With the lockout over, teams still have work to do before season

Now that a sort of relative decency has finally set in among franchise owners — and, yes, some of the players sitting across the table — it’s time to get back to the 2011 NFL offseason that should have begun months ago.

Slated to begin August 4, the start of the NFL league year will mark one of the most frenzied and shortest official offseasons fans have seen in decades.

With players allowed to report to their respective team’s camp 15 days before its first preseason game, 10 clubs could have officially opened camp as early as yesterday.
Especially for teams that underwent coaching changes before the lockout began March 4, the pressure is on.

Here’s a look at what teams are doing to catch up before the preseason arrives :
System Implementation: For teams that did see coaching changes, playbook distribution was the first thing on coaches’ and team executives’ list when players walked through the doors.

It’s easier for teams like the Carolina Panthers, as Ron Rivera assumes head coaching duties, and first overall pick, Cam Newton, will likely assume the signal-calling duties. Regardless of where Newton was picked, he’d be learning a new system.

For a team like the Cleveland Browns, who have a new coach but a young, incumbent quarterback in Colt McCoy, the lockout may take an even heavier toll.
Free Agency: The new Collective Bargaining Agreement allowed for teams to begin signing their own restricted and unrestricted free agents as early as Monday, as well as their drafted rookies that night.

Team executives will be forced to make millions of dollars worth in salary cap decisions in only a few days.

As if that weren’t enough for personnel officials, there is the league-wide free agent pool. After teams take care of their own free agents, team needs will take center stage.  
Physicals and Conditioning: Overlooked by many fans amid the return of football is the state of its players.

With the free agent frenzy, it’s easy to forget that some guys, like the Colts’ Peyton Manning, underwent medical procedures like they would in any other offseason.
Evaluating the physical condition of veterans this close to preseason games is vital before putting pads on.

A four-month offseason has been boiled down to just a few days. The good news is, aside from the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, there wasn’t a whole lot that came at the expense of the lockout.

That said, let the games begin.