Rookie Gabbert leads Jaguars through workouts

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

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

ESPN has dedicated 2011 to examining one of the most crucial positions in all of sports -- the quarterback.
Year of the QB ?

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," said Gabbert. "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."

None of the Jaguars were optimistic about an early end to the lockout. Garrard said commissioner Roger Goodell's recent proposal for an eight-game season wasn't comforting.

"It's scary," the QB said.

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."

Gabbert says it's good to "have the opportunity to work out a little bit and throw the ball around."

Gabbert says he arrived in town Sunday and has been working out with his group since.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Rookie QB Dalton throws vs. Bengals' defense

CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton's first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals came on a college field on a hot morning with no helmets, uniforms, pads or complete playbooks.

Not the best way for a rookie quarterback to break into the NFL.

More than 40 Bengals players participated in their first voluntary, full-squad workout Wednesday at the University of Cincinnati, where a handful of students took a few minutes to stop and watch the franchise's next quarterback start to blend in.

ESPN has dedicated 2011 to examining one of the most crucial positions in all of sports -- the quarterback.
Year of the QB ?

With his red hair, he was easy to spot. His arm got some looks, too.

"He's got a good arm," receiver Jerome Simpson said. "He's very smart. I like him."

The second-round pick from TCU has some daunting days ahead. The Bengals are switching to coordinator Jay Gruden's new offense, one that has totally different terminology from the old one. Dalton can't get tutoring from the coaches because of the NFL's lockout. Practice is limited to a few voluntary sessions in shorts and T-shirts.

"I don't know," offensive guard Bobbie Williams said, thinking about the obstacles in the rookie's way. "I'll just say: God help the young man. I mean, he's placed in a challenging position, but you know what? In this profession, you're always placed in a challenging position. It's up to you how you (react) to it."

So far, he seems to be doing fine.

Dalton got to Cincinnati a few days early to start looking for a house. He practiced Monday with the offense at the university while the defense worked out at a suburban soccer facility. They got together on Wednesday, giving Dalton a chance to meet most of the defensive players for the first time.

Also, it was the first time that they worked out without quarterback Carson Palmer, who says he'll retire if he's not traded. Palmer was the team's leader during his seven years as the starter.

Feel strange not having him there?

"Of course, man," Williams said. "That's the voice and the face you miss in the crowd. You miss hearing him, you miss his presence. But this game is an ever-changing game. One day we'll all be retired and there will be a new group of guys in here at some point."

Palmer's voice is deeper than Dalton's, leading to some teasing by his new teammates.

"Andy's picking up the tempo," Williams said. "Yesterday we kidded around with him, told him he needs to deepen his voice, get some bass in it. But he seemed to have adjusted pretty good to it."

Dalton made tight, on-target throws during a relaxed 7-on-7 session, with players being careful not to get hurt. He barely overthrew a long pass to Simpson, who stretched all-out and dived in the end zone but couldn't quite reach the ball.

That moment was the closest thing to real football.

"Just instinct because I want to catch every ball, show that quarterback that I want to work for him," Simpson said. "It's kind of a risk coming out here and diving for a ball, but I just couldn't help it."

Dalton is competing with Jordan Palmer, Carson's younger brother, for the starting job. Both of them are learning a new system. Players got some of the new playbook during the one day that the lockout was lifted in April, and they're trying to learn it on their own.

"It's definitely different in terminology," Palmer said. "I've been very impressed with how fast we're all getting it as a group. We've got 30 to 40 plays in. What percentage of the offense that is, I don't know."

Dalton spent part of the day getting to know his new defensive teammates.

"I didn't know very many of them," Dalton said. "It's been great just to be around everybody and to see everybody working together."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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