Ankle Still an Issue for Favre

Brett Favre said during the ESPY awards show on Wednesday night in Los Angeles that he would "love to play" for the Minnesota Vikings this season but still hasn't decided if he will return because his surgically repaired left ankle continues to give him problems.

"I still have a little bit of time, and believe it or not, (I'm) not completely healthy," Favre said during a backstage interview at the Nokia Theatre that was aired on the ESPN3 website after the show ended. "I guess at 40 I may never be. I'm not getting any younger, but I am working hard trying to feel as best I can. Last year, I felt great. My arm was totally different than it was the year before (in 2008 with the Jets) and that made my decision a little bit easier. But we'll see."

Favre, who was honored with the "Best Play" award for his last-second touchdown pass to Greg Lewis that lifted the Vikings over San Francisco in Week 3 last season, underwent surgery to repair a partially torn biceps in May 2009 and eventually decided to end his retirement and sign a two-year contract with the Vikings. This spring, Favre underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle and has been throwing with receivers at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., as he tries to decide whether to play a 20th season.

Favre made it clear in his interview that he has the desire to play but wants to make sure physically he feels all right.

"It starts with the ankle," he said. "This coming Friday will be eight weeks (since the surgery), and I had hoped it would be a little bit better at this point. I can walk fine, but you don't walk in football.

"Then it kind of works from there up. If you wake up in the morning and your feet hurt, it kind of makes the rest of your body hurt, and if you've been sacked 700 times, that usually adds to it."

Favre did not mention his future while making two appearances on stage during the program, once to present the Arthur Ashe Courage award and the other time to receive the "Best Play" honor.

In addition to his appearance at the ESPYs, Favre also will be in the spotlight for a wide-ranging interview he did that will appear in the upcoming edition of Men's Journal. Favre talked to the reporter from the magazine in April.

Included was Favre's first in-depth explanation about the interception he threw late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game in New Orleans. The pass - on which Favre said receiver Sidney Rice didn't do what he expected - ended the Vikings' drive in Saints territory with the score tied. New Orleans won, 31-28, in overtime.

"Playing another year probably isn't going to make a difference (for his body); the damage has already been done," Favre told Stephen Rodrick of Men's Journal.

Game 11: Cowboys vs. 49ers

The 49ers come into this one with a 3-7 record and really no motivation. Their season is over, really. The last time these two teams played, Dallas won 34-31, and it would seem pretty likely that the score will be pretty similar.

Dallas is trying to find it's groove again, and this is a good time of the season to find it and get hot. They are nearing the playoffs, they have everybody back that they need (so they are getting healthier), and they are seeing what came happen when they are motivated. It is time for Wade Phillips to light a fire. I almost doubt that he has at all this season.

Shaun Hill helped the 49ers stop a losing streak (of 6 games) with a win over St. Louis. The Cowboys have won two of their last three. I wouldn't go and call the 49ers hot, by any means, but they did find something that would work... can that carry into this game? I really doubt it, but then you never really know.

49ers to Watch:

• Shaun Hill: QB Rating 91.6; 49-83 for 603 yards (59%) with 5 TDs, 2 Ints, and a fumble.
• Frank Gore: 177 carries for 834 yards with 6 TDs and 2 lost fumbles.
• Isaac Bruce: 26 catches for 433 yards and 4 TDs.
• Allen Rossum: 38 KR for 1,061 yards and a TD.
• Patrick Willis: A sack, an Int (for a TD), 90 tackles, and 9 deflections.
• Justin Smith: 3 sacks and an Int.
• Parys Haralson: 4.5 sacks

Cowboys to Watch:

• Tony Romo: QB Rating 99.9; 147-227 for 1,887 yards (64.8%) with 15 TDs, 7 Ints, and 3 lost fumbles.
• Marion Barber: 196 carries for 779 yards with 6 TDs and 2 lost fumbles.
• Jason Witten: 48 catches for 583 yards and 2 TDs.
• Terrell Owens: 401 catches for 505 yards and 6 TDs.
• Miles Austin: 12 catches for 255 yards, 3 TDs, and 16 KR for 355 yards.
• DeMarcus Ware: 11 sacks and 55 tackles.

I really could have gone on and on with the Cowboys stats... but I think the snapshot above is pretty good. Ware will mostly likely have two sacks against the 49ers, maybe even three or four if he pushes himself pretty well throughout the game. Barber could follow up his 100+ yard game against the Redskins with another 100 yard game. And with Romo, well, I think he can post a 300+ passing game.

I do not see Shaun Hill having 200 yards in passing, more than likely he is looking at around 150 yards... if that much. Cowboys snag an interception of Hill. Willis may cause the Cowboys a bit of trouble, but he and Rossum will be really the only threats on the day.

Forecast: This is a whitewash. Cowboys tear up the 49ers in a well needed win that gets the Cowboys on track and in the correct mindframe. Score: 31-10.

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