Alex Smith concludes 49ers workouts, happy with progress

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Camp Alex II is officially over.

Nobody knows for certain when the San Francisco 49ers will begin training camp. Or if Alex Smith can be as successful a quarterback this fall as he has been this summer.

The 49ers' former and apparently future quarterback ended his final scheduled informal team workout Friday. After organizing two separate four-day minicamps at San Jose State that included most of the team's offensive players, Smith said he has installed about as much of new coach Jim Harbaugh's West Coast system as he can this summer.

All he can do now is wait for the NFL lockout to end so he can show how much the workouts really accomplished.

"I know what I installed and everything I basically threw at the wall. I don't know how much of it stuck to the wall," said Smith, a free agent expected to re-sign with the team. "And I think that's going to be the test when these guys come back, whenever this thing ends, how much of it stuck."

At the very least, Smith believes the workouts have put the 49ers in a better position.

San Francisco has among the most to lose the deeper the labor disagreement goes, with so much under Harbaugh that is unknown and unsettled. Smith spent just a few hours with Harbaugh and his staff when the lockout was briefly lifted, leaving the team's headquarters with boxes of game highlights and a playbook.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

Smith studied the information and relayed that to his teammates during classroom sessions he taught on a drawing board. He even quizzed them when it was over and awarded undisclosed prizes, revealing only that receiver Kevin Jurovich left happiest.

The two dozen or so players at most of the workouts -- down to 10 offensive players on the last day because of the upcoming holiday weekend -- also went into Spartan Stadium for about 90 minutes to run plays each day.

"I got put in a position where I just kind of felt like I needed to do it," Smith said. "All of a sudden, I didn't know how long the lockout was going to go, as it got longer and longer, more and more I felt like we were behind the eight ball and needed to do something."

That leadership quality has been sorely missing from San Francisco's quarterback.

The 49ers haven't had a winning season or reached the playoffs since 2002, and inconsistency at the position might be the biggest reason why. With the exception of receiver Michael Crabtree, who has openly questioned whether Smith is the presumed starter, players at the workouts have said all the right things about Smith.

There's still little from his past play to suggest he will be the franchise's long-term solution, and the presence of second-round pick Colin Kaepernick figures to ignite the fan pessimism that revolves around Smith the first time the 2005 No. 1 overall pick throws an interception.

Smith will be the first to acknowledge the workouts he organized will be meaningless if he can't finally deliver consistently when it counts. The only action from this summer Harbaugh will see will be on video from the workouts Smith taped. The rest will be up to the quarterback to prove in front of the new coach.

Smith is flirting with the idea of holding another minicamp or even a larger session to mimic training camp if the lockout persists into late July. With so many free agents on the defensive side, Smith isn't sure he could find 11 players to fill out a roster -- and he wouldn't hold contact drills anyway, for fear of injuries.

Smith and others will continue to lift weights and exercise at San Jose State in smaller groups in the coming weeks, waiting to find out when training camp begins -- and whether Smith can be as accomplished a quarterback against an NFL defense.

"I would feel pretty good at this point if training camp started," Smith said. "Training camp is where the bulk of the work comes in anyway. You love the offseason program, but I think it serves as the same type of thing. It's an introduction to this stuff. The real football starts in training camp."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Sanchez deems three days of Jets player workouts a 'success'

NEW YORK -- Mark Sanchez got a few dozen of his New York Jets teammates together to practice for three days in private.

Yep, one of the NFL's chattiest teams went silent and got to work.

No cameras. No fans. No reporters.

"We just wanted to be able to focus," Sanchez said during a conference call Wednesday. "I think we've seen the extreme in 'Hard Knocks,' and how everything with the media, every little thing, if you sneeze, it's out there in print, on a blog or on TV. This is our chance to really just relax and do it our way, keep it quiet, have fun with the guys and keep it just a team thing."

About 40 players wrapped up three days of player-run workouts at Fairleigh Dickinson University, across the road from the team's facility in Florham Park, N.J. Unable to work out at the facility because of the lockout, it was the first time the Jets' players have gotten together as a large group since the end of last season.

"It was definitely a success, got some of the younger guys acquainted with veteran players, got everybody back again," Sanchez said. "It was good to see everybody's face again and make sure guys are looking like they are in good shape, and they definitely looked like that."

