NFL Notes: Does Favre's risk-taking rep fit with Childress?

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MINNEAPOLIS — Brad Childress wants his quarterbacks to play a certain way. Make the safe pass, keep an even keel, and follow the scheme how it's coached.

Now, here's Brett Favre, whose bionic career has been built on a bold, brash, boyish approach to throwing the football. Yes, Childress and Favre have known each other for years. They're each well-versed in the Vikings' version of the West Coast offense, too.

But how is THIS going to work? Heck, Favre was already calling him "Chilly" at his introductory news conference this week.

"I don't know what I'm going to be asked to do, but I know how to do one thing in particular and that's be a leader and do things a certain way," Favre said this week after signing with his former archrival Minnesota.

Former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon, the 2002 league MVP, predicted this week during his program on Sirius NFL Radio that Favre and Childress would "butt heads" this season.

"Brad Childress is a stickler for doing it his way. He's a very detailed guy; doesn't really want to think outside the box; knows what he understands in that system," Gannon said. "Brett's going to come in there, he's going to be hand-signaling the receivers, he's going to be trying to change plays at the line of scrimmage, he's going to do stuff that they don't do in that system, and he's going to drive Brad Childress crazy."

In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Gannon later softened his analysis. He stressed, though, that even an accomplished, experienced guy like Favre can't get away with whatever he wants.

"You just can't go out there as a quarterback and start winging it," said Gannon, who was the Vikings' starter in 1992 when Favre first joined the rival Packers.

Three days after signing with the Vikings, Favre is expected to start and likely will play one series in the Vikings' preseason home opener tonight against Kansas City.

• BENGALS 7, PATRIOTS 6, at Foxborough, Mass. — The only touchdown came when Cincinnati quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan connected on a 24-yard pass to Chris Henry in the back left side of the end zone with 1:55 left in the first half.

• COLTS 23, EAGLES 7, at Indianapolis — Peyton Manning played like he was in midseason form. He finished 10-of-14 for 167 yards with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Gonzalez and a 76-yarder to Reggie Wayne.

• STEELERS — Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his right ankle or foot during the last half-hour of the team's final training camp practice. It was not immediately certain how badly he was hurt or how long he would be out.

Roethlisberger had an ice pack on the back of the ankle when he was carted off at the end of Thursday's workout, with offensive coordinator Bruce Arians accompanying him. Roethlisberger didn't talk to reporters, but he could be overheard saying, "Oh, it just feels great. It feels like a car ran over it."

• BRONCOS — Broncos coach Josh McDaniels says he hasn't decided if recalcitrant receiver Brandon Marshall will play in Denver's preseason game at Seattle this weekend. Marshall spent a second straight day working almost exclusively with the scout team Thursday, 24 hours after saying he was nowhere near mastering the new offense.

• QUICK HITTERS — Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib was held out of practice Thursday after police say he punched a taxi driver and was jailed on charges of simple battery and resisting arrest without violence. ... Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez capped another impressive practice with two touchdowns on Thursday. ... Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones underwent surgery on his left knee on Thursday morning. The timeline for Jones' return is uncertain. ... Saints quarterback Drew Brees was ready to focus on football Thursday as he returned to practice for the first time since his mother's funeral. ... Lions safety Daniel Bullocks was placed on injured reserve after he cleared waivers, sidelining him for the season.