Jets should be smart and do this...

Posted: July 26, 2008 at 5:40PM EST

Let's say that everything we have heard is true and that the New York Jets have been given permission to talk with Brett Favre about the possibility of acquiring him in a trade. It seems to make sense on the surface, in that Favre is a much better solution than either Chad Pennington or Patrick Ramsey to be the starter at quarterback for 2008.

I have a much better idea for the Jets. For the sake of this discussion, assume that I am the general manager for the Jets. This is what I would do.

Before contacting Green Bay again, I would call the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings. One of the reasons that Green Bay is relunctant to simply place Favre on waivers is because they fear that one of the teams in their own division might try to grab him. This would mean that not only would Favre play the Pack twice in a season, but Green Bay would receive no compensation for him. Minnesota is projected by many experts to make the playoffs this year, due to the emergence of a great defense and second-year RB Adrian Peterson. Favre would likely elevate them to a superior Super Bowl contendor.

So, as Jets GM, I would say the following the Vikes: "Yo, listen, this is a conversation we need to keep on the down lo, but hear me out. If I can acquire a certain future hall of fame QB that is not wanted on his team and once starred in a movie with Cameron Diaz, we would be willing to trade him to you in exchange for a 2009 1st round pick, a 2009 3rd round pick, and a conditional 2010 3rd round pick that becomes a 2nd rounder if you make the playoffs in either of the next 2 years, and becomes a 1st rounder if you go to the Super Bowl in either of the next two years. There would be a 24-hour waiting period so you could have the news cycle all to yourself."

The Vikings would absolutely make this move to get Favre. Then, as Jets GM, I would call the Pack and tell them, "Hey, I'll take Favre off your hands and give you that 1st round pick you want for him, but I need your 3rd round pick next year and will give you my 4th rounder next year. So Favre and a 3 for my 1 and 4. Deal?"

The Packers would say yes because they get the 1st rounder they think makes this a sucker deal, and they get Favre out of their hair once and for all... until the Vikes get him from me 24 hours.

And what do the Jets get? Well, they give up their 2009 1st and 4th round picks, but get Minnesota's 1st and 3rd round picks, plus Green Bay's 3rd round pick, and a 2010 pick from Minnesota which can be a 1, 2 or 3. The Jets also get to avoid taking an aging player who will surely retire again in the next two years, and they can maybe package the 3 3rd round picks to move up into the 1st round, giving them two first rounders next year. For a team trying to re-build that has no shot of beating out New England in 2008, this is the only right move they can make long term.

It's what i would do - this way everybody wins.

Just a thought...