MANKATO, Minn. — Brett Favre’s decision could be near.
The quarterback traveled from Hattiesburg, Miss., to Pensacola, Fla., on Thursday morning to have his surgically repaired left ankle examined by Dr. James Andrews, according to NFL sources.
What Andrews told Favre will be key because the future Hall of Famer has said the ankle has not responded as he had hoped it would after surgery was performed by Andrews in late May.
Favre, who led the Vikings to a 12-4 regular-season finish and the NFC title game last season, will have to decide if he can play a 20th NFL season. Many believe Favre will return, but last week he attempted to tell the Vikings he planned to retire. The Vikings encouraged Favre to take more time and also sweetened his potential salary from $13 million for this season to a package that could reach $20 million with bonuses.
The Vikings likely are hoping to get a decision from Favre by the middle of the month. Last year, Favre ended his retirement and joined the Vikings on Aug. 18.
No place like (a new) home
LATROBE, Pa. — In his Steelers biography, Ben Roethlisberger now lists his birthplace as the fictitious and the incorrectly spelled Corey Rawson, Ohio. There is no such community, although he did attend Cory-Rawson School in Rawson, Ohio, before his junior high days.
The quarterback apparently made the change because he was displeased with unflattering comments made about him by some residents of hometown Findlay, Ohio, following a March incident in which he was accused of sexual assault. He was not charged but drew a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.
Until this season, Roethlisberger identified Findlay as his hometown.
Jackson may return in month
BEREA, Ohio — Browns starting inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who initially feared he might be lost for the season, will be sidelined three to seven weeks with a strained right pectoral muscle, the second chest muscle injury the four-year veteran has suffered in less than a year.
Balmer misses fourth day
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — 49ers defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer missed his fourth straight day of training camp and his absence is still considered unexcused.
The team said Balmer met Wednesday night with coach Mike Singletary.
Singletary allowed Balmer to miss Monday and Tuesday workouts as he dealt with a “personal issue.” But the 49ers had expected him back Wednesday.
Balmer, San Francisco’s first-round draft pick in 2008 out of North Carolina, is entering the third year of the five-year, $8 million deal he signed as a rookie. He has yet to start a game and recorded no sacks in his first two NFL seasons.
Later in the day, the 49ers signed rookie defensive tackle Will Tukuafu to a two-year contract to help fill the void left by Balmer’s absence.
Footnotes.
Former Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock signed a one-year contract with the Titans.
• Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill is likely to be out until at least September with a sprained knee, according to coach Pete Carroll.
• The Bears placed rookie running back Harvey Unga, BYU’s all-time leading rusher with 3,455 yards, on injured reserve with a sore hamstring, meaning he won’t play this season.
Denver Post wire services
