Favre says retirement was premature
NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre told FOX News Monday he was premature in his retirement announcement.
In his first interview since it became known he intended to return to the NFL, Favre said he is ready to play in Green Bay this season.
Favre told Greta Van Susteren on FOX News that when Packers Coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson approached him about retirement in the off-season, he told them he'd prefer to wait until training camp in July to make his decision.
Favre said the Packers insisted they needed to know what their position, specifically with Favre's backup, Aaron Rodgers, and wanted him to decide before the free agency period and the draft.
"I was not totally ready to commit," Favre, 38, said of his feelings when he announced his retirement. "March 3, when I got in front of the podium, did I want to play? Yes. 100 percent? No."
He said McCarthy told him June 20 that returning to the Packers was not an option.
Last season, Favre led the Packers to the NFC Championship game after throwing for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns and compiling a 95.7 passer rating.
Davenport drops from Bank of West Classic
STANFORD, Calif., July 14 (UPI) -- American Lindsay Davenport pulled out of the Bank of the West Classic Monday because of an injured right knee.
The former world No. 1 was scheduled to play Italy's Francesca Schiavone Tuesday, but withdrew with the same injury that forced her out of the second round at Wimbledon last month.
Schiavone will play qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak and Australia's Samantha Stosur will replace Davenport in the draw.
Steelers sign former Oregon quarterback
PITTSBURGH, July 14 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers Monday signed former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon to a three-year contract.
Dixon, a fifth-round choice in the 2008 draft, was named the Pac-10 offensive player of the year after leading the Ducks to an 8-1 record and a BCS ranking as high as No. 2 before he was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury.
Dixon had 6,337 career yards of total offense while completing 444-of-695 passes and throwing for 38 touchdowns at Oregon. He set a school record for career rushing yards with 1,208.
Report: Gambling ref contacted colleague
NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy made scores of phone calls to a fellow referee on days he gave inside tips to professional U.S. gamblers, Fox News said Monday.
Citing court documents and phone records, FOXNews.com said Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster between October 2006 and April 2007 -- more than the 126 calls he made to his bookie during the time period during which he has admitted either betting on games or providing inside information to gamblers. Most of the calls were brief and occurred before or after games Donaghy called and on which he has admitted he placed bets.
Donaghy pleaded guilty in August 2007 to two felony counts related to his admission and could face up to 25 years in jail and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced this month. He has not been accused of manipulating the outcomes of the games.
It was not known what Donaghy and Foster talked about, Fox said. Federal prosecutors declined to comment on the report but Fox said former federal prosecutors with no role in the investigation say the calls are suspicious because of their frequency and duration and because of the days they were placed.
NBA Commissioner David Stern says Donaghy was a "rogue," acting independently. Donaghy has alleged other NBA officials are corrupt.
Mets pitcher named NL Player of Week
NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- New York Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey was named Monday as National League Player of the Week.
Pelfrey, in two starts, has no runs or walks and just nine hits in 15 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander also struck out 10, and won each start as the Mets went 7-0 during the period.
Pelfrey has won his past six starts with a 2.56 earned run average, improving to 8-6 with a 3.64 ERA on the season. It is the first career weekly honor for Pelfrey.
Detroit OF named AL Player of Week
NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- Detroit Tigers rookie outfielder Matt Joyce was selected Monday as the American League Player of the Week.
Joyce, 24, earned the award for the first time after hitting .409 (9-for-22) with four home runs, four doubles and six runs batted in for the week. In a four-game weekend series against Minnesota, Joyce went 6-for-17 with three homers.
For the season, Joyce is hitting .266 with nine homers and 18 RBI in 31 games with the Tigers.
Joyce's teammate, pitcher Justin Verlander, was also considered for the award after striking out 15 in 14 innings with a 2-0 record and a 2.57 earned run average during the period.
