The NFL season hasn't even started yet, and the Minnesota Vikings already have a victory over the Green Bay Packers under their belts.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled yesterday that contact between the Vikings and Brett Favre this summer did not violate league tampering rules, as the Packers alleged.

Goodell said that while there were conversations between then-retired Favre and Vikings coaches, none of the conversations suggested Favre was soliciting a job or that anyone was soliciting his services.

"We respect the Commissioner's decision and the thoroughness of the process," the Vikings said in a statement. "We provided the league with all information requested so they could be comprehensive in their decision-making."

The Packers filed the charges against their NFC North rivals last month, based at least in part on records of phone conversations between Favre and Darrell Bevell, Minnesota's offensive coordinator.

Bevell and Vikings coach Brad Childress have acknowledged speaking to Favre this summer. Bevell knows the quarterback from his days as Favre's quarterback coach in Green Bay, and Childress became friendly with Favre when he occasionally sat in on Packers quarterbacks meetings as an assistant coach with the University of Wisconsin in the mid-1990s.

PANTHERS

SMITH APOLOGIZES

A subdued Steve Smith apologized to his Carolina teammates, coaches and fans yesterday, three days after he punched teammate Ken Lucas at practice, leaving the starting cornerback with a broken nose that will require surgery.

Smith, who was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games, spoke to reporters for about four minutes after his first practice with the team since the incident. He did not answer questions.

"I'm not going to get into who's right, who's wrong. I'm completely wrong," Smith said.

Lucas also returned to the team yesterday with a black left eye and swelling around his nose. While he said he accepted Smith's apology, the starting cornerback said he'll probably be sidelined two to three weeks.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo signed ex-University of Hawai'i receiver C.J. Hawthorne yesterday. The undrafted rookie free agent had 61 catches for 859 yards and six TDs in 13 starts last season at UH, his first at receiver after being converted from cornerback. Hawthorne took the roster spot of Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, who was placed on the reserve-did-not-report list. Peters is being fined for refusing to report to training camp because he wants his contract restructured.

Dolphins: Josh McCown is listed as Miami's No. 1 quarterback, for now. The Dolphins released their first depth chart of the season yesterday per NFL policy, putting the seven-year veteran at the top.

Redskins: Washington rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly had arthroscopic surgery yesterday on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for two more weeks. Kelly injured his right hamstring July 25.

Bengals: Cincinnati cut ties with injured running back Kenny Irons yesterday. Irons was its second-round draft pick last year, but injured his left knee during a preseason game.

Chiefs: Kansas City says rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey should miss about a week after spraining his left knee in practice during the weekend.