Center Nick Mangold remains hopeful that he and his teammates can soon get back to business as usual. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and several owners met with NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith and a group of players for a second straight day in Maryland.

"As much as we get to do these player workouts and stuff like that, it's not the same as having, for myself, an elite offensive-line coach like Bill Callahan out there coaching me," Mangold said. "So I think that it would be a good thing for us to get everything wrapped up in time."

Sanchez and his brothers, Nick and Brandon, helped organize the workouts -- dubbed "Camp Lockout" -- which included film sessions and 7-on-7 and team drills. Mangold and right guard Brandon Moore sent emails to several players, who agreed to gather from Monday through Wednesday. Sanchez also credited FDU basketball coach Pete Marion for setting things up at the school.

The days began with an hour of film study, followed by two hours of on-field work. Sanchez also made copies of old playbooks that he distributed to all of his teammates.

"When you don't have that time, potentially not going to Cortland, potentially not going to training camp," Sanchez said, "this was as close to that as we could replicate."

Sanchez, Mangold and Moore ran the offensive position groups, and cornerback Darrelle Revis and linebackers Bart Scott and David Harris ran things on the defense.

"The 7-on-7 was pretty competitive and the team stuff, as far as tempo, not anything crazy," Sanchez said. "Guys just wanted to make sure we stayed injury-free, and I think we did that."

The players preferred to not give a full attendance report, but among those who reportedly didn't participate were some of the Jets' biggest free agents: cornerback Antonio Cromartie and wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. ESPNNewYork.com reported that wide receiver Santonio Holmes attended at least one day, but didn't participate in drills.

"That's something I kind of expected and can understand," Sanchez said. "As teammates, it's hard, because you want those guys there, but as a professional football player and somebody who understands that there is a business side to this sport, unfortunately, I understand where these guys are coming from."

The players also had some down time, including a 3-point shooting contest in FDU's gym, which running back Joe McKnight and cornerback Drew Coleman won. They took home Hugo Boss suits as their reward.

"We had a good time with it, make sure guys are having fun, getting a little conditioning in at the same time," Sanchez said. "I don't even think they even realized that they were, so it was good."

Sanchez said players are considering additional workouts "in small pockets" until the lockout ends. He got the offensive skill players together for his "Jets West" camp in Southern California in early May, and several defensive linemen have been working out at a high school in New Jersey.

"It actually worked the opposite of what a normal offseason is," Sanchez said. "We're together so much and the offseason seems so short that when you get those times off, guys want to get away and focus on their family and relax. ... Well, now, we've been apart for so long, guys couldn't wait to get here and see each other again and have fun."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Saints wrap up workouts, pleased with what they've achieved

NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees launched a high, hard throw down the middle of the field and into the end zone, where second-year tight end Jimmy Graham leapt to grab it over his shoulder, out of reach of the nearest defender.

That's the kind of timing play the Saints were able to hone during six weeks of player-organized workouts at Tulane University. Those sessions are coming to an end this week. The plan now is to treat what would normally be vacation time as exactly that and hope that their next gathering is back at team headquarters for training camp in late July with an NFL labor agreement in place.

Brees said Wednesday that a sense of optimism that the NFL lockout's end was nearing has spread among Saints players this week in light of reports that representatives of owners and players were meeting and making progress. He also warned his teammates not to take anything for granted.

"I tell them there's a lot of hypotheticals," Brees said. "I just try to prepare the guys -- hope for the best, prepare for the worst. And that's been what we've had to do this whole time."

Brees and veteran teammates, including defensive captain Jonathan Vilma, designed the workouts to mimic what the Saints would normally have done at team headquarters during spring. After Thursday's session, they'll start nearly six weeks of vacation, hoping that a new collective bargain agreement is complete by the time Saints players are scheduled to report for training camp on July 27.

If the lockout endures into the fall, Brees said he is not yet sure what he might do to bring teammates together to train again. If training camp starts on time, Brees suspects his decision to organize workouts at Tulane will prove particularly fruitful.

"We always wanted to stay ready and feel like we were gaining an edge," Brees said. "I feel like we have been very organized.

"It has been great work for the past six weeks. Thirty-plus guys just about every day coming out, a combination of everything we would be doing at our own facility, but we're locked out. And yet we've found a way to work."

