By Tony Moss, NFL Editor -- (Sports Network) - The New York Jets have found themselves a new starting quarterback, but he won't be in uniform when the team visits the Cleveland Browns Thursday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

The Jets won the drawn-out Brett Favre sweepstakes late Wednesday night, acquiring the legendary quarterback from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a conditional draft choice in 2009. According to the New York Daily News, the Packers will receive a fourth-round pick that could escalate to a first- rounder if Favre takes part in 80 percent of the Jets' plays and New York makes the Super Bowl. Green Bay could also get either a second or third-round selection depending on Favre and the Jets' performance.

If Favre, who announced his retirement in March before reconsidering his decision and recently applying for reinstatement, decides to call it quits after the 2008 campaign, then the Jets will receive a conditional 2010 draft choice as well.

New York's sudden acquisition of the future Hall of Famer effectively puts an end to the proposed preseason quarterback battle between Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens, with Pennington expected to be released by the organization in the coming days. Clemens will almost certainly start Thursday's game and run the first-team offense, although it's unlikely he'll receive a wealth of playing time.

Other prominent Jets newcomers such as tight end Dustin Keller (1st Round, Purdue), guard Alan Faneca (from Steelers), nose tackle Kris Jenkins (from Panthers), and linebackers Calvin Pace (from Cardinals) and Vernon Gholston (1st Round, Ohio State) are expected to play sparingly, if at all.

While the new-look Jets prepare to usher in the Favre era, the Browns will try to take their first tentative steps toward the organization's initial postseason berth since 2002.

Cleveland surprised the NFL world by going 10-6 and narrowly missing the playoffs last year, with quarterback Derek Anderson emerging from obscurity to reach the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter.

While the high-flying Browns offense returns largely intact, an upgraded defense is the main reason the team is seen as a viable playoff candidate in 2008.

Defensive tackles Shaun Rogers (ex-Lions) and Corey Williams (ex-Packers) were acquired in separate deals during the offseason, and are being counted on to bolster a defensive group that finished just 27th in the NFL against the run last year.

Rogers should be in uniform for Cleveland on Thursday, but Williams has been battling a shoulder injury and seems unlikely to appear.

Browns fans are likely to see a great deal of backup quarterback Brady Quinn, the team's first-round draft choice of 2007 who is currently stick behind Anderson on the depth chart.

The Jets have a 1-0 lead in the all-time preseason series with the Browns, having defeated Cleveland by an 11-7 count when the teams faced off in Montreal prior to the 1988 campaign.

The Browns were a 24-18 winner when the clubs met at the Meadowlands last Dec. 9th.