SUPER BOWL XXXI: PACKERS VS.PATRIOTS : NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, 3:18 P.M., CHANNEL 11 FAVRE NAMED NFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

He's a two-time MVP. He's also a two-time Player of the Year.

Brett Favre, whose 39 touchdown passes was the third-highest total in NFL history, won the award Wednesday for the second consecutive time. On Tuesday, the Packers' Mike Holmgren won Coach of the Year.

Favre joined Joe Montana (1989, 1990) and Steve Young (1992, 1994) as two-time winners.

The other five finalists were Jerome Bettis of Pittsburgh, John Elway and Terrell Davis of Denver, Drew Bledsoe of New England and Buffalo's Bruce Smith.

MARLBORO SIGN WON'T BE SHOWN ON TV DURING SUPER BOWL

Under threat of government court action, Philip Morris Inc. agreed to remove a large Marlboro sign from the Superdome so the cigarette ad won't be televised during the Super Bowl.

The Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act prohibits cigarette advertising on television. The Justice Department obtained court orders in 1995 against Philip Morris and New York's Madison Square Garden to make sure cigarette ads placed around arenas and athletic fields are not telecast during sports events.

While denying that the sign near one of the Superdome end-zone video monitors violated the law or the court order, the company's lawyers wrote the Justice Department that ``Philip Morris has made arrangements - for this special event only - to ensure that the Marlboro sign in question will not be in place during the Super Bowl.''

FIVE PEOPLE CHASED AWAY FROM PRACTICE

Five people were chased from a roof overlooking the New England Patriots' practice.

About 40 minutes into the practice, the observers were chased away by security officers at Tulane University.

The Patriots held a brisk workout one day after not practicing for the Super Bowl.