Former player claims Titans kept his knee problem a secret

Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver David Givens claims the team failed to tell him about a defect in his knee that led to an injury and eventually ended his career.

Givens claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that a doctor discovered a defect in his knee during a physical around the time his contract was being negotiated in March 2006. He claims the examining doctor told team officials he “may need surgery at some point” and “may not be able to make a full 16-game season.”

But Givens claims he was “kept in the dark about his condition” and team officials urged him to keep playing.

“The decision was made by the Titans management, coaching and medical staffs to risk serious injury and aggravation to a pre-existing condition without so much as consulting or discussing that situation with David Givens,” the lawsuit said.

Givens hurt that knee Nov. 12, 2006, in a game against Baltimore. An X-ray determined that the “previously known lesion and defect in his knee had crumbled,” the lawsuit said.

Givens, 29, has not played professionally again.

Titans officials said Wednesday they had not seen the lawsuit and had no comment. Coach Jeff Fisher also declined to comment about the lawsuit after practice.

Favre calls Jets fines ‘very unfair’

Brett Favre said he believes the fines handed down by the NFL for his absence from last year’s New York Jets injury reports are “very unfair.”

Favre was asked by reporters for the first time about the $125,000 in penalties levied on the Jets organization, General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and former coach Eric Mangini.

“I just think it’s wrong,” Favre said. “They did everything that I felt they were supposed to.”

Peterson is limited

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was limited in practice Wednesday with a back injury.

The NFL’s leading rusher was listed on the team’s injury report, three days after rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.

The team plays host to San Francisco on Sunday.

Adams fined again

Dallas Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams has been fined $12,500 by the NFL for kicking two New York Giants on Sunday, making it two straight games he has been fined.

Adams was punished for the second-quarter play that left Justin Tuck with a shoulder injury that kept him from practice, and kicking Osi Umenyiora in the fourth quarter.

Injury report

San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick has undergone surgery on his left ankle and the team says he is expected to miss eight weeks. The sixth-year veteran was hurt in the season opener. . . . Chester Pitts, a left guard who has started every game in Houston’s history, will miss the rest of the season after surgery on his right knee. . . . Buffalo Bills starting center Geoff Hangartner missed practice because of a back injury. . . . Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis did not practice because of a hamstring injury, leaving his status for Sunday’s game at Baltimore in question. . . . Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker E.J. Henderson didn’t practice because of an unknown injury.