Brett Favre Runs a Lap: 'It Is Kind of Funny'

Jets quarterback Brett Favre and center Nick Mangold fumbled an exchange during today's practice, and that meant that Favre and Mangold had to run a lap, just like every other Jet who commits a turnover:

Jets coach Eric Mangini is one of the few NFL coaches who uses the old Pop Warner standby of forcing players to run laps when they make mistakes, and Favre said he found it funny, and that he had never done it before. Favre's comments about running the lap, as transcribed by the Jets' PR department, are after the jump.

On running a penalty lap with Nick Mangold after fumbling a center-quarterback exchange...

It is part of (being on) the team. It's not punishment. It's more of a team unity thing. Nick (Mangold) and I ran it. I told to Eric (Mangini) day one that unless I pass out, I am going to try to do everything that everyone else does. I'm no different aside from being a little grey headed and a little bit older. Tony Richardson and I combined have 33 years, that counts for something. But ultimately it is about the team. Is it to get into shape? No. Is it a punishment? No. It is a reminder of how important the team is.

Brett Favre Photos

New York Jets NFL football quarterback Brett Favre (R) runs a lap around the filed with team mate Nick Mangold after fumbling a snap during practice at the team's training camp in Hempstead, New York August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre (R) runs a lap around the filed with teammate Nick Mangold after fumbling a snap during practice at the team's training camp August 10, 2008 in Hempstead, New York. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre gestures during practicing at the team's training camp August 10, 2008 in Hempstead, New York. REUTERS/KeithBedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets NFL football team quarterback Brett Favre gestures during practice at the team's training camp in Hempstead, New York August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets NFL football team quarterback Brett Favre signs autographs after practicing during the team's training camp in Hempstead, New York August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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Quarterback Brett Favre of the New York Jets football team practices during the team's training camp in Hempstead, New York August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre waves to fans as he signs autographs after practicing during the team's training camp August 10, 2008 in Hempstead, New York. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre signs autographs after practicing during the team's training camp August 10, 2008 in Hempstead, New York. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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Quarterback Brett Favre of the New York Jets NFL football team practices during the team's training camp in Hempstead, New York August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

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On the last time he ran a penalty lap...

I don't know if I have ever run a penalty lap.

On if he ran one in little league...

Maybe little league, maybe. Some coaches believe in doing things like that. It all serves its purpose in the end. You are trying to build unity. In our situation here, you are trying to build chemistry. There is a great mixture of veterans. When I say veterans, I am going from eight games to 15, 12, 10 years. A lot of those (experienced players) or faces are new here so we have to build some chemistry pretty quickly.

The crowd was cheering and all of that stuff. I am not embarrassed by it (running a lap). I think it is kind of funny, but yet it serves its purpose. I think things like that are important in the fact that everyone is involved in it.