Favre’s ‘Supplier’ Concerns NFL

The NFL plans to investigate claims that former Green Bay Packer tackle John Jurkovic gave painkillers to quarterback Brett Favre.

“It concerns us. We plan to look into it,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Jurkovic, who now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, supplied Favre with about 50 pain pills over four seasons, unaware of his growing addiction to the painkiller Vicodin, according to a new book, “Return to Glory.”

“If my quarterback comes to me and says, ‘Hey, tighten me up,’ it’s a no-brainer. You give him the Vike,” Jurkovic is quoted as saying.

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Holdout rookie running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Carolina’s first-round draft pick, received a letter from General Manager Bill Polian saying the team was withdrawing its previous offer and ending negotiations.

“It’s to the point where anyone who came in now wouldn’t be able to help us against Atlanta,” Mike McCormack, team president, said. The Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons Sept. 1 in their regular-season opener.

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Trent Dilfer threw for 172 yards and one touchdown in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 16-0 exhibition victory over the Falcons Saturday night at Tampa, Fla. But the Buccaneers may have lost receiver Horace Copeland for the season with a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee.