At least 10 Broncos showed up at the team’s Dove Valley headquarters at 8 a.m. today, hoping to work out and meet with team officials.
The players, led by veteran safety Brian Dawkins, spent about 10 minutes meeting with team president Joe Ellis in the cafeteria. Players were told that all “football-related activities” remained on hold while the Broncos waited to hear from the NFL on how to proceed in the wake of a judge’s ruling to lift the lockout.
That advisory came about three hours later, with the league informing teams that players must be allowed full use of facilities starting at 6 a.m. MDT Friday. Players will be allowed to work out, use the training room for medical treatment or rehab, meet with coaches and pick up playbooks. Teams are allowed to contact players immediately to schedule workouts and meetings.
However, things could change again quickly, depending on a court ruling. The NFL is asking a federal appeals court to put the lockout back in place.
Dawkins, a team captain and a member of the players association’s executive board, said in a phone interview that he expects at least some players to return to Dove Valley on Friday. Dawkins said he was particularly looking forward to picking up the new defensive playbook.
“That’s the plan,” Dawkins said. “Some guys might be getting out of town because it’s Friday. I don’t know who all will be here but I’m pretty sure guys who are able to go over will be there.
“It’s the beginning. Hopefully we can continue to go out and train and keep our bodies in shape so when the time comes for us to do football-related things like minicamps or whatever we’ll be able to put a great product on the field.”
After Thursday’s meeting with Ellis, some of the players left, while several stayed to eat breakfast. Other players who met with Ellis included linebackers Robert Ayers and Joe Mays, fullback Spencer Larsen and center J.D. Walton.
Dawkins described the meeting with Ellis as “very professional” and “very cordial.”
“I didn’t expect anything different to be honest with you,” Dawkins said.
A group of about 20 players — mostly Broncos, but also some free agents or players who live in the the Denver area — then met at the South Suburban Sports Dome, just down the street from Dove Valley, for a workout.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
