Favre says he's thinking about playing
NEW YORK, June 15 (UPI) -- Brett Favre, making his first public appearance since retiring from the New York Jets, said Monday he's considering playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
Favre, speaking on the HBO show "Joe Buck Live," said he had surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago on his throwing arm, and whether he returns depends on how the arm heals. He said Dr. James Andrews told him it would be 4-to-5 weeks before it can be determined whether the surgery was successful.
Favre said he met with a Vikings trainer Sunday to work on different exercises.
"It makes a lot of sense because the pieces are in place," Favre said of possibly playing for the Vikings.
Favre played for the Jets last season -- after retiring from a long career with the Green Bay Packers at the end of the previous season -- but was hampered by a torn biceps tendon. He then announced his second retirement and was granted his release by the Jets.
Tampa Bay reliever to have elbow surgery
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 15 (UPI) -- A test on Jason Isringhausen's right elbow Monday revealed a ligament tear that will require the veteran reliever to have season-ending surgery.
Isringhausen, who missed the end of the 2008 season after surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, left Saturday's game with two outs in the ninth inning after throwing a wild pitch.
Isringhausen, 36, is seven saves short of 300 for his career. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and moved to the 60-day DL Monday prior to the diagnosis.
A date for the surgery had yet to be determined.
This season, Isringhausen was 0-1 with a 2.25 earned run average in nine games. He spent the previous seven seasons with St. Louis and also played for Oakland and the New York Mets, dating back to 1995. He was a two-time All-Star (2000, 2005) as a reliever.
Italy beats USA 3-1 in opening Cup match
PRETORIA, South Africa, June 15 (UPI) -- Italy beat the United States 3-1 Monday in their opening match of Group B play in the Confederations Cup.
New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi scored a pair of goals in the second half to lead the Italians.
A Landon Donovan penalty kick in the 41st minute gave the Americans a 1-0 lead at halftime. The lead stood up until the 59th minute when Rossi scored the first of his two goals.
A 40-yard kick by Daniele De Rossi made it 2-1 before Rossi added another goal in stoppage time.
Italy is tied for the Group B lead with Brazil which beat Egypt, 4-3 Monday.
Defending champ Ferrer advances at Ordina
'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands, June 15 (UPI) -- Defending champion David Ferrer was among Monday's first-round men's tennis winners at the Ordina Open in the Netherlands.
The third-seeded Ferrer beat Dutch wild card Jesse Huta Galung 6-2, 7-5. In last year's final, Ferrer won over Frenchman Marc Gicquel, who also advanced Monday with a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Belgian Steve Darcis.
Ferrer's second-round opponent is fellow Spaniard Oscar Hernandez, who advanced Monday with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Austrian Daniel Koellerer.
Second-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo was scheduled to play Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis Monday, but their opening-rounder was delayed because of rain and darkness.
In other action involving seeds, German Rainer Schuettler beat France's Nicolas Devilder 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); Frenchman Jeremy Chardy eliminated German Philipp Petzschner 6-1, 6-3; and France's Michael Llodra upset 2004 champion German Mischa Zverev 4-1, who retired because of a groin injury.
Burress weapons case delayed until Sept.
NEW YORK, June 15 (UPI) -- Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress had his weapons possession case delayed Monday until September.
The New York Post reported the adjournment signaled the end of a possible plea deal for Burress, who shot himself in the thigh with an unlicensed gun Nov. 29.
Burress, 31, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail.
"I do not see any reason why he should not be able to play this entire season," said Burress' attorney, Benjamin Brafman. "Even if there is an indictment, it's inconceivable to me in its present posture that this case would proceed to trial until the spring of 2010."
Burress played in only 10 games for New York last season. In the 2007 season, he had 70 receptions, 1,025 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. In nine seasons with Pittsburgh and New York, Burress has caught 505 passes for 7,845 yards and 55 touchdowns.