Favre To Have Ankle Surgery

Sunday, February 18th 2007, 3:47 pm

By: News On 6

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Brett Favre will have ankle surgery in the next few weeks, and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says the three-time MVP will have plenty of time to recover for minicamps.

The 37-year-old quarterback was supposed to have surgery on his left ankle the day after the season, but skipped it and had yet to reschedule.

``Yes, we're looking to have it done ... in the next couple of weeks,'' McCarthy said.

McCarthy, wearing a No. 17 Matt Kenseth hat, spoke from the garage area of the Daytona 500, where he was attending the NASCAR race with his daughter.

McCarthy led the Packers to an 8-8 finish in his first season as a head coach last year. Now, as next season awaits, he's ``absolutely'' certain Favre will be in place for minicamps.

``(Team doctor Pat) McKenzie and Brett, they've been through this whole process,'' he said. ``We're going to be fine.''

McCarthy, daughter Alexandra and two members of the team's administrative staff toured the garage and met with Kenseth, a Wisconsin native and rabid Packers fan. McCarthy said he appreciated the time with his daughter, who lives with her mother in Austin, Texas.

``This has been a really nice trip to get away for three days,'' the coach said.

This was the first NASCAR race for McCarthy, who saw a few similarities to football.

``There's so much strategic design in everything they do, and trying to push the envelope at every turn,'' McCarthy said. ``That's the part that I'm fascinated with.''

Still, McCarthy admits he's a racing rookie.

``I know the basics of it,'' McCarthy said. ``I have a couple of nephews that are really into it. I've also learned a lot just being here this weekend.''