Players attending the workouts included free agents who played with the Saints last season and hope to be back, as well as rookies selected in the NFL draft who have yet to sign their first pro contracts.

Veterans took responsibility for helping the rookies on both sides of the ball adapt to the pro game and the Saints' schemes.

"You've got to throw them into the fire a little bit," Brees said. "Obviously, we've had some classroom time with them and some opportunity just to talk through fundamentals and position-specific stuff. Then you just throw them out there and let the natural athlete and the natural competitor come out in them and see what their strengths are."

Saints players pushed each other on the field and in the weight room and banded together to organize some of their own charity events, including two raffles in which fans were invited to spend a day with players and even practice with them.

Together, both raffles raised about $105,000, Brees said. Although the charities have not been selected, some of the money is expected to benefit Tulane's scholarship fund and victims of recent Mississippi River flooding in Louisiana. Other local charities might benefit as well.

"Everything we do, we have a purpose for," Brees said. "With the raffle it was, No. 1, to give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When would they ever have the chance to practice with an NFL team and be in the mix? That wouldn't happen unless we were in a lockout and we make the rules. Secondly, the charitable aspect to it. We had the chance to raise six figures in charitable dollars for the community. That's a great thing."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Redskins see what they're doing after adding video to workouts

FAIRFAX, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have added a new element this week in the quest to make their player-run practices look and feel like the real thing.

On Wednesday, a friend hired by quarterback John Beck stood atop a 10-foot metal platform with a camera, videotaping the plays.

"It's tough when you don't have tape to go back and critique," Beck said. "That's really the story of the lockout -- just doing what we can. It would be ideal if we could be at our facility with our coaches, talking with them, watching their tape, but we can't. Even though it's very basic, we can still learn a lot from this."

Beck bemoaned that he couldn't review his footwork and coverage reads after the first two player-run minicamps in April and May. When the players reconvened Tuesday for the first day of a three-day camp, he had his friend standing on the top row of the bleachers. Tight end Chris Cooley suggested using the platform instead to provide a better angle.

The players are reviewing the tape in the evenings at Cooley's house.

"After having two weeks of not watching it and watching it for the first time yesterday, it's nice to be able to go back, spend an hour and see how you're running, see what your routes look like," Cooley said. "I felt like here were adjustments that I was able to make today after just watching some subtle things instead of just coming out and running."

Early during Wednesday's practice, Beck launched a tight spiral but overthrew tight end Logan Paulsen. That's one play certainly worth reviewing.

"We can sit down and look at Logan's route," Beck said. "Did he come out of it well? If he did, now I can take a hair off the ball. He might say, 'I didn't come out of it well. Your ball was on the money.' You can say was it A, B or C, and now can we (fix) that."

Wednesday's workout was attended by 32 players, including former Redskins cornerback Justin Tryon, now with the Indianapolis Colts.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Newton: Veteran Smith has attended some Panthers workouts

CHARLOTTE -- Veteran Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has attended some player-organized workouts, according to rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton did not say how many sessions Smith has attended, but did say he has thrown passes to him.

"Steve has been out here and we've had an opportunity to throw it around," Newton said. "You hear a lot of stories like 'He's going to do this, he don't miss any passes.' I learned that first hand."

Smith, who reportedly has asked to be traded, was not in attendance during the media availability portion of Thursday's workout. More than 40 players participated in the final session of the two-week minicamp.

First-year Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney said they spoke to Smith, 31, about his future with the team before the lockout and the situation would be addressed once the lockout is lifted.

Smith's star has dimmed in recent years as he's dealt with injuries and ineffective play at the quarterback position. A four-time Pro Bowler, Smith is the Panthers' all-time leading receiver. Last season, he caught 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns.

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Dalton among 47 Bengals at workouts; Palmer, Ochocinco not

A total of 47 Cincinnati Bengals, including five of the team's eight draft choices, attended the first day of player-organized workouts on Monday at two locations, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday night.

Tackle Andrew Whitworth and defensive tackle Domata Peko organized the sessions, which had 25 defensive players working out at Ignition Athletics in Mason, Ohio, and 22 offensive players training at the University of Cincinnati.

"We ran the offense, did some conditioning and got a chance to get our football legs back," Whitworth said. "We got a lot of quality work in."

