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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 19, 2008

Packers' officials remain united in Favre standoff

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Brett Favre accepted an award for record breaker at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles.

KEVORK DJANSEZIAN | Associated Press

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MILWAUKEE — Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy restated his support for general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy yesterday in the standoff with Brett Favre.

Murphy attended a meeting of the team's executive committee yesterday. He was not available for comment afterward, but team spokesman Aaron Popkey said Murphy has "full confidence" in how Thompson and McCarthy are handling this matter.

Favre is having second thoughts about football after retiring in March. But the Packers have since committed to moving on without the three-time MVP, causing a public rift between the team and one of its greatest players.

Although the Packers are publicly owned, the seven-member executive committee meets in private and doesn't publicize its agenda. The meetings generally cover all aspects of the team's operation and typically include a football report. It was widely assumed, but not confirmed, that the Favre situation would be discussed yesterday.

In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis — an emeritus member of the Packers' board of directors — said Favre was bound to come up in any meeting involving high-level team executives.

"Obviously, right now, this is going to be a heavy discussion," Davis said.

On Wednesday, Favre's agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN that he and Favre have "no definite plans to ask for reinstatement" and it was up to the Packers to decide what to do next.

But Favre will remain on the Packers' reserve/retired list unless he applies to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement, a move that would force the Packers to either release him or return him to their active roster.

JAGUARS

WR PORTER HAS SURGERY, WILL MISS PRESEASON

Jerry Porter had surgery yesterday to repair a torn hamstring tendon and the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver will miss at least the entire preseason.

It was a significant setback for a team with Super Bowl expectations.

Porter signed a six-year, $30 million contract with Jacksonville in February and was supposed to give the team its first go-to receiver since Jimmy Smith retired. But he missed most of minicamp and organized team activities with hamstring problems.

The Jaguars said Porter would be out six to eight weeks, with hopes that he could be ready for the Sept. 7 season opener at Tennessee.

Porter caught 44 passes for 705 yards and six touchdowns last season in Oakland, and had 24 TD receptions between 2002-05. He had just one reception in 2006, the season he demanded a trade in training camp, was suspended two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team and was inactive for nine games.

ELSEWHERE

Chiefs: Safety DaJuan Morgan, a third-round draft pick from North Carolina State, agreed to a three-year contract with Kansas City. The Chiefs have not yet signed their two first-round picks, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Virginia tackle Branden Albert, or their second-round choice, cornerback Brandon Flowers.

Jets: New York signed tight end Dustin Keller, the 30th overall pick in the draft, to a multiyear contract yesterday. Terms were not released. The signing leaves defensive end-linebacker Vernon Gholston, taken sixth overall, as the Jets' only unsigned draft pick. New York opens training camp on Thursday.

Redskins: Second-round draft pick wide receiver Devin Thomas of Michigan State signed a $4.83 million, four-year contract with Washington, two days before training camp. The deal includes a signing bonus of about $2.7 million for the wide receiver, who was Washington's top selection at No. 34 in April's NFL draft.

Saints: New Orleans agreed to terms with kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and wide receiver Adrian Arrington yesterday, leaving only three draft picks unsigned as training camp approaches next week. Mehlhaff, who was picked in the sixth round, and Arrington, picked in the seventh, both agreed to three-year deals.