MINNEAPOLIS » Brett Favre was badly beat up in Minnesota’s overtime loss at New Orleans last January, a well-documented part of that epic NFC championship game.

The grandfather of NFL quarterbacks, however, doesn’t sound worried about his health as it relates to returning for a 20th season.

"Playing another year probably isn’t going to make a difference. The damage has already been done," Favre told Men’s Journal magazine for the issue that will go on sale tomorrow.

The Vikings are still waiting to learn whether Favre will come back, with training camp a little more than two weeks away. His agent, Bus Cook, told The Associated Press in an e-mail yesterday he had no update on Favre’s status.

"Nothing yet," Cook said.

Favre also spoke proudly about his exceptional first season with Minnesota in which he threw 33 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions, wondering aloud whether he could repeat that feat.

"I’ve had games when I almost threw seven picks," Favre said. "It was unreal."

As for whether he’ll be on the field again this season?

"You’d think I’d know better by now. I’ve learned a lot through the years. What I haven’t learned is what I’ll do and when I’ll do it," Favre said.

Woodson escapes fire

Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson says he was lucky to escape a burning house in Michigan over the weekend.

Woodson said yesterday he was at Gwen Haggerty’s house in Bay Harbor on Friday night. It was part of a celebration honoring the Ted and Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation for donating $15 million to name the new women’s hospital at the University of Michigan.

The former Wolverine says he and other overnight guests were fortunately still awake when the fire started sometime after 4 a.m. Saturday.

Everyone was able to get out of the house without being hurt.