Second-round pick Andy Dalton was one of three quarterbacks -- none of them named Carson Palmer -- who participated. Palmer has said he will retire if the Bengals don't trade him, something owner Mike Brown vowed won't happen. Wide receiver A.J. Green, the Bengals' first-round pick, is expected to join the workouts later this week.

Fellow wideout Chad Ochocinco, whose Bengals tenure appears tenuous as well, also was a no-show. He is in Montreal filming a cameo appearance for the Spike TV series "Blue Mountain State."

Each unit spent two hours on the field mirroring organized team activities -- stretching, position group work and then running plays together -- before lifting weights for another hour.

Monday's workouts were closed to the media, but Tuesday's defensive session and Wednesday's offensive workout will be open.

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Bengals players putting together plans for full-squad workouts

Cincinnati Bengals players have gathered for specific position workouts this offseason. Now, two players plan to bring the whole team together.

The workouts are being organized by offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and defensive tackle Domata Peko, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Wednesday. The plan is to hold the workouts in the Cincinnati area over four days, mimicking an organized team activity.

"A lot of the players will be there, including the draft picks," Whitworth said. "We're just getting a final schedule together right now."

Quarterback Andy Dalton, a second-round draft pick, will stay with Whitworth during the workouts, according to The Enquirer. Last month, Dalton attended Whitworth's golf tournament, which raised $150,000 for the lineman's charitable foundation.

The Bengals are the latest NFL team to announce plans for a full-squad workout. The Patriots were the most recent team to do it, reportedly gathering more than 40 players for a workout at Boston College.

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Brady heads to Boston, will lead Patriots' workouts

Tom Brady will lead the New England Patriots in players-only workouts beginning Wednesday, ESPN Boston reported, citing sources familiar with his plans.

The quarterback, who is returning to the Boston area for charity appearances Friday night and Saturday for Best Buddies International, contacted teammates about joining him on the field while he was in the region, and sources said a number of teammates have traveled to join him.

Brady has been recuperating from foot surgery in January and working out in his native California. He was especially interested in pass-catchers joining the workouts, sources said.

Locally based players, such as tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Brandon Tate, won't have to alter their plans much to join Brady's sessions. Receiver Julian Edelman, who has been working out in Los Angeles, flew to Boston on Tuesday.

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Rookie QB Ponder, Vikings begin three-day workouts at IMG

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Smack in the middle of baseball spring-training country, IMG headquarters has become the unofficial headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason workouts.

With music blaring, the energy is crackling here, where a half dozen Vikings players have come -- with more on the way -- to take advantage of IMG's state-of-the-art training facilities. Rookie QB Christian Ponder has invited his new teammates to work on the Vikings' playbook.

Ponder said he was the first Vikings player to receive the playbook from new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave during the one-day window last month when a federal judge lifted the NFL lockout and coaches were allowed to make contact with their players.

Ponder said he went to Kinkos to make copies of the playbook for his teammates, and was careful to do the work himself, not letting the pages leave his sight. The end result? The 12th overall pick in last month's draft is now tasked with delivering Musgrave's playbook to the likes of Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe, all of whom are expected to join quarterback Joe Webb, rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph and others for workouts during the the next three days.

Ponder said he thinks he's read enough of the playbook that, if put through a normal NFL practice, he already could call half the plays.

The variety of athletes from all over the world and from different sports training at IMG makes for an interesting dynamic.

NFL players, sometimes putting up 400 pounds or more on the bench press, are surrounded by 14-year-old tennis players as well as some NBA draft hopefuls from smaller schools.

Jeff Dillman, IMG's head strength and conditioning coach, said the facility played host to three first-round quarterbacks (2011 top overall pick Cam Newton, Ponder and Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman) in one afternoon last week, on the football field next to a baseball facility where former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and free agent Jamie Moyer was rehabbing, which was next to a weight room where future tennis and golf stars were trying to get bigger, faster and stronger.

"There's nowhere else in the world where this is happening," Dillman said.

Also here is former Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who went undrafted last month. Herzlich said it has been great working out with Ponder and Rudolph, two guys he "hated" to play against in college.

Herzlich has already turned down the UFL. He said he has not been contacted by any NFL teams but has 10 to 11 in mind as possible landing spots. He said he plans on being the Cam Newton of free agency, as the first undrafted player signed, once teams are permitted to do so.

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Jets D-linemen plan to gather for workouts next week in N.J.

