By ESPN.com

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Brett Favre is back on the field with the Minnesota Vikings.

The three-time MVP started his second season in Minnesota on Wednesday, wearing a helmet, shoulder pads and a red quarterback's jersey as he worked out with his teammates on their practice field.

After staying away from training camp, Favre was practicing less than 24 hours after the teams sent three of his closest friends to Mississippi to bring him back after another summer of indecision. The Vikings said Favre planned to hold a news conference after practice.

Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Ryan Longwell were dispatched to Favre's home in Hattiesburg to convince the 40-year-old quarterback to return. He was contemplating retirement yet again because of a surgically repaired left ankle that was hurt in the NFC title game.

Favre's return to the field comes on the one-year anniversary of the day he signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Vikings.

Favre reportedly will get a pay raise for returning to the 2010 season. Favre, who was scheduled to make $13 million this season, will have his base salary bumped to $16.5 million, the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported.

Favre also will have $3.5 million in incentives added to his contract, based on postseason success, the Star Tribune reported, potentially boosting his 2010 salary to $20 million.

In a scene nearly identical to his arrival last August, Favre took a private plane from Hattiesburg on Tuesday, was followed by news helicopters from a suburban airport to the team headquarters, and was greeted by dozens of fans and media members upon his arrival.

"Helicopters acting like they are following O.J.," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe tweeted. "Where is the bronco."

The big difference? His signing with the Vikings -- Green Bay's bitter NFC North rival -- was a stunner after he tormented Minnesota for so long as a member of the Packers.

This time around, virtually everyone expected the quarterback who flirts with quitting every summer to return for a 20th NFL season.

Favre's latest dalliance -- and hesitation -- centered on an ankle that was injured in the NFC Championship Game loss to New Orleans in January. Favre had surgery on his left ankle in June and told teammates and team officials earlier in August that he didn't believe he had another full season left in him.

This is the third straight year the Vikings have dealt with questions about Favre, so they weren't convinced he was done.

Now it's time to see if the old man can do it all again.

The gray-haired Favre turned in one of the best seasons in a terrific career last year, throwing 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions to lead the Vikings to the NFC North title. He threw for 310 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in the Superdome, but also threw an interception at the end of regulation that cost them a chance at a winning field goal that would have put Minnesota in the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.

After being cajoled by Allen, Hutchinson and Longwell, Favre will have one more shot at redemption and a second Lombardi Trophy.

Even though it was expected that he would be back, the same excitement as last year surrounded his return Tuesday. Fans clogged Viking Drive, and police tried to control traffic and keep youngsters and television cameras from spilling onto the street.

Last year, Childress picked up Favre from the airport. This year, Longwell was the chauffeur, and fans tried to mob his black BMW SUV as he pulled into the driveway at Winter Park.

"Brett Favre for President!!" receiver Bernard Berrian tweeted.

He'll have to settle for quarterback for now.

Even though he will turn 41 in October, Favre doesn't figure to need much time to get warmed up and ready for another season. He skipped all of training camp last year before unretiring and joining the Vikings. The three-time MVP delivered a season even he didn't expect.

He set career bests in completion percentage (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions, while throwing for 4,202 yards. The Vikings (12-4) earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, and Favre became the first 40-year-old quarterback to win a playoff game with a four-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

By Rich Cimini, ESPNNewYork.com

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The New York Jets rejected a contract proposal made last Friday by Darrelle Revis' agents, painting a bleak picture Monday of the contract stalemate. A grim-faced Woody Johnson said he's not optimistic about their chances of signing the All-Pro cornerback to a new contract before the start of the regular season.

"The answer is no," the Jets' owner said tersely, adding, "My impression is no progress ... no movement whatsoever."

Expanding on that sentiment, Johnson told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap Monday that he doesn't expect Revis to play for the Jets this season.

"My gut feeling is, I would say no," Johnson said.

Revis is entrenched in his position and has told friends he won't play in 2010 for his current $1 million salary, according to league sources. This could blow up on the Jets, who will be hard-pressed to fulfill their Super Bowl mandate without their best player.

Revis' agents, Jon Feinsod and Neil Schwartz, met with general manager Mike Tannenbaum for three hours last Friday at a diner in rural Roscoe, N.Y., about two hours from Cortland. They handed him a three-page document.

"We gave Mike a proposal to show Mr. Johnson," Schwartz told ESPNNewYork.com Monday afternoon. "We're awaiting a response."

