Several NFL agents last night said that they are "telling their players to go to work tomorrow, now that Judge Susan Nelson has enjoined the lockout," according to Ralph Vacchiano of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. One agent said, "I'm telling them that if the doors are open, go to work. If they're turned away, then they're turned away. But at that point, if they're turned away, there may be some (legal) damages." Giants DT Chris Canty "has a $250,000 workout bonus in his contract, which is why his agent, Brad Blank, advised him to go." Blank: "I really don't see the harm in going to work out and having a security guard tell you that you can't. It's not going to be a big confrontation. So if they're willing, I think it's a good idea that they show up." However, Vacchiano reported "not all agents agree that's such a good idea." Several agents said that they are "telling their clients to stay away, pending the final resolution of the labor mess" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 4/25). NFL agent Joe Linta said of his clients, "If they are in town, I would tell them to show up at 8 a.m. with a cup of coffee and their lunch box." But agent Jerrold Colton said, "It would be reckless of me to advise any of my players to show up in the morning in what could potentially be an awkward situation" (ESPN.com, 4/25). Another agent said, "I would not hesitate to tell my guys to show up for work (Tuesday). If you really wanted to be (fussy), you could have them show up with a video camera to show the court the locked doors" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/26). NFL Network's Jason La Canfora said the "vast majority" of agents he talked to are not encouraging their clients to show up at team facilities today. La Canfora: "They're not sure ... if there's that much to be gained by showing up, specifically if you're a player that doesn’t live near the facility. To go all the way down there to just to kind of put in appearances doesn't make a whole lot of sense" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 4/25).
OPEN DOOR POLICY? An NFL exec described the league's approach to players appearing at team facilities as "'Be nice,' with teams instructed to allow players in the facility." Team officials "will 'explain we're waiting to hear' word regarding a decision on a stay." They then "will 'ask them to wait until that ruling,' to begin going about what would be a normal workday this time of year, which generally consists of a morning workout." Bills S George Wilson confirmed that the NFLPA "emailed players late Monday suggesting they report to work" today. He said that players "were told they should be granted access under normal circumstances and if they are denied access the teams would be in violation of the judge's ruling" (NFL.com, 4/26). Sources said that teams "were told not to open their weight rooms nor engage in any contract discussions, but to let their players in the building." The league also "intends to get security in place for players to come in to avoid any potential confrontations or photo opportunities for the media." The NFL intended to "debrief teams again" this morning "with further instructions" (ESPN.com, 4/26). In Minneapolis, James Walsh cites a source as saying that Vikings officials would "meet early Tuesday morning at Winter Park to review if they will allow players to use the facilities there" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/26).
SHOWING UP IN PITTSBURGH: In Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette reports Steelers S and player rep Ryan Clark "urged players to report early today, even though it could be a brief appearance before another court ruling later today." Clark: "I'm trying to get guys there at 8 o'clock, to get out there and show we want to be here, we want to be part of this organization and we want to be on the field" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/26). Clark appeared via phone on ESPN's "SportsCenter" this morning, saying he was "sitting in the training room doing this interview" at the Steelers facility. Clark: "We definitely have been treated with courtesy here. ... It's a class organization and I wasn't expecting anything else from the brass of the Pittsburgh Steelers, great owners and great coaches. I don't think there's going to be any workouts or things like that, so it's not business as usual, but at least we're allowed into the building." Clark said he "assumed when the lockout was lifted that things were going to go back to what it was." Clark: "I thought this training room would be open for guys to use. It's still early yet, so I'm not sure what the training room rules are going to be. As of now there aren't any strength coaches in the building, so obviously there's not going to be any workouts. I don't really know what to make of it. I guess legally, though, they're not bound to have workouts" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 4/26).
MORE FROM TEAM FACILITIES: NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said that a "number of players who have showed up for work this morning, some of them have not been allowed in." Smith: "Some of them have been -- I've been told -- allowed in the building but they're not allowed to work out. We heard about one team that as players walked in the door, they were informed that the team told their strength and conditioning coaches to go ahead and have the day off" ("Mike & Mike in the Morning," ESPN Radio, 4/26). Browns WR Josh Cribbs said in a text, "We're going to go to work tomorrow to see if they'll let us in the building at 10 a.m. to test the waters a little bit" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/26). Redskins LB Lorenzo Alexander initially said that he "planned to report to Redskins Park" this morning unless a stay was granted. Alexander: "I've got a bonus due, so I'm planning on going and trying to work out and seeing if they let me in." But Alexander "later changed his mind and said he would not go" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/26). In N.Y., Manish Mehta reported Jets OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson "plans on showing up to the team facility," as he is "due to receive the largest workout bonus in the league this off-season -- $750,000" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 4/25). In Boston, Ian Rapoport reports a Patriots player "plans to have his representative call the team this morning and demand immediate payment of his large workout bonus" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/26).
WAITING FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE: Lions DE and player rep Kyle Vanden Bosch said that he has "told teammates to hold off on showing up at the team's Allen Park practice facility." Vanden Bosch: "I don't want to put the players or the team in a situation that we don't want to be in. ... Just kind of hold tight a little bit" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/26). Vanden Bosch: "The ruling created more questions than answers. It seems like the dust still has to settle over the next couple of days" (AP, 4/26). Eagles OT and player rep Winston Justice said that he "doubted many Birds would go to team facilities, given the remaining uncertainty" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/26). Broncos G Zane Beadles said that he was "advised by his agent 'to sit tight' for the next 24 hours or so" (DENVER POST, 4/26).
