GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi to meet with quarterback Brett Favre and his agent James “Bus” Cook on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to talk Favre out of reporting to camp later this week.
Meanwhile, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took no action on Favre’s request for reinstatement Wednesday — giving the sides more time to work out a resolution.
Cook told reporters outside his office in Hattiesburg, Miss., that Favre, who has been throwing to players at a nearby high school to stay in shape, could be in Green Bay on Friday.
“He would love to go back in Green Bay,” Cook said, in comments broadcast by ESPNEWS. “I mean, that’s why he started working out. But right now, it looks like he’ll be the quarterback at Oak Grove High School.”
Murphy, who took over as the team’s president and CEO in January, issued a statement upon returning to Green Bay.
“I was in Hattiesburg today and had a nice visit with Brett Favre,” Murphy said. “We discussed a number of topics not related to football, including Brett’s long-term relationship with the Packers. I consider our conversation to be confidential and am going to be respectful of Brett and his family and keep the details private.
“Ted (Thompson, Green Bay’s general manager) and Mike (McCarthy, the coach) are going to continue to work on the football side of this issue. They have my full support.”
The sidelines at Packers practice Wednesday night were buzzing with a question: Did the Packers offer to pay Favre to stay retired?
WTMJ television in Milwaukee reported the team offered Favre several million dollars to stay retired, and the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on its Web site that the team offered Favre “a substantial salary” to stay away. Both reports cited sources close to Favre.
RAIDERS: Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell was held out of team drills for the second straight practice Wednesday because his throwing elbow was still sore after banging it off the helmet of teammate Darren McFadden.
The Raiders hoped their franchise quarterback would be healthy enough to practice a day after hurting his elbow. He did some individual drills, working on footwork and tossing a few passes lightly.
Coach Lane Kiffin said he didn’t feel this injury would be a long-term issue for Russell, and X-rays showed no problems with the elbow.
SAINTS: New Orleans first-round pick Sedrick Ellis practiced for the first time since signing his five-year contract earlier in the day. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis did not release financial details because of team policies. The Times-Picayune, citing unidentified league sources, said the contract is worth $49 million, with $19.5 million in guarantees.
49ERS: After two trips to Stanford Hospital and a few days off to deal with a foot infection, San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley returned to individual drills at the 49ers’ training complex in Santa Clara, Calif. He still hasn’t been in a full practice protecting Alex Smith’s blind side since offseason workouts, but coach Mike Nolan said Staley has plenty of time to get it together.
BILLS: Buffalo backup quarterback J.P. Losman returned to practice a day after being held out because of a swollen thumb on his throwing hand. Losman missed only one practice after jamming his right thumb when striking a teammate’s helmet while attempting a pass in practice Monday.
Starting linebacker Angelo Crowell, who walked with a noticeable limp, was held out for a second straight day because of a sore left knee.
BRONCOS: John Lynch’s days with the Denver Broncos appear to be over. The 16-year NFL safety met with coach Mike Shanahan and told Denver’s KCNC-TV that Shanahan gave him permission to explore other opportunities. That could be playing for another team, or retiring to perhaps go into the broadcast booth.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville receiver Reggie Williams will have arthroscopic surgery after re-injuring his right knee during training camp. Williams initially hurt his knee while working out last week and opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated Tuesday and returned to practice, but tweaked his knee during the evening session. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Williams damaged cartilage in his knee. He expected the former first-round pick to make a full recovery, but declined to offer a timetable for his return.
STEELERS: Second-round draft pick Limas Sweed and offensive lineman Jeremy Parquet couldn’t finish Pittsburgh’s second practice because of cramping. Neither player is expected to miss any additional time.
Sweed, a wide receiver from Texas who will play a key role in the offense, was taken off the field on a cart late in the afternoon practice — creating concerns he injured a hamstring or a groin. He caught a touchdown pass during a drill earlier in the practice.
Parquet is a fourth-year free agent lineman from Southern Mississippi.
Also sitting out were inside linebacker James Farrior (groin), running back Mewelde Moore (undisclosed illness), offensive tackle Marvel Smith (groin) and punter Daniel Sepulveda (knee). Sepulveda’s season-ending right knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament is scheduled for Aug. 6.
TITANS: Tennessee is bringing in former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich for a physical and to throw to some receivers. The workout is designed to see if team officials want to add him to a “ready list” of players for emergencies.
Coach Jeff Fisher said the Titans have a number of receivers they are working out today, and he’s not going to ask quarterbacks Vince Young, Kerry Collins or Ingle Martin to throw to them. That is part of the reason for bringing in Leftwich for a physical and a little work on the field.
Jacksonville cut Leftwich late in training camp a year ago, and he signed with Atlanta in September. He played in just three games because of an ankle injury and other problems.
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