NFL players return to work

The NFL cleared the way for some of its basic football operations to begin at 8 a.m. EDT Friday, five days after a federal judge declared the lockout illegal and nearly seven weeks after it began.

And the players immediately took advantage.

Five Redskins players showed up before 8 a.m. Friday at the practice facility at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.

They were Lorenzo Alexander, Graham Gano, Selvish Capers, Rob Jackson and Clint Oldenburg. Alexander appeared the three previous days and was turned away from the workout room.

And quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Dan Connor were among the early arrivals at the Carolina Panthers this morning.

Now players can talk with coaches, work out at team headquarters and get playbooks.