NFL | Retired Brett Favre on Madden cover

NEW YORK — Maybe the best proof that Brett Favre is the football icon of his generation came Friday when he became the cover boy for Madden NFL '09.

Favre is the first retired player to have his visage on the video game. And yes, he is retired, despite the rumblings that nothing is final — the Packers filed papers with the league to make it official on Friday.

"There are always second thoughts, but that's not saying I am coming back," Favre said. "It's never a clear-cut decision. It's something I can't expect everyone to understand. No, there's no perfect time.

"First of all, I won't keep myself in shape. I'm sure after training camp is over and all that hard work is done, it might be 'OK, now.' It might be nice to dream about it, but no."

Favre spent much of his time Friday being roasted by former teammate Sterling Sharpe, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and former Packers quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci. He also admitted he did not play the Madden game, which is celebrating its 20th year by highlighting Favre on the cover.

Favre said of his individual achievements, he was most proud of winning The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award, which he did three times, the only player to do so.

"Just one is enough, to be thought of as the best player in the NFL is very special," he said.

But it's his durability through his 17 years in the NFL that others point to as Favre's defining accomplishment.

"He's hurt every week," Hasselbeck said. "He's just tougher than the other guys."

But not so tough that Favre couldn't get his first facial and pedicure, a fact Hasselbeck readily offered "even though he'll probably kill me for this."

"It was something he and [wife] Deanna did together," Hasselbeck said. "I feel sorry for the woman who did the pedicure."

McFadden debate

Darren McFadden could be the next Adrian Peterson, which nobody in the NFL can scoff at.

Yet McFadden also might slide down in the first round of today's draft, just as Peterson did a year ago.

Peterson wound up being selected seventh overall by Minnesota. All the former Oklahoma All-American did was rush for 1,341 yards in 14 games.

Now comes Arkansas All-American McFadden, who often has been compared with Peterson.

Peterson is 6 feet 1, 215, and McFadden goes 6-2, 212 or so.

"I feel I'm a different runner," McFadden added. "AD is a little more physical than me, but I feel I have the home run capability."

So do a lot of teams, yet there are scenarios where McFadden could slip to, say, No. 7, just like Peterson did. That would give the AFC champion Patriots a shot at the gamebreaker.

Other forecasts place McFadden with either the Raiders at No. 4 or the Jets at No. 6. Some teams have thought about moving up for a shot at the Arkansas star.

Notes

• The Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans are on the clock with their Adam "Pacman" Jones trade.

The deal still wasn't finalized Friday, two days after the teams agreed in principle and the eve of the NFL draft. The Titans are supposed to get Dallas' fourth-round pick and another pick next year for the rights to the suspended cornerback.

• A Miami judge will not free one of the suspects in the killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy denied the bail request made by 20-year-old Jason Scott Mitchell.

Mitchell and three others are charged with first-degree murder in the November shooting death of Taylor during a botched burglary at his Miami home.