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Show DAILY HERALD C4 Friday, July 25. 2008 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Packers might postpone Favre's jersey retirement THE PRESS ASSOCIATED With GREEN BAY, Wis. Brett Favre's retirement up in the air, it goes without saying that the Green Bay Packers might have to put off retiring MVP's jersey. the three-timThe Packers had scheduled a ceremony to retire Favre's jersey in conjunction with the Sept. 8 season opener against e Minnesota at Lambeau Field. But with Favre now NOTEBOOK playing again in 2008 and locked in a standoff with Packers management about his future in football. Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy acknowledged Thursday that the ceremony might have to be postponed. "We have not made a decision yet on whether to cancel it." Murphy said, after the Packers' annual shareholders meeting at Lambeau. "But we're coming up to a point where we're going to have to make a decision pretty quickly." But Murphy said any delay NFL Camps Continued from CI "We're disappointed about the way it ended, no doubt about it," quarterback Tom Brady said. "It all staits fresh for us, starting today." Brady said that Belichick has not used last season's failure as a not tool to motivate his team yet, at least. If the Super Bowl comes up, it is in the context of game films and adjustments, just like any other game, Brady said. But that doesn't help soothe the pit in his stomach when he watches it. "When you see the game, you think about how you felt after the game." he said. "You can't change it at all you really can't as hard as you might want to, you can't." The coach and his players were already in harmony when season, paraddressing the roting the philosophy that they just needed to get better with each practice and each day. The focus is on the short term, Belichick said, not the long term just like every other year, whether the team won the Super Bowl or missed the playoffs. "I don't think he's concerned with what we did last year," Brady said. "I think he's concerned with what we did today With reporters, Belichick 18-- 1 at the possibility of Favre playing for another team by conjuring the imagine of Joe Montana in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform on Thursday. "We want to have positive feelings about Brett and the Packers, and we want him to continue to be a part of the Packer family," Murphy said. "I think the way this is handled will be important in terms of how that plays out in the future. But I'm also cognizant of some of the things that have happened in the past with Joe Montana ending his career TOM LYNNAssociated Press with the Chiefs, now you look Shane Keddell, center, of Appleton, Wis, raises his arm and starts a back on it. most people might not remember that he played "bring Brett back" chant, referring to NFL football quarterback with the Chiefs. They rememBrett Favre, inside the Lambeau Field Atrium on Thursday ber he was a 49er." during the annual Green Bay Packers shareholders meeting in Green Bay, Wis. Joining Keddell are Dan Nelse, left, of Sun I Smith tearful as he calls it ft Prairie, Wis., and Mike Unterweger, right, ofHartland, Wis. career: At Englewood, Colo., Broncos receiver Rod Smith his sudden desire to unretire broke out a pair of dark, would only be temporary. was met with lukewarm enthu- designer shades and his two "We're going to retire Brett's number at some point," siasm from the Packers, who Super Bowl rings for the occommitted to moving forward casion, wearing one on each Murphy said. "Regardless of after Favre said a tearful good- hand. whether it's this year, it'll be The rings were a reminder sometime in the future. We'll bye in March. The Packers have said they have no plans to of what once was, the shades wait and see, but I think it's still enough up in the air that to hide the tears. release Favre they hold his Smith stepped into a room we want to wait and see how rights until his contract expires but full of family, friends and after the 2010 season things play out." MVP asked The three-tim- e haven't commented publicly on teammates Thursday and ana potential trade. nounced his NFL career was to be released from his condone. tract earlier this month after Murphy did, however, hint then did it become clear that he wasn't talking about what every- made only one reference to the Super Bowl, when he was talking about the work he and his team have put in since last season ended. "For you. this is kind of like the first day of football season," he said. "But for us, the first day of the season was probably the Monday after the Super Bowl when we started making deci- body else was thinking. 13 Pro With an Bowl players returning from a team that won a franchise-recor- d 13 games before an unexpected ending last season, there are some super expectations for the Dallas Cowboys. From the fans, from the media, sions. and yes, even the team's owner even as he tried to be careful "To me, the '08 season started back in February. There's been with how he expressed his feela lot of work leading up to yesings about the upcoming season and never uttered the term Super terday and today. ... It's not like Bowl. we just rolled out the ball today "You guys know I'm prone to and said, 'Let's start playing football.'" hyperbole, but I don't think it's Also Thursday, the Patriots a stretch to say that the next 12 signed defensive tackle Titus Ad- months will be the most exciting ams and placed 12 players on the and intriguing time in the hisphysically unable to perform list, tory, really, of this franchise." Jones started his comments including defensive backs Rodney Harrison and Ellis Hobbs, Thursday after the Cowboys rereceiver Wes Welker and lineported to training camp. backer Mike VrabeL ... Also on Then, instead of the expected the PUP list is offensive lineman championship declaration, Jones Nick Kaczur, who was in court talked about the team's upcoming final season at Texas StaTuesday in upstate New York dium and the transition to their dealing with a misdemeanor charge of drug possession ... OL new $1 billion stadium. Lavdrim Bautra was released to OK, so when the new stadium make room for Mayo on the opens in 2009, will it be the home of a defending Super Bowl chamroster. pion? "I'm not going to make any t Jones not uttering what he thinks about Cowboys: At Ox- predictions," Jones said. "I think that's not for me to say; maybe nard, Calif., Jerry Jones was alI've lost my credibility in that ready sounding excited, smiling and exclaiming as he spoke. Only area about saying we're going to NFL-recor- d ' 80-m- ' Continued jron CI through the inevitable questions about the competition. "I didn't know it was a big deal," Williams said. "We're going for the same thing, and that's a gold medal. Point blank, that's all we care about is winning the gold. So it doesn't matter." Paul dismissed questions about who will be Kidd's main backup. "We're on the same team," Paul said. "I'm not battling against him to do anything. If we're all out here battling (against each other) we have a problem if we want to win a gold medal." Upgrading the point was perhaps the Americans' top priority after their bronze medal showing at the 2006 world championships. They added Kidd, the lone member of this team with an Olympic gold medal. They also added Williams and subtracted Kirk Hinrich. And they kept Paul, whose Team USA future seemed cloudy after he lost the starting job during the 2006 world championships. "That's obviously our strongest position, because we have three guys who can play it," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Paul started six games in Japan two summers ago, and he dished out 44 assists, a U.S. record for the world championships. But the Paul struggled against taller, more physical players, and he seemed a long shot to make the Olympic team. That all changed last season, when Paul blossomed into one of the NBA's top players, earnhonors ing first team and finishing second to Kobe Bryant in the MVP voting. He 170-pou- became the first player since John Stockton in 1992 to lead the league in assists and steals, averaging 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Suddenly, leaving Paul off the team seemed unthinkable. Asked to assess Paul's improvement since 2006, Krzyzewski said, "I think he's quicker and stronger and more decisive. I guess that's one of the reasons he was almost MVP. He's grown immensely." But he hasn't grown taller, and there's some thought d that the Williams is better suited to the international game. The former University of Illinois star has played in 34 games for the U.S.-- , and he impressed the present coaching staff by averaging 4.6 assists per game coming off the bench in last summer's Olympic qualifying tournament. Krzyzewski will use the United States' five exhibitions, beginning with tonight's game against Canada at Thomas & Mack Center, to decide whether Williams or Paul will be first off the bench at the point. Or maybe they'll both come in together. Krzyzewski has toyed with one lineup that has Paul at the point and Williams at shooting guard. This week's scrimmages have been closed to the media, so it's difficult to assess how the competition is playing out. "We won't know about set rotations until we get to Beijing," Krzyzewski said. "But I'm really happy with the point guard spot." In Paul's view, it doesn't matter how many minutes each point guard plays because there shouldn't be a dropoff when Krzyzewski substitutes. Bowlen said. Smith, 38, had been on the reserveretired list since February and has had two hip operations in the past year and a half. He's ihe franchise's career leader in every major touchdowns games (31). ft (71) and 100-yar- d Disgusted Boldin says he with Cards: At won't n Flagstaff, Ariz., a major storm hit the Arizona training camp one day