GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre dismissed an ESPN report that he's considering coming out of retirement as "all rumor."

Favre responded Wednesday to the ESPN report by telling his hometown newspaper Web site, SunHerald.com in Gulfport, Miss., that "it's all rumor."

The paper reported that Favre sent a text message saying there's "no reason" for a media frenzy.

ESPN reported that an unidentified Packers source said the 38-year-old Favre told coach Mike McCarthy in the past two weeks that he has the itch to play.

"The Packers have no reaction," team spokesman Jeff Blumb told The Associated Press.

Favre retired March 6 after a 17-year career.

Cornerback Al Harris said on ESPN's "NFL Live" that Favre made similar comments to him.

"I know he has the itch to come back and play," Harris said. "If he will or not, I don't know."

MONACA — Matt Vogt of Cranberry Township finished tied for third place overall by firing a 72-67-139 at the 2008 Tri-State Junior PGAChampionship Wednesday at Fox Run Golf Course.Vogt tied with Michael Zupi of Aliquippa, but Zupi won on a scorecard playoff. Vogt also placed third in the boys 16- to 18-division.E.J. McFarland of Pittsburgh won the event with a 137 and will advance to the 33rd annual National Junior PGA Championships Aug. 13-16 at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati.On the girls side Maria Battaglia of Uniontown advanced to the finals. Battaglia captured the event with a 145, tying Nadia Luttner of Pittsburgh, but she won a two-hole, sudden-death playoff.Jenna Rinker of Slippery Rock finished fifth overall in the event with a 80-79-159 and was fourth in the 16-to 18-division.Other Butler County area boys finishers include: Ryan Prokay of Grove City (T-16th overall, 147); Jeff Tracy of Slippery Rock (29th, 152); Derek Hillegas of Butler (T-43rd, 157); Brett Rinker of Slippery Rock (T-48, 160; also ninth in boys 14-15); Dexter Boots of Fombell (T-48th, 160); Joseph Boros of Saxonburg (T-63rd, 166); Jack Boros of Saxonburg (T-72nd, 172) and Brad Bowers of Cranberry Township (80th, 209).

BOSTON — Boston's police commissioner is asking for an independent review into the death of a man who stopped breathing while being arrested on the night the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship.Twenty-two-old David Woodman died Sunday, 11 days after police say they spotted him drinking from an open container of what they believed was alcohol.They say he fled when officers approached him and struggled as they tried to handcuff him. His parents have questioned the way police handed their son.Commissioner Edward Davis said Wednesday night he's asking former U.S. Attorney Donald Stern to conduct the outside investigation.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Wednesday, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 for their second three-game sweep of the World Series champions this season.The Rays improved the best record in baseball to 52-32, rallying from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning and extending their lead in the AL East to a franchise-best 3Z\x games over the second-place Red Sox, who matched a season high with their fifth consecutive loss.Tampa Bay is 6-0 at home against Boston, which has swept a pair of three-game series from the Rays at Fenway Park.

GLENDORA, Calif. — Eleven days after Scott Kalitta was killed in a racing accident, the NHRA reduced the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet in an interim safety measure Wednesday.The 320-foot reduction will start next week in the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Colorado. The Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes will continue to run a quarter-mile.The 46-year-old Kalitta, the son of longtime driver and owner Connie Kalitta, died June 21 after an accident during the final round of qualifying at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey.