Suh attends first player-only workout with Lions teammates

Ndamukong Suh's busy offseason included breaking a sweat with the locked-out Detroit Lions for the first time on Friday.

Even though Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, Ndamukong Suh says the Lions could go 16-0, and should shoot for nothing less if they want to be taken seriously. More...

"I got some good work in," he said in an interview with NFL Network after joining his teammates for conditioning drills at Detroit Country Day School.

Suh declined to talk with reporters after the workout.

He started his offseason by having shoulder surgery that prevented him from playing in the Pro Bowl. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was the only rookie on the All-Pro team after Detroit drafted him No. 2 overall last year.

Suh was among the celebrities who sped out of London last month for the Gumball 3000 Rally, a seven-day car race stretching across 10 countries in Europe, but insisted he wasn't just kicking back and relaxing overseas.

"No vacations -- I enjoyed myself," Suh told NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest. "No question, I worked out in Europe."

The Lions are wrapping up a second week of practices they've organized on their own during the lingering lockout.

"We're not going to plan another week of workouts, hoping the next time we see each other a deal is done," offensive guard Rob Sims said.

About 30 Lions attended this week's gatherings, including quarterback Matthew Stafford and two second-round picks from the team's 2011 draft, wide receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel Leshoure, who were about as wide-eyed as expected.

"We're going to try to make it as easy on them as possible, and catch them up to speed as much as we can," Stafford said earlier this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ponder would prefer to work out with Vikings teammates

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder told Minnesota's KFAN radio Tuesday that his personal workouts are going well, but what he really wants to do is work out with his new Vikings teammates in Minnesota.

"(Linebacker) Chad Greenway had mentioned coming up there and doing some stuff up there," Ponder said. "I think that's important for me to get up there."

He added, laughing, "The biggest problem right now is that I don't have any money. The plan is to get up there some time and find somewhere to live. But with a lockout I'm not getting paid. But I know at some point I'll get up there and spend some time with those guys."

The Star Tribune reported Tuesday a group of Vikings veterans, including offensive linemen Steve Hutchinson, John Sullivan and tight end Jim Kleinsasser, are working out together in the Twin Cities four days a week.

Ponder is particularly interested in working with the Vikings' receivers, especially Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian, none of whom participated in a workout in Florida last week.

"We've already talked to those guys, and sometime soon we'll be getting together," Ponder said. "It will happen, and it will be good. Obviously they're some big-time guys I want to get my timing down with and everything. So we'll get together at some point."

Ponder, the 12th overall selection in April's draft, said his time working with fellow Florida State alum Chris Weinke at the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has been beneficial.

"Actually me and Chris have done some things -- he's fixed some things in my mechanics and I'm throwing the ball extremely well," Ponder said. "That's one (reason) why I'm excited for the season to get started so I can get back out there and really play."

But playing -- or even practicing -- is not as easy with the lingering lockout. Ponder said the labor situation his hindering his development, particularly as he eyes a Vikings starting job vacated by the retired Brett Favre.

"I definitely don't think it's helping me," he said. "I need as much time and practice as I can get. It's good what I'm doing now. But it's completely different when you're going against defenses and you're getting coaching from (offensive coordinator Bill) Musgrave and being with your teammates. I definitely don't think it's helping me."

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Rookie QB Gabbert gets to work with Jaguars teammates

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First-round draft pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among 28 Jacksonville Jaguars players who practiced together for the first time at an area high school.

Previously, the players had been working in small groups throughout the area to stay in shape during the NFL lockout.

Gabbert, the 10th pick overall out of Missouri, spent much of the hour and a half practice taking instruction from starting quarterback David Garrard and throwing to a variety of receivers, including Cecil Shorts III, the Jags' fourth-round pick.

"It's been a blast," Gabbert said. "It's good to get out here with the guys and have the opportunity to work out a little bit and throw the ball around."

Gabbert said he arrived in town Sunday and has been working out with his group since. At night, he and Shorts have been studying film.

"We've been working (in groups) two months and not many teams can say that," cornerback Rashean Mathis said.

Garrard said media was invited to let the fans know the Jags aren't sitting around during the lockout.

"We wanted to give the fans the ability to see us out here," he said. "It's important that we do get out here, and it's important that our fans see us work so we can continue to increase ticket sales and give them hope there will be a season."

Among the missing players were tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is in California, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has been traveling around the country.

"It's hard to pull them off the West Coast," Garrard said.

The players said they remain united in their struggle with NFL owners and discounted the notion owners are counting on players caving when they start missing game pay checks.

"If it does become who is going to hold their breath the longest, we'll see who has the biggest lungs," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "Hopefully it won't come to that."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Rookie Locker joins future Titans teammates for workout

Rookie quarterback Jake Locker was among 15 Tennessee Titans who gathered to work out together Tuesday morning, The Tennessean reported via Twitter.

Locker, whom the Titans selected eighth overall in April's draft, did not throw during the workout because only two receivers showed up at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, according to The Tennessean.

Locker said he planned to spend two weeks in the Nashville area, and that he is staying with second-year receiver Damian Williams.

The group at Father Ryan has been working out together for several weeks, according to The Tennessean. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan said last week that plans are in the works for as much of the team as possible to meet for a minicamp on June 8-9 at the high school.

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