NEW YORK -- The Jets' defensive linemen have been lifting weights and running while the NFL's labor dispute drags on. Well, now they're ready to hit something.

Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito told The Associated Press on Saturday they plan to gather in New Jersey sometime next week with the team's other defensive linemen, including Ropati Pitoitua and possibly first-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson and third-rounder Kenrick Ellis.

"We were talking and it was like, 'Dude, we've got to put something together,'" Pouha said. "All of us have been lifting and running and working out. That's one thing. Doing actual drills, making blocking reads and punching sled bags, well, that's another thing."

The players have made arrangements to bring in blocking sleds and add the physical element they've been missing in the absence of organized team activities because of the lockout. They also might review defensive plays from last season and reacquaint themselves with one another.

"It's great to get together as a unit," DeVito said, "so that we can start working together, getting our rhythm and timing right and to work that unity that is so important to have if you want a great defensive line."

Quarterback Mark Sanchez gathered several offensive players in Southern California earlier this month for his "Jets West" camp, and recently said the entire team expects to work out together in June if the lockout continues.

Pouha said no specific plans had been made yet in terms of gathering the entire team.

"I'm sure Mark will let all of us know," he said. "But in terms of the D-line, that's our plan, to get together. Nothing like an OTA, but to work on drills and get that fusion as a unit."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Panthers beginning two weeks of players-only workouts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Perhaps no team is in need of offseason practices more than the Carolina Panthers. After falling behind their division rivals, the Panthers finally gathered Tuesday for their first player-organized workout since the lockout began.

The team that finished an NFL-worst 2-14 in 2010 also did its best to make sure no one saw them.

Players hired a police officer to shoo away reporters from the high school where they were working out on the hot, humid morning. Cones blocked another entrance to the field at Charlotte Christian.

Guard Geoff Schwartz indicated on Twitter that more than 50 players attended.

"Great morning of team activities," he wrote.

Left tackle Jordan Gross, who organized the two weeks of practices with left guard Travelle Wharton, said reporters wouldn't be allowed in until the last day, June 9, to prevent distractions.

"We're just trying to prepare to win some football games," said Gross, who wouldn't reveal the number of players on hand.

A few dozen high-priced vehicles were seen in the parking lot, but the field was out of view from the road. So there was no way of seeing No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton or fellow quarterback Jimmy Clausen or to get updates on players coming back from injury.

The Panthers were the last team in the NFC South to gather in this odd offseason. The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have held player-led workouts.

"It's been so long," running back Jonathan Stewart wrote on his Twitter page. "Time to get better!"

That's for sure. After finishing this past season with the league's worst offense, the Panthers replaced coach John Fox with San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. But the labor dispute has prevented Rivera from gathering his team to learn a new system on both sides of the ball.

Then the Panthers drafted Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn could replace Clausen, who went 1-9 as a starter with the NFL's worst passer rating in 2010. Throw in the uncertain status of receiver Steve Smith, who has hedged on whether he wants to return, and the Panthers are stuck in neutral.

Carolina was helped by the one day the lockout was lifted in April, allowing Newton and several players to receive new playbooks from the coaching staff. Linebacker Jon Beason said a couple weeks ago they wanted the workouts to closely resemble normal coach-led offseason practices.

"We're going to try to make it as close as (organized team activities) as possible," Beason said. "Meetings, light practice, light workout, conditioning, the same thing that we would usually do."

But Beason acknowledged the Panthers -- with a new coaching staff, 28 potential free agents and possibly a rookie quarterback -- are affected perhaps more than any other team by the lockout. Beason is expected to attend the next court hearing tied to the labor dispute Friday in St. Louis.

"If you look at a team like Pittsburgh or the Colts, teams that are good consistently, they have that camaraderie, they have that chemistry," Beason said. "That's what I think winning is about. Anytime there's a new system, new coaches, not only do you have to learn scheme and terminology, but also personalities. I think that's important."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Faine pens fan letter clarifying criticism of Bucs workouts

When veteran center Jeff Faine caught wind of criticism from Bucs fans and bloggers decrying his absence from the player-only workouts he earlier mocked, he wrote an open letter to the St. Petersburg Times vowing to attend upcoming practices.