Tannenbaum said he made the agents aware of the team's position at the meeting. He said the new proposal included some "technical changes." But he added, "We still have a very fundamental difference of opinion on what the appropriate compensation should be. Until we get that solved, there's really not much to discuss."

Johnson said the proposal contained "nothing new and different, as they say in marketing." But Schwartz disagreed, saying there were new elements.

"This proposal addressed all parties' issues and concerns to be resolved in this matter," he said.

The latest back-and-forth came on a day in which coach Rex Ryan said the team is preparing for the possibility of life without Revis, whose holdout has reached nine days. Revis has accumulated more than $148,000 in fines.

"We're going to prepare like he's not going to be here," Ryan said after the morning practice. "If he comes through the door, that's fine. Somebody will kiss him on the lips, probably. It doesn't matter. We're getting this team ready. The guys that are here, we're getting ready."

It was the first time that Ryan acknowledged the possibility of an extended absence by Revis. The two sides are trying to negotiate a new contract for Revis, who has three years remaining on his current deal, but they appear far apart.

Last Thursday, the agents called Tannenbaum to propose a meeting. They opted for Roscoe because it's roughly the midpoint between Cortland and Rockland County, N.Y., where Schwartz and Feinsod are based. The meeting also included Ari Nissim, the Jets' contract guru, and it lasted three hours.

The group huddled at the Roscoe Diner, a popular stop for college students driving to schools in upstate New York. In fact, the diner's walls are covered with pennants from dozens of colleges. Amid that backdrop, the two sides took what could be a significant step toward reaching a resolution to the contract impasse.

Interestingly, producers of HBO's "Hard Knocks" wanted to film the meeting for the reality show, which debuts Wednesday night, but Revis' agents declined, according to Schwartz.

Schwartz refused to reveal any specifics from their written proposal, but it's said to contain a unique clause that would help bridge the gap in negotiations. The Jets' last offer came on the eve of training camp. They offered a long-term package of more than $100 million, but it included only a small amount of fully guaranteed money -- about $5 million in 2010. Revis was so upset that it sealed his decision to stage a holdout.

Tuesday could be a key date in the stalemate. By rule, if a holdout doesn't report by Aug. 10, he doesn't get credit for 2010 as an accrued season. Basically, that means he loses a year toward free agency. That might cause some players to reconsider their stance, but the Aug. 10 deadline will have no bearing on Revis' thinking, according to sources close to the Jets' star. As one source said, "He's dug in."

A week ago, Ryan said Revis would be in the starting lineup even if he didn't show up until the eve of the regular-season opener. But he backed off on that, saying he was talking "facetiously." The original statement probably didn't sit well with the front office, which needs all the leverage it can get.

Revis is seeking to become the highest-paid cornerback in the league, surpassing the Oakland Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha ($15.1 million average per year).

There are complex rules that restrict the Jets' ability to offer full guarantees in future years, but they can overcame that obstacle by giving a substantial signing bonus. After all, this is an uncapped year.

As a contingency plan, the Jets have tweaked their secondary, moving former San Diego Charger Antonio Cromartie to Revis' spot (left cornerback) and opening up the right-corner position to other candidates.

First-round draft pick Kyle Wilson, projected as the nickelback, is working with the first-team defense. He replaced Dwight Lowery, who, oddly enough, told the coaching staff that Wilson deserved to be in the starter's role.

"Yes, it surprises me, but he sees that [Wilson] needs the work. He needs the reps," Ryan said. "The kid has rare ability."

In other news, outside linebacker Jason Taylor left practice with what Ryan described as a "slight" groin pull. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards (sore knee) also was limited. Wide receiver David Clowney returned to camp after missing the weekend due to personal reasons.

By ESPNChicago.com

When Michael Jordan presents Scottie Pippen during his Hall of Fame induction this weekend, it's a safe bet the Chicago Bulls' record-setting, 72-win season of 1995-96 will find its way into the speech.

According to Jeff Van Gundy's thinking, it's a good thing Pippen is being inducted this year, because Van Gundy predicts that record might fall this season.

Van Gundy, speaking Monday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000, backed up a prediction he made to the Miami Herald that the Miami Heat can break the Bulls' record.

"I would think that everybody would think they would have a great shot at it," said Van Gundy, a former NBA head coach and current ABC/ESPN analyst. "I don't know if I said they will or they have a great chance, whatever I said, I just think if they're healthy, the discrepancy between their talent level and and the next level is so great, that I just don't see how they lose games. I think they're that good."

Van Gundy told the Herald that the Heat will break the record, and that they have a "legit shot" at the Los Angeles Lakers' 33-game win streak, which they set in the 1971-72 season.

