Kevin Arnold Loved the Jets, And So Should You. Broadway Brett: El Capitan.

Remember "The Wonder Years," one of the greatest television dramas in history? What a great show (that I'm still waiting for on DVD), with a great main character, Kevin Arnold, who famously championed for Winnie Cooper's affections while donning a vintage Jets jacket at the height of the Broadway Joe era. Kevin's older brother Wayne is still one of the most hated characters in TV history, one that could make you want to put your fist through some drywall.

Anywho, here's a Broadway Brett update on the same day that the NFL's season kicks off with the Giants-Redskins game tonight. (Editor's Note: I've got Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley going on both of my fantasy teams tonight)

Yesterday it was announced that Brett Favre and Alan Faneca have been voted the offensive captains of the New York Jets for the upcoming season. While I would have liked to see wide receiver Laveranues Coles or maybe tight end Chris Baker as captains, I don't disagree with Brett being one, since he is expected to be the guy who leads this team all season. Coles and Baker lost some pull though when they got into contract disputes/holdouts with management in the off season. Faneca, while also being added to the team only a few months back still has pull over Jerricho Cotchery and Leon Washington, who are still a bit young to be looked at as captain material. Thomas Jones has only been there for one (lackluster) season at running back, and still has much to prove in the fans' and team's eyes, so that's not much of a surprise.
That "C" stitched on his jersey now won't make Brett Favre any better or worse; but same goes for Tom Brady's "minor" (stress fracture) foot injury. Here's my prediction on this ongoing rivalry between the AFC East opponents who meet for the first of 2 regular season match ups next week. The Pats and Jets will split their two games this year; I think the Jets have a shot winning it in week 2 since the Pats haven't (as far as we know) been illegally videotaping Favre on the Jets, and Brady might still be rusty. He will especially have trouble when Calvin Pace tries to rip his head off along with the rest of the revamped Jets defensive unit. Tom Brady, as Walter Sobchak (played by John Goodman) in "The Big Lebowski" best put it, is "entering a world of pain," this season. (See Walter below.)
The Jets will win 10 or 11 games (12 if a couple of the close ones fall their way) and get a Wild Card playoff spot since they don't play in the NFC West where a .500 team can not only make the playoffs, but win their division. The Pats will win at least 13 or 14, but their geriatric defense, and questionable O-line is going to be winded toward the end of the season like they were in last year's Super Bowl. That is why I predict the Patriots will lose somewhere between the first round and up to or including the AFC Championship, either to the Colts (if Peyton Manning stays healthy), Jaguars (another solid D that has a great season under their belt), the Chargers (if they can stay dominant without Shawn Merriman, because he'll take a career and/or season ending injury somewhere by mid-season with the bum knee he's adamant about playing on), or shall I say the J-E-T-S Jets?

A year or two ago I'd be labeled "looney tunes" for such a prediction. However, this is the first season in a long time any Jets fan can firmly say or believe that they have a legitimate shot to win any game they're in on any given Sunday. The Patriots are probably the most feared team in the NFL this season, and even they have questions coming into this year after going 0-4 without Tom and his bum foot throughout the preseason.
(Editor's Note: This is one of the best pictures of Tom Brady I have ever seen.)
Granted losing the biggest game in franchise history to end their season will weigh on the Patriots and give them extra tenacity this year, but on paper and on the field they are a weaker and more vulnerable team than they were last year. This is especially evident when one thinks about how they will need to have more left in their tank at the end of the season for a lengthy playoff run. Sure, Brett Favre is going to be 39 in a month or two, but the fresh life the Jets have breathed into their offensive line, backfield, and defense are more changes than the Patriots have made. If the same team that got pounded by the Giants defense (that boasted only one Pro Bowler) in the Super Bowl shows up this season, other equal or better defenses will be knocking the hobbled quarterback down even more this season.

Interesting enough, ESPN correspondent and Boston (yuck) fan Bill Simmons, has a somewhat similar view on the Pats and Jets. While he sees the Pats being questionable, he still has them making the AFC Championship, and losing to the Jaguars who he has for his Super Bowl pick. The Jets are his annual sleeper pick, though he has them losing their first two games on their way to a surprising 11-5 season. The record prediction sounds about right, but I see them winning at least one of their first two games, if not both. The third game against the Chargers is a toss up depending on whether Merriman is on the IR list by then or how much Phillip Rivers cries like Halle Berry accepting her Academy Award during the game.

You can read all of Bill Simmons's season predictions here on ESPN's website. Although I despise Boston sports teams, I like where his head is at. But I will say I think his view on the Giants is a bit harsh and skewed to the fact that they ruined his team's shot at perfection in the Super Bowl. While I think the Giants are going to have a tougher time this year with their losses on defense (Osi's knee surgery, Strahan's retirement, Mitchell's bouncing), I think Eli Manning will have a better and more consistent regular season than he has previously. They're definitely at least a 8 or 9 win team, but I still think the New York story of the year will be the Jets This is also due to the fact that the Yankees are horrendous this season, and the Mets are likely to come up shorthanded at the end of the season or in the playoffs, the ongoing trainwreck that is the Knicks organization, and the Rangers who have lost Sean Avery, JaomirJagr, and will probably end up at about the same spot they did in last season's playoffs.

