Brett Favre dropped back, looked downfield and launched a long spiral about 5 yards past his intended receiver. A few plays later, the Jets quarterback short-hopped a toss that thumped into the grass.

"I felt 38 today," Favre said yesterday after New York's morning practice at Hempstead, N.Y. "I'm not going to lie to you."

Favre fired a few duds in his fifth practice since joining the Jets, saying his rocket right arm is a bit tired.

"My arm's kind of dragging a little bit today," Favre said. "It's not really sore, but just fatigued. To be honest with you, I'm surprised that, I don't want to say I feel good, that I've been able to make it through every practice so far."

Favre was acquired from the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 6, and has been practicing with the Jets since Saturday. He's set to start Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Redskins.

"I didn't throw the ball that well this morning, underthrew some throws," Favre said. "No pain, but I'm 38 years old. It's going to be fatigued a little bit."

After saying he would talk to coach Eric Mangini about limiting his throws in the early evening practice, Favre took noticeably fewer snaps in 11-on-11 drills. He did open the late session by zipping his first throw into Chansi Stuckey's hands for a touchdown, his arm showing little sign of being tired.

While Brett Ratliff and Kellen Clemens took some of the snaps he normally would take, Favre watched intently from the sideline and occasionally chatted with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll.

Favre came up short working the 2-minute offense near the end of practice, throwing incomplete on fourth-and-3 to Stuckey on a pass that was defended well by Drew Coleman.

"My arm, for the most part, has felt great," Favre said. "Legs, a little bit fatigued. You've got to figure I'm a little bit behind some of these guys. I'm a little bit surprised that, up to this point, I've been doing OK."

Favre retired in March, but then decided he still wanted to play. After a divorce with Green Bay, the Packers traded him to New York, where he's going through his 18th training camp.

"I wondered this morning when I got up, 'What in the heck am I doing?' " Favre said. "The answer to that question is I love to play. I hate to study. At times, I hate to practice, but I love to play. I know I need to study and I know I need to practice and I know how important it is."

COWBOYS

JONES WILL MAIL LETTER FOR REINSTATEMENT

When the Dallas Cowboys arrived in Englewood, Colo., Adam Jones went to work.

The cornerback grabbed a laptop computer and typed a 1 1/2-page letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking for a full reinstatement to the league.

Jones said the letter will be mailed today.

"I'm feeling real good," Jones said following yesterday's practice. "It's just a letter on why I feel I should be reinstated. It's my chance to respond, and we'll see how it goes."

The NFL also wanted an update from Jones by tomorrow on what he's doing to keep himself out of trouble.

Jones has participated fully in the Cowboys' player-development program and has forged close relationships with several members on the staff. He's been assigned a four-person security team that doesn't allow him to drive often, with the goal of tracking his whereabouts.

Jones has also pledged to donate 121 school uniforms to fifth-graders in the Dallas Independent School District before the regular season starts.

Jones hopes those factors work in his favor with Goodell.

The Cowboys are encouraged that a decision on full reinstatement could be made Aug. 26, the day the team has to cut the roster to 75 players.

Jones, who hasn't played in an NFL game since Dec. 31, 2006, was suspended in April 2007 for violations to the league conduct policy.

In April, the Cowboys worked a draft deal with the Tennessee Titans. On June 2, Goodell granted Jones partial reinstatement and said he would review his case before the start of the regular season.

TITANS

LINEBACKER CONSIDERS STEROIDS CASE CLOSED

Tennessee linebacker Ryan Fowler considers his steroids case with the NFL closed.

Fowler said yesterday he hasn't heard from the league since requesting a meeting to address allegations that he bought performance-enhancing drugs from a Texas-based steroids dealer in 2006. The NFL sent him a letter in June stating he faced an investigation and possible suspension.

Fowler said he assumes the probe has ended with no punishment planned.

"Until I hear anything else, that's the way I'm looking at it right now," Fowler said after practice. "I'm focusing on football. Until I hear anything else, I'll assume it's over."

Fowler was linked to convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs, who was found dead with a female companion in his Plano, Texas, home in June in what police called a murder-suicide.

Jacobs told The Dallas Morning News before he died that he had supplied Fowler with drugs before and after the 2006 season, and he gave the NFL names of players who bought steroids from him.

ELSEWHERE

Cardinals: Arizona signed linebacker Brandon Moore to a one-year contract. The Cardinals released linebacker David Holloway to make room on the roster for the former San Francisco 49er. Moore had 22 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks last season and was cut by the 49ers earlier in the week.

Broncos: Denver addressed its injury-riddled defensive secondary by signing 13th-year pro Tyrone Poole. To make room, the Broncos released fourth-year cornerback Christian Morton. Poole was cut by Houston last summer.

Browns: Cleveland rookie tight end Martin Rucker will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee and miss four to six weeks. Rucker, a fourth-round pick out of Missouri, twisted his knee during practice Monday.