wanted him that bad and, for the penalty to work for us, we need to get 3 consective first round picks from the vikings.

[Sperm Edwards]

Starting Up the Jets Off-Season

By Joe Caporoso

Here are nine things to think about for the New York Jets as the NFL off-season officially begins:

1. When is Brett Favre going to make up his mind? The Jets organization needs to be fair to itself, the fans, and the rest of team by making Favre let them know within the next 3 weeks, to allow them to properly prepare for the combine and free agency. Favre's decision changes the entire complexion of the Jets cap situation and who they will target to add to their team.

They've already done that. That this doesn't get repeated in the media by the Jets organization doesn't mean it hasn't. If it does, then it gets turned into an ego battle. There's no need for it to get antagonistic, and the Jets taking it to the media (particularly at this early date) does just that.

2. The Jets have the number 17 overall pick in the first round, and one pick in each subsequent round. Glancing through a few early mock drafts, I have seen Percy Harvin mentioned a few times along with a couple of different corners and linebackers. It is still too early to tell who will be on the board when the Jets pick and if they will consider moving up or down. You would have to think the top needs of right now are: QB (pending Favre's decision), WR, CB, DL, S, LB and OL depth.

The Jets do not have one pick in each subsequent round. Does he think Green Bay traded Brett Favre to us for free? As I understand it, from the media coverage of the GB trade, we have our normal picks in all rounds other than round 3, which goes to Green Bay. We also have Washington's 4th rounder for Pete Kendall.

3. Who is going to be released? I would imagine that David Barrett, Bubba Franks, Drew Coleman, Mike Nugent, and a few others are absolute goners. What about Laveranues Coles, though? Will the Jets re- negotiate his contract to make him happy? Will seasoned veteran Shaun Ellis return or last year's other defensive end Kenyon Coleman?

Bubba Franks is not under contract with the New York Jets and therefore cannot be released by the New York Jets.

Mike Nugent is not under contract with the New York Jets and therefore cannot be released by the New York Jets.

4. If Favre retires and clears cap space for the Jets, will they pursue a big time receiver like Anquan Boldin or TJ Houshmanzedah, or will they try to add a few smaller pieces at corner and safety?

Housh may be a better receiver than Coles, but not by a landslide. It would make no sense to cut Coles only to add TJ who turns 32 in September to a big, new contract. Oh, and there's that other thing...there is no way this happens because 31 other teams have, or can clear, more cap room than the Jets and many need him a lot more than we do. The last thing the Jets need is another possession receiver who gets 10 ypr and never stretches the field.

5. If the Jets can find some cap space, expect them to pursue a few of Rex Ryan's former players, most notably safety Jay Leonhard and inside linebacker Bart Scott.

Already noted by Tyson. That's not his name.

6. Going back to the receiver position, the Jets need to decide if they are satisfied with Coles and Jerricho Cotchery as starters and if they are, then they will need to redo Coles' contract, if not then Coles will be released, meaning the Jets will have to add somebody through the draft or free agency. I'd be shocked to see the Jets land a big name free agent, which puts pressure on them to come up with somebody in the draft.

Coles cannot be released. That is what a "guaranteed" contract means. What is a "big name free agent" in this year's FA crop anyway? A 32 year-old TJ Houshmandzadeh? Antonio Bryant? Those are "medium name" free agents. They only represent the biggest names of who's available in FA at this time.

7. Hopefully, they will re-sign Tony Richardson to another one year deal. You need a good fullback, and the Jets have one with T-Rich.

Absolutely.

8. If Favre retires, are the Jets satisfied letting Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff compete for the starting job? If not, who are they going to sign? I keep hearing Byron Leftwich's name, and he might make the most sense because if you think Eric Mangini is sending Derek Anderson here, you are crazy.

From where does he keep hearing Byron Leftwich's name as going to the Jets? And where was it written the Jets are after Derek Anderson or that Cleveland is trading him at all? As of right now he's the Browns' starting QB and Mangini has never gone with the lesser-experienced guy to start the season. Quinn didn't look any better than Clemens did in his NFL debut, so until I hear the Browns are seeking trade partners for Anderson, I'll assume he's their starting QB. I'd be shocked if they moved him before camp if they do move him at all this year.

