NFL: Favre won’t play in 2011
In an NFL Network interview yesterday, Brett Favre reiterated that he won’t play in 2011. Favre, who was held out of Wednesday’s practice, participated on a limited basis yesterday. In other Vikings’ news, Percy Harvin missed practice for a second straight day.
* Titans quarterback Vince Young has returned to practice, splitting the work with backup Kerry Collins. Whether Young starts Sunday at Miami depends on how his sprained left ankle reacts to his first work since he was hurt Oct. 31.
Meanwhile, police have wrapped up an investigation of an Oct. 22 bar fight with no charges filed in a case where the victim accused Titans receiver Kenny Britt of hitting him.
* Bengals right tackle Andre Smith has a broken foot that could end his season.
* Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman will not play against the Lions Sunday, and is out indefinitely after aggravating an injury to his right Achilles’ tendon.
NBA: Celtics beat Heat
Ray Allen hit his first seven 3-point tries and finished with 35 points, and the Celtics led wire-to-wire in a 112-107 win over Miami, handing the Heat their second straight home loss.
* In Denver, Carmelo Anthony had 32 points to rally the Nuggets past the Lakers 118-112, handing Los Angeles its first loss of the season.
Kobe Bryant, who went past the 26,000-point mark, scored a season-high 34 for the Lakers, who were trying to win their first nine games for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
* Rockets center Yao Ming has a mild left ankle sprain and is expected to be out at least a week.
COLLEGES: Newton’s price high
A former Mississippi State player who worked with agents says Cecil Newton told him it would take anywhere from $100,000 to $180,000 for his son, Cam, to sign a scholarship with Mississippi State.
Kenny Rogers told ESPN radio in Dallas that when he and Cecil Newton met with two MSU coaches at a hotel in Starkville, Miss., last Nov. 27, one of the coaches said, “No, no I don’t want to hear that,” when Cecil Newton asked about the payment for Cam Newton to attend Mississippi State.
* In East Hartford, Conn., Jordan Todman ran for 222 yards, including 4 on a fourth-and-1 from the Connecticut with 2½ minutes left, and the Huskies (5-4, 2-2 Big East) beat Pittsburgh 30-28 to bring the Panthers (5-4, 3-1) back to the pack in the conference.
GOLF: Tiger falls back
In Melbourne, Australia, Tiger Woods struggled in the wind today for a 1-over 72, leaving him nine shots behind Adam Bland at the Australian Masters.
* Phil Mickelson opened with a 4-under 67 in the Singapore Open yesterday, leaving him four strokes off the lead.
* Rickie Fowler shot a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Children’s Miracle Network in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
* Cristie Kerr shot a tournament-record 8-under 64 to take a three-in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.