Colts wide receiver Austin Collie never considered retirement despite suffering a pair of scary concussions last season. "I don't think for me there really was a decision," he said. "I didn't even entertain the thought of not coming back. I think the media made their own stories as far as what I was going to do. "But I always knew I was going to come back." Collie, a 2009 fourth-round draft pick, has earned $1.14 million in his first two seasons and has a 2011 base salary of $480,000.

Giants wide receiver Steve Smith says the rehab on his surgically-repaired knee is going as planned. "I just got out of a really tough workout in the pool right now," Smith said on ESPN New York 1050's Ruocco and Lundberg show on Thursday. "I am running in the pool, doing a lot of strength work and I am doing pretty good. Things are looking good for me. I'm really excited and I can't wait to get this lockout done." Smith could be a restricted free agent based on whatever the new collective bargaining agreement will be. The wide out reiterated that he wants to remain a Giant and is confident that the team will re-sign him.

Buccaneers second-year wide receiver Arrelious Benn has recovered faster than expected from his knee injury. Been tore his ACL in Week 16 of last season, but took part in unofficial workouts with some of his teammates this past week. "I'm new to the knee injury thing. ... I didn't think that I'd be back this fast," Benn said. "I kind of feel like it never happened. But I have to be smart. I still have things coming back together in my knee. I might not feel it, but I'm young right now, so I heal fast."

Agent Drew Rosenhaus says his client, Jared Gaither, has made a full recovery. The 6-foot-9, 340-pound offensive tackle missed all last season for the Ravens with an upper back injury. "Jared Gaither's back is totally healed," Rosenhaus tweeted Saturday. "He's had a great offseason and will have a bounce back yr. He's back to full strength & ready to go." "Basically, I'm cleared," Gaither confirmed to the Carroll County Times. "I just have to be cleared by the ballclub and take that physical. I'm doing a lot better. I'm feeling great. I can't wait for next season."

Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow's right knee is pain-free for the first time in years. "I feel good," Winslow said. "Last year, I was hurting for whatever reason. I know how to rehab my knee better. I feel good now. I feel as ready as I can be right now." Winslow's knee feels so good, he did not have it scoped this offseason. The last time he went without that traditional offseason procedure was in 2008. One reason for Winslow's newfound health is his learning to use a knee simulation machine more effectively. "I was using it the wrong way, so it was affecting my knee in a certain way," Winslow said. "That was what was going on last year when I was hurting and why I wasn't practicing in training camp. "I was hurting, but I've learned how to basically use the machine better, so my knee feels better."

Chargers linebacker Larry English revealed Friday that he needed a second surgery on the left foot injury that hampered him last season. "They put another screw in because something was off," English told the North County Times. "The doctors said it hadn't healed right or the foot was re-broken. Either way, we had to get it right during the offseason. It feels a lot better now and (I'm) optimistic about my foot's long-term health. Hopefully the second time's the charm." English, San Diego's first-round draft pick in 2009, played in all 16 games as a rookie, but he broke his foot during training camp last year.

Patriots fifth-round draft choice Marcus Cannon, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, said his recovery is on a positive course, according to an ESPN.com report. "It's looking better and better every time I go in," Cannon said Thursday on ESPN's "First Take." "The actual lump that was seen at the [NFL] combine has totally disappeared."

There appears to be a chance that Giants wide receiver Steve Smith will begin the season on the physical unable to perform list. Pro Football Weekly brought up the possibility. Smith is coming off a serious knee injury.

Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones was cleared to run on Tuesday. Jones is coming off surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. "Heading back to Atlanta from Charlotte I had a recheck on my foot everything went great now I can start running #WINNING," Jones tweeted. Jones has already been meeting with quarterback Matt Ryan and the wide receivers.

Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel isn't overly concerned about the NFL's lingering lockout. "I think it will work itself out," Samuel said. "By the time Game 1 comes everything will be worked out. There is too much money to lose, and too many people that depend on this game." Samuel is in Florida as is his custom in the offseason. He is working with a personal trainer and going to a local L.A. Fitness regularly to stay in shape.