In any other context, today would be a normal, off-season day at Halas Hall. Robbie Gould stopped by. So did Matt Toeina and Israel Idonije. Reporters were on hand, as was Lovie Smith, Mike Martz and Jerry Angelo. J'Marcus Webb and Anthony Adams were given the organization's Piccolo Award, given to players who show Brian Piccolo's qualities of courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor.
But the day after a federal judge lifted the NFL's lockout, this is anything but business as usual.
Gould, Toeina and Idonije were allowed in the building, but not given access to the weight room or any other training facilities. They left after a few minutes after being told by Bears president Ted Phillips that they were still waiting on clarification from the NFL on how to proceed. The NFL released a statement saying that they needed to sort this all out.
Other players, like Chris Harris, Devin Hester and Matt Forte, just worked out at their regular training spots in Charlotte, N.C., and in Florida. Harris explained why he didn't head back to Chicago the second the lockout was lifted:
The players who did show up wanted to prove that they did, indeed, just want to play. This backs up everything that they've said over the course of collective-bargaining agreement negotiations. Of course, there's also money on the line. Most players have workout bonuses written into their contract, and theoretically, with the lockout lifted, reporting means that they are eligible for the bonus.
This weird limbo will continue until the appeals court rules on a stay, meaning that the lockout would be put back in place until the appeals court heard the NFL's appeal, and until the NFL can cobble together rules for teams to handle the limbo.
