NFL Favre will be back with Pack; Burress still looking for job

After being rejected by the Giants, the ex-Steeler will try the Vikings.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brett Favre is returning to work. Plaxico Burress is still looking for a job.
Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said Thursday that Favre will be back for his 15th NFL season, his 14th as the Packers' starter. The three-time league MVP will turn 36 in October. He has a league-record 205 consecutive starts at quarterback, 225 including playoffs.
Last season, Favre passed for 4,088 yards and threw more than 30 touchdown passes for the eighth time, twice as many as any other quarterback in NFL history.
But he underwent a series of personal setbacks. His brother-in-law was killed in an ATV accident on the quarterback's property in Mississippi, and his wife, Deanna, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
That came less than a year after Favre's father died of a heart attack.
"It came down to his wife and she's doing well in her recovery," Sherman said. "She wants him to play. He said he's looking forward to playing -- hopefully without any off-the-field situations, and 'enjoying the journey.'"
Contract talks failed
Burress' journey as a free agent has been fruitless so far. The former Pittsburgh wide receiver, expected to be one of the more desirable free agents on the market, was sent packing by the New York Giants on Thursday after meeting with team officials and coaches.
The Giants said in a news release that they pulled back their offer to Burress, an announcement almost never made in the NFL. In fact, the Giants have been silent most of this free-agent period about players they have signed, making official announcements in some cases long after the signings have become public knowledge.
Burress' agent said the player had rejected the team.
"The Giants made us an offer, we rejected, they upped their offer, we rejected it again, and that's when they said they had to rescind the deal," Michael Harrison told The Associated Press, saying Burress would next visit Minnesota.
Two kickers signed on Thursday.
Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed re-signed with the Steelers, a $7.5 million, five-year deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. And veteran Joe Nedney, who missed nearly all the last two seasons with injuries, signed with San Francisco.
Hurdling a fence
Another Reed, Philadelphia safety/kick returner J.R. Reed, may not be ready for training camp after injuring his leg in a freak accident last month. Reed cut the back of his knee while jumping over a fence near his home in Tampa, Fla., and damaged a nerve that affects the use of his lower leg and foot.
He had surgery March 1, and his status is uncertain.
"I feel terrible for J.R.," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's worked his entire life to try to make it this far. And to have a major setback like this occur in such a freak circumstance is awful. Knowing J.R., he'll continue to work hard to try and make it back on the field."
Denver, meanwhile, matched the New York Jets' offer sheet to tight end Jed Putzier, a restricted free agent. Putzier, who averaged 15.9 yards per catch last year on 36 receptions, will get $12.5 million over five years, with a $2.5 million signing bonus.
The Packers released two-time Pro Bowl safety Darren Sharper to trim $3.4 million off their salary cap and avoid having to pay him a $2.6 million roster bonus this weekend. The team tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he balked at a pay cut, hoping he can make more on the open market than the approximately $2 million Green Bay was offering for 2005.
The Raiders re-signed guard Ron Stone just a week after waiving him in a salary cap maneuver. Stone, a three-time Pro Bowler, started only five games for the Raiders last season while being slowed by an injured left knee.
Carolina signed safety Marlon McCree, who played last season for Houston. He will back up Mike Minter and Colin Branch.
New Orleans signed free-agent tight end Shad Meier to a two-year deal and re-signed defensive tackle Howard Green to a one-year deal.
Brad Johnson, who quarterbacked Tampa Bay to the 2002 NFL championship, worked out for the Bears.
"The great thing about the way I play, I still feel like I'm the same guy that played at 28," Johnson, 36, said.
Johnson also has visited the Lions and he left Thursday night for a workout with Miami.