WR Javon Walker recently told the Raiders that he had knee surgery last month, which was news to the team, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that defensive end John Abraham and kicker Jason Elam were held out of practice Friday to start the Falcons’ first minicamp.

On Friday, the New York Giants opened a rookie minicamp, their first since they released WR Plaxico Burress. Naturally, all eyes were on rookie WRs Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, who participated in their first practice since being drafted by the team in the first and third round, respectively, of last month’s draft.

NFL Network’s Scott Hanson confirms that Brett Favre and Vikings coach Brad Childress had at least one phone conversation. But the talks were informal and exploratory. There was no absolute decision made either way to play for the Vikings or to stay retired.

Vikings DE Jared Allen might be stating the obvious when he says that every player wants to play alongside retired QB Brett Favre. But Allen doesn’t believe what now appears to be a failed pursuit of Favre represents a distraction for the Vikings.

Despite published reports to the contrary, veteran WR Marvin Harrison doesn’t plan to retire, according to his agent. In fact, Tom Condon said Harrison wants to play in 2009 and that the former Colt’s knee is OK.

Usama Young was a man without a position after the Saints selected Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins 14th overall in the NFL draft. But not any longer. The Times Picayune reports that Young will move to free safety — a position change he welcomes.

Darren Sharper, a former teammate of Brett Favre who also left Green Bay for Minnesota, believes the addition of the veteran QB would make the Vikings a 12-win team next season.

LenDale White came to Tennessee’s offseason workout program at 238 pounds, his lightest reporting weight as a member of the Titans.

He made it to New York and rose to the challenge of competing with 31 other finalists for the right be named Monster.com’s NFL Director of Fandemonium. Watch here as Onyx Herrera gets sworn in to his new gig by Michael Strahan, and then performs the first assignment in his new role — announcing a pick at last month’s NFL draft.

Brett Favre is the only one who can make the decision of whether or not he should retire. The personal decision to retire — especially when you play at such a high level — is difficult.

Amid all the speculation about Brett Favre ending his retirement and going to Minnesota, I interviewed Vikings DT Kevin Williams on my Sirius NFL Radio show about the possibility of the veteran quarterback becoming his teammate. And with all due respect to the Vikings’ current QBs, Williams believes Favre might help the team win.

Outside of Brett Favre himself, there’s no better authority on matters involving No. 4 than Steve Mariucci, who believes it would take a strong recruiting job by the Minnesota Vikings to lure Favre out of retirement.

As for the reported scheduled meeting between Vikings coach Brad Childress and Brett Favre on Wednesday, his agent, Bus Cook, said he has no knowledge of any such meeting.

The Bengals have agreed to terms with former Cowboys free safety Roy Williams. The Cowboys released Williams, once regarded as one of the fiercest safeties in the NFL, after the season.