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.

“Having the opportunity to learn from a guy who’s a future Hall of Famer, done the things he’s done, won the Super Bowl, MVP awards and numerous records – it’s just a great opportunity. I’m going to do my best to make the most of it,” Clemens said.

Pennington is now in Miami and Clemens will be left holding the clipboard barring an injury. In his audition for the starting spot last year, Clemens went 3-5 and tossed five touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. His 51 percent completion rating is on the low end, though the former Oregon standout showed glimpses during his official rookie campaign to warrant another look as a starter before the Favre trade.

Clemens appeared in just two games in 2006 and attempted just one pass. But with another year under his belt, Clemens used his 6-2, 223-pound frame to show off his arm strength, changing the completion of the offense from Pennington’s ball-control method. The 25-year-old said his development isn’t being stymied despite his demotion on the depth chart.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily a setback,” added Clemens, who is entering his third year professional season. “You prepare and you have the mindset, coming into camp, that there’s a battle brewing. All of my preparation was going towards winning that battle and then hopefully being the starting quarterback in ’08. The situation has presented itself. It is what it is.

“The positive that I can take out of it is the opportunity to learn from Brett Favre. The guys who have done it, who have played behind him and learned from him, the (Matt) Hasselbecks and now Aaron Rodgers of the world, are in great positions. I am going to try to make the most of it.”

Favre’s other teammates also did their best to make the most of the situation. Guard Alan Faneca and the rest of the offensive line worked with getting into a rhythm with Favre, who arrived at Weeb Ewbank Hall Friday night and worked through yesterday’s two-hour practice.

“I think it was everybody just trying to get on the same page today,” Faneca said. “I think there was a little feeling-out period today as well as trying to get some work in. I think it’s new terminology to him a little bit so he’s a little weary of him making the right call. I think we are just all getting used to each other. Us to him and him to us.”

Tight end Bubba Franks played with Favre in Green Bay and said his former and now current teammate won’t take long to acclimate to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenhemier’s system.

“Today, he looked pretty good out there,” Franks said. “We gave him some plays to run today and he’s picking them up real fast. Brett’s a quick learner. Football is football no matter how you draw it up. It’s pretty much the same system. He’ll pick it up pretty fast.

“Brett breathes great emotions going into the locker room,” he added. “That lifts up the whole team. You can see how much energy there was today. The fans got involved which makes practice a lot easier. I think that will help with the guys learning to know him, just from his energy and his practice methods.”

Notes: The Jets placed linebacker Brad Kassell on Injured Reserve and also signed LB Blair Phillips and OL Thaddeus Coleman as free agents…Offensive lineman Clint Oldenburg was waived.

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