So, even with a good start, the Jets were bound for the land of hockey and the Nets in the competitive New York media market. And with no new major skill players coming on board for the season, it was going to be a silent season for the club, even if they improved on the four win record.

That all changed early this morning when the Jets acquired quarterback Brett Farve. Although he’s 38, the future Hall of Famer gives Gang Green instant credibility and makes Sunday a two game must see for the New York sports fan.

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

Every Jet fan is feeling like Johnson right now. It would be a tough pill to swallow if the Pats go on to repeat in the AFC East, while the Giants dominate the NFC. Farve changes that. With a last place schedule, the Jets now not only have the chance to make the playoffs, but also can become an elite team in the NFL.

And that’s what No. 4 gives the Jets – respectability. With Farve the Jets become better than the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. With NFL bottom feeders like Arizona, Cincinnati, Oakland and St. Louis on the venue, Gang Green has a chance to pile up the wins. As for the Pats, the Jets now have a complete team which can compete with the almost perfect franchise.

All of this comes for the incredible low price of a conditional draft pick, which only become a No. 1 if the Jets make the Super Bowl.

That’s something each and every Jet fan will take.

In 2008, the Jets will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Broadway Joe’s miracle run in Super Bowl III. Since then the franchise has seen nothing but heartache. Even the near misses ended in spectacular fashion. In 1982, they ran into a muddy field in Miami, losing their best shot for the Super Bowl. And if they played to win in the second half of the 1998 AFC Championship Game, their success would be credited to the former Giants coach Bill Parcells.

So the Jets can’t seem to catch a break. Remember, they still play in a stadium named for an opposing team, which ends in 2010, but the New Meadowlands, for some reason, will still have a Giants feel to it.

With Farve, the team has a chance to erase it’s checkered past. It’s a chance to become a player in the New York landscape. Sure, it can backfire and the new quarterback can flop, but it’s a risk the Jets need to take.

The first step was getting him here and Gang Green passed that with flying colors.

With options dwindling, the 36 year-old future Hall of Famer decided leave the NHL and signed a three year contact with Avangard Omsk in the new Continental Hockey League, the team Jagr play for during the lockout.

“It was the toughest decision in my life, hockeywise,” Jagr told the Canadian Press on Friday. “No question about it. I hate making changes … I’m thankful for the three years I had in New York. They were great years. I understand that I’m older and the team decided to go in a different direction because they couldn’t get the deal done.”

Without the Rangers, who decided to sign former Vancouver captain Markus Naslund, the decision was easy, because Omsk offered the most money and team general manager Anatoly Bardin public wooed the right wing starting in March. He also got a contact offer from the Edmonton Oilers.

“I kind of always got the feeling,” said Sather in a conference call on Thursday, “that maybe there was something in Russia that is really looking at him and if there was enough money to stay here he would’ve stayed but we never got down to that situation where I knew exactly what he was looking for, whether it was a one-year or a two-year, or a longer-year term. There was never any discussion like that. It’s pretty tough to negotiate with yourself.”

It’s believed Jagr will be making approximately $7 million U.S. tax-free a season and adds instant credibility to the new league.

But now for the first time since 1990, the NHL will be Jagr-less. He ends his North American career with 646 career goals, 11th on the all-time list and 1599 points.

Rangers sign Mara: Although they let their biggest free agents walk, the Rangers will have Paul Mara on the team next season. The defenseman confirmed to the Journal News he signed a one-year deal worth $1.95 million.

By the reporters calculation he went four innings, giving up four innings and one run. He walked none and struck out two and topped out at 87 MPH.

Afterwards, the future Hall of Famer was very pleased with his performance.

“I felt pretty good,” Martinez said. “I went about it like a game and I made some pitches. It became routine. I forced myself to make those pitches.

“I felt so good and I didn’t regret [pitching in a simulated game]. I feel really, really healthy.

He will be pitching next on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers at Port St. Lucie.

Beltran also did well taking. going 2-7 over the four innings and he said he felt very good, but sore. Yet, “a good type of sore.”

He plan on continuing DHing until he feels healthy enough in the field.   

In it you will find articles on the Rangers, Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, and full coverage of the baseball off-season.

And at $25.00 for the full year, it’s still one of the best deals out there. To subscribe go to www.nysportscene.com/subscribe.php or call the office at 631-580-7772.

Also every week NYS editor Joe Pietaro and myself will be hosting NY Sportscene Radio, Tuesday’s at 3 p.m. with a rundown on NY Sports. Last week we had future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and Ray Negron, so you never know who will pop up. You can listen by going to www.blogtalkradio.com.

And finally if you like this blog and want to read about hockey, go to www.nysportscene.com/isles for the Islander view of the day by NYS writer Brian Bohl and www.nysportscene.com/rangers for the Blueshirts by yours truely.

Great things are here at NYS, be a part of it!

In it you will find articles on the Rangers, Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, and full coverage of the baseball off-season.

And at $25.00 for the full year, it’s still one of the best deals out there. To subscribe go to www.nysportscene.com/subscribe.php or call the office at 631-580-7772.

Also every week NYS editor Joe Pietaro and myself will be hosting NY Sportscene Radio, Tuesday’s at 3 p.m. with a rundown on NY Sports. Last week we had future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and Ray Negron, so you never know who will pop up. You can listen by going to www.blogtalkradio.com.

And finally if you like this blog and want to read about the enemy, go to www.nysportscene.com/isles for the Islander view of the day by NYS writer Brian Bohl.

Great things are here at NYS, be a part of it!