NFL Notebook | Packers' decline surprises QB Favre

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Nearing the end of an embarrassing loss to the New York Jets at Lambeau Field, Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre turned to commiserate with another Packers sage, long snapper Rob Davis.

"He said, 'Man, we never thought we'd see this, did we?' " Favre said after Sunday's 38-10 loss. "And I said, 'No.' I'm glad I made the decision to come back, but this is difficult. I never thought I'd see it, but here we are. I never thought I'd be part of a game or a season like we've had the last two years."

With the loss to the Jets, the Packers slipped to 4-8 and appear headed for another disappointing finish. Favre, 37, insists he made the right decision by coming back this season instead of retiring, but the optimism he showed at the beginning of training camp has faded.

"I really thought I could be a difference-maker," Favre said. "I've always felt that way. And I still believe that. But there are games like this and halves like we had in the first half where [you] go, 'Huh, what a difference-maker you were. Did you make the right decision in coming back?' "

Bears to stick with Grossman

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Let the fans boo and the critics ramble. Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith refused to budge. He is sticking with Rex Grossman as his starting quarterback.

A day after the Bears wrapped up their second straight NFC North title, Grossman's lowly performance in a 23-13 win over Minnesota was the main topic. A 1.3 quarterback rating and three more interceptions increased the clamoring for a change to veteran Brian Griese.

"We are not making a change. ... Rex didn't play as well as he needed to yesterday. It was a bad game for us, bad game for Rex," Smith said.

After the game, Grossman said, "I'm thinking too much, trying to analyze things too much and making it more complicated than it is."

Notes

• Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Jon Kitna — a former Seahawk — is the team's quarterback for the rest of the season and beyond. "I see Jon as our starter for next year," Marinelli said. "He's a heck of a quarterback."

• Denver fullback Cecil Sapp will miss the rest of the season because of a broken left leg, but Broncos linebacker Al Wilson could return to practice this week after injuring his neck in Sunday night's 23-20 loss to the Seahawks.

Wilson was immobilized and carted off the field after spraining his neck going for a fumble. Coach Mike Shanahan said Wilson still had some numbness in his shoulders Monday, but said Wilson might practice Wednesday if the numbness subsides.

• Dominique Byrd, a St. Louis rookie tight end, was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action. He allegedly hit a bar patron in the head with a beer bottle. Byrd's bond was set at $25,000 and attorney Scott Rosenblum said the player will plead not guilty.

• Reggie McNeal, a Cincinnati rookie wide receiver, was arrested in Houston and charged with resisting arrest after being refused entrance to a nightclub early Sunday. McNeal was released on a $1,000 bond and is due in Harris County district court Friday.

• A judge in Columbus, Ohio, dismissed misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and assault filed against Pittsburgh rookie receiver Santonio Holmes. He had been charged with assaulting LaShae Boone, mother of one of his three children.

• Pittsburgh might be without injured wide receiver Hines Ward, All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and two other starters for Thursday night's AFC North game against Cleveland. Ward and Polamalu sat out the Steelers' 20-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday, when wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (ankle) and safety Ryan Clark (groin) also were hurt. Ward and Polamalu each injured a knee the week before against Baltimore.

"I'm not sure they'll be able to make it on a short week," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said.

• Linebacker Derek Smith and offensive lineman Adam Snyder will miss the San Francisco 49ers' game against Green Bay on Sunday with potentially season-ending injuries. Smith has a strained hamstring. Snyder sprained his knee and ankle.

• League commissioner Roger Goodell praised South Florida as a Super Bowl site yet was noncommittal about how often the game will return.

In February, the Super Bowl will be played in Miami for the ninth time — tying New Orleans' record — and the first time since 1999. The game will return to Miami in 2010.

"South Florida does it better than anybody I know, and so we're thrilled to be here," Goodell said at a kickoff event for the 2007 game.

• The Miami Dolphins are 5-7 this season, and 14-14 since Nick Saban took over as coach. Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga expressed confidence in Saban.

• NBC has moved the Dec. 17 game in San Diego between the Chargers (10-2) and Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) to its night slot. The move is part of the network's flexible scheduling under the new television contract with the league that is meant to ensure contending teams play in prime time late in the season.