Marty Hurney is jittery by nature, so it's difficult to gauge the level of nervousness as he prepares to lead the Carolina Panthers in this weekend's crucial NFL draft.

"My family will tell you I get a little edgy at times, but that's not just before the draft," the general manager said earlier this week. "It's an important day. It's an important weekend every year for your organization."

After missing the playoffs for two straight years and with several important holes to fill, there's pressure on Hurney and coach John Fox as they make 10 selections in the seven-round draft today and Sunday.

While the Panthers have obvious needs at defensive end, running back and offensive tackle, Hurney and Fox have been tightlipped about their plans for today with the 13th overall pick.

"You just don't know because it depends who's there," Hurney said. "It's just impossible to say right now. ... everybody thinks that you know who you're going to take, but you really don't."

There are three schools of thought with what Carolina will do in the first round:

* Grab speedy Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey to pair with Julius Peppers and fill a giant hole following the retirement of starter Mike Rucker.

* Go the running back route, perhaps with Jonathan Stewart of Oregon or Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois. After they released starter DeShaun Foster, they need someone to pair with DeAngelo Williams.

* Boost the offensive line with a tackle like Ryan Clady of Boise State or Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh. Then they could move Travelle Wharton from tackle to guard.

But the answer may be none of the above. Hurney has talked highly of Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, and there is uncertainty at the position with Jake Delhomme recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Hurney and Fox do have a history of trading down. They did it last year, moving from 14th to 25th, and came out with a gem in linebacker Jon Beason, who led the team in tackles in 2007.

"That's what makes it fun," Hurney said. "You don't know what's going to happen and there are so many scenarios that could happen."

While the focus will be on the first-round pick, the Panthers need to reverse a trend of gaffes in the later rounds.

FAVRE NOT CONTEMPLATING COMEBACK: Maybe the best proof that Brett Favre is the football icon of his generation came Friday when he became the cover boy for Madden NFL '09.

Favre is the first retired player to have his visage on the video game. And yes, he is retired, the Packers filed papers with the league to make it official Friday.

"There are always second thoughts, but that's not saying I am coming back," Favre said. "It's never a clear-cut decision. It's something I can't expect everyone to understand. No, there's no perfect time.

"First of all, I won't keep myself in shape. I'm sure after training camp is over and all that hard work is done, it might be 'OK, now.' It might be nice to dream about it, but no."

Favre indicated he'd like to stay close to the game, although he wasn't specific. Perhaps some mentoring for high school players.

"Coaching? Right now, no, but if I ever did, it would be at that type level," he said.

JUDGE DENIES BAIL: A Miami judge denied bail Friday for one of the suspects in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy noted that 20-year-old Jason Scott Mitchell and three other suspects allegedly hatched their plot in the Fort Myers, Fla., area and drove across the state intending to burglarize Taylor's Miami-area home.

"Youth and guns have been such a prevalent issue of concern in our community. Now we're getting it imported from other parts of the state," Murphy said at a hearing. "I'm not sure any form of release would adequately protect the public."