Favre Says He’s Not Retiring Just Yet

Hold off on the gold watch. Brett Favre isn’t ready to call it a career.

“As I said during the season, I have every intention of coming back” in 2003, Favre said Monday in his first comments since the Packers were bounced from the playoffs.

“I don’t see any reason why this team shouldn’t compete for a Super Bowl next year. And why shouldn’t I be a part of it?”

The 33-year-old star quarterback had fueled speculation about his future Saturday night when he did not speak to reporters after Atlanta handed the Packers their first loss in 14 home playoff games.

Favre said he was in a bad mood after the stunning 27-7 loss to the Falcons and was eager to get home and tuck his daughters into bed.

By Sunday, rumors of his retirement were rampant.

Favre hinted last month that he might hang up his cleats if he were to win another Super Bowl to go with the one the Packers won six years ago.

He said he still feels good, so it’s not time to hit the links yet.

“Right now, I’m playing great. This team has a chance, and I’m having fun,” Favre said.

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Marcus Allen and Gary Zimmerman are the only first-time candidates among 15 finalists announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The class of 2003 will be announced Jan. 25, the day before the Super Bowl. At least four and no more than seven new members will be inducted.

Other players nominated were quarterback Ken Stabler, wide receivers James Lofton and Art Monk, cornerback Lester Hayes, defensive ends Elvin Bethea and Claude Humphrey, linebackers Harry Carson and Randy Gradishar and offensive linemen Joe DeLamielleure and Bob Kuechenberg.

Former New York Giant general manager George Young and Buffalo Bill founder and owner Ralph Wilson are also finalists.

Hank Stram, who coached the Kansas City Chiefs to the 1970 Super Bowl title, was nominated by the seniors committee.

The hall’s 39-member board of selectors determined the 14 modern-era finalists from a preliminary group of 74 players, coaches and contributors.

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Cowboy Coach Bill Parcells made his first moves with his staff, hiring Maurice Carthon as offensive coordinator and keeping Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator.

Carthon was on Parcells’ staff in New England and with the New York Jets. He also played for Parcells as a running back on the New York Giants’ two Super Bowl winning teams.

He replaces Bruce Coslet, who was with the Cowboys for one season.

Zimmer has been on Dallas’ staff for nine seasons, the last three as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys had the NFL’s 18th-ranked defense in 2002, a year after ranking fourth.

Carthon spent the last two seasons with Detroit, last season as offensive coordinator after a year as running backs coach.

“I love this guy. He is the type of guy that I know will work hard,” Parcells said. “He is the kind of guy you like to have that will cover your backside.”

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Not even a four-game suspension could stop Julius Peppers from winning the NFL defensive rookie of the year award.

The Carolina Panther defensive end, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, missed the last four games of the season for violating the league’s drug policy.

He took a dietary supplement that contained a banned substance.

Before that, he had 12 sacks, second among rookies to Colt end Dwight Freeney, who had 13.

Peppers received 25 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Freeney was next with 14.

Dallas safety Roy Williams got seven votes, followed by Baltimore safety Ed Reed and Tennessee safety Tank Williams with one each.

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The Arizona Cardinals shook up their underachieving team by firing general manger Bob Ferguson and two assistant coaches.

In the front office, Rod Graves, personal assistant to the team’s president since 1997, was promoted to vice president of football operations, a new position that incorporates Ferguson’s duties.

Coach Dave McGinnis relieved offensive coordinator Rich Olson of his duties and declined to offer a new contract to defensive backs coach Kevin Ramsey.