"Erik Spoelstra is a heck of a coach, so they're going to be motivated to play well defensively, which is about coaching, and offensively they're going to be an absolute nightmare to deal with," Van Gundy said on ESPN 1000. "If LeBron James can win 66 games in the regular season with the guys he played with, who I think are better than people have given them credit for in Cleveland, then I think you add Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller, it's not a stretch to say they can win six more."

Van Gundy backed off -- slightly -- from his claim that the Lakers are the only team that could beat the Heat in a playoff series.

"I think Boston -- with the [Shaquille] O'Neal signing -- has a legitimate chance as well," he said. "But I think those are the only two teams that have a chance in a playoff series to beat them."

Van Gundy said he likes what the Bulls have done in adding Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer and Keith Bogans, but he still doesn't see Chicago among the elite in the Eastern Conference.

"I think you've got Miami, and you have Boston just a notch below them," he said. "Orlando would have to be right below them, then I think Atlanta's a very good team.

"I would put those four teams clearly ahead of them right now, and I think Chicago could be fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth -- somewhere in that range."

Van Gundy believes it's become popular to pick against the Heat.

"I think people are trying to pick on Miami right now instead of opening their eyes to just how great they are," he said. "There are going to be no chemistry issues. Wade and James are unselfish players.

"That doesn't mean if they win a championship it's a great accomplishment either, because they're so much better than everybody. But to discount just how good they are, I think people are making a mistake."

By Associated Press

SEATTLE -- Instead of leading Seattle to its first postseason spot since 2001, Don Wakamatsu lost games at a stunning rate.

Then, the Mariners manager lost his team -- first franchise icon Ken Griffey Jr., then Chone Figgins.

Now, he's lost his job.

The last-place Mariners fired Wakamatsu on Monday, more than halfway through a season that began with a boosted roster and high hopes.

"I would like to thank the city of Seattle and all the baseball fans here in the Northwest for the great support offered to me during my time as Mariners manager," Wakamatsu said Monday night in statement released by the team. "My single biggest disappointment is that we were not able to finish what we wanted to finish here, bringing a championship club to the fans.

"I cannot tell you how great the fans were to me, and to my family. The support I received here will always mean a great deal to me."

The Mariners started the day at 42-70, the second-worst record in the American League.

They started the night with their fifth manager in three years plus one month. Daren Brown, the manager of Triple-A Tacoma for the last three-plus seasons, took over on an interim basis hours before a game against Oakland.

"It's frustrating," Mariners perennial All-Star and cornerstone Ichiro Suzuki said, through his interpreter. "It's not just his responsibility [that we're losing]. It's the whole team's responsibility.

"I don't think it's fair to say the manager's responsible to take the blame, because he's not."

Seattle also fired bench coach Ty Van Burkleo and pitching coach Rick Adair. The team also released performance coach Steve Hecht.

All to bring together a fractured clubhouse and a wayward team.

"The truth of the matter is, I lost confidence in Don, Ty and Rick," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said during a pregame press conference in which he tried to explain why Wakamatsu was out after one good season and about half a terrible one.

"New leadership is needed and it is needed now," Zduriencik said.

The GM said he would likely begin talking to candidates for the permanent manager job while this season runs out.

Chuck Armstrong, the team's usually talkative and available president, and team chairman Howard Lincoln were in the back of the room as Zduriencik spoke -- but rushed out after he was done. A team spokesman sternly said "We're done" when The Associated Press tried to approach the franchise's leaders for comment.

Wakamatsu had guided Seattle to an 85-77 record in his first season after taking over a team that went 61-101 in 2008.

Asked if the franchise is now back to square one, Suzuki said: "That's the only way we can look at it."

"I don't think we are back to 'Square Zero,'" Zduriencik said. "However, this season presented an opportunity for us. In that opportunity, a lot of things had to fall into place -- with the acquisition of Cliff Lee, with the addition of Chone Figgins, and players I thought had to have good seasons.

"To look around and see so many players having subpar seasons is very disturbing."

Wakamatsu watched Griffey slump this season to the point the manager finally benched him. Griffey then drove home in early June to retirement in Florida in a huff without saying goodbye to most in Seattle. The manager sent an irate Bradley home from a game in May, and the next day Bradley asked him and the GM for help dealing with emotional issues. That turned into counseling for Bradley during a two-week stint on the restricted list.

