As a Jets fan, it doesn't matter which of New York's many sports sections is your favorite this morning. They all have variations on the same exact story, all of which are a result of Brett Favre's comments at practice on Wednesday. What in the world could spur such an immense reaction?
“I expect us to make the playoffs,” he said Wednesday.
That's it. He expects the Jets to make the playoffs. Frankly, the only thing noteworthy would have been if he said he expected the Jets to struggle and lose their remaining three games. With Buffalo, Seattle and Miami looming to close out the season, the Jets should expect to make the playoffs. They've beaten Buffalo and Miami already and play them at home and the Seahawks have won twice all season.
The reaction, though, is to turn Favre into the second coming of Joe Namath. The Times says he's "making comments that venture into Joe Namath’s Land of the Guarantee." The Post accuses him of showing "his inner Namath." At least Erik Boland of Newsday realized that Favre's comments weren't even the equal of Jim Fassel pushing his chips into the middle of the table before the Giants made a Super Bowl run in 2000.
Obviously a Jets quarterback saying anything that sounds at all like a prediction of success will force Namath's name into the conversation. A little perspective would be welcomed, though, since all Favre said was that he didn't expect to lose every remaining game on the schedule. That's not so much a sign of overwhelming confidence as it is the slightest modicum of self-esteem.
