Brett Favre recently had arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right shoulder, ESPN reported last night, another indication the three-time NFL MVP is considering coming out of retirement.

ESPN, citing two anonymous sources, reported that Favre had surgery last month to repair the torn biceps tendon that bothered him late last season with the New York Jets. Favre retired in February, but the Jets released him at his request in April — making him a free agent.

A message was left with Favre's agent Bus Cook seeking comment.

According to the report, Favre has thrown on a limited basis since the surgery, but isn't close to 100 percent. A source told ESPN the quarterback wouldn't return "unless he makes significant progress."

Minnesota said it would be interested in Favre if he comes out of retirement.

INJURED WR GONZALEZ MISSES PRACTICE

Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez missed the team's practice yesterday because of an injured right leg.

Coach Jim Caldwell didn't give details about the injury, which occurred during Saturday's mini-camp practice at Franklin College. Gonzalez stayed on the field after hurting his leg, but spent the rest of practice stretching it out.

Caldwell said Gonzalez, who's expected to replace Marvin Harrison in the Colts' lineup, could return to the field tomorrow or Wednesday.

WEIGHTLIFTING

CUBA WINS 16 GOLDS AT PAN-AMERICAN

Lazaro Lopez Jimenez won three gold medals yesterday and helped propel Cuba to the top of the gold medal standings at the Pan-American Weightlifting Championships in Chicago.

Cuba finished the competition with 16 gold medals, tying Colombia for the most during the four days of weightlifting. Colombia won 38 medals overall, besting Cuba (22), Venezuela (21) and Mexico (14). There were 21 countries represented.

American weightlifter Cody Gibbs won the U.S. National Championship at the 105 kg weight class with a total score of 338. Gibbs, from Shreveport, La., earned gold in the snatch event with a lift of 158 kg (348 pounds) and silver in the clean and jerk.

Timothy Rabas took gold with a lift of 181 kg (398 pounds).

In the super heavyweight classes of the U.S. Championships, Patrick Judge and Sarah Robles each earned three gold medals.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

BROWN BEATS FABER TO RETAIN TITLE

Mike Brown defended his WEC featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Urijah Faber, narrowly hanging on to the belt he took from Faber seven months ago.

Showing no intimidation from a raucous crowd of more than 12,000 in Faber's hometown of Sacramento, Calif., Brown's superior ground game and solid defense separated him from Faber on all three judges' scorecards in his second title defense.

Brown took the 145-pound title from Faber with a first-round stoppage last year, dramatically ending Faber's lengthy reign atop the division.

Their rematch was among the biggest events in the history of the World Extreme Cagefighting, the popular lighter-weight MMA promotion owned by UFC.

SOCCER

INJURED CHING OFF U.S. ROSTER

Injured forward Brian Ching was left off the U.S. roster for the Confederations Cup in South Africa along with defender Frankie Hejduk.

Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum, missed the Americans' last two World Cup qualifiers because of an injured hamstring, and Hejduk was sidelined with a groin injury.

Maurice Edu, who had left knee surgery last week, was omitted along with Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley added three players yesterday who were not in the initial training pool for the recent qualifiers: No. 3 goalkeeper Luis Robles, midfielder Ricardo Clark and forward Conor Casey. Clark played well in Saturday's 2-1 win over Honduras but Casey was ineffective.

The U.S. team leaves today for the eight-nation tournament, where it plays world champion Italy (June 15 in Pretoria), South American champion Brazil (June 18 in Pretoria) and African champion Egypt (June 21 in Rustenburg) in the first round.