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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Favre says MRI will affect decision to play next season

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre will have an MRI exam on his ailing right shoulder, a procedure that will help the 39-year-old quarterback decide whether he'll return for another season with the New York Jets.

Favre said Sunday that he would have the exam on Monday; however the New York Daily News reported in Tuesday's editions that the MRI didn't take place. The newspaper reported that Favre had an MRI earlier in the season, which didn't reveal any major damage in his shoulder.

Favre

Favre

Favre said he's been feeling discomfort in his rocket right arm "for quite a while," and he struggled down the stretch with nine interceptions and only two touchdowns in his last five games. He was intercepted three times in the Jets' 24-17 season-ending loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

"It hurts in the back [of the shoulder], hurts down in the biceps and, occasionally, in my neck," Favre said. "Other than that, it's fine."

Favre, who insists he hasn't yet decided if he'll come back for his 19th NFL season, wants to see what the exam shows before determining anything.

"It didn't feel like it should, I do know that," Favre said of his shoulder. "Whether or not it requires surgery, depending on what it would be, that's something else I would have to weigh on whether or not, first of all, I would want surgery.

"Second of all, if I need it, would I play or not? It's one of those things. I'm 39; I don't want to have to have a bunch of surgeries to continue playing. I really don't know what it would show."

At least one teammate said he would like to see Favre next summer for a full training camp.

"I would love to see him back next year," receiver Jerricho Cotchery said, according to the Daily News. "You don't learn the ins and outs of this offense in a couple of months, so I would love to see him come back and get the chance to learn the [offense] ... and get an offseason of [preparation] in so we can turn some things around."

Favre was recently voted to his 10th Pro Bowl, but his first -- and perhaps only -- season with the Jets will be largely viewed as a disappointment.

"I feel there's obviously unfinished business, just because I expected us to continue on," Favre said. "I think there was a point where everyone expected us to continue on. Whether or not that weighs in my decision, I'm sure it does to a certain degree."

Miami Dolphins New York Jets

NFL.com Video

Watch highlights from the Miami Dolphins' 24-17 win over the New York Jets.

Favre, who came out of a brief retirement last winter, was acquired from Green Bay to help the Jets take a big leap forward after a 4-12 season. They did that by more than doubling their win total, but Favre and the team slumped badly after an 8-3 start and talk of a possible Super Bowl appearance. He finished with 3,472 yards passing and threw 22 touchdowns, along with 22 interceptions.

"Down the stretch, it wasn't good enough," he said. "I have no excuses. I would love to sit here and tell you that it was this and it was that, but I'm not going to do that. Bottom line is, it wasn't good enough. I'm sure everyone is going to say, 'He's old, washed up and gray.'

"Maybe they're right."

Favre said his family, particularly his wife, Deanna, hadn't expressed their wishes about whether they want him to continue playing.

"The only thing they indicated to me is that they wanted me to beat Miami," he said. "Of course, I not only let this team down, I let them down. I don't know which one is harder to face."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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