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Erik Ainge used to be a rabid Brett Favre fan, even trying to emulate the former Green Bay Packer great.

That was until coaches discovered some Favre-like tendencies.

"I wasn't allowed to watch him before games because he could do things with his feet out of kilter; I would go play and do the same thing," Ainge said Tuesday from New York Jets training camp on The News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page.

Needless to say, Ainge's results weren't quite the same as Favre's. And despite some early comparisons to his idol as a freshman, Ainge soon turned into more of a technician than a swashbuckler under former UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

It will be even more challenging to ignore Favre now that he has been traded to the Jets. Now, Ainge and Favre share the practice field, but not the same approach to playing quarterback.

"You have to take some things with a grain of salt because he is so gifted physically," Ainge said. "You can't try to emulate everything."

Whatever chances Ainge had for playing as a rookie seem all but gone with Favre in New York.

Ainge is competing for the third quarterback spot on New York's roster behind Kellen Clemens and Favre, who started 275 consecutive games for the Packers.

"I am a very competitive person and of course I want to play," Ainge said. "But Brett Favre is the quarterback here and that is kind of the end of that conversation.

"I am not going to be upset that I am not playing over Brett Favre."

Ainge's departure last season following an up-and-down UT career opened the door for Jonathan Crompton, who will take over as the starter this season.

Ainge said he hasn't spoken to Crompton lately but feels certain the junior will be able to pick up a new offensive system under first-year UT coordinator Dave Clawson.

"He was always able to pick up everything that Coach Cutcliffe and I were doing and changing every week so I am sure he is doing fine," Ainge said.

Ainge said he has kept in touch with senior tailback Arian Foster, who has given positive reports on the Vols' offseason.

"He was joking (and) said, 'Maybe we will run the ball this year since I won't be there checking to pass plays on third and short every time.' " Ainge said. "He was pretty excited about that."

Being the nephew of Danny Ainge, the executive director of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, certainly helped keep the younger Ainge entertained this offseason, especially as the Celtics won the NBA title by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in April.

"I went to the championship game, game six in Boston," Erik Ainge said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in the locker room when they were cracking the champagne bottles and celebrating and all that, it was pretty wild."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.