HEMPSTEAD, NY — In April, Kellen Clemens met the Pope. Yesterday, the Jets backup quarterback became acquainted with the messiah. Nearly 10,500 fans—or roughly the average attendance of an Islanders home game—packed Hofstra University to witness Brett Favre’s first practice as a member of the Jets. Considering Clemens had his newborn daughter Kate Elizabeth blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during an open-air Mass at Nationals Park in the spring, the frenzied environment might have seemed almost tranquil. Clemens, who worked with Favre and fellow QBs Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge, entered training camp in an open competition with Chad Pennington for the starting job but is now regulated to serving as understudy to a future Hall of Famer. Instead of sulking, Clemens said he is excited to learn from a passer who owns most of the NFL’s passing records.

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