Brett Favre has told the Packers that he does not want to talk about going to another team, but it appears apparent that he will have to play in another uniform in 2008 if he wants to take the field. The two teams that reportedly want to talk to Favre the most are the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chris Mortensen of ESPN says that the Jets have been given permission to talk to Favre, while it’s not known if the Bucs have been given the same permission.

Favre spoke to Packers GM Ted Thompson on Thursday, and told him that he is planning on being at Packers training camp over the weekend. He will have to officially apply for reinstatement before he shows up at the camp, and to date he has yet to do that, meaning he may not stroll in till Monday or Tuesday. The Packers will look for a trading partner for Brett, but the other team they make a deal with will have to have already spoke to Favre to make sure he wants to play for them.

The Vikings, along with Tampa Bay, the Bears and Jets have appeared from day one to be the front runners for the QB, and there was also some thoughts to the Panthers being in the mix as well.

Would the Jets be one of those teams with interest in Packers QB Brett Favre should he make a comeback after retiring in early March? It depends on who you listen to, but former NFL Executive Mike Lombardi thinks they could be in the running should he decide to come back to the league and the Pack want to actually move the future Hall of Famer.

“The Jets would be a good spot, they don’t have a quarterback,” Lombardi said on NFL Radio. The move for the Pack to move Favre to the Jets would be the most logical of any team that has been mentioned in conversation so far, simply due to the fact they play in the AFC, while most teams talked about that would be interested in Favre play in the NFC, some even in the NFC North, the Pack’s division.

Right now the Jets QB situation is a mucky one, with Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens ready to battle it out for the starting job this summer during training camp. Reports are the Jets want Clemens to take the job, but the problem is Pennington is still the all around better QB. That could all be solved rather easy if #4 would ever find his way to the Big Apple, but make no mistake it’s a pretty big long shot for it ever happening.

Brett Favre just ruined the Packers front office July 4th holiday.

The gun slinging QB now wants to do the very thing that just about everyone that knows anything about football knew all along - he never wanted to walk away. Favre has thrown out rumblings about wanting to return, and the Packers and GM Ted Thompson are now caught in the toughest rock and hard place he and the franchise have ever been in.

Do the Packers move Favre, the face of the franchise and the most popular player in team history? Or do they allow Favre to come back, again, and take away and stop the progress of what many think the future of the franchise is - former first round pick QB Aaron Rodgers? What would you do?

The Packers have reportedly told Favre to ride off in the sunset, enjoy the life away from the game. But after the teams gut wrenching defeat to the Giants in the NFC Title game, doesn’t Favre deserve another shot? Sure, he told the world in March he was ready to walk away, but you could tell in that interview that the fire still burned bright, and that he could walk out on that field today and still be as effective as he was one season ago.

The bottom line though is this - the Pack does not want Favre back. So where does he go from here? If Favre wants to play again, it likely will have to be in another uniform, and what a trip that would be. There are more than a few teams that would want to employ Favre for one major title run, and here they are in a nutshell:

Chicago - A rival for many years, the Bears have a top-notch defense, but an offense that can’t find its way out of a paper bag. Would adding Favre make them a Super Bowl contender? Maybe. Maybe not. But tell me those two games vs the Packers this season wouldn’t be a lot of fun.

Tampa Bay - Jeff Garcia is whining about wanting a new deal. The Bucs are an older team coming off a South division title a season ago, and if Favre was out there for the taking, I would bet that Jon Gruden would dump Garcia for a second for Favre and a true shot at a Super Bowl run in the town that’s hosting the game.

NY Jets - The Jets have had an active offseason trying to upgrade both sides of the ball, but adding Brett would be the biggest pickup the team has ever had. Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens would have no choice but to take a back seat to Favre, who would quickly become the toast of the Big Apple.

Carolina - Many feel that after Tommy John surgery Jake Delhomme will never be 100 percent again. If that’s the case, the team has only marginal backups to turn to, and Favre would easily step in and take over the Cats. Again though, the Panthers likely are not a Super Bowl contender with him, so moving here would not be likely.

