Favre says he didn't tell secrets out of school

Brett Favre insists he's no Benedict Brett.

The New York Jets quarterback acknowledged yesterday that he spoke to former Detroit president Matt Millen a few weeks ago, but denied reports he called Millen and gave him and Lions coaches information they could use in a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Favre, who had a bitter split with the Packers in the offseason, said Millen called to invite him to go hunting. The friends then briefly talked about football.

"I didn't give him any game planning," Favre said. "I haven't been in that offense in over a year. I don't know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple."

Favre also said Dallas quarterback Tony Romo called him last week - not the other way around - to ask for suggestions on playing through injuries.

"Next thing I know, I'm calling everyone in the league, giving out secrets," Favre said. "I'm willing to help, but it's awful ridiculous."

Favre spent nearly 15 minutes answering questions about the Foxsports.com report Sunday that said he called the Lions before their Sept. 14 game against the Packers. The report said Favre spent more than an hour giving Millen and Lions coaches information on nuances of the offense he used to run. Green Bay won the game, 48-25.

"I did not call the Lions, nor did I call Tony Romo," a defiant Favre said. "I don't know what else to tell everyone, but I'm not calling people."

Jay Glazer, who wrote the story for Foxsports.com, defended what he wrote. "I stand by my story 1,000 percent," he said. "I investigated this fully and for quite some time. I spoke with several sources, and when I go with something, I make sure it's dead-on."

Winslow appeals

Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow appealed his one-game suspension for critical comments he made about the Cleveland Browns' handling of his hospitalization with a staph infection, the latest development in a bizarre back-and-forth squabble.

Winslow was suspended without pay by general manager Phil Savage Tuesday for comments and behavior disparaging to the organization. Winslow was critical of Savage and said he only came forward to reveal he had staph - for the second time - out of concern for his teammates' health.

If Winslow loses his appeal, he will sit out Sunday's game in Jacksonville and forfeit $235,294, his one-game paycheck. If Winslow wins, he could keep his money and it's possible the 25-year-old could be reinstated in time to play the Jaguars.

Whatever the outcome, Browns coach Romeo Crennel feels Winslow's rift with the team can be fixed.

"I think it is repairable," he said. "Kellen is not a bad kid. I have a pretty decent relationship with Kellen. With me, personally, I feel that relations are repairable and we will go forward."

According to Crennel and Savage, the team and Winslow made a joint decision to keep the player's medical condition confidential. However, when he returned to practice last week after missing Cleveland's 35-14 upset over the New York Giants, Winslow said it was the Browns who didn't want to disclose his illness. He said he agreed with them.

November for Romo

Romo's broken little finger has become a big issue for the struggling Dallas Cowboys. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who wanted to try to play last week despite the broken pinkie on his throwing hand, said he doesn't expect to play again until at least mid-November. "I don't know when I'll be back," Romo said. "I think definitely the idea now is to get healthy by that bye week." That means Romo would miss at least two more games: Sunday at Tampa Bay and the following week at the New York Giants. The Cowboys (4-3), who have lost three of their last four games, then take a week off before returning Nov. 16 at Washington. Brad Johnson will start again . . . Saying he was "kind of disgusted with myself," Larry Johnson apologized for behavior that's led to an NFL investigation and his benching for a second straight week. "This is the first time in my life I actually had to stand up, I mean actually woke up and kind of be disgusted with myself and disgusted as far as the way my life and my career is heading right now." Police and the NFL are investigating a report that Johnson spat several times on a woman at a Kansas City nightclub. He's also facing a hearing in December in connection with a simple assault allegation involving another woman in February at another nightspot. It's the fourth time in five years he's been accused of assaulting a woman . . . Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is trying to quash any thoughts he will become the new leader of the San Francisco 49ers next season. "The plan for me and Kath [wife Kathy] is to take a year off [2009] after this time in Seattle. We've been here 10 years, and we love it here, and that's the plan." San Francisco and Seattle are abuzz with rumors Holmgren is the prime candidate to run the 49ers next season. San Francisco (2-5) fired coach Mike Nolan and replaced him with Mike Singletary on an interim basis.

Boldin in action

Anquan Boldin butted heads with teammates in practice to test his surgically repaired sinus and jaw. He passed that test, but the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver said after a limited workout he was uncertain whether he would play Sunday at Carolina. "Everything felt good," he said. "I went out and kind of head-butted some guys to try to see how I feel. I didn't feel any pressure from it, so it felt good for the first day." The Cardinals revealed details of the surgery to repair the damage from a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from New York Jets safety Eric Smith Sept. 28. Not only was Boldin's sinus fractured, he also had his upper jaw knocked out of place. Doctors had to cut the jaw bone on both sides, then move it back into alignment and secure it with permanent plates . . . The Denver Broncos lost linebacker Boss Bailey and backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey (right elbow) to season-ending injuries. Cornerback Champ Bailey (groin injury) is out for at least a month. All three were hurt in Denver's 41-7 loss at New England Monday night. Boss Bailey and Ramsey were placed on injured reserve yesterday. Boss Bailey is scheduled to have microfracture surgery on his left knee once the swelling goes down . . . The Redskins' Jason Taylor estimated he is only 60 percent healthy as he plays his way back after emergency calf surgery. The veteran defensive end has played in two games since the Sept. 22 operation . . . Former Alabama and NFL quarterback Ken Stabler has been found not guilty of drunken driving charges in south Alabama. Stabler, 62, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being stopped shortly after midnight June 8 on Alabama 59 in Robertsdale, near Mobile Bay. Municipal Judge James Sweet said, "I just don't think the city has met its burden of proof."