What does Brett Favre have to do with Gators in the Pros? A lot, when you think of a young receiver’s introductory passes in the league coming from Favre’s arm instead of Tavaris Jackson’s back foot.

I tried to ask Percy Harvin about the possible addition of Favre when Harvin attended Friday Night Lights last month, but since the draft, he’s been as easy to get hold of as a he is for defenders on the field.

He didn’t want to talk to reporters at the event, but did flash his mega-watt smile when asked about Favre. “I like it,” he said briefly before walking off.

Harvin missed the Vikings’ preseason opener this week with an unspecified shoulder injury suffered two days before the game, but says he’ll be ready to go Friday when the team takes on the Chiefs, with or without Favre on the sideline.

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Max Starks is among a handful of Pittsburgh players in a little hot water over photos that recently surfaced from three years ago.

Starks was part of a “gun party” with Pennsylvania State Troopers, where the players shot off state police ammunition and fired several illegal assault rifles from the evidence room.

“It’s a state police firing range used for state police to train. When we’re there, it’s downright military,” said one state police official, who requested anonymity, to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But at this event, it’s chaos. Everybody’s throwing contraband assault weapons around like they’re toys; it’s like they’re having G.I. Joe tryouts. Not only is this totally unethical, but it’s totally illegal.”

The use of the firearms in the evidence room could jeopardize cases and violates the departments policy that doesn’t allow evidence items to be used.

The players, totaling at least 14, took a group photo during the day, posing with the guns as smiling officers stood in the background. Two of the players posed in gang-like positions, with the guns pointed at each other’s head.

No action is expected to be taken by the NFL, but certain groups in the Pittsburgh area are calling for an investigation into the officers that allowed the party to happen.

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According to a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer, there wasn’t much surprise around the league when tight end Cornelius Ingram tore his ACL in Eagles’ training camp earlier this month.

League sources tell the Inquirer that several teams removed Ingram from their draft boards when test results from his knee showed that the initial surgery to repair the injury was not fully healed and could require a second procedure.

Some teams said that Ingram would not be ready to return until November and that playing before that could cause a re-tear. Their speculation proved to be true.

Still, the Eagles think that they got a good deal with Ingram in the fifth round. The most recent surgery, performed by the noted Dr. James Andrews, was a success and Ingram is expected to be ready next season.

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Ike Hilliard and Kevin Carter are still without teams, but clubs still seem to have interest in the veterans.

Carter visited the Patriots last week but left New England without a deal. Hilliard was part of a five-receiver workout in Atlanta on Aug. 6, but the Falcons opted to sign former Packer Robert Ferguson and former Bear Marty Booker.

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Former Gator offensive lineman Drew Miller didn’t have a long return stay in Jacksonville.

After spending seven weeks on the Jaguars’ practice squad, Miller was cut by the team and resigned Aug.7 After a few days of practice, Jackson waived Miller again Aug. 11 to make room for running back Josh Vaughan.

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The drama that is NBA free agency and David Lee continues to swirl with training camps opening in a little over one month.

Lee says that he and the Knicks are still exploring a few sign-and-trade possibilities. That’s a change from previous statements from New York, where the team said that it was not interested in such a scenario.

It’s been reported that the two have agreed on a yearly salary totaling around $9 million, but the Knicks are still hesitant to hand out that kind of money with the 2010 free agent crop on the horizon. The league has already released a statement telling teams to expect the salary cap to drop further and signing Lee to a long-term deal could prohibit the club from signing the marquee free agents it hopes to attract.

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One person with knowledge of the situation tells me that former Gator Jason Williams’ likely destination if he is to return to the NBA is in Memphis.

He was claimed off of waivers by the Knicks, but the team’s exclusive negotiating window expired without a deal. While ESPN reported that the Knicks and Williams’ representatives continue to talk, the source said the Grizzlies have shown the most interest. The team’s ownership group is enamored by what the Virginia-native can bring to the team despite an already log-jammed depth chart at point guard.

Williams is also rumored to be talking to Orlando.

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What’s a little Pro Gators update without some women’s soccer?

Abby Wambach is tearing up the new Women’s Profession Soccer League. Wambach currently is tied for second in the league with eight goals scored in 17 games. She’s not just scoring goals, though, as she is also tied for third in assists with five.

The WPS’ main competitor, the upstart United Soccer League, boasts a former Gator of its own. Ameera Abdullah performed well for her Buffalo club despite seeing action in seven games She finished her first season tied for seventh in the league with five assists. Overall, she logged seven points in seven games.