Jets Keep Paying for Their Decision to Sign Brett Favre

The final tally on Brett Favre's one year with the New York Jets now reads nine wins, 22 interceptions, one broken playoff dream and $12,100,000. A $100K add-on came Wednesday when the NFL fined the Jets and general manager Mike Tannenbaum for not listing the aging Wrangler model on their injury report after Favre tore his bicep last season.

For anyone who missed this episode of As The Favre Moans, here's a recap: The quarterback claimed last week that he told the Jets to bench him because of his injury, triggering a NFL investigation because his name wasn't on injury reports for a bunch of games he ended up playing in anyway.

Former Jets coach Eric Mangini was also fined $25,000 for his role in the subterfuge, but you get the feeling that part of that fine was for the ridiculous charade he tried to play with the Browns starting quarterback job this summer.

If you're wondering what the big deal is, you're not alone. In the past, the NFL has treated the injury report as a way of making public the likelihood that particular players were going to play in that week's game. If a player is absolutely, positively going to play, they don't go on the injury report which is why you don't see 46 players listed as "definite" for each team in the league.

Players have been hurt in the past, gone unlisted and played without any kind of punishment from the league office. That's because the report has never been meant as a way of determining the actual health of players, because that information is absolutely and totally unimportant if the player is going to be on the field.

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New York Jets Photos

HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Running back Leon Washington #29 of the New York Jets breaks the tackle of free safety John Bussing #40 of the Houston Texans as linebacker DeMeco Ryans pursues on the play at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DeMeco Ryans;Leon Washington;John Busing

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New York Jets Photos

New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss (81) runs a drill during practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) leads the offensive unit through a drill during practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stretches as head coach Bill Belichick, right, kneels down to tie his shoe before practice at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2009. The Patriots play the New York Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Houston Texans defensive line coach Bill Kollar yells out instructions to his defense during the game against the New York Jets at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bill Kollar

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rex Ryan

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Tight-end Dustin Keller #81 of the New York Jets complete a reception in the third quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dustin Keller

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Running back Thomas Jones #20 of the New York Jets celebrates with quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 and center Nick Mangold #74 after scoring on a 38 yard run in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Sanchez;Thomas Jones;Nick Mangold

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Houston Texans cheerleaders peform at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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We'd digress here into a discussion about why even the likelihood of player X playing is something that is vitally important to the league when they refuse to acknowledge how much of its popularity derives from gambling and fantasy leagues, but we'll stay on topic.

Why the difference in this case? Probably because Favre made it a sufficiently large issue that Roger Goodell and the Good Time Gang had to take some kind of action lest people begin to doubt the sanctity of the blessed injury report. Favre made it seem like the Jets were trying to pull a fast one on the rest of the league, even though the rest of the league was the only beneficiary of their playing an injured quarterback who enjoys throwing interceptions almost as much as he enjoys indecision.

So, basically, the Jets wound up paying $100,000 because Favre wanted to make an excuse for playing like garbage in the last five games of the 2008 season. Zygi Wilf and Brad Childress might want to go ahead and put some money in escrow now.