{"id":411487,"date":"2011-04-30T21:33:24","date_gmt":"2011-04-30T21:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/30\/rookies-wallow-in-lockout-limbo-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-04-30T21:33:24","modified_gmt":"2011-04-30T21:33:24","slug":"rookies-wallow-in-lockout-limbo-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/30\/rookies-wallow-in-lockout-limbo-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Rookies wallow in lockout limbo (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)\u2014There wasn\u2019t much time to celebrate during Christian Ponder\u2019s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> first day as a Minnesota Viking.<\/p>\n

The Florida State quarterback, drafted 12th overall to take over for the departed Brett Favre<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> knew time was of the essence when he arrived at team headquarters on Friday, and he spent all day meeting with coaches and going over X\u2019s and O\u2019s while the lockout was temporarily lifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know how long this window will be open so we have to take advantage of every moment and try to get him the information that we think he\u2019ll need to come back, whenever that is, with a working knowledge of what we\u2019re trying to accomplish,\u201d Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said after introducing Ponder.<\/p>\n

Ponder\u2019s cram session wasn\u2019t unique. Rookies across the league scrambled to get in, meet coaches and pick up playbooks before the doors were shut again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready as soon as this lockout is over,\u201d Chicago Bears<\/a> first-round pick Gabe Carimi<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to come and start playing. I\u2019m sure everyone feels that way too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lockout was restored Friday night after the owners were handed a legal victory by a federal appeals court. The labor fight threatens to rob this year\u2019s rookie class of precious preparation time in the offseason to get them ready to make the leap from college to the NFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s back to how it had been before so we pretty much can\u2019t pass anything out,\u201d Titans coach Mike Munchak said. \u201cOnce the draft is over today, we are done talking until this thing is worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lockout prevents rookies who didn\u2019t make it to headquarters on Friday from speaking with coaches, picking up playbooks and working out at team facilities. Organized practices and minicamps also are off limits until the lockout is lifted again, which could come as early as next week or drag into the summer, depending on how things play out in the court system.<\/p>\n

Coaches are concerned about having enough time to get the youngsters ready to contribute. That is particularly true for quarterbacks who may step in and play right away, including Ponder, Cam Newton<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> in Carolina, Jake Locker<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> in Tennessee, Blaine Gabbert<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> in Jacksonville and Andy Dalton<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to make up for lost time,\u201d Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. \u201cWhenever something transpires, we\u2019ll be able to hit the ground running and be able to overcome whatever feeling of being behind the eight-ball that we may experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The uncertainty was making some of the rookies a little antsy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just ready to get in and get to work,\u201d Dalton said. \u201cWith the whole lockout situation, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen. Once the chance comes, I\u2019m ready to get in and get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some players are pulling out all the stops to get up to speed. It was suggested to Denver Broncos<\/a> second-round pick Rahim Moore<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> during his introductory press conference that he contact first-round pick Von Miller<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> to get a look at the Broncos defensive playbook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be a great idea,\u201d said the UCLA safety. \u201cA playbook is very important to get so we won\u2019t come in with nothing on our minds. You know we would get to have some type of (introduction) to the team. But, that\u2019s a great idea. I\u2019m going to try to get in contact with him and get his number immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ponder said he would start contacting his new teammates right away, trying to forge a bond and chemistry with some of them during the time off.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough, especially with the uncertainty,\u201d Ponder said. \u201cWe have no idea what\u2019s going to happen and I\u2019m praying I\u2019ll be back here in two weeks for mini-camp or whenever we\u2019re allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n

While many veterans are welcoming the extra time away from what they perceive to be offseason busy work, the rookies are anxious for the orientation to get under way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the lockout situation right now you don\u2019t know when you\u2019ll be able to talk to your coach again, when you\u2019re going to get to the facility,\u201d Panthers third-round draft pick Sione Fua said. \u201cFor me, I\u2019ve just got to take care of business on my end. Stay in shape, stay on track to graduate and when I get the call to come in, just be ready to go and be in shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not much easier for coaches, who believe they need as much time as they can get to start molding the youngsters and preparing them for an increase in competition many aren\u2019t ready for when they leave school.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll just be fluid,\u201d Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. \u201cWe\u2019ll react to what\u2019s going on. We have to play by the rules and until we\u2019re told otherwise now, I guess those will be the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Arnie Stapleton and AP Sports Writers Teresa M. Walker, Joe Kay, Tom Withers, Steven Wine, Rick Gano, Mike Cranston and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

See the original post:
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