Angry Manning Doesn’t Appreciate Mora’s Tone

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, upset over Coach Jim Mora’s disparaging remarks after Sunday’s game, fired back Wednesday.

Without citing Manning by name, Mora blamed the Colts’ 40-21 loss to San Francisco on five turnovers and said it was a “disgraceful performance.”

Manning, who had four passes intercepted, accepted blame for the defeat but took exception to the tirade.

“I was fully responsible for that loss. [But] to be called out in front of the whole country, where that press conference is going to be played over and over again ... that bothers me. It really does,” Manning said in a conference call with beat writers of the Baltimore Ravens, the Colts’ opponent Sunday.

Manning said he still respects Mora and hopes the coach returns next season.

Mora, who spoke after Manning on the conference call, said, “I was critical of the team. We did things in all phases of the game that hurt us as far as trying to win that football game, that’s all.”

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Brett Favre’s bad back landed him on the injury report Wednesday, but it didn’t prevent the Green Bay quarterback from throwing the ball 70 yards in practice or hitting a bucket of golf balls afterward.

Favre, who has started an NFL-record 163 consecutive games, including 12 in the playoffs, was listed as probable for the Packers’ game Monday night at Jacksonville.

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Denver running back Terrell Davis, coming off his second knee surgery this season, is expected to start Sunday at Miami.

Former Buffalo kicker Steve Christie, 34, signed with the San Diego Chargers.

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Wade Richey, who missed two short field-goal attempts in San Diego’s 20-17 loss to Arizona on Sunday, will handle kickoffs and perhaps long field-goal attempts.

The winless Detroit Lions, involved in a lease dispute with officials of the Silverdome, tried to practice at the facility but were forced out to a bubble in the parking lot.

The team has been banned for several weeks from using the stadium for practices because the city of Pontiac, Mich., is suing the Lions for breaking a 30-year lease at the Silverdome. Pontiac is seeking an injunction requiring the Lions to honor the lease that expires in 2006.

The Lions want to open the 2002 season at Ford Field, a $315-million stadium under construction in downtown Detroit.