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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Patriots KO Favre, Vikings In 28-18 Win


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A woozy Brett Favre sat on a cart headed to the locker room and wondered "what in the world am I doing?"
It was only a passing thought, but with a cut chin, two fractures in his left foot and tendinitis in his right elbow, the 41-year-old quarterback had reason to question himself and his surroundings.
Nobody knows my body like me. There were plenty of times I should've been knocked out and wasn't. I should be ready to play next week.
-- Brett Favre
"Taking a seat at the end of the game is new for me," Favre said Sunday after Minnesota's 28-18 loss to New England that he finished in the locker room getting stitches. "Going into the tunnel on the cart, [that's what] I thought to myself for a few brief seconds."
Until he was hit by Patriots defensive tackleMyron Pryor while throwing a pass midway in the fourth quarter, Favre was doing what he usually does: playing hurt, trying to lead his team to victory in his NFL-record 292nd consecutive start. He stayed on the ground momentarily after Pryor's hit, then tried to get up while holding his face.
But Favre then sank to the ground as Vikings trainers rushed onto the field, and they helped him to the sideline. He spent a few minutes on a training table at the Vikings' sideline as staffers held a towel to his chin. He sat up after trainers applied a compress, then was carted from the field as a few fans booed.
"My chin is numb right now," Favre said after the Vikings fell to 2-5. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it."
Asked if he might have a concussion, Favre said, "I remember everything -- unfortunately. But I'll be fine."
"Nobody knows my body like me," Favre added when asked if he would be ready for next Sunday's game against Arizona. "There were plenty of times I should've been knocked out and wasn't. I should be ready to play next week."
So those thoughts while riding out of Gillette Stadium were fleeting?
"After 20 years, I still feel I can play at a high level," Favre said.
Vikings coach Brad Childress said Favre actually needed 10 stitches, and praised Favre's durability.
"He's got pretty good recuperative skills," Childress said. "He's a tough guy."
[+] EnlargeBrett Favre
AP Photo/Michael DwyerBrett Favre started Sunday despite ankle problems, but left late in the fourth after a hit opened a cut on his chin that required stitches.
Favre did not appear bothered by two fractures in his left foot that initially jeopardized his availability Sunday. He said it was "touch and go" before the game if he would play, but there he was, behind center as he always has been since 1992.
But not at the finish.
Tarvaris Jackson replaced Favre and immediately threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Naufahu Tahi. Jackson completed a 2-point conversion pass toPercy Harvin, bringing Minnesota within 21-18.
Favre has both a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture in the foot. The avulsion fracture in the heel bone is where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament.
He appeared to have no trouble with his foot, though. He injured his ankle and heel in last week's loss at Green Bay. But after a week of treatment and even some practice time Friday, he was in the starting lineup Sunday, a few days after Childress said he would consider starting Jackson if Favre was hobbled.
"My prayers were answered," Favre said. "I wanted a chance to play ... not play to just play, one play to get a start. To play well enough to give us a chance to win."
Favre played well in the first half, but an interception in the third quarter catapulted the Patriots to victory.
The interception wasn't Favre's fault -- Harvin bobbled it directly into the arms of Patriots rookie Devin McCourty. Favre even gave chase, sort of, on the 37-yard runback, falling over two other players when McCourty was tackled. Favre slowly stood up and walked to the sideline, looking weary and every bit his age.
Of course, this is a guy who has had all kinds of drama accompanying many of those 292 starts. So seeing him behind center from the outset was anything but surprising.

Seeing him leave woozy and on a cart was stunning.
"I didn't think it was too bad until I saw him unbuckle his chinstraps and it was leaking pretty good," Vikings running back Adrian Petersonsaid.
Early in the second quarter, Favre handed off to Peterson for a 1-yard dive that capped a 76-yard touchdown drive. Favre, holder of virtually every significant passing record, looked spry while hitting Harvin for 21 yards on the drive.
Oddly, moments before the TD, Favre took a hit to the helmet by Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton that helped set up the score. He got up slowly, checking his head to see if there was any blood, then called the next play.
Favre completed his first four passes for 40 yards and was 11 for 13 for 121 yards through the first half. But the second half was ugly for Minnesota -- just as much of the season has been for the Vikings and their aged QB, who had taken every snap this year.
The Vikings couldn't afford to fall further behind in the NFC North, but with Green Bay (5-3) beating the Jets, they did. Favre, who nearly led the Vikings to the Super Bowl last season, finished 22 for 32 for 259 yards. He also was called twice for grounding.
There's more to Favre's headline-grabbing persona this season, too. The website Deadspin reported weeks ago that Favre sent lewd photos and inappropriate text messages to aNew York Jets game hostess in 2008 when Favre played for the team. The NFL is investigating and the woman, Jenn Sterger, has not yet spoken to league investigators, although her manager and her lawyer both have said she might do so soon.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Farve expect to start vs Patriots


Brett Favre says his injuries have healed significantly and that he expects to start against the host New England Patriots on Sunday.
In a phone conversation with ESPN's Ed Werder on Saturday afternoon, as Favre prepared to board the team charter to fly to Providence, R.I., the Minnesota Vikings quarterback said he wouldn't have made the trip unless he expected to start.
"My expectations are to play and play well enough for us to have a chance to win this game," Favre told Werder.
Favre said he's had extensive discussions with the Vikings's trainers and equipment staff about what can be done to allow him to play with two fractures.