Philadelphia - Here’s an interesting one. The Eagles are a team that already have an established QB in Donovan McNabb, but other than one Super Bowl appearance, McNabb has never truly been able to get the birds over the top. Would adding Favre get them there? Again, who knows, but the franchise would be reborn if they get Favre and deal McNabb elsewhere.

The New York Giants will be allowing fans to buy a seat licenses in the new stadium they are building with the New York Jets. This license will allow a fan to buy season tickets for that seat, and will cost between $1,000 and $20,000 depending on location.

The Jets haven’t commented on if they will be following suit.

This new stadium, will have 82,500 seats is slated to open in 2010. Most of those seats will have a license available. Only 5,000 of those seats will cost $20,000. They are a little worried about upsetting fans as each seat that a season ticket holder owns will carry the license charge, which can get pretty costly. The seat license isn’t a season ticket; the tickets would be purchased on top of the licenses.

Giants’ co-owner, John Mara, had this to say; “We tried hard to come up with a plan that guarantees everybody the opportunity to stay in the building.”

The cost of the new stadium which is being split down the middle between the two teams, is $1.6 billion. Mara also said that it would be “extremely difficult” to build this new stadium without these seat licenses because they will raise between $300 and $400 million.

Once a person buys the seat licenses, they are guaranteed that spot as long as the team plays at that stadium. That license however can be sold or transferred to anyone for however much they can get for them.

In the NFL, there is always a list of players that come back after subpar seasons to light it up the following year. Most of those players either are coming off an injury, move to another team that fits them as players better, or just finally “gets it” within the team and system they are in. Below are a list of players we think will be back in 2008, and these may be players that make it back to where they were, or players that make it there for the first time.

1. Marc Bulger QB Rams - Last season the Rams slumped to 3-13, and this after a coming off a strong end to 2006. Bulger had a tough time behind a line that was beat up by injuries most of the year, and by a running game that struggled with Steven Jackson hurt a good part of the year. While the Rams take a turn to get better in 2008, Bulger will too, and he should bounce back from his 07 season that saw him throw for 2392 yards, 11 TD’s and 15 picks.

2. Julius Peppers DE Panthers - Peppers all but vanished for the Panthers in 2007, putting up just 2.5 sacks and getting beat up by the media around the country for being a player that was nowhere to be found. He’s making the move to right end, which should help right off the bat, and the Panthers defense will look overall to be a much better unit in 2008, and with it Peppers could return to being a force on defense for the cats.

3. Laveranus Coles WR Jets - With an uncertain QB situation and some injuries to deal with, Coles was not the explosive player the Jets have come to count last year, as he slumped to just 55 catches in just a handful of games. With a better O-line, whoever is throwing the ball in the Big Apple will have more time to throw, and that should right away put Coles up above the 11.7 yards per catch average he had last year and six scores.

4. DeAngelo Hall CB Raiders - This is a classic case of a player moving to a new team with a new deal in hand, and having a big season. That’s what’s ahead for Hall, who will be as good if not better than the Pro Bowl form he’s shown in the past. The Raiders have some playmakers in their secondary, and Hall will fit the bill and be a big time player for them in 2008.

5. Frank Gore RB 49′ers - As the Niners had a tough 2007, Gore followed. He still ran for 1102 yards, but didn’t have that dominant season that the team and many around the league thought he would have coming of a big 2006 that earned him a huge deal. This is a case though of others playing better around Gore in 2008 as well. If the Niners do that, he’ll have a big comeback season.

6. Vince Young QB Titans - We’re on the Young bandwagon, and can’t believe that this guy will stay in rut that he was for a large portion of the 07 season. Let’s remember though, he was a big part of the reason why the Titans did make the postseason, and despite the only 9 throwing TD’s and 17 picks, he still has a special ability with his legs, and with the Titans growing as a team, Young’s third season in the NFL will by far be his best.

