CLEVELAND (AP) — 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 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.

“I’m a little out of shape, compared to the other guys. The last 24 hours have been crazy. This offseason has been bizarre. But I’m excited by this opportunity.”

Five months after a tearful goodbye to a Hall of Fame career, Favre, who won a Super Bowl title and set all sorts of records in 16 seasons before his acrimonious split with the Packers, is starting over.

He’s now part of a Jets team which went 4-12 last season and has been reduced to second-stringer status in New York behind the Super Bowl champion Giants.

On his way to the Jets locker room, he recalled a few previous visits to Cleveland with the Packers before meeting with New York coach Eric Mangini, who is a year younger than his new QB.

Favre was then joined by Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum. During his drawn-out divorce with the Packers, Favre said he had been reluctant to speak with Tannenbaum because he was certain the GM would be able to sell him on joining the Jets.

“He’s convincing,” Favre said, drawing a smile from Tannenbaum. “I know this team had a lot of talent.”

Before the Jets received the opening kickoff, Favre and his new backup, Kellen Clemens, talked briefly on the sideline. Favre clutched a card containing New York’s offensive sets and after each snap, he discussed what transpired with quarterback Brett Ratliff, who in an instant went from raw rookie to teaching one of the game’s greats.

Favre is eager to put his messy breakup with Green Bay behind him and so, too, are the Packers.

“It’s like a marriage that ends,” Green Bay president Mark Murphy said. “It happens. Neither party is at fault.”

That was Favre’s read as well.

“I think we’re probably both at fault,” he said. “I’m not going to blame one side or the other. A lot of things happened this season, a lot of shocking things. But at this point it’s irrelevant.”

For the moment, Favre brings the Jets publicity and perhaps a better chance to compete in the AFC East. His preference was to be traded inside the NFC North, preferably to Minnesota. When it became apparent the Packers wouldn’t do that, Favre was open to about anything to keep playing.

Already, his jersey is being scooped up by Jets fans who awakened Thursday to the news that the Mississippi country boy with the cannon right arm is on his way to the big city and its bright lights.

Told that 3,000 new jerseys had been sold online, he joked, “That’s all?”

“We wish him the best,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s no ill feelings. He has a positive reputation within this organization.”

Favre said, “I always wanted to be a Packer and I think I always will be a Packer,” he said. “I’m not a traitor, never will be. It’s business. It’s the way it works. I gave everything I could possibly give. I hope the Jets fans see the same thing.

“I haven’t played in New York. I’m a South Mississippi boy, but I know how tough the city can be and I know how great it can be,” he said. “It can be as good as you want to make it.”