NFL may add second overseas game; Packers won’t block Favre from Vikes

WIRE SERVICES

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After seeing fans jam London’s Wembley Stadium to watch the NFL the past two years, the league is considering adding a second regular-season game overseas in time for the 2010 season.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday the second game could also be played in London or another location in the United Kingdom.

The issue will be discussed at next week’s league meetings, and could be included in a larger plan to add up to two regular-season games to the NFL schedule.

“The fan reaction we’ve had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion,” Goodell said after speaking at the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

“We have a great fan base in the UK. There have been discussions of taking the second game and playing it in another market in the UK. That’s something that we’ll evaluate.”

The NFL first staged a regular-season game in London in 2007, when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10.

Last year, the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32.

Both games were sellouts, and fans quickly gobbled up tickets for this season’s game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 25.

While Goodell reiterated there are no plans to move the Super Bowl to London, he said a second regular-season game is drawing support from league owners.

“I think the teams have had a great experience that have gone over,” Goodell said.

“We’ve been able to build on that and I think teams recognize it’s an honor and a privilege to go over and play there. And it can be done without impacting the team negatively.”

Goodell said he won’t make a recommendation on adding an extra game or two to the schedule at the expense of preseason games and doesn’t expect owners to vote on the issue next week.

Packers

HUDSON, Wis. — As reports swirl that Brett Favre is going to sign with Green Bay’s archrival Minnesota if his throwing arm is healthy it’s pretty clear the Packers aren’t going to go to great lengths to stop it from happening.

Even if that means facing Favre twice this season.

“At this point, he’s just retired from the Jets and at this point we’re really just going to kind of wait and see how things play out,” team president Mark Murphy said. “But in the long run we do want to have a relationship with Brett. We’re going to retire his number. What that relationship looks like, who knows? But kind of like we have with Bart Starr and some of our other great players.

“We want to have them back and I think he’ll be remembered as a Packer. But, obviously, I think we all need some time to pass before we make those decisions.”

As he has been through this entire situation, Favre remained mum on the subject of a potential return to the Vikings on Tuesday.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN that Favre said that after throwing about 10 times, his arm hurt.

Cook also said again that “right now, he is retired. Nothing has changed.” Favre has a slightly torn biceps tendon in his right arm.