Actually I believe there's a very good chance the Jets will go with Clemens & Ratliff competing for the starting job, and that (along with a willingness to work with Favre should he stay) is in no small part a reason he was asked to return. No one knows those two like Schottenheimer and with a new HC and a new OC you can bet no one else would be as ok with them. KC didn't exactly set the world on fire in his first shot, and Ratliff has never faced NFL talent before. No one would be ok with just them except someone who's coached them already.

9. Will Rex Ryan cut ties with Eric Mangini favorites who haven't produced....Brad Smith, Eric Smith, Sione Pougha I'm looking at you.

Pouha. His name is Pouha. And he's in the first year of his 3-year extension. He'd have to be bad on an ungodly level during training camp to get cut. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely he's out prior to the draft.

[abyzmul]

HUH?? No way..The dead cap space will be too big and never mind

the distraction of cutting #4..NOT gonna happen..If he doesn't retire he is the Jets starter Day 1 period. No one walks away from 13 million

What dead cap space? Favre is 13 million on the books, and if we cut him, all 13 million comes off the books. The only way we'd get a cap penalty is if we restructured and gave him some guaranteed money. Green Bay took the whatever dead money hit there was when they traded him.

[Bugg]

Cut him, get the cap room, be done with it.

It was a good idea; Pennington nothwithstanding the Fins' season wasn't going to get it done. It failed. We shouldn't have to watch Favre wing the ball all over the field witoug conscience.

Get on with it. Let Clemens and Ratliff fight it out.

[Aten]

Yes, the Jets could do that, my point was that I'd be surprised if the Packers could police his entire career like that. I would think once he was off the Jets officially, their obligation would be done as to where he goes.

Why would you think that? Our obligation is whatever the deal says it is. Clearly the intent was to impose the penalty in the event that the Jets receive anything in return for Favre in any series of transactions that results in Favre ending up in the North. We've been over how that could be done in such a way that it would preclude an intermediary trade to the North but not a bona fide trade elsewhere. Where are you going with this?

[ZachEY]

Why would you think that? Our obligation is whatever the deal says it is. Clearly the intent was to impose the penalty in the event that the Jets receive anything in return for Favre in any series of transactions that results in Favre ending up in the North. We've been over how that could be done in such a way that it would preclude an intermediary trade to the North but not a bona fide trade elsewhere. Where are you going with this?

I'm just saying quite simply that I don't know that they could write it into a deal for the rest of his career that he can't play for this team. And if they could, why wouldn't teams do that for every player they ever trade to prevent him from resurfacing down the road on a rival.

[Aten]

my point was that I'd be surprised if the Packers could police his entire career like that.

Okay, I think I understand. Your objection is that something just seems wrong about this. What you have to remember is that Favre's is an exclusive services contract, meaning that the Packers bargained not only for the right to have Favre play for them but also for the right to not have him play for anybody else. There's nothing that would preclude the Packers from doing a deal with the Jets that transfers only a portion of their rights under that contract.

[SMC]

HUH?? No way..The dead cap space will be too big and never mind

the distraction of cutting #4..NOT gonna happen..If he doesn't retire he is the Jets starter Day 1 period. No one walks away from 13 million

As Aten alluded to, there is no dead cap space if Favre is released.

If the Jets release Favre they free up $13 million in cap space.

[ZachEY]

Okay, I think I understand. Your objection is that something just seems wrong about this. What you have to remember is that Favre's is an exclusive services contract, meaning that the Packers bargained not only for the right to have Favre play for them but also for the right to not have him play for anybody else. There's nothing that would preclude the Packers from doing a deal with the Jets that transfers only a portion of their rights under that contract.

Yeah, I get how that would work in a contract. And contract is the word you're using repeatedly here.

However, I was under the impression that we were talking about a trade. And I was also under the impression that Favre's contract was not reworked pre-trade. So, unless that stipulation about the 1st rounders/Vikings was in his original contract, when it was signed, the would have either had to redo his deal (of which I wasn't aware) to include it, or it would have to be in the trade, which brings me back to, 'why wouldn't every team do that in every trade' and police all of their former players careers?

[Aten]

Yeah, I get how that would work in a contract. And contract is the word you're using repeatedly here.

However, I was under the impression that we were talking about a trade.

We're talking about two contracts: the Packers' deal with Favre, and the Packers' deal with us. The contract with Favre gives them certain rights, and the contract with us transfers some of those rights but not others.