Wakamatsu has also had multiple public spats with Figgins, whom Zduriencik signed to a $36 million free-agent contract before the season. The most recent incident was an in-game fracas of shouting, shoving and Mariners infielder Jose Lopez getting his jersey pulled over his back. That happened inside the home team's dugout in full view of half the stadium and a national television audience.

Asked for his reaction to Wakamatsu's firing, Figgins smiled, shook his head and politely said, "I'm not going to talk about it, man."

Roger Hansen, who had been the Mariners' minor league catching coordinator, takes over as the bench coach. Carl Willis, who was the Mariners' minor league pitching coordinator, takes on the responsibility of big league pitching coach.

Wakamatsu, the majors' first Japanese-American manager, is the fifth manager in the big leagues to be fired this season. Baltimore's Dave Trembley, Kansas City's Trey Hillman, Arizona's A.J. Hinch and Florida's Fredi Gonzalez also were dismissed.

Beyond Lee, the now-traded former AL Cy Young winner, and speedy infielder Figgins, Zduriencik also brought in slugger Milton Bradley in the offseason. But the roster has proven to be poorly constructed. Seattle has the worst offense in baseball while doomed to 22½ games behind first-place Texas in the AL West entering Monday.

Wakamatsu was asked last week by the AP how he was doing amid rampant speculation that he would become Seattle's fall guy.

"I'll be all right," the 47-year-old Wakamatsu said. "I've been in this game a long time, and I have a lot of people pulling for me -- most of all my family."

He went 127-147 since getting Seattle's job in November 2008. His .464 winning percentage is fifth-best among the Mariners managers.

“

This has been difficult to watch.

” -- Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik

Oakland manager Bob Geren said he called his good friend Monday afternoon and Wakamatsu "said he was OK."

Geren and Wakamatsu once lived near each other in the Phoenix area, and their kids spent a chunk of their childhoods there. Geren and Wakamatsu coached together on a winter youth team in baseball offseasons -- the Ahwatukee Bandits.

Now both friends feel ripped off.

"I'm saddened," Geren said. "He's a good baseball man and a great man."

Brown is a 10-year veteran of the Mariners' organization. The 43-year-old becomes Seattle's seventh manager since Lou Piniella left with one year left on his contract following the 2002 season.

The sixth, Wakamatsu, has seemed to be on the way out since the worst July in team history -- 6-22.

"I appreciate the continued support of our fans," Zduriencik said Monday, adding he takes "full responsibility" for the Mariners' collapse.

"This has been difficult to watch."

By ESPN.com & Associated Press

STOCKHOLM -- It turns out Usain Bolt can be beaten.

From Beijing to Berlin, it seemed that Bolt and his long, turbocharged strides were more than a match for anyone over 100 meters. But Tyson Gay upset the defending world and Olympic champion Friday in a race between the two fastest runners in history.

Gay beat the Jamaican at the DN Galan meet in 9.84 seconds at the same stadium where Bolt last lost a race two years ago.

The American seemed in complete control against the world record-holder. The pair raced side by side in lanes four and five. Gay, looking comfortable, drew away while Bolt strained to keep up and finished second in 9.97.

"I'm really happy with the win, even though Usain Bolt isn't in the best shape," Gay said. "It was very important to beat someone like that for the fans and the sport."

Bolt has run faster this year, finishing in 9.82 a month ago in Lausanne, Switzerland.

A sellout crowd in the 1912 Olympic Stadium turned silent before the showdown. And the tension heightened even further after two false starts.

"I think it showed that I wasn't in the best of shape," Bolt said. "I'm not unbeatable. I can be beaten and it showed today.

"This is my easy season," he added. "If you don't beat me this season it's not going to happen next season because next year is a championship year."

The sprinters both looked like they left plenty in reserve when they cruised through the heats, and so it was for Gay when it came to the final. Richard Thompson of Trinidad finished third in 10.10.

The race would have had even more star power had Asafa Powell of Jamaica not pulled out Wednesday because of a back injury. That denied fans the chance to see the first race featuring the world's three fastest men.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bolt mesmerized all of track and field in winning the 100 and 200 -- becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep both Olympic sprints. He then stormed to another world record of 9.58 last August at the world championships in Berlin.

In other events, American Bershawn Jackson set a stadium record of 47.65 in the 400 hurdles. Javier Culson of Puerto Rico was a distant second in 48.50 and Angelo Taylor of the U.S. third in 49.57.

Allyson Felix won the women's 200 in 22.41 in an American sweep. Shalonda Solomon was second in 22.51, with Bianca Knight third with 22.59.