The start of training camp is about a month away for most teams, and today we’re going to take a look at 6 AFC teams, three of which are in our opinion getting a little too much hype already, and three that we feel are on the verge of sliding under the radar a bit.  Send your comments to us using the “comments” section, or to me directly at matt@nflgridirongab.com

Under the Radar:

Houston Texans - The issue with the Texans is they are in a stacked division, meaning the chances of them making it to the playoffs remain slim.  With that though, they are making a push to have their first winning season in 2008.  They looked to address the RB slot with adding Chris Brown and rookie Steve Slaton, but the line is still a bit of a question mark.  While the secondary needs some work, Mario Williams on the line is going to have a monster year and will get looks as the defensive player of the year.  Why hasn’t this team added free agent LB Roosvelt Colvin?

Too Much Hype:

New York Jets - The Jets were the most active team in free agency right off the bat, making the biggest O-line signing with bringing in guard Alan Faneca from Pittsburgh.  They also added TE Bubba Franks, S Artrell Hawkins, DT Kris Jekins, LB Calvin Pace, T/G Damien Woody, and CB Andre Woolfolk.  With all that said, this team still has issues at the QB spot, with Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens both not ready to lead this team to the promise land. They also need to shore up the D-line, and hope that draft pick Vernon Gholston in the first round will do that.  Overall, most teams that nab that many free agents and make that many changes take 1-2 years to get it all meshed, and that’s how we feel as well.

Under the Radar:

Oakland Raiders - I like the offseason moves of the Raiders, and think that as long as Al Davis and Lane Kiffin can play nice, this team is on its way to being a .500 or better squad.  The defense was a sore spot, and they added CB DeAngelo Hall, CB Duane Starks, FS Gibril Wilson, and more to make it better.  The running game could be fun to watch, with rookie Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush all looking to get touches.  Javon Walker wants to prove his worth again, and JaMarcus Russell should have a more productive 2nd season.  Don’t overlook this Oakland squad.

Too Much Hype:

Cleveland Browns - Five games under the lights will show the league just how good this team is.  They have holes in the secondary, and they think the D-line will be better with Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, but to me Rogers is a big question mark.  Derek Anderson will be the starting QB, but the fan base is clammering for Brady Quinn, and early problems for Anderson vs the Cowboys, Steelers and Raevns could create a controversary.  WR Donte Stallworth is also being counted on, and this is a guy that’s been on four teams in four years.

Under the Radar:

Buffalo Bills - Forget about the Marshawn Lynch issues, this team will have that taken care of by Sepetmber.  The Bills were 30th in offense, and 31st in defense, yet had a shot to make the playoffs with three weeks left in the season.  2nd year QB Trent Edwards will be better, and the teams O-line is solid, and will get a deal done with tackle Jason Peters.  The defense under Dick Jauron should also improve, and their schedule is easier than last year with only one trip to the west coast.  Look for the Bills to be a slepper.

Too Much Hype:

Miami Dolphins - 1-15 a year ago, the Fins have been in the headlines a lot with the moves by Bill Parcells and company, and the Jason Taylor saga hanging over this teams head.  The Dolphins are still a long ways away from being good, and coach Tony Sparano and the gang are going to struggle.  QB is an issue with Josh McCown and John Beck expected to each take snaps, and rookie Chad Henne eventually maybe being the best of the bunch.  Having a healthy Ronnie Brown and giving him the ball a bunch is going to be the best way for this team to get 3-4 wins this season.

Watching some of the top players get signed and sealed already, the Jets have begun early talks with the agent for first-round pick Vernon Gholston. GM Mike Tannenbaum told the NY Daily News that preliminary talks about a deal to make sure Gholston is in camp on time have started. Right now Gholston is not at Jets OTA’s due to the fact he has yet to graduate from Ohio State.

