NFL Lockout Watch, Day 13: Players Training Together To Prepare For Season

Browns CB Joe Haden said that he and his teammates are "working out hard -- often together -- and staying ready for whenever the NFL lockout ends," according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Haden is "mostly working out at home" in the DC area. But he also has "gone to California to train with fellow Browns defensive backs T.J. Ward and Eric Wright," and they have "traveled to Florida to condition with" S Abe Elam. Haden said that unlike QB Colt McCoy, who "received an offensive playbook from the Browns," the defensive players are "operating without one despite" the team shifting to a 4-3 defense (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/23). In Nashville, John Glennon noted Titans CB Cortland Finnegan, S Chris Hope and TE Craig Stevens "hit the field and weight room at Father Ryan High School" on Monday. Tennessee-based Art of Strength GM & Dir of Training Scott Reall "will be guiding the Father Ryan-based Titans through multiple weekly workouts." The players "hope to grow the list of attendees to as many as 15 to 20 in the weeks to come, as they seek to remain in peak condition despite the NFL lockout that is keeping them from using team facilities" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/22).

NOT TOO ABNORMAL: Jets LB Bart Scott is "training at TEST Sports Clubs" in Martinsville, N.J., with several teammates, and he said, "The only unfamiliar thing to me would be if we don't have OTAs. Right now, we're not missing out on anything except free agency. Everything else, I don't think it's panic time yet. Technically, if the lockout were over with after the draft, really what have we missed? Some workouts." But he added the "later it gets, then you have to start deciding what you're going to do." Scott: "When are you going to make the transition to doing football moves and stuff?" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/22).

RULE BREAKERS: In Dallas, Gerry Fraley reported the Cowboys are among the "group of five teams that have been fined by commissioner Roger Goodell for having contact with players during a 'dead' period." Several Cowboys players "mentioned getting together with new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to get a jump-start on his system," which is a "violation of NFL rules." The Dolphins, Browns and 49ers are "also believed to have violated the rule" (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/23).

ROAD TRIP: In St. Louis, Jim Thomas reported it is "looking more and more like the Rams will hold training camp outside of St. Louis this summer" if a new CBA is reached. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said the team is "looking at" holding training camp at the Missouri Univ. of Science & Technology in Rolla, Mo. Southern Illinois Univ.-Carbondale "is also believed to be under consideration." Spagnuolo: "We're researching it now and we've probably got to get moving on it and have something finalized here in a month or so." Thomas noted the Rams "stayed in St. Louis for Spagnuolo's first two training camps, both held at the team's Rams Park facility" (STLTODAY.com, 3/23).