Jets land Favre

NEW YORK – The Jets have pulled off one of the most important trades in their history, acquiring Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers late Wednesday night. The Jets outbid the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 38-year-old Favre, whose arrival means the departure of 32-year-old Chad Pennington.

The story was first reported by FoxSports.com and confirmed by the Jets shortly after midnight.

The Jets were said to have made a better offer than the Bucs earlier in the day. It is believed the Jets traded a fourth-round pick in 2009, although the pick could go as high as second-rounder based on the team’s performance.

Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson issued a statement early this morning.

“I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform,” Johnson said. “He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible product on the field.

“Mike Tannenbaum and his football administration staff did a great job of navigating this complex process. I am excited about welcoming Brett, Deanna and their family to the Jets organization.”

The Jets play the Browns tonight in Cleveland in their preseason opener.

Both Jets quarterbacks, Pennington and Kellen Clemens, had been asked consistently about the possibility of acquiring Favre. Pennington seemed most perturbed by the situation, though he never outright criticized the organization for pursuing Favre.

“My whole focus is on this camp and winning this starting quarterback battle,” Pennington said early in training camp, “so I don’t really have any thoughts … there’s nothing to be said. As a player, you never react until it’s actually done.”

Favre left Green Bay on Wednesday morning with his wife, Deanna, and his agent, Bus Cook, and returned to Hattiesburg, Miss., after two days of intensive discussions with the Packers about Favre’s future. Favre was reinstated to the Packers’ roster Monday, and he spent several hours speaking with coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and team president Mark Murphy about how to reach a compromise. In the end, the Packers felt Favre wasn’t fully committed to playing for the team. Favre felt likewise.

“I was asked the question if I was totally committed to the Packers,” Favre told the Hattiesburg American after returning Wednesday afternoon.

“I know it’s been documented and I posed the same question back to them. I don’t think either side could totally commit after all that’s happened. Because the bottom line in all of this is playing football. And I’ve always been committed to my job. I know people say, ‘You need to put the personal issues aside.’ And I agree, but I couldn’t do that.”

Cook told the newspaper the Packers didn’t want Favre to return.

“Bottom line, he wanted to go back,” Cook said. “He was committed to play football. Was he committed to playing with the Packers? He was more committed to playing for the Packers than they were committed to having him. There was zero commitment to having him back. They didn’t want him back.”