Packers Hoping Favre Decides by Draft Day

The Green Bay Packers have given quarterback Brett Favre as much time as he possibly could want to decide whether to play another season.

Late last week, the Packers and Favre agreed to their fourth postponement of a deadline tied to a $3 million bonus that Favre would receive for being on the team's roster. The deadline now is July 27, at the start of training camp.

Favre continues to waver on his decision about whether to retire. Packers officials apparently would like a decision before the NFL draft in 12 days, but it's far from a certainty that they'll get it. Favre has suggested that he'll play another season if he thinks the Packers can be competitive. He has said he'd like to see the club be more active in free agency and second-year general manager Ted Thompson, after making a series of low-impact moves earlier in the offseason, recently has been in negotiations with two high-profile players who still are available, cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker LaVar Arrington.

There has been recent speculation, some of it by broadcaster John Madden, that Favre perhaps is seeking to be traded. The Seattle Seahawks, coached by former Packers coach Mike Holmgren, have been mentioned as a possibility. But Favre would have to back up Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle, and it's highly questionable whether he'd want to end his career as a backup.

If he is seeking a trade, however, the new deadline for his roster bonus might allow the Packers to accommodate him. The $3 million payment would be due to him in December if he's on the roster the day the deadline arrives. The Packers wouldn't want to trade Favre and still be liable for the $3 million payment. This way, they could trade Favre before the roster-bonus deadline and have his new team be responsible for the payment.

McNair Hearing Coming

The Tennessee Titans have filed a formal response to the grievance that the NFL Players Association filed against the team on behalf of quarterback Steve McNair.

The next step, barring a settlement by the parties, will be a hearing before an arbitrator, which perhaps could come within the next 10 days if the case is put on an expedited schedule.

The union is charging the Titans with violating McNair's contract by barring the quarterback from participating in offseason workouts with his teammates at the club's training facility. McNair is under contract to the Titans but the team is seeking to rework the deal, which includes a $9 million salary for next season, and club officials have expressed wariness about the possibility that McNair could get hurt before the contract is renegotiated and the team could be left liable for the existing deal.

It's possible that the Titans will release McNair if they are unable to agree to a new contract with him, and the Baltimore Ravens could be the front-runner to sign him if he becomes available.

No Extension Yet for Briggs

The Chicago Bears attempted to complete a contract extension with Pro Bowl outside linebacker Lance Briggs last week, but talks broke off Friday.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus was in Chicago for face-to-face negotiations with Bears officials Thursday and Friday. There was some optimism that a deal could be struck Friday, but it didn't happen and Rosenhaus returned to Miami Beach.

Briggs is eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring and would be one of the most coveted players on the market if he's available. The Bears apparently plan to continue the negotiations but are adamant they won't pay Briggs more than they pay middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who has a nine-year, $56.7 million contract. . . .

The Bears continue to negotiate with Ricky Manning and still might sign the Carolina Panthers cornerback to an offer sheet before the restricted free agent market closes Friday. . . .

The San Diego Chargers are shopping linebacker Donnie Edwards in hopes of trading him. Edwards is entering the final season of his contract and was unhappy that the club didn't sign him to an extension. He is close to Coach Marty Schottenheimer and has raised the possibility that he has been caught in the middle of a feud between Schottenheimer and General Manager A.J. Smith.