RENTON, Wash. -- Marshawn Lynch famously said during Super Bowl week that he was "all about that action, boss."
His action on Friday was defiance. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks opened training camp and Lynch chose to stay away because of his current contract situation.
Beast Mode's status: absent and unhappy.
"Everybody is calling him, but it's a business at the end of the day," Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett said. "... So all you can do is support him. You want him to be here, but as a player you understand the business side too."
Lynch's absence was expected after former teammate Michael Robinson said Thursday night on NFL Network that Lynch would not show for the opening day of camp.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he was disappointed Lynch was not present, while reiterating the team wants him there and intends on him being an integral part of their plans for this season.
But the message was clear that Seattle put a plan in place before Lynch was signed to a four-year contract in 2012 and the Seahawks management is not inclined to stray from those plans.
"We've had a substantial plan working for us for years now and Marshawn was a big part of this plan. Just a couple of years back we made a big statement and made a big effort for him and we wish that he was with us now," Carroll said.
"But this is a tremendous opportunity for the guys getting their shot. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael they're ready to go and really fired up about this opportunity and are going to try and take full advantage of it."
Saints TE Graham back
in form, with humor
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Aside from the New Orleans Saints' fleur-de-lis symbol, star tight end Jimmy Graham never associated playing pro football with flowers.
That is, until this week, when he reported to training camp at The Greenbrier resort and found his room adorned in wallpaper heavy on a pink floral print.
The room choice for Graham was an apparent practical joke. Teammate Pierre Thomas captured Graham's reaction on video that was posted to social media, proclaiming, "They got you so good."
Graham can afford to have a sense of humor about it. After missing all of the Saints' offseason because of a protected contract holdout, Graham is finally back with the team, thanks to a four-year, $40 million deal struck between him and the club last week.
After his first practice on Friday, Graham, smiling, described his room as "a little bit more floral than I'm used to."
Gronk's back: Star TE
practices with Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rob Gronkowski ran short routes, caught passes and jogged back to the line of scrimmage.
He didn't cut sharply, run hard at defensive backs or participate in 11-on-11 drills.
The oft-injured tight end for the New England Patriots is practicing at training camp but not ready for full activity as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. He's not even sure he'll play in the season opener Sept. 7.
"I'm preparing myself to my max ability right now for the first regular game," Gronkowski said, dripping with sweat after Friday's workout. "I really can't say anything from here on out because it's far away."
The signs of his surgical history are obvious -- a heavy brace on his left arm, another brace on his right knee.
"I'm used to the arm brace now. It's been a year now wearing that so it's second hand now having that thing on," Gronkowski said. "The knee brace just started, but today's the second day out there and I'm already getting comfortable with everything.
"It's great to be out there with my teammates again, being in the huddle, catching balls from Tom Brady. It's a dream come true again. It feels like it got taken away and now I feel like I got it back so it's awesome."
Indy RB Ballard goes
down with leg injury
ANDERSON, Ind. -- Colts running back Vick Ballard was carted off the field Friday with a lower left leg injury.
Team owner Jim Irsay, making his first appearance at training camp, said Ballard would have an MRI.
Ballard appeared to hurt his ankle on a pass play during Indy's afternoon practice. After initially limping, Ballard was taken to the locker room on a golf cart. He wasn't even hit on the play, and the Colts have not yet practiced in full pads.
Ballard ran for 814 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2012, and had 13 carries for 63 yards in last year's season opener. But before the Colts second game, Ballard tore the ACL in his right knee.
More QB competition
in Vikes' training camp
MANKATO, Minn. -- Matt Cassel has started the Minnesota Vikings training camp as the starting quarterback.
As coach Mike Zimmer said again Friday, prior to the first full practice, that does not mean Cassel will automatically keep the same status for the season opener.
The Vikings have more than six weeks to evaluate this critical position, and rookie Teddy Bridgewater in particular will be under scrutiny. After drafting him in the first round, the Vikings have said often they're unafraid to start a first-year player.
The carousel spun frequently last season, from Christian Ponder at the beginning to Cassel at the end. After a decade of quarterback chaos, the Vikings are hoping to finally create some stability there.
Alabama judge sentences
Cowboy LB to 18-day term
DECATUR, Ala. -- A judge on Friday convicted Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in his Alabama hometown and imposed an 18-day jail term that could interrupt the player's bid to restart his career.
Municipal Judge Billy Cook convicted McClain on the misdemeanor counts after a non-jury trial that lasted about three hours. McClain was accused of yelling an obscenity at police trying to arrest him during a disturbance in a crowded city park in 2013.
McClain won't have to report for his jail sentence until after an appeal is complete in state court. Cook also ordered McClain to pay $1,572 in fines and court costs. It's unclear how long an appeal might take.
The judge signed a document stating McClain, 25, was free to leave the state while challenging the conviction.
Defense attorney Harvey Steinberg said McClain would head to Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California, within hours of the trial.
Sports on 07/26/2014