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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NFL Notes: Favre unlikely to return

Associated Press

Brett Favre sounds like a quarterback who’s thrown his last pass, at peace with the way his storied career could end on a blindside hit that slammed him to the turf and ended his all-time record durability streak.

With the Vikings’ quarterback situation completely up in the air Thursday, Favre said he still feels discomfort in his sprained shoulder and numbness in his hand – 11 days after the injury that kept him out of Minnesota’s last game against the New York Giants. He said “there’s no way” he would consider playing Monday night against the Chicago Bears with the same symptoms.

“I think it would be foolish to even think that way,” Favre said.

So if he feels better, will he start throwing again and see if he can heal in time to play in one of the last two games?

“If it’s February, I probably won’t,” Favre deadpanned. “I suppose. We are obviously running out of time.”

Favre said he has talked with interim head coach Leslie Frazier about taking advantage of the time to develop rookie Joe Webb, now that backup Tarvaris Jackson (turf toe) is done for the season.

Jackson was placed on injured reserve Thursday, and the Vikings signed veteran Patrick Ramsey to take his place. Frazier said he wasn’t ready to name a starter for the Bears game, but he said Webb would work with the first-team offense in practice.

Mangini names McCoy starter

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini named Colt McCoy his starting quarterback for this week’s game at Cincinnati (2-11) and for the remainder of this season – home games against AFC North big boys Baltimore and Pittsburgh. McCoy, who hasn’t played since spraining his left ankle on Nov. 21 at Jacksonville, has been entrusted with Cleveland’s offense for three games that could determine Mangini’s future.

“I felt like he’s earned this opportunity and I want to give it to him,” Mangini said. “I want to see how he continues to grow. This is by no stretch just throwing a young guy in for the sake of throwing a young guy in.”

Dallas’ Spencer fined for Vick hit

Two people with direct knowledge of the decision say Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer has been fined $12,500 by the NFL for knocking helmets with Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the league had not announced the punishment.