Get ready for Brett the Jet

The Redskins have met Favre three times since 2001 so facing the former Green Bay Packer in a different shade of green is no big deal. Favre is 3-0 versus Washington this decade while winning the last preseason encounter in 1995. Then again, this game will be very little about Favre given he’ll play fewer snaps than in a bowl of Rice Krispies.

Favre and several southern Redskins are old pals. Quarterback Jason Campbell took his family fishing on Favre’s Hattiesburg, Miss., farm last month. Cornerback Fred Smoot is a Jackson, Miss.-native eager to rekindle his in-state rivalry.

“I know it ain’t real bullets so we’re going to have some fun. Two old men — it’s good to see him back,” Smoot said. “I’m going to mess with him about his jersey, but it probably won’t bother him. It will look weird.”

Indeed, the Favre drama has been weird since his tearful retirement in March. After tormenting Packers officials over returning for weeks, Favre was traded to the Jets last week and will certainly turn a meaningless preseason game into an “event” for New York. It’s the biggest show off-Broadway.

The Redskins seem disconnected from the Favre hoopla. They’re more excited over ending twice-daily practices today when training camp ends. Saturday is just another preseason game. Oh, they talk about Favre a little bit. It’s hard to miss given the Favre trade was the summer’s biggest sports news until Michael Phelps hit the water.

But what will Favre do with only a week’s preparation in a new system? Will he play more on instinct or follow the Jets scheme? Redskins coach Jim Zorn expects the latter.

“I fully expect [Favre] to play the way the Jets want him to play,” Zorn said. “The Jets have intelligent coaches that have watched him play and know what his talents are and put him in situations that exploit our defense with Brett.”

Zorn expects Favre to know 20, maybe 30 plays of the Jets. Then again, he’s only expected to play a couple series so that’s probably all Favre needs given preseason games don’t go deep in the playbook anyway.

The joke is fans thinking Favre might be nervous. Seriously, the man has a Super Bowl ring, three NFL Most Valuable Player awards and enough hardware in his trophy case to stock a Home Depot. He just played in an NFC Championship game in January.

Jitters for a preseason game?

“I don’t think Brett will be nervous at all,” Zorn said. “He’ll go out and do his thing.”

So will the Redskins. Maybe with a depleted secondary while Carlos Rogers and LaRon Landry continue mending, but the pressure is all on Favre. The Redskins are the sleepers despite winning their first two preseason games while polishing the West Coast Offense.

If this is a circus, Favre is the ring leader.

Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.