CLEVELAND — 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 Packers traded their iconic quarterback after 16 seasons to the 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,” Favre said. “The last 24 hours have been crazy. This offseason has been bizarre. But I’m excited by this opportunity.”
Chad Pennington quickly became the odd man out, ending the quarterback’s eight-year, injury-plagued career with the Jets. He was expected to find a new home soon: Minnesota and Miami were mentioned as possible destinations.
• Jets tight end A.J. Schable was taken from the field on a stretcher and hospitalized after a head-to-head hit while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return by the Browns in the fourth quarter of New York’s 24-20 win.
“He does have movement in his arms and legs,” coach Eric Mangini said. “That is extremely encouraging.”
Johnson, Croyle shine for Chiefs
CHICAGO — Larry Johnson, back from a broken foot, ran for a touchdown on the opening drive and Brodie Croyle made the most of limited time to lead the Chiefs to a 24-20 win over the Bears in the teams’ preseason opener.
Johnson had just 18 yards on eight carries, but there were enough familiar flashes to ease lingering concerns. Croyle passed for 82 yards during two possessions, and Tyler Thigpen threw the winning 27-yard pass to Bobby Sippio with 1:08 left in the game.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Kyle Orton fumbled, Rex Grossman stumbled and neither established himself as the leader in a quarterback race that could extend into the season. Former Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie went 9-for-16 for 101 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown to Brandon Rideau with 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
In other preseason games:
• Patriots running back LaMont Jordan, fighting for a job behind Laurence Maroney, ran with power, picking up 76 yards and scoring on a 1-yard in a 16-15 loss to the Ravens.
• Robert Meachem, a second-year receiver inactive for all 16 games last season, caught four passes for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Saints beat the Cardinals 24-10.
• Former Broncos running back Tatum Bell carried seven times for only 8 yards, but the Lions defeated the Giants behind Eddie Johnson’s 31-yard field goal with 2:47 to play.
Footnotes.
Bears first-round draft pick Chris Williams, expected to start at left tackle, had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.
• The Panthers waived tackle Charles Spencer for what coach John Fox called a “conditioning issue,” and re-signed lineman Rueben Riley.
• Browns rookie linebacker Beau Bell had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage from behind his right kneecap. He is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.
The Associated Press
