Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
RENTON, Wash. ó Mike Holmgren is getting a fitting finale in Seattle: Brett Farve and a chance of snow.
Two years ago, the last time Favre came to the Northwest to reunite with his friend and former mentor, Seattle had a rare snowstorm during the game.
And Holmgren’s last trip back to Green Bay, where he and Favre won a Super Bowl in 1997, came in last January’s playoffs. A blizzard turned Lambeau Field into a snow globe as the Packers buried Holmgren’s Seahawks by three touchdowns.
Farve is with the AFC East co-leading Jets (9-5) now but the forecast is the same for Holmgren’s final home game as the Seahawks’ coach before he takes a self-described sabbatical from football in 2009.
“Here we go again … If that happened, it probably means I should take a year off,” Holmgren said Monday, laughing at the 40-percent chance of snow for his final reunion with the quarterback he brought to Green Bay with him in 1992 before molding the wild gunslinger into a champion.
“It’s going to be a very, very big game for them. And it will be a fun game for me,” he said.
Holmgren joked he has the perfect attire ready for Favre on Sunday.
“You know the hat I wore in the playoff game in Green Bay? I still have it. There’s a foot of snow on it. I’ve kept it in the freezer,” Holmgren said, recalling the memorable images of snow stacked on the brim of his Seahawks cap and mustache. “I can whip that baby out and put it on.”
LIONS
The winless Lions are sticking with quarterback Dan Orlovsky.
Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said Monday that Orlovsky would make his second straight start in part because Daunte Culpepper is questionable because of a shoulder injury.
Detroit (0-14) hosts the New Orleans Saints as a 61/2-point underdog in its home finale, hoping to avoid being the NFL’s first 0-15 team, then closes the season at Green Bay.
Orlovsky was 23-of-34 for 233 yards with a touchdown in a 31-21 loss Sunday at Indianapolis. He tied the game early in the fourth quarter with a 2-point conversion after leading a 13-play, 91-yard drive.
Culpepper threw four TDs and six interceptions over five starts before he hurt his shoulder Dec. 7 against Minnesota.
CHIEFS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Carl Peterson, who turned the Kansas City Chiefs into an NFL powerhouse in the 1990s, is out after nearly 20 years as president, CEO and general manager.
Clark Hunt, announcing his first major decision since he became chairman of the board upon the death two years ago of his father, Lamar, said the future of coach Herm Edwards would be decided later.
CHARGERS
Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd was hospitalized overnight in Kansas City after sustaining a collapsed lung in Sunday’s victory against the Chiefs.
GIANTS
Corey Webster, who has developed into one the NFL’s top cornerbacks over the past year, signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension.
BILLS
Rookie wide receiver James Hardy will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee.
BENGALS
Quarterback Carson Palmer is doing well in his comeback from an elbow injury and could throw in practice this week.
JAGUARS
Linebacker Mike Peterson will be back in the starting lineup, just not the way he wanted to get there.
Starting middle linebacker Daryl Smith injured his groin Sunday against Green Bay and won’t play Thursday night against Indianapolis, allowing Peterson to reclaim his spot on defense.
CARDINALS
The Cardinals have established their dominance of the NFC West. The rest of the NFL is still giving them trouble.
The latest example came Sunday, when the Minnesota Vikings drubbed Arizona 35-14 on the same field where, a week earlier, the Cardinals wrapped up their first division title in 33 years. The ugly loss left Arizona 8-6, but only 3-6 against teams outside its division ó and 2-5 against winning teams.
RAVENS
If the Ravens are to put a positive finish on the regular season, they must play better at the end of the game.
A 13-9 loss to the Steelers on Sunday eliminated Baltimore from contention in the AFC North, but the Ravens (9-5) will earn a wild-card berth if they win their final two games: at Dallas on Saturday night and at home against Jacksonville on Dec. 28.
COWBOYS
Although Tony Romo’s back is sore and his status for practice Wednesday remains to be determined, the Cowboys expect to have their quarterback play Saturday night against Baltimore.