Favre’s Family OK After Hurricane

Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre spent most of the last two days nervously waiting to hear from family members in his hometown of Kiln, Miss., in the heart of the Gulf Coast area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The Packers said Favre finally spoke to his mother, Bonita, late Tuesday afternoon when she was able to reach him with the help of a Houston television station in the area covering hurricane damage.

According to the team, Favre said his mother reported spending Monday night in the family attic, along with his grandmother, after the house filled up with water within a matter of five to 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, the water receded enough that she was able to leave the family home and go to Favre’s brother Jeff’s nearby house, which is slightly higher and away from the water.

Bonita Favre told Brett that the family home was destroyed and probably would have to be bulldozed but that everyone in the family appeared to be fine.

Favre said earlier Tuesday that he spoke to his wife, Deanna, Monday night and again Tuesday morning. He said she and their two children, 16-year-old Brittany and 6-year-old Breleigh, are safe at Favre’s home in Hattiesburg, 60 miles north of Kiln, although their property had extensive damage.

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The Houston Texans’ stadium could be used for the New Orleans Saints’ home opener if the hurricane-damaged Louisiana Superdome isn’t available, stadium president and general manager Shea Guinn said.

Guinn offered Reliant Park as an option to the NFL but hasn’t heard back from the league.

The Saints are supposed to play their home opener Sept. 18, the same date the Texans play the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.

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The Cincinnati Bengals gave up on receiver Peter Warrick, cutting the former first-round pick on the day NFL teams were required to get down to 65 players.

The move came a day after the injury-plagued Warrick asked to be released if the Bengals had written him out of their plans.

Because of injuries, he has played in only one exhibition game, failing to catch a pass.

Atlanta, meanwhile, dumped Peerless Price, another one-time top receiver. His problems were inefficiency and salary. And Chicago cut quarterback Chad Hutchinson, who had been the starter for two games but was demoted to fourth string after two dismal showings in exhibitions.

The Falcons signed Price to a $37-million contract with a $10-million signing bonus after getting him from Buffalo in a 2003 trade that cost them a first-round draft pick.

Among other notable cuts: running back Charlie Garner by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; running back Maurice Clarett by the Denver Broncos; linebacker Greg Favors by the Jacksonville Jaguars; linebacker Markus Steele by the Broncos; kick returner Chad Morton by the New England Patriots; and kicker Remy Hamilton by the St. Louis Rams.

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Philadelphia Eagle defensive end Jerome McDougle, shot during a robbery attempt in July, will sit out at least six weeks of the regular season.

The Eagles put McDougle on the physically unable to perform list. He will be eligible to return between the sixth and ninth weeks of the regular season.

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John Abraham worked out for the first time since signing his $6.7-million tender as the New York Jets’ franchise player.

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New York Giant quarterback Eli Manning threw on the sidelines for the third day in a row and said his sprained elbow continues to improve.

He also confirmed that he sent his MRI exam results to noted orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., to get a second opinion after being examined by Russell Warren, the Giants’ doctor.

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Indianapolis put linebacker Kendyll Pope on the reserve-suspended list for a league-imposed penalty. Colt Coach Tony Dungy, citing confidentiality issues, declined to comment on the length or reason for the suspension.... Tennessee agreed to terms with receiver Troy Edwards and released two undrafted free agents.

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The Colts agreed to a new lease with the city that will keep the team in Indianapolis -- with a new stadium -- for at least the next 30 years, owner Jim Irsay said in a statement.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

The unkindest cut

Some of the significant players cut this week by NFL teams:

* Peter Warrick, WR, Cincinnati

* Peerless Price, WR, Atlanta

* Chad Hutchinson, QB, Chicago

* Maurice Clarett, RB, Denver

* Markus Steele, LB, Denver

* Timmy Chang, QB, Detroit

* Ryan Killeen, K, Detroit

* Greg Favors, LB, Jacksonville

* Remy Hamilton, K, St. Louis

* Charlie Garner, RB, Tampa Bay

Complete list, D9