"I don't typically respond to blogs but I found it necessary to respond to a recent post when my dedication to my team and the quality of my character as a captain was questioned," Faine wrote. "The Buccaneers fans deserve to hear the truth directly from me. There is nothing more I'd rather be doing than going through the offseason program and preparing for the upcoming season with my teammates on our journey to compete for a championship."

In February, Faine indicated that player-led workouts would be a challenge to organize and execute.

"You're not going to see Josh Freeman and our receiving corps down at the University of Tampa soccer field," Faine told the Times. "They might go out there and run some routes and throw. But you're talking about getting an entire receiving corps together being able to work against an entire defensive backs corps. It's just not going to happen."

Faine also spoke to WQYK-AM this week, according to the Times, saying: "I guess they wanted me to come snap the ball a little bit and block air. But I decided my time was best served in the weight room than making sure that our snaps were still good."

Faine wrote in his letter Friday that he has missed workouts due to scheduling issues and never meant to question the leadership of third-year quarterback Josh Freeman.

Five surgeries later, Bucs TE Kellen Winslow is learning to cope with his battered right knee and hoping for his best season yet. I feel as ready as I can be right now," he said. More...

"Back in February when I was asked about the feasibility of organizing player workouts, I wasn't questioning Josh Freeman's ability as a leader, I was more saying how difficult it will be for any individual to logistically get the entire team together for an offseason program comparable to one organized by the Buccaneers. If I wasn't clear on that matter, I apologize.

"I can assure you that my dedication to my team, the Buccaneers organization and the Tampa community has never wavered. I take pride in sharing not only football experience, but life skills and business knowledge that my teammates can use after their football careers end. This quality is why I have been voted a captain the past three years. It would be tough to find a player in this league that wears that captain's patch with more pride."

Faine, who has started 36 games for the Bucs since joining the team in 2008, appearing in eight last season, promised fans he would be a presence at future team workouts.

"As Josh well knows, the relationship between a center and the quarterback is of utmost importance and he knows that I support him completely in his efforts to prepare during the lockout. Although I missed the first three days of field work in Tampa because of prior commitments, I will be part of future sessions to build team camaraderie. As professionals, we are all accountable for our training and preparation regardless of where we live in the off season. I can assure you I will do all I can to continue to build on our team success from last season."

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Young gun in town: QB Kaepernick joins 49ers workouts

The San Francisco 49ers welcomed a new face this week with the arrival of rookie signal-caller Colin Kaepernick, who threw to teammates at player-only workouts in the San Jose area, according to The Sacramento Bee on Friday.

Kaepernick first joined Wednesday's practice, but The Bee said Friday's passing session marked his most intense activity yet since undergoing a procedure on his left leg after the 49ers selected him in the second round of last month's draft.

Kaepernick is the second 49ers rookie to work out with veterans after receiver Ronald Johnson, a sixth-round pick, practiced with teammates for 10 days soon after the draft.

It's been suggested that the strong-armed, fleet-footed Kaepernick will find his way into the 49ers' attack, even if he sits behind Alex Smith, who also has actively attended workouts during the NFL lockout, along with 14 other teammates. The Bee reports that Smith has been joined by defensive linemen Isaac Sopoaga and Justin Smith, offensive linemen Joe Staley and Adam Snyder, and receivers Kevin Jurovich and Josh Morgan.

Kaepernick earlier received a copy of the 49ers playbook from a teammate, but is unable to communicate with San Francisco's coaching staff during the lockout. He planned reach out to Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who played under new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for the previous three seasons.

As for Kaepernick, the newspaper reports that it's not only the playbook and his new team he's getting used to -- the rookie just made the move from his parents house in Turlock, Calif. to the Bay Area.

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Jets D-linemen plan to gather for workouts next week in N.J.

NEW YORK -- The Jets' defensive linemen have been lifting weights and running while the NFL's labor dispute drags on. Well, now they're ready to hit something.

Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito told The Associated Press on Saturday they plan to gather in New Jersey sometime next week with the team's other defensive linemen, including Ropati Pitoitua and possibly first-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson and third-rounder Kenrick Ellis.

"We were talking and it was like, 'Dude, we've got to put something together,'" Pouha said. "All of us have been lifting and running and working out. That's one thing. Doing actual drills, making blocking reads and punching sled bags, well, that's another thing."

The players have made arrangements to bring in blocking sleds and add the physical element they've been missing in the absence of organized team activities because of the lockout. They also might review defensive plays from last season and reacquaint themselves with one another.

