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Brett Favre celebrates a touchdown pass against the Packers Nov. 1. Vikings won 38-26. (JIM PRISCHING / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

Trouper Favre thinks he'll be fine as he fights pulled groin muscle

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The latest injury Brett Favre must fight to maintain his record durability streak is a pulled groin muscle. Back from his bye week, Favre said he believes he'll be fine.

He said he was hurt in practice while rolling out during a drill two weeks ago and aggravated the injury in pre-game warmups at Green Bay on Nov. 1. The Vikings didn't play last week, giving their 40-year-old quarterback extra time to heal.

"It was a concern for the game. I made it through. With a week's rest, I think I'll be fine," Favre said Wednesday. "But I'm not going to make it a bigger issue than it is. It's kind of a new thing for me. To play 18 some-odd years and not have anything like that, that probably worried me more than anything. But I think I'll be fine."

Favre said the injury bothered him during the Packers game, but "not as bad" as he feared it might. He told coach Brad Childress, offensive co-ordinator Darrell Bevell and backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to be ready in case he couldn't finish the game.

Hold the mustard, Chad

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has put the kibosh on condiments.

Receiver Chad Ochocinco tweeted this week that he was going to send mustard to the Pittsburgh Steelers before their game Sunday at Heinz Field, a way of whipping up interest in the AFC North showdown.

On Wednesday, the receiver backed down. No mustard will be headed up the Ohio River.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to send anything this week, thanks to Marvin Lewis," Ochocinco said. "That's the way to spoil the fun, boss man. I guess I have to talk trash to motivate myself this week."

One of Ochocinco's most publicized stunts was in 2004, when he sent Pepto-Bismol to some of the Cleveland Browns' defensive backs before a game, warning them they would need the stomach medicine when they got done trying to cover him. Lewis didn't like it. The Browns won 34-17.

Colts' Freeney chasing sack mark

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney still gets a thrill out of the chase.

Whether he's trying to split multiple blockers or has a chance to exploit those rare one-on-one matchups with his spin moves, Freeney's goal never changes and his motor never stops.

His job: Put opposing quarterbacks on their backs, something he does with more efficiency than just about anyone in the NFL.

"You want to get that sack because that's our bonus," Freeney said with a smile Wednesday. "I guess in a perfect world, starting the game, it would go first play, sack, second play, sack, third play, sack, and then you could go to the locker- room." If only it were that easy for opponents to get Freeney out of their backfields.

His 91/2 sacks rank third in the league this season and on Sunday night, against bitter rival New England (6-2), Freeney has a chance to run down NFL history. If he can take three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady to the ground, Freeney will tie the record for most consecutive games with a sack (10).

Hip puts T.O. out of practice

BILLS receiver Terrell Owens missed practice Wednesday because of a strained hip, and his status is unclear for Buffalo's game at Tennessee on Sunday.

Coach Dick Jauron said in a conference call that the injury became apparent late Tuesday. Jauron said Owens was very uncomfortable.

The team is coming off a bye week and the wide receiver practised Monday in the Bills' first workout following a four-day break.

The Bills (3-5) also needed to decide Wednesday whether to activate receiver James Hardy or place him on season-ending injured reserve. He is currently on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list.

Vick can keep Falcons bonuses

MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday backed the judge who ruled against the NFL and let quarterback Michael Vick keep more than US$16 million in roster bonuses from the Atlanta Falcons. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed Judge David Doty's order saying Vick had already earned the bonuses before his dogfighting conviction, so the money wasn't subject to forfeiture.

Vick served 18 months in prison and is now with the Philadelphia Eagles.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 12, 2009 C5