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One would think with all the hoopla surrounding Brett Favre's improbable late night trade to the New York Jets Wednesday night that this team would now be expected by odds makers to win more games than pre-trade. Not the case.
The folks from Bookmaker.com only moved the Jets up from a line of 7 ½ regular season wins to 8 ½ regular season wins (some books did have the Jets at 7 wins). The Over and Under are both listed at -115 odds.
That is slightly better than what is expected of the Green Bay Packers, for whom Bookmaker.com has as the over/under 8 regular season wins. The over was given -135 odds, however.
With Favre joining the team, it soon became a "no brainer" to the Jets that they would release quarterback Chad Pennington.
Taken in the first round of the 2000 draft, the 32-year-old Pennington posted a 32-29 record in his eight seasons with the Jets, leading them to three postseason appearances and two playoff victories.
In 2006, Pennington overcame two rotator cuff surgeries to lead the Jets to the playoffs and win the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.
Now the question is: Does Brett Favre still have what it takes? Last year he demonstrated that he does and it's doubtful things will change that much in a series of months. Favre brought his team deep into the Playoffs.
But that was the much improved Green Bay Packers.
Brett Favre held up his new green jersey, hoping he made the right decision. "To a certain degree, I don't know what I'm getting into," he said. Favre's summertime soap opera ended Wednesday night when the Green Bay Packers traded their iconic quarterback after 16 seasons to the New York Jets, who haven't had a star of No. 4's stature since the days Joe Namath was slinging passes.
"I'm here for one reason. Not to do commercials, Broadway all those things," Favre said Thursday after joining New York for its exhibition opener in Cleveland. "I'm here to help the Jets win."
It's not certain when the three-time MVP will be ready to play. But he assured it will be soon.
"I'm a little out of shape, compared to the other guys," said Favre, who winked while saying he looked forward to his first conditioning test with the Jets. "The last 24 hours have been crazy. This offseason has been bizarre. But I'm excited by this opportunity."
For the moment, Favre brings the Jets publicity and perhaps a better chance to compete in the AFC East. His preference was to be traded inside the NFC North, preferably to Minnesota. When it became apparent the Packers wouldn't do that, Favre was open to about anything to keep playing.
It only took a minute for him to be a hit in New York.
Already, his jersey is being scooped up by Jets fans who awakened Thursday morning to the news that the Mississippi country boy with the cannon right arm is on his way to the big city and its bright lights.
Told that 3,000 new jerseys had been sold online, he joked, "That's all?"
Remember to get your Jets bets in at Bookmaker.com including regular season wins totals.
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Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com