Australia's Sally Pearson won the women's 100 hurdles in 12.57, beating Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in 12.59. Lolo Jones of the U.S. was third in 12.70.

Darya Klishna of Russia beat a top field in the women's long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 3 inches. Brittney Reese of the United States was second in 22-1¾ and European silver medalist Naide Gomes of Portugal third at 22-0¾.

"I missed Barcelona so this was something special for me," Klishna said. "I always like to jump with the best possible field. It gives me more motivation."

Blanka Vlasic of Croatia won the women's high jump at 6-7½. Chaunte Howard-Lowe of the U.S. was second at 6-6¾. Crowd favorite Emma Green of Sweden was third at 6-4¼.

Finland's Tero Pitkamaki won the javelin at 276-11, inflicting a rare defeat on world, Olympic and European champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway. Thorkildsen was second at 274-4, followed by Mattias De Zordo of Germany at 269-2.

By ESPN.com & Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills have signed first-round pick C.J. Spiller to a five-year deal.

Spiller's deal is worth $25 million, but could escalate as high as $37.5 million if incentives are met, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. According to the source, the contract also includes $20.8 million in guarantees.

Spiller arrived at the team's training camp facility in suburban Rochester at around noon to sign his contract, and then headed directly to attend team meetings. He's scheduled to take part in the Bills' second practice of the day, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Through Friday morning, he'd missed 11 practices since camp opened July 29.

Spiller joins left tackle Russell Okung, the Seattle Seahawks' pick at No. 6, as the final first-rounders to agree to terms.

Okung agreed Friday to a six-year, $48.5 million, including more than $29 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

Spiller, selected ninth overall out of Clemson, took part in all of the team's offseason minicamps in May and June. But he has some catching up to do, with Buffalo installing a new offense under first-year head coach Chan Gailey. Spiller is expected to play a significant role in the scheme -- as rusher and receiver -- while sharing time with running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, who split the starting duties last season.

The ACC's player of the year last season finished his four-year college career with 51 touchdowns, including 32 rushing. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, Spiller has dynamic speed and is unafraid to run up the middle.

Because of his versatility, Spiller has drawn comparisons to Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints. Spiller and Bush are the only two players to finish their college careers with 3,000 yards rushing, 1,500 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 500 yards in punt returns.

The deal comes a day after Spiller celebrated his 23rd birthday and after the player hinted on his Twitter account Thursday that a contract might be in the works. Referring to his birthday, he wrote: "I gt feelin it's going be special."

After practice Friday morning, quarterback Trent Edwards was pleased to learn of the news.

"I'm excited, honestly, because I feel like he's a big impact player on our offense and our team," Edwards said. "The potential is all there. He's got all the talent in the world, and it's just a matter of us blocking for him."

Jackson said he's remained in contact with Spiller through contract talks, and expects the player to be up to speed for practice.

"He's been in his playbook and all the notes he took, so I expect him to come right in and get in the mix of things," Jackson said.

Jackson had a career-best and team-leading 1,062 yards rushing last season, and has no trouble giving up some playing time or with the team's decision to draft Spiller.

"It's a business. They do what they've got to do and I've got to do what I've got to do," Jackson said. "The reps I do get, I'm going to take care of them and continue to try and make plays when I get out there."

The Bills have two other running backs on their roster, Joique Bell and Chad Simpson, both rookie undrafted free agents.

General manager Buddy Nix, Gailey and Bills owner Ralph Wilson all praised Spiller in the days after he was drafted.

Wilson referred to Spiller as "one of the best players in the country," and someone who could provide a spark to what he called a "dull team." Buffalo's offense has ranked 25th or worst in yards the past seven seasons.

OKUNG SIGNS WITH SEAHAWKS
The Seattle Seahawks and their top pick, left tackle Russell Okung, have agreed to a deal, the team confirmed Friday.

The deal is for six years, $48.5 million, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, with more than $29 million in guaranteed money. The maximum worth of the contract is $58 million, sources said.

Okung, the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL draft, joined his teammates about 15 minutes into the afternoon practice and was working at left tackle.

Okung and C.J. Spiller, the Buffalo Bills' top pick, were the last two first-rounders to agree to terms.

Spiller agreed to a five-year deal Friday worth a maximum $37.5 million, with $20.8 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton.

By Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods has shot consecutive rounds over par for the first time in 12 tournament appearances at Firestone Country Club, with a 2-over 72 Friday following his first-round 74.

Woods' performances in the first two rounds would have him packing his bags most weeks on the PGA Tour, but because the Bridgestone Invitational is a World Golf Championship event, there is no 36-hole cut.