before practice begins, when standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin lashed out at the Cardinals organization for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new contract. He said he had told his agent Drew Rosenhaus to end negotiations and that he would not n with the team. "Right now I don't want a deal," he said Thursday after the players went through a running drill. "You may think I'm funny or saying that just to say it, but for me, I'm tired of it. I washed my hands of the whole situation." Boldin, a two-tim- e receiving category. "Rod is the only person I've ever been around on a consistent basis, day in and day out, that never cared about his stats," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "All Rod talked about was winning." His numbers were nice, though. Smith holds franchise records for career receptions (849), yards receiving (11,389), touchdown catches (68), Pro Bowl player and a team captain last season, said that he was promised a new contract before this season. He has three years left on the four-yea$22.75 million contract extension he signed after the 2005 season that keeps him under contract through 2010s He's making an average of $4 million a year. r, is expected to miss four to six weeks, Manning is hoping coach Tony Dungy's most recent prognosis on the shorter end proves correct. Manning has never missed a start, building the NFL's second-longestreak of consecutive starts for a quarterback (160), and he's missed only bursa sac. one play in his career because of Manning's injury, of course, is Indianapolis' biggest question injury. Manning acknowledged heading into the preseason, and n for the first time since undergohe'd rather be resting at of Institute the the 14, Technology, ing procedure July where his teammates begin perennial Pro Bowler tried to provide some answers about the practicing Friday. But Dungy ailment that suddenly sidelined acknowledged the better choice ' one of the league's most durable may be keeping Manning in avoid to week. last Indy any potential quarterbacks "I'm not really in very much temptation of Manning returning too soon. pain," he told reporters in a conIn another move related to ference call, his first public comments since surgery. "I have pain Manning, the Colts announced medication but I haven't had to they had signed two veteran take any in about eight days. The quarterbacks Quinn Gray, who played for AFC South doctors think no pain means the division rival Jacksonville last infection is clearing." That's good news for the Colts, season, and Jared Lorenzen, a who are still hedging their bets at backup to Peyton's brother Eli quarterback in case it takes Man- with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. ning longer to recover. Manning's longtime backup, Manning said he was being Jim Sorgi, now becomes the temtreated for swelling in the knee and had it drained several times porary starter. "That (position) was someduring the offseason. Then July 14, he woke up in severe pain, thing we targeted to perhaps uphad trouble walking and immegrade if we could, but we wanted to do it with experienced guys," diately flew back to Indy. Team team president Bill Polian said. doctors recommended he have "So we thought it made sense to surgery. The former Super Bowl MVP bring them in." voice resonated through the Colts training camp Thursday from 90 miles away. The NFL's twotime MVP spent reporting day at home in Indianapolis, his valuable left knee immobilized after having surgery to remove an infected go to the Super Bowl." After their divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants in January, following two regular season victories over their NFC East rival, the Cowboys have now gone through 11 seasons since they've even won a postseason game. And it has been 12 seasons since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl, when it was their third championship in a four-yeperiod under Jones. Jones may avoid saying Super Bowl, but he's certainly acting like an owner who believes his team should be able to get st Rose-Hulma- there. Terrell Owens and four other Pro Bowlers got multiyear contracts this offseason, which translated into a commitment of $70 million on those players from Jones. "The real world is that we wouldn't have committed the money had we not had the expectations that we have a chance to be the very best." Jones said. "We all know what best means." The Cowboys have their first practice today, the first of 15 straight days on the field before they go to San Diego for their preseason opener Aug. 9. Manning hopes for quick return from knee surgery: At Terre Haute, Ind., Peyton Manning's ft UTAH JAZZ U.S. BASKETBALL Guard He tried to tell a joke to start things off, but his usual wisecracks failed him. Instead, tie pulled a tissue from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes. Saying farewell wasn't easy. "I gave them everything I had," Smith said as he choked up while announcing his retirement. For that, Broncos president and CEO Pat Bowlen was truly appreciative, calling Smith the best Broncos player not named John Elway that he's ever had play for him. "If I ever get anybody like you or like John again, I'm going to be very fortunate," Jazz 21 minutes of work. Almond once again led the Jazz in scoring. Almond came into the game averaging 17 scored. Koufos also blocked a pair points per game. He erupted shootfor 29 points on of shots. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta's Luke Jackson drove ing from the field and down the lane and tried to dunk from the free throw line. "It's coming along. It's the over Koufos. He rejected Jackfourth or fifth game of the Reson and got down court and vue, so it's about time to put a converted a three-poin- t play. It was the type of play the good game together," Almond Jazz are looking for from him. said. "It's coming. I don't think I'm that terrible defensively. Overall, Koufos finished I'm trying to be sound on both with nine points on shooting from the field and had ends." The story of the game for six rebounds and just two fouls foot baseline jumper in the first quarter. He then grabbed a missed shot from Almond and Continued from CI a lot of help from Jazz guard Morris Almond, Koufos helped Utah improve to 2 in the Revue with a 8 win over Atlanta. "I'm just working hard, trying to get more rebounds, block shots and learn the system better," Koufos said. "The NBA's a lot faster game. I've just got to play within myself." Koufos showed range with his jumper when he hit a 15- 3-- 83-7- in Utah was defense. The Jazz combined to block eight shots and held the Hawks to 34 percent shooting from the field. Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko led the Jazz with three blocked shots. He played in just 12 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. The Revue will conclude today at Salt Lake Community College. Golden State will play Atlanta at 11 a.m. and the Jazz will wrap up the Revue when they host the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. OREM OWLZ Owlz Continued from CI even for the resurgent Orem squad and the Ghosts held on win. for the "They came ready to play," said Owlz manager Tom Kotchman. "They got in at 3 a.m. and we had a full day of rest, but they had a sense of urgency and did the little things." Jacobo nearly singlehand-edlbrought the Owlz back into the game and thrilled the 5,721 fans in attendance, beginning with a solo shot over the d fence in the bottom of the fourth. In his next at bat in the sixth, the first baseman teed off on a fastball and hammered it clear over the berm in left to drive in two runs. He closed out his impressive streak by driving in a fourth run in the seventh for the last Orem run of the contest, finat the ishing the game plate. "He had nice night," Kotch- - Tf ' ' can fall apart as the Owlz appeared to have the final Casper out of the frame rung up with a strikeout, but the ball got away from Orem catcher Beau Brooks and Ghost catcher Wil-liRosario reached first. That seemed to break open the flood gates as they ended up plating three more runners before the Owlz could stem the tide to make a one-ru- n contest into a much more comfortable affair for the visitors. Failure to convert with runners in scoring position and no outs killed the Owlz all evening as the home team had the bases loaded in the second and runners on first and second in the seventh without an out but ended up tallying just a single run in those two innings. "We didn't do the little things which is what you have to do to win games like that," n 9-- 5 y left-fiel- CELIA TOBINDaily Herald Owlz first baseman Gabe Jacobo, right, celebrates a two-ruhome run in the sixth inning Thursday in Orem. man said. "You don't have to do a lot of coaching when a guy hits the ball out of the park." But the top of the ninth also proved how quickly things n Kotchman said. The big inning for Casper was the third when they got the bats going and scored four doutimes, including a two-ruble by Ghost first baseman Kiel n Roling. Roling paced Casper with a pair of by going doubles and three RBI. The Ghosts scored their other two runs in the sixth to build the early five-ru- n advantage before Orem rallied. The defeat tightens the gap between the two teams at the top of the South Division of the Pioneer League. The Owlz now e lead the division by just a with three games left for Orem and four remaining for Casper in the first half of the season. That makes tonight's rematch and final contest of e the series vital for both teams as the first-hatitle could come down to whichever team can get the victory. "It's everything," Kotchman said. "We've put ourselves in that spot. Now we'll see what happens." First pitch at Brent Brown Ballpark is scheduled for 7 p.m. half-gam- two-gam- lf ft Jared Lloyd can be reached at jlloydheraldextra.com. |