Favre added the pain has diminished to the point that he probably won't have an injection to numb the pain, which had been planned all week if he were to play. He said he's not limping much and feels "pretty good.''
Most of the pain that remains is located in his toes rather than his ankle. So trainers will tape the ankle heavily even though it will restrict his movement.
In addition, Favre plans to wear a size 15 shoe -- one size larger than normal -- so the equipment staff can reinforce the toe box to protect him in the event somebody steps on his left foot. Favre said they created a mold that would harden and have an effect similar to a steel-toed shoe.
Favre said he doesn't know if he will be able to make it through the game and that he's prepared for coach Brad Childress to replace him with backup Tarvaris Jackson if he's ineffective.
Favre said he took about half the practice repetitions when he returned to the field Friday, splitting them with Jackson. Favre wore a wrap on his left ankle, which has two fractures that have threatened his NFL-record streak of 291 straight games started. Favre participated in Saturday's walk-through before attending daughter Breleigh's volleyball game.
Childress has said he "probably will" wait until the last hours before kickoff to decide whether Favre starts. Childress has said the final decision is his.
Childress didn't directly answer a question Friday on if he'll base the decision on Favre's recent rough performances or strictly on his health. Earlier this week, Childress said he won't consider the streak when he decides.
"Can he protect himself? And what gives us the best chance to win?" Childress said in response to a question about whether he wants Favre to start.
If he doesn't, Jackson will take over.
"I'm not losing any sleep over it. It will all sort itself out," Childress said.
Information from ESPN's Ed Werder and The Associated Press was used in this report.

IOWA to NCAA : Basketball Recruits met Hollywood's A-list


DES MOINES, Iowa -- The University of Iowa told the NCAA the school allowed two basketball recruits to meet celebrity Hawkeye fans Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. Such a meeting would be a recruiting violation.
The recruits met the married movie stars along with two former Iowa basketball players at an Iowa-Iowa State football game in September, The Des Moines Register reported Sunday based on records obtained under Iowa's public records law.
Kutcher/Moore
Stephen/Icon SMIHollywood couple Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore attended an Iowa football game in September.
NCAA rules prohibit recruits from contact with individuals considered to represent a university's athletic interests.
The school reported the matter to the NCAA after an internal investigation and is waiting for a response, senior associate athletic director Mark Abbott told the newspaper. A phone message left with a school spokesman by The Associated Press wasn't immediately returned Sunday.
The school's report to the NCAA said the recruits met former Hawkeye basketball players Reggie Evans and Dean Oliver after a pickup game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, then met Kutcher and Moore in a suite at Kinnick Stadium later that day.
The NCAA staff sent a letter to Iowa officials four days later after two prospective recruits were quoted in published reports saying they met with the former basketball players, along with Kutcher and Moore.
The documents provided to the Register don't name the recruits. But reports in September and October quoted Josh Oglesby, a senior at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, and Marcus Paige, a junior at Linn-Mar High School, as saying they met Kutcher and Moore.
Oglesby announced his commitment to Iowa in late September after his official visit to the Iowa City campus. Paige has yet to announce his plans.
Abbott said he did not believe the violations would preclude the Hawkeyes and new coach Fran McCaffery from continuing to recruit either player.
Kutcher is from Iowa and briefly attended the University of Iowa. He is an ardent supporter of the Hawkeyes, occasionally attending football and basketball games in Iowa City.
Documents said the presence of Kutcher and Moore at the football game drew a crowd, and the recruits met both actors and took pictures with them. The school's internal report said the basketball staff didn't attempt to stop to the situation because it was "uncomfortable."
Iowa associate athletic director Fred Mims said in the school's official response to the NCAA that the violations were "inadvertent" and that steps have been taken to ensure it won't happen again.
"The university is remorseful that these violations occurred," Mims wrote in a letter to the NCAA on Oct. 1. "We believe they were the result of sloppy management by our basketball staff."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Favre willing to 'try out' his ankle next game


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Brett Favre is not ruling himself out of Sunday's game at New England despite two fractures in his left ankle.

"I'm willing to give it a try," Favre said of attempting to play.
Favre wore a large, gray walking boot on his left leg to the podium for his regular news conference on Wednesday, and said he doesn't anticipate participating in a full practice this week.
The Minnesota quarterback said he's always had a knack for healing quickly, which gives him hope he'll be back when the Vikings (2-4) play the Patriots (5-1).
"If I'm going to play, I want to play the whole game and give us a chance to win," Favre, 41, said Wednesday.
Favre was hurt in Sunday's loss to Green Bay, and an MRI revealed a stress fracture in the ankle as well as an "avulsion" fracture in the heel bone, where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament. He doesn't need surgery, and he said after consulting with doctors he's confident he can't make the injury worse by playing.
Favre also said Wednesday he has spoken with coach Brad Childress to address the coach's critical comments about his performance Sunday night.
"Emotions run high for players and coaches. I can't disagree with some of his comments. I'd be the first to tell you there's plays I should have made, plays I should have read differently," he said.
He and Childress are on the same page now in that their intentions are to "win" but Favre said "that doesn't mean we have to agree all the time."
Since taking over as the starter for the Packers in 1992, Favre has played through all kinds of pain -- including a broken thumb -- and has never sat out. His NFL-record streak is at 291 consecutive games started, 315 including the playoffs.
Favre, though, insisted he won't put his pride in the record over the sake of the team.
"I'm very proud of the streak, but it probably should have ended a long time ago," Favre said, adding: "Whether it ends this week or it ends at the end of the year, it ends, and I will always be proud of it."

Favre is also the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations he sent lewd photographs and suggestive messages to a female New York Jetsemployee in 2008, a development that first put his streak in danger with the possibility of a suspension under the league's personal conduct policy.
Favre said the injury hasn't made him consider retiring and he's fully committed to finishing the season.
"There's still a lot of football left. We've dug ourselves a hole here. We all know that, for whatever reason," Favre said.
"This could easily be an injury where I could where I could say, 'I'm going to slip under the radar. See you later. Easy out.' And people may think that. I want to play, and I want to help this team win. I owe that to the guys. I owe that to myself."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.