As Florio mentioned, the NFL didn’t appear to have a predetermined plan for what they would do if the lockout was lifted. After the lockout was lifted Monday, the NFLPA* similarly seems a little unsure of what to do next.
The difference? The players are on offense.
While Ryan Clark is telling Steelers teammates to show for work on Tuesday, Lions player rep Kyle Vanden Bosch has told his Lions teammates not to show up to the team’s practice facility yet.
“I don’t want to put the players or the team in a situation they don’t want to be in,” Vanden Bosch told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I don’t want to tell guys to go to find out that we can’t really workout there.”
Vanden Bosch just wants to wait at least a day to find out more. Other players around the league will approach things differently.
Titans guard Jake Scott, the team’s (former) player rep, plans to show up to work out at the team facility Tuesday morning, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Other Titans will follow.
Shaun O’Hara, the player rep on the Giants, has essentially told his teammates to do whatever they feel is best, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
Most Giants will stay home, but some like defensive lineman Chris Canty plans to show up for work. His agent Brad Blank believes that Canty may as well try to start collecting his workout bonus.
“I really don’t see the harm in going to work out and having a security guard tell you that you can’t,” Blank said. “It’s not going to be a big confrontation. So if they’re willing, I think it’s good idea that they show up.”
Vacchiano notes that other agents are telling their clients to stay home. Reports are coming out fast and furious of players in other cities in “wait and see mode.”
We’re a little surprised the former NFLPA* didn’t have a clear plan in place, but they don’t necessarily need one. The owners could be in violation of Judge Nelson’s lifting of the lockout if they don’t let players workout on Tuesday. The players are just trying to go back to work like Nelson ordered.
In the end, the players, agents, and teams are a lot like the fans in many ways.
They have no idea what’s going on or what happens next.