Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and coach Mike Holmgren refused Wednesday to confirm the news from Favre’s agent the NFL has lifted Favre’s alcohol ban after an appeal to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
“I can’t until the season is over,” Favre said. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Told that agent Bus Cook had leaked word from his Hattiesburg, Miss., office, Favre said, “That’s what agents do, I guess.”
Favre said he wasn’t drinking this week.
“If they win the ballgame Sunday, and he wants to drink a beer, then he can drink a beer,” Cook said.
Holmgren called Cook’s comment “a little erroneous at this point.”
Favre canceled a planned trip to his home of Kiln, Miss., 60 miles away because fans and media have bombarded his family this week.
“It’s crazy, kind of like Graceland,” Favre said. “I don’t know why. They’ve kind of enjoyed it, but I guarantee they are ready for it to be over. People are paying $20 to see where I went to school. That’s a waste of money, really.”
Favre said he is fighting a cold and blamed Green Bay.
“We left 51-below and then came here where it was 70 degrees. A lot of guys have colds.”
Favre said five-time world champion Packers quarterback Bart Starr has written letters and provided big support. Starr is refusing interviews this week to keep the focus on Favre.
“I haven’t done close to what Bart Starr has done,” Favre said. “The media today is just much bigger. If I had done what Bart has done, I’d be bigger than Elvis.”
Mayes questionable: Green Bay rookie wide receiver Derrick Mayes suffered a rib contusion in practice Wednesday and was listed as questionable for the Super Bowl. Holmgren said he doubted Mayes would practice Thursday.
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“I think he’s going to be OK, but right how he’s pretty sore,” Holmgren said.
Mayes took a knee in the ribs during a punt-coverage drill and was down for five minutes.
The second-round pick from Notre Dame has been the Packers’ fifth receiver since veterans regained their health. He has been inactive the last six games.
The Packers practiced for 90 minutes.
“They’re into it,” Holmgren said. “If I can hold on to them one more day, then that gives us two days to freshen up, we’ll be doing good.”
Patriots healthy: The Patriots had an uneventful but physical workout.
“This is us. It’s how we work,” coach Bill Parcells said. “We like this kind of day and I liked the tempo of our guys.
“We’re in good shape, (with) no problems physically.”
Right direction: Offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong, in his 10th season, is the only Patriot who was with the team in the 1980s. Although Parcells may quit after the Super Bowl amid disagreements with owner Robert Kraft, Armstrong credits the current organization for getting the team this far.
“We have the stability we lacked,” Armstrong said. “The rumors of us moving were gone. The things about players not being treated nicely were gone. Now the game on the field is the primary focus. The head coach coming was the beginning of the solidification, then the ownership coming in a year after made it complete.”
Home-field disadvantage: In the 30 previous Super Bowls, the designated home team has won only 13 times. This year’s home team? Green Bay.
Beebe’s outlook: Packers wide receiver Don Beebe was on four Super Bowl losing teams with the Buffalo Bills.
“It’s harder to get to four Super Bowls than it is to win one,” Beebe said.
But Beebe quickly clarified things.
“I’d rather win one than lose four,” he said.
Right from Rison: Andre Rison will be a free agent after the season, but wants to finish his career in Green Bay.
“You all can count on seeing me in the green and gold,” Rison said Tuesday.
Of course, it will take more green and gold than the $294,000 the Packers are paying him after picking up his contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars seven games ago.
Rison also had said he wanted to finish his career in Jacksonville. “I was just throwing you off,” Rison said.
Winters reflects: Packers center Frank Winters buried his 35-year-old brother, John, Saturday in New Jersey before rejoining teammates for the trip to the Super Bowl.
“We are a close family, and having their support is important,” Winters said. “(John) was the best man at my wedding. Of all the family, he wasn’t the biggest sports fan, but he followed me. He always knew what the outcome of the game was. He will be with me during the game.”
Sure glad: Packers defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur has coached football for 42 years, 22 in the NFL, and this is his first Super Bowl.
“I’m glad to be here, but if I hadn’t gotten to the Super Bowl, the game wouldn’t have owed me anything,” Shurmur said.
Sagging numbers: Why are the Patriots 14-point underdogs to the Packers, making them the third largest underdog in Super Bowl history?
Drew Bledsoe, through 14 games, had 25 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions and was held to less than 200 yards passing only once. In the last four games, he has been held to less than 200 three times and has three touchdowns, nine interceptions and two fumbles.
During that time Bledsoe completed 85 passes of 144 attempts–only seven have been for more than 20 yards. There have been 63 completions of less than 10 yards.
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