ESPN NFL

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Even NFL veterans get starstruck.

It happened to New York Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery a couple days ago, when Brett Favre came ambling around the corner before their preseason game in Cleveland.

"Throughout this entire offseason I never could have imagined," Cotchery said. "Then you see him walk in the locker room, and you think 'He's really here.' "

Yes, Favre really is a Jet. The record-setting passer put on his Jets helmet and practiced with them for the first time Saturday afternoon at Hofstra University.

But it was no routine workout. It was an event. Players marveled at a crowd that dwarfed anything they'd seen before at Jets training camp. Media from around the country joined the sizable New York contingent to form an intimidating mob.

"This is a lot of people, even for New York," astonished backup quarterback Kellen Clemens muttered as he walked to an outdoor lectern engulfed by awaiting reporters, microphones and cameras.

"Geez!"

The Jets went 4-12 last year and easily have been overshadowed in their own backyard. The New York Yankees always will be a media force. The New York Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions.

But Favre's presence immediately changes everything for the Jets.

Before practice, Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman, Associated Press reporter Dave Goldberg, NFL Network reporter Adam Schefter and New York Daily News beat writer Rich Cimini debated whether the Favre trade was a bigger storyline than the Giants winning it all.

Also before Saturday's workout, coach Eric Mangini was interrogated about all things Favre.

"I can see how these press conferences are going to go for the next month," an amused but exasperated Mangini said. "I'm not sure what he had for breakfast."

The scene was a reminder that Favre is larger than life.

He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the owner of virtually every meaningful passing record, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.

"I was excited when I first seen him because I never thought that I'd be playing with him," Cotchery said. "We're very fortunate to have this opportunity for him to come here. Hopefully, we can do some great things, but we're not going to assume anything.

"But I'll be able to tell my grandkids I played with Brett Favre."

Jets safety Kerry Rhodes was glowing when asked about the time he intercepted a Favre pass two years ago at Lambeau Field. Rhodes saved the ball.

"I joked with him at the time that I was going to dip it in gold," Rhodes said of his keepsake. "Now I'm actually planning on doing that. And now that he's here I'm going to get it signed, too."

So it looks as though even teammates will need to overcome their awe.

"I don't think he would allow anybody to call him Mr. Favre, or he would give them a really hard time if they did," said Mangini, who is 15 months younger than Favre. By the time Mangini had his first entry-level coaching position, Favre was a two-time Pro Bowler. "His goal and our goal and my goal is for him to fit in just like anybody else.

"And it is different. I'm not saying it's not. But he's part of the team ... and that's really how we're proceeding."