Here are Simmons's thoughts:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080904

More Jet Favre News...

The people at EA Sports waste no time...Here's an image of what newly acquired quarterback Brett Favre will look like in Madden '09. And I must say, it looks damn good! Many in the press as well as fans are already concerned with the big stage Favre will be landing on in the hot skillet that is the New York media. However, these Debbie Downers should remember a few things:

1. The Jets play in New Jersey, and have since the mid 1970's. They will continue to play in Jersey for many years to come when their new stadium (with the Giants) opens at the start of next season.

2. The Jets were 4-12 last season. That said, giving up next to nothing for him and having a 5-11 season would be an improvement in the New York media's mind.

3. The last time a New York starting quarterback wore number 4 his name was: Glen Foley.

4. Bill Belichick is already trying to cheat his way into a strategy to beat the Legend, and I'm sure he lost some sleep over this last night. His misery is our happiness.

5. Brett Favre is no stranger to the media, and historically has dealt with media scrutiny quite well. His turn as the character, Brett Favre in 1998's box office smash "There's Something About Mary" shows his poise and composure under the scrutiny of the media circus that is a movie set. Brett also played a janitor alongside Mike Holmgren in the 1996 film "Reggie's Prayer" about a retired pro football player who befriends a troubled student on the high school football team he coaches.
Click here to see Brett show off his acting chops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjDC6P16hSg

In my intrigue of how fast Wikipedia works amid breaking pop culture related news, I did a search on Brett Favre; here's the opening paragraph as of this morning:

"Brett Lorenzo Favre (born on October 10, 1969, in Gulfport, Mississippi) is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007."

Damn, Wikipedia is faster than TJ Houshmandz-whachamacallhim. Also, I didn't know his middle name was Lorenzo. You know who else was named Lorenzo don't you? That's right, the father in "A Bronx Tale" played by Robert DeNiro. He epitomized perseverance and that "stick to your guns" mentality that Brett Favre personifies more than anyone else in the NFL today.

Coincidence, I think not. This is a case of the legendary Lorenzos. And don't adjust your computer monitor; yes, I just connected Brett Favre's comeback to "A Bronx Tale"

BROADWAY BRETT: Brett Favre, Quarterback...for the NEW YORK JETS.

As I write this I am in a "Glass case of emotion" as San Diego's classiest anchorman Ron Burgundy best put it. I was about ready to get to bed when on Sportscenter, a beacon of light flew onto the screen: "BREAKING NEWS: Brett Favre traded to Jets." Wow. As a Jets fan, I have to say this has up to this point been one of the most active offseasons I've ever seen out of the Gang Green, and this move definitely solidifies it as the craziest offseason I've witnessed for the Jets in my entire life. They've now gone out and gotten a Super Bowl Champion, 3 time MVP, first ballot Hall of Famer to lead their team, and for the first time in a very long time, the Jets have a bonafide quarterback.

I wasn't really sure how I felt about this move since I never thought there was any sort of shot that this would actually happen. My thinking was the Jets were merely a pawn to drive up his trade value to other teams since I didn't think he really wanted to play for them. Now that it seems to have actually happened, I am excited, anxious, and almost can't believe it. I can't wait to see someone finally lead the Jets the way Chad Pennington didn't have the arm for, and the way Kellen Clemens didn't have a full chance at yet. As much of a soft spot I have for Chad and his leadership, multiple comebacks, and heart, he was never the quarterback who could lead the Jets past a 2nd or 3rd round in the playoffs. Kellen Clemens has the potential to be that quarterback for the Jets in the future, and the possibility of him now being able to be mentored by one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history over one or two seasons would ultimately make Clemens a better player.

I am in a mixed state of emotions right now as this breaking news has caught me somewhat off guard. However, it puts a smile on my face knowing that the Jets have brought themselves onto a level playing field with the behemoth New England Patriots (18-1). The fact that Bill Belichick is already losing sleep in his dungeon over this and wondering how he's going to gameplan against Favre now that he can't cheat anymore is reason enough for this to bring a smile to my face.

Not sure how incoherent my rambling has been, but it's late and the Jets just acquired one of the greatest living quarterbacks on earth. Here's to hoping he doesn't have another change of heart and stay retired.

J-E-T-S, BRETT, BRETT, BRETT!!!

If he wants to get on the fans' good side, he should go vintage and grow the Namath 'stache.

UPDATE:
As I finish writing this at approximately 1:00AM Eastern Time, the New York Jets official website is already advertising Brett Favre Jets jerseys for sale. Holding onto all those left over old Glenn Foley #4 jerseys must have paid off as they only had to replace 3 letters.