Favre-led Pack win
Brett Favre’s off-season work paid immediate dividends Thursday night in the Green Bay Packers’ 10-7 preseason victory over the visiting San Diego Chargers.
Favre, who trained with a strength and conditioning coach in the off-season for the first time, completed 9 of 10 passes for 91 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in 1 1/2 quarters of work.
He guided Green Bay on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter in which he completed 7 of 8 passes for 64 yards, capping the series with a 23-yard strike to Donald Driver and then jumping into the arms of his center, Mike Flanagan, who missed most of last season following a knee operation.
For San Diego, Philip Rivers’ 34-yard touchdown pass to Willie Quinnie early in the third quarter tied it at 7. Rivers completed 12 of 19 passes for 97 yards and no interceptions after replacing starter Drew Brees (2 for 5, 27 yards) to start the second quarter.
Nate Kaeding, who missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt in overtime of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the New York Jets last season, blew three chances to put the Chargers ahead in the fourth quarter. He was wide left from 45 yards and then wide right from 44 and 46 in the closing minutes.
J.T. O’Sullivan then drove the Packers to the Chargers 35, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 53-yard field goal that barely cleared the crossbar with 33 seconds left.
Reid wants meeting with Owens
A day after they booted Terrell Owens out of training camp, the Philadelphia Eagles took an even harder stance on their star’s contract dispute:
T.O. can play for the Eagles or he won’t play at all.
Team president Joe Banner said that when the banished wide receiver returns to camp next week at Bethlehem, Pa., it will be without the new contract he desperately wants and with an understanding that he can no longer become a disruption.
Owens’ timeout from training camp won’t end until he meets with coach Andy Reid next week. He was told to go home Wednesday after a heated dispute with Reid – and to stay there for a week.
“I’ll address him on Wednesday and that’s between T.O. and myself,” Reid said.
Barron is no-show at Rams practice
Rams first-round draft pick Alex Barron was a no-show at practice, one day after agreeing to a five-year contract.
Coach Mike Martz was not pleased with the situation.
“I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing or if he’s coming in September or October or November, who knows?” Martz said. “I don’t know what to expect. If the kid really wanted to be here, he’d be here. I’m upset with the whole thing.”
A phone message was left for Barron’s agent, Roosevelt Barnes, seeking comment. Team spokesman Duane Lewis said he understood Barron was on his way to St. Louis on Thursday night, but had not signed the contract.
Barron ended a two-week training camp holdout on Wednesday.
Edwards signs contract with Browns
Rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards climbed two steps to the podium at Cleveland Browns headquarters and let out a deep sigh.
He looked relieved after a nearly two-week holdout and two days of tense negotiations.
“We’re glad it’s over with and there’s no bad blood,” he said.
Edwards, the third overall pick, signed a five-year, $40 million contract with nearly $20 million in guaranteed money, about 24 hours after it looked like he would leave town without a deal.
Titans’ draft pick sues accusers
Adam “Pacman” Jones, Tennessee’s top draft pick, responded to the men who accused him of hitting them at a nightclub by suing them on charges of conspiracy, defamation and slander.
With his agent in town to try to complete his contract, Jones had his lawyer file the suit in Davidson County Circuit Court against club manager Robert Gaddy and his brother Lamar Woodson. The men pressed charges against Jones on July 13 and he was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor assault and a felony count of vandalism.