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What's normal anymore? Two teams sharing a high-school field

BUFORD, Ga. -- I know we're in uncharted territory with this lockout, so I'm not surprised by anything that transpires on or off the field.

It was somewhat interesting, though, that as roughly 30 Oakland Raiders players walked off a high school practice field in suburban Atlanta after a two-hour workout, more than 20 Atlanta Falcons players showed up to use the same facility for the seven-on-seven drills they've been having there for a few weeks.

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![](http://www.nfl.com/photos/09000d5d81fd875c)

Raiders players Richard Seymour, Darren McFadden, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jason Campbell all stopped to chat with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan's backup, John Parker Wilson, messed around with former Alabama teammate Rolando McClain, the starting middle linebacker for Oakland.

The scene was more youth league than professional, as the Raiders went about clearing the field from debris and getting out of dodge so the Falcons could do their thing. The Falcons, in turn, took right to seven-on-seven drills, with Ryan and Wilson shouting play-calls and defenders countering with adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

It's true that pro football players are creatures of habit. They know that this is the time of year when they should be in minicamps and OTAs. That's why so many teams are holding their own workouts across the league.

The scene at this particular practice field was different and it put some things about the game and this lockout in simplistic perspective. These were players from two NFL teams sharing a high-school practice field, for the most part, to play touch football. You'd probably never see something like this if things were normal.

Follow Steve Wyche on Twitter @wyche89.