Packers’ Favre suffers possible rotator cuff tear

By Gus Bode

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre says he might have a torn rotator cuff in his non-throwing shoulder, but the injury has not affected his play this season and will not bother him in the Super Bowl.

The three-time league MVP said he cannot remember how or when he first hurt his left shoulder.

It was early in the season, he said Thursday. It could have been training camp. It’s not a big deal. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it feels like there is something in there. They think maybe it’s torn cartilage or a torn cuff.

Advertisement

The Packers do not permit their staff trainers or physicians to speak to the media, and coach Mike Holmgren was not available for comment Thursday.

Favre said he might need offseason surgery on his left shoulder. He added that he also has minor cartilage damage in his left knee but hopes to avoid an operation after the season.

Favre said the shoulder injury has progressively gotten a little worse, when I get banged around.

But the injury didn’t prevent Favre from throwing 35 touchdown passes this season, winning an unprecedented third consecutive MVP award and leading the Packers to a second straight trip to the Super Bowl.

My shoulder just catches at certain times, Favre said, rolling his shoulder in circles. Right now, it feels fine. You wouldn’t even know anything’s wrong. Sometimes I do something, and it kind of catches, like there may be a tear in it.

Favre said he wants to wait before deciding on shoulder surgery because he has been able to play well despite the injury.

If there was too much pain, then I’d have to do something about it, he said. But right now, I’m not going to fix what’s not broken.

Advertisement*

Two added, three replacements named for Pro Bowl

Linebackers Ken Norton Jr. of the San Francisco 49ers and Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens were added Thursday as need players to the Pro Bowl rosters. Need players must be an alternate at linebacker or defensive end.

Meanwhile, Cris Dishman of the Washington Redskins, safety John Lynch of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and linebacker Lee Woodall of the 49ers were selected as replacements for the NFC roster.

Norton, making his third Pro Bowl appearance, topped the 49ers with 138 tackles this season. Lewis, a first-time Pro Bowler, led the NFL with 210 tackles.

Dishman, in his second Pro Bowl, replaces Dallas’ Deion Sanders, who is out with a rib injury. Lynch, playing in his first Pro Bowl, replaces the Cowboys’ Darren Woodson, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Woodall, a second-time Pro Bowler, replaces Washington’s Ken Harvey, also out with a shoulder injury.

The NFC and AFC teams meet in the Pro Bowl Feb. 1 in Honolulu.

Advertisement