MILWAUKEE — Brett Favre finally is speaking for himself: He wants to play but doesn’t feel welcome in Green Bay, so he’s asking to be released.
The quarterback’s first substantial comments on his latest retirement decision reversal come in an interview with Fox News on “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.”

Brett Favre’s fans came to his defense Sunday, rallying outside Lambeau Field to pressure the Green Bay Packers to reinstate him as the starting quarterback.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney faces an uphill climb in trying to acquire majority control of one of pro sports’ best-known franchises now that his four brothers have hired an investment firm to field offers for their shares of the club.
In a curious twist, Art Rooney Jr., a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee for his drafting skills who was fired by Dan Rooney 21 years ago, may decide if the team stays in the Rooney family’s control.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers coach Mike McCarthy was grilled about rumors of a Brett Favre comeback Wednesday — not by the media, but by kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay.
Standing at a podium to announce a $100,000 donation to the club in conjunction with the team, McCarthy was asked by 11-year old Miranda Black of nearby Oconto Falls the biggest question in the state these days: “Um, is Brett Favre coming back?”

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre dismissed an ESPN report that he’s considering coming out of retirement as “all rumor.”
Favre responded Wednesday to the ESPN report by telling his hometown newspaper Web site, SunHerald.com in Gulfport, Miss., that “it’s all rumor.”
The paper reported that Favre sent a text message saying there’s “no reason” for a media frenzy.

ASHBURN — Jason Campbell has so many things running through his head that it is a wonder his helmet is not spinning when he stands behind the center.
Campbell, quarterback for the Washington Redskins, has a new offense to learn. That’s a major issue, but Campbell says it’s not a major problem.
“It’s similar to what we ran my last year at Auburn,” Campbell said.

The receiver known as “Showtime” was given jersey No. 85. He’s the kid who grew up in the shadow of the University of Michigan, yet attended Michigan State.
The tight end whose nicknames range from “Bone Crusher” to “Freddie Franchise” to “Problem Solver” to “Fast Freddie” got No. 86. He’s the Toledo guy who’s never been forgiven by Ohio State fans for spurning the Buckeyes to attend Southern California.

Chris Long’s marathon victory tour stopped in St. Louis on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Rams took him with the second pick of the NFL draft.

It’s been a whirlwind for the Virginia defensive end, fast separating himself from his previous life as the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox TV analyst Howie Long.

NEW YORK — Things were going so normally, so predictably at Saturday’s NFL draft. All six players the league invited to the festivities hit the stage in the first half-dozen selections.
Yawn.

NEW YORK — The anxiety, uncertainty and lack of control that go with being a top NFL prospect can be maddening. Jake Long sits back and laughingly scoffs at it. And why not: Long already knows where he’s going, and when.
The Miami Dolphins made the Michigan tackle a very rich young man by signing him to a five-year contract worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed. He will be the first name announced at Saturday’s NFL draft.

IRVING, Texas — The Tennessee Titans finally washed their hands of suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones on Wednesday, agreeing in principle to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the teams had an agreement, but no terms had been filed with the NFL office, which already had closed for the day.