Brett Favre left Green Bay Wednesday afternoon on a private jet. Hours later, he was a Jet.

FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer broke the story that broke thousands of hearts across Wisconsin. The Packers reached a deal with New York on a trade that will send the future Hall of Famer to Broadway instead of the Buccaneers.

The exact compensation was not immediately known, but it is believed to be a conditional draft pick for 2009, the value of which is contingent upon Favre's play. SI.com reported that it likely will be a third-round pick, which could escalate to a first-round pick based on how the team and Favre perform.

Packers President / CEO Mark Murphy and general manager Ted Thompson issued a joint statement Wednesday night:

"Brett has had a long and storied career in Green Bay, and the Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for everything he accomplished on the field and for the impact he made in the state. It is with some sadness that we make this announcement, but also with the desire for certainty that will allow us to move the team and organization forward in the most positive way possible.

"We respect Brett's decision that he could no longer remain here as a Packer. But there were certain things we were not willing to do because they were not in the best interest of the team. We were not going to release him nor trade him to a team within the division. When Brett ultimately decided that he still wanted to play football, but not in Green Bay, we told him that we would work to find the best solution for all parties involved. We wish Brett and his family well.

"We appreciate the tremendous passion shown by our fans. We, like them, always will see Brett Favre as a Green Bay Packer and our respect for him never will change. Moving forward, we are dedicated to delivering a successful 2008 season for all Packers fans." 

Favre left his house in Ashwaubenon with wife Deanna and agent James "Bus" Cook, and boarded a private jet shortly after noon. The jet went wheels-up at Austin Straubel airport at 12:25 p.m. and landed at 2:30 p.m.

Cook told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger two hours before takeoff that a deal could be done within "the next hour or so," but it didn't happen.

According to several reports, the Jets made a better offer for Favre, whom Jets officials spoke to Tuesday, but there was also a school of thought that the Jets were being used to increase the Buccaneers' offer.

Greeted by a small group of reporters at an airport in Hattiesburg upon his return, Favre said he was "tired" and clearly wanted the situation resolved as soon as possible.

"Obviously it's in everyone's best interest to do it quickly (rather) than later. We're working on it," Favre said. "Hopefully we can get something resolved. I've been saying that for awhile now. We're, I don't want to say running out of time, but I need to get into a camp somewhere, get used to the guys as well as the system."

Favre confirmed that he has "talked to Tampa and the Jets. I don't think anything has changed. We're at least considering those guys. We'll see what happens." Favre called the whole ordeal "very taxing on me, my family and everyone involved on both sides."

After his four-hour Monday night conversation with coach Mike McCarthy and a two-hour chat with McCarthy Tuesday morning, Favre and McCarthy spoke again Tuesday night, although neither would say how long that final conversation lasted or what it was about.

Favre did shed some light on his side of the Monday night talk he had with McCarthy, who on Tuesday had said Favre "wasn't in the right mindset to play" in Green Bay anymore.

"I was asked the question if I was totally committed to the Packers, and I know that's been documented, and I posed the same question back to them. And I don't think either side could totally commit (to each other) after all that's happened," Favre said. "The bottom line in all of this is playing football. I've always been committed to my job. I know people say I should put the personal issues aside, and I agree, but I couldn't do that.

"On their part, they obviously had taken the stance at some point during this off-season that they were going to move on, and that's OK. They sort of changed that stance when I got back up there. We sort of figured that would happen. Otherwise they would have released me, but they didn't want to do that, which I understand."

Favre also admitted his trip to Green Bay, which began when he arrived Sunday night at the airport after being reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, accomplished little.

"I knew going up there it was more formality than anything, something I had to do. I didn't think I'd be up there too long, and I wasn't," said Favre, who came to the intrasquad scrimmage at Lambeau Field a short time after he landed in Green Bay but reportedly wasn't allowed on the field or in the locker room at the event.

"I had kind of been locked in my house (in Green Bay) the last couple of days. The fans in Green Bay were awesome, at least on my side. I think that the most important thing was to get that resolved up there. ... It's obviously a mess right now, but it can be cleaned up. They've got really good players, good coaching, but it's time they moved on, one way or another.

"As much history as I have in Green Bay and success, I really didn't see the positives that could come out it. It was always going to be a distraction. It was best that they had a clear-cut path they were going to go on. If I'm going to play, I'll try to play elsewhere and see what happens."

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Sporting News Wednesday, Cook was asked by NFL writer Clifton Brown if he could foresee a scenario in which Favre did not play this season. Cook replied, "No, I don't see that happening. He wants to play."

Cook confessed that Favre's first choice was Minnesota "but (the Packers) were adamant that that was not something they would agree to." Cook also said he saw the Buccaneers and the Jets as the only two realistic teams for Favre.

"Sure, he'd consider somewhere else, but it would have to be the right place," Cook said. "I don't know for sure, but I think the Packers have called just about everybody. Tampa and the Jets are the two teams out front.

"He could have stayed (in Green Bay), he could have forced the issue, he could have been a bad teammate. But that's not Brett. They asked if he was committed to playing for them, but they are in no way committed to him. At no time during this whole situation have they ever told Brett that they want him back. At this point, it's time to go separate ways."

Asked how the rift between the Packers and Favre would impact the quarterback's legacy, Cook replied, "I just hope people understand how we got to this point. Yes, Brett changed his mind. What's wrong with that? How many people, in how many professions, change their mind? The Packers were pressuring him for an answer back in March.

"It's not a coincidence that he made his announcement at that time. They wanted an answer. He gave them one. Then after he changed his mind, they no longer wanted him back. That's how we got to this point."