New Football League?

Ted Turner and NBC are involved in preliminary talks about setting up a new football league to rival the NFL, a spokesman for Time Warner said.

Atlanta television station WAGA reported the talks, noting that the new NFL television contract would shut out NBC and Turner Broadcasting, which is owned by Time Warner, for at least five and possibly eight years.

“There have been some conversations,” Ed Adler, Time Warner vice president of corporate communications told the AP by telephone from New York. “I don’t have any other details.”

Super Bowl quarterbacks John Elway of Denver and Brett Favre of Green Bay both face the prospect of off-season surgery, the NFL said in announcing neither would play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

The NFL statement said doctors from the Broncos and the Packers provided medical documentation indicating that Elway will require shoulder surgery and Favre knee surgery.

Seattle’s Warren Moon replaces Elway on the AFC squad and Atlanta’s Chris Chandler will fill in for Favre for the NFC.

Ernie Zampese was named offensive coordinator of New England, Patriots coach Pete Carroll announced.

Joe Pendry became offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, filling the most important vacancy under new coach Wade Phillips.