The Jets last season had issues with trying to get first-round pick CB Darrelle Revis into the fold, and were unable to get a deal done with him until mid-August. Knowing how important it is to have Gholston in the fold, the team does not want a repeat of that from last season. With the trend of getting high picks signed early this year already (Chris Long, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden), expect the Jets to do whatever it takes to have Gholston in the house the first day of training camp.

NFL Gridiron Gab has spent the past few weeks breaking down the divisions with our “Offseason Overviews.” We went through all 32 teams, and today we highlight the AFC East. Click below to read the Offseason Overview of your AFC East team:

New England Patriots - Can the Pats put the Super Bowl Loss Behind Them?

Miami Dolphins - Nowhere to Go But Up for Dolphins

New York Jets - Jets Hoping Busy Offseason Pays Off in 08

Buffalo Bills - Bills Still Have a Ways to Go

Former Bears and Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin did an interview earlier today on Sirus NFL Radio, and stated that despite his release from the Pats this offseason, he’s already gotten some calls from teams in regards to his services. Two teams that Colvin pointed out as being in contact with are the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets, two teams that could use some help at the LB spot.

Last season Colvin played in 11 games, making just 27 tackles, four sacks and one interceptions. In five seasons with the Pats, he was never quite the player they thought he would be. His first season was scrapped with an injury that ended his season after just two games. In 2004 he had just 32 tackles, and in 05 61. In Chicago his best season was 2001, when he had 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two picks.

Colvin pointed out his history with Browns coach Romeo Crennel, who was the Pats D-coordinator during part of his tenure there. He was a fourth-round pick of the Bears back in 1999. Colvin will land a job somewhere, and you can bet the Browns and Jets will keep their options open to seeing where he fits in there plans.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• QB Marques Tuiasosopo is a reasonably-priced insurance policy. He could be back.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• RB Jesse Chatman: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• G Alan Faneca: UFA Steelers; $40M/5 yrs, $21M guaranteed.

• TE Bubba Franks: FA Packers; $1.65M/1 yr, SB unknown.

• S Artrell Hawkins: FA; terms unknown.

• DT Kris Jenkins (trade Panthers).

• OLB Calvin Pace: UFA Cardinals; $42M/6 yrs, $22M guaranteed.

• FB Tony Richardson: UFA Vikings; $875,000/1 yr, SB unknown.

• T/G Damien Woody: UFA Lions; $25.5M/5 yrs, $8.75M guaranteed.

• CB Andre Woolfolk: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• LB Brad Kassell: Potential UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

• CB Hank Poteat: UFA; terms unknown.

• FB Stacy Tutt: ERFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

• OG Adrien Clarke (released).

• OT Anthony Clement (released).

• FS Erik Coleman: UFA Falcons; $10M/4 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

• CB Andre Dyson (released).

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Patriots; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.

• WR Justin McCareins (released).

• NT Dewayne Robertson (traded Broncos).

• TE Sean Ryan: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• C Wade Smith: UFA Chiefs; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

If there was a team making headlines in free agency this offseason, it would have to be the New York Jets. The green gang was determined to put their 2007 4-12 mark behind them, and did so by being super active with picking up no less than 8 free agents, and they also made a deal with the Panthers for DT Kris Jenkins. Most of the players they lost were marginal players that are not impact players that will have a big effect on the 2008. The team spent a ton in free agency, and feel that the moves they made will make them an immediate contender again in the AFC.

The glaring need though is to finally decide on the QB spot, as Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are set to fight it out during camp. Neither QB set the world on fire in 2007, so both have something to prove this year. They also need more out of running back Thomas Jones, and the O-line should get a boost with All-Pro Guard Alan Faneca coming aboard. On defense, they acquired Jenkins, drafted Vernon Gholston in the first round, and nabbed OLB Calvin Pace, coming off a career year, from the Cards. Can the Jets pick it up again in 2008? They have sold out in making sure they answer “yes” to that question.

Offseason Grade to Date: A-