In unmistakable ways yesterday, the Green Bay Packers sent the message at their shareholders meeting that Brett Favre is loved but the team is ready to start the 2008 season without him.

As 9,375 shareholders filed into sunny Lambeau Field for the annual ritual, they were greeted by video highlights from the team's 13-3 season a year ago, with the voiceover intoning solemnly, "One of the greatest players will be missed, but not forgotten."

Later, clips from Favre's tearful March 6 retirement news conference were replayed.

Inside the Atrium, a huge banner with a picture of Favre, his arms aloft in triumph, hung from the ceiling. It said: "Thanks 4 the Memories. 1992-2007."

In his remarks to the faithful and to reporters afterward, Mark Murphy, the team's president, got right to the point.

"Brett has meant so much to the Packers and the National Football League," he said. "He will always be remembered as one of the finest players to play the game."

But Murphy made a larger point that has marked the Packers' stance since Favre declared that he wanted to come back to play.

"We want to be fair to Brett, but we also must act in the best interests of the Packers," said Murphy, who called it a football decision.

That fact was underscored by a report yesterday on WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. Citing a source close to the situation, WTMJ said Favre had tried to call general manage Ted Thompson on Wednesday but that Thompson did not return the call.

A number of shareholders pressed Thompson on why he won't take Favre back. They didn't get many answers.

BEARS

FORMER UH RECEIVER GRICE-MULLINS SIGNS

The Chicago Bears yesterday signed rookie receiver Ryan Grice-Mullins and waived fullback J.D. Runnels.

Grice-Mullins originally signed with the Houston Texans in May as an undrafted free agent from Hawai'i.

Center Olin Kreutz (Achilles tendon), a Saint Louis alum from Hawai'i, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (calf), running back Kevin Jones (knee) and guard Chester Adams (stomach) all missed practice for the second straight day. Cornerback Charles Tillman was excused again for personal reasons.

BILLS

WR HARDY SIGNS, ONLY NO. 1 MCKELVIN IS LEFT

Buffalo Bills second-round pick James Hardy became the third and most significant rookie to sign with the team yesterday, the day before training camp opens in suburban Rochester.

Besides Hardy, a receiver who was selected 41st overall out of Indiana, the Bills also signed third-round pick, defensive end Chris Ellis, and sixth-round pick, running back Xavier Omon, both to four-year contracts. That leaves Buffalo first-round pick Leodis McKelvin, a cornerback from Troy, as the one unsigned player before the team's first practice this morning.

BRONCOS

TOP PICK OL CLADY REMAINS UNSIGNED

Denver signed second-round draft pick Eddie Royal, a wide receiver from Virginia Teach, to a four-year deal yesterday on the eve of the start of training camp.

Terms were not released.

The only draft pick left unsigned is offensive tackle Ryan Clady, the team's first-round selection from Boise State.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan thought Clady's deal would be completed by the time the players reported this morning. Clady is slated to be the Broncos' starting left tackle.

"We are talking," Shanahan said yesterday. "If you look at our history over the last 20 years, I think we've had one person hold out. So, the chances are he will be signed and ready to play."

CHARGERS

FIRST-ROUNDER CASON SIGNS FOR 5 YEARS, $12M

San Diego's first-round draft pick Antoine Cason signed a five-year contract worth slightly more than $12 million last night, assuring he will be in camp when the first full-squad practice begins.

Cason, a cornerback from Arizona, was the team's final draft pick to agree to terms. He missed three days of rookie camp while the two sides finalized a deal that includes a signing bonus of roughly $6 million.

"It's time to play football. I'm just getting ready to go play," Cason said after signing the deal.

"The Chargers were great to work with and Antoine is excited to get going," said his agent, Ron Slavin.

ELSEWHERE

Chiefs: Kansas City signed tackle Branden Albert, the second of the team's two first-round draft picks, the team announced yesterday. Financial details of the five-year agreement were not released. The 6-foot-5, 316-pound Albert was the Chiefs' 15th overall pick from Virginia. The team appears far from an agreement with its other first-round pick, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of LSU.

Patriots: New England signed first-round draft pick Jerod Mayo yesterday to an undisclosed deal as the defending AFC champions opened training camp. Mayo, a linebacker from Tennessee, was the 10th overall selection. The Patriots also signed free-agent defensive tackle Titus Adams.

Raiders: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha officially signed his $9.765 million franchise player tender offer yesterday and joined Oakland in time for their first training camp practice, while running back LaMont Jordan has been told to stay away from the team. Jordan is scheduled to make $4.7 million this year and $5 million next season, but has no role with the Raiders after the team drafted Darren McFadden.

Seahawks: Defensive end Lawrence Jackson and tight end John Carlson, Seattle's top two draft picks, are both close to settling on contracts. Jackson, from Southern California, was the 28th overall selection, Carlson was the 38th overall pick from Notre Dame. The Seahawks open training camp today.