"It's great to get together as a unit," DeVito said, "so that we can start working together, getting our rhythm and timing right and to work that unity that is so important to have if you want a great defensive line."

Quarterback Mark Sanchez gathered several offensive players in Southern California earlier this month for his "Jets West" camp, and recently said the entire team expects to work out together in June if the lockout continues.

Pouha said no specific plans had been made yet in terms of gathering the entire team.

"I'm sure Mark will let all of us know," he said. "But in terms of the D-line, that's our plan, to get together. Nothing like an OTA, but to work on drills and get that fusion as a unit."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Packers, Steelers find relief from storm with indoor workouts

In need of an indoor facility worthy of a Super Bowl team, the Green Bay Packers turned to a Dallas high school.

Temperatures in the teens, wind and ice forced the Packers to scrap plans of practicing outdoors Wednesday at Southern Methodist University and to move to the new, $4.5 million indoor field at nearby Highland Park High School. With more of the same weather expected, the team likely will work out on the high school campus Thursday and Friday.

"We feel like this will not affect us from a preparation standpoint at all," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Highland Park's facility opened in August and is comparable in quality to the TCU setup the Packers' Super Bowl opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, moved into Wednesday. Both buildings are NFL-caliber.

Such quality at TCU is one thing. But a high school?

That's how it goes in Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There are megamillion prep palaces all around, with a $60 million outdoor stadium going up.

"It's Texas. They love their football," Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Tramon Williams said. "They have some beautiful high schools here. As long as we're inside, we're good with that."

Highland Park is among the wealthiest suburbs in the nation, so the district could afford the price tag on its facility. A $1 million donation from the booster club helped, too.

"That's ridiculous," Packers wide receiver James Jones said. "We barely had a football field at my high school in California. There's too much money out here. They need to send some of that extra cash out to California."

"We barely had grass," added defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who grew up in Florida. "An indoor practice field? That's unreal."

Highland Park also has a nifty NFL tradition. Alums include Pro Football Hall of Famers Doak Walker and Bobby Layne, as well as Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2009.

"I'm hoping Mr. Stafford put in enough money to this high school for them to build a solid facility," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers jokingly said. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Another Highland Park product of note this week is Steelers punter Daniel Sepulveda, who's on injured reserve. Before his team worked out at TCU, Sepulveda sounded jealous that the Packers would hang out near his old stomping grounds.

"It's crazy," Sepulveda said. "Small world."

TCU's Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility was a lot more comfortable than being outdoors for the Steelers, but still a bit chilly. The building isn't heated, so it was around 51 degrees during their 2-hour practice.

"One thing we're used to is weather," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We're not going to fight elements. We're used to adjusting as we have to, and we got all our work in. It was a good day."

Some Highland Park players and a few fans were waiting when the Packers' team bus arrived. The teenagers who hoped to watch from the sideline were out of luck as security kept everyone away from the team. The school's coach, Randy Allen, didn't even bother trying to show up, but he was thrilled to be able to help.

"It's nice to have a facility the Packers could use," Allen said. "It's great publicity for our school and our football program. There's a lot of buzz in our community because of it."

There's also irony.

First off, the facility was built more to avoid extreme heat than bitter cold. Allen said the school's outdoor field, which is an artificial surface, could reach 140 degrees, so hot that "our players said it almost makes their spikes melt."

It's also a twist that ice in Dallas would cause problems for the Packers, considering how much the ice in Green Bay affected the Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967 -- the game known as the "Ice Bowl." Green Bay beat Dallas on a last-minute play, with a trip to the second Super Bowl on the line.

As for the Cowboys, they have a $1.2 billion stadium capable of hosting the Super Bowl, but they are among 10 NFL teams without an indoor practice facility.

The Cowboys had one until May 2009, when a storm knocked it over during a rookie workout, leaving a scouting assistant paralyzed and a coach with a broken neck. There were lawsuits and multimillion-dollar settlements, and team owner Jerry Jones hasn't announced plans for a replacement.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Friday afternoon. There's a 40 percent chance of more snow falling Friday. But it's supposed to be sunny and clear on the weekend, with temperatures perhaps reaching 60 on game day.

That temperature won't matter. The roof of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington will be closed for the game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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