And that means Woods gets to stick around for two more days to try and improve on easily his worst showing in two rounds here.

His 146 left him in a tie for 75th out of 81 players, with the second round still in progress.

He declined to talk to reporters afterward.

"Neither one of us played very well, did we?" said England's Lee Westwood, who was one stroke worse over two days as he has been battling a worsening calf injury. "We are human. We all have bad days. What can you do? Cry?"

Westwood on Friday withdrew from the tournament and is also withdrawing from next week's PGA.

Woods made five bogeys and three birdies and, depending on your perspective, did well to shoot 72.

He hit just three of 14 fairways and somehow played his first eight holes (he started on the back nine) in 1-under par. But his shaky play caught up with him, and Woods bogeyed three of the next four holes. He finished his round birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey.

Going back to the 1997 World Series of Golf here, Woods had never played consecutive rounds in worse than 1-over par. It is the first time since 1999 -- when he still managed to win -- that Woods had two rounds over par in the same tournament.

The Bridgestone, which Woods has won seven times, was supposed to provide an indication about his game, given his previous success.

But like Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, there are more questions than answers.

Woods seemingly had started to drive the ball better at St. Andrews last month. "As I said to you guys at the British Open, this is the best I've driven it in years and this is the worst I've ever putted it," Woods said Wednesday. "What a game."

That good driving hasn't been apparent over the first 36 holes. He has hit just eight fairways, a number that wouldn't be considered good for even one round. And two of those fairways were credited when wayward shots bounded off of trees and into fairways.

Putting plagued him Thursday, although Woods required just 27 putts Friday, likely saving him from a higher number.

As Woods searches for his game, second-ranked Phil Mickelson has a chance to overtake him for the No. 1 spot in the world.

Mickelson, who is in contention at the start of the second round, can move to the top with a victory; if he finishes in the top four, he'd still move up as long as Woods finishes outside of the top 37. Woods would have to finish outside the top 44

By ESPN.com

Isiah Thomas wants to get back in the NBA as a general manager, but until then, he'll be a consultant to the New York Knicks while still coaching Florida International.

Thomas told ESPN.com Friday that he accepted a more formal and unique consulting position with his former employer, where he will help Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh make decisions on draft picks, trades and personnel decisions.

"I'll be available to him for that," Thomas said by phone from South Florida. "I've always said that if there's a GM position that should ever open that I would be interested in going back to the NBA as a GM for the right spot and the right opportunity. In terms of going back as a coach, I don't see myself doing that."

Thomas, who coached FIU to a 7-25 record (4-14 in the Sun Belt) last year in his first season on the job, said he first checked with the NCAA to see if he could be a paid consultant with an NBA team and simultaneously coach a Division I school. FIU athletic director Pete Garcia was unavailable for comment early Friday.

"I couldn't be the GM,'' said Thomas of maintaining two jobs. "But we checked with the NCAA and you can do it. I'm excited about what we're building here at FIU and that will continue to be my main focus. In my spare time, when I do have time, just like I've always done, I'll consult and advise the Knicks whenever they ask for my help."

However, the hire could violate league rules that forbid college coaches from having jobs with NBA teams, which aren't allowed to have contact with players who aren't yet eligible for the draft.

"We are reviewing the agreement, in consultation with the Knicks, for compliance with league rules," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said told The Associated Press.

In a statement released by the team Friday, the Knicks announced that Thomas' role would be to "assist the team's senior management in various capacities, including player recruitment."

Thomas, a Hall of Famer with the Detroit Pistons, had a dismal run as team president from December 2003 to April 2008, with the Knicks and made just one playoff appearance despite often having the league's highest payroll.

He also was the coach the final two seasons, getting dismissed after the Knicks went 23-59 in the 2007-08 season.

Despite losing hundreds of games and being the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former team employee that cost the organization $11.6 million, Thomas has remained close to Walsh and Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan.

Thomas said he has been under contract with the Knicks since he was fired, including when Dolan sent him to Cleveland to meet with LeBron James' representatives in a last-ditch effort to get James to sign with the Knicks.

Thomas said that the meetings in Cleveland were personal and private and "it wouldn't be in anybody's best interest for me to divulge who I met with and what I discussed."

Thomas said he will focus on recruiting for FIU and coaching the Panthers. But getting an official title back with the Knicks has a special meaning, especially after his mother, Mary, passed away in January.

"I'm excited to work with the Knicks again," Thomas said. "I wish my mom was still alive to see this."