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"To be in a state where the National Football League is allowing this kind of chaos to occur ... I'm not sure it's a good day for football in the long run," Smith, the NFLPA's executive director, said in an appearance on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning."

Smith said he's been told that some teams gave their strength and conditioning coaches the day off Tuesday, a move he called "petty."

"This is just not good for our fans. It's not great for our players. To be in a world where guys are showing up because they want to play football and they're being told to go home ... I'm not sure it's the right way to treat our fans," he said.

When asked if players should be allowed to work out, Smith said, "It's really a question of what's the law of the land and whether the NFL will comply with it."

The Chicago Bears told kicker Robbie Gould that he "could not work out until clarification comes from the judge's ruling."

"I spoke to both [Bears contract negotiator Cliff] Stein and team president Ted Phillips, and they claimed the reason players won't be able to work out is because of fiscal liability," Gould told ESPNChicago.com. "They just don't want to run the financial risk of anyone getting hurt."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said any player who shows up at team facilities will be allowed in and "treated courteously and with respect."

"We are going to proceed in an orderly way that is fair to the teams and players and complies with court orders," he said in a statement Tuesday. "We do not believe it is appropriate for football activities to take place until there are further rulings from the court. Under the last set of proposals made to the NFLPA, teams wouldn't even be into offseason programs yet. We need a few days to sort this out, as NFLPA attorney Jim Quinn indicated last night."

There was an exception Tuesday afternoon, however, as Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty worked out in the team's weight room and spoke to head coach Tom Coughlin and other staff members.

"Got a chance to get a good workout in," he added. "I am going to come back as long as the door is open. There was no tension here. Coaches are excited to have guys back in the building."

Jets players said they were granted access to the facility, but they described it as a scene from "The Shining" -- closed doors and empty hallways. Players said they saw no coaches and were told they couldn't work out because there was no supervision.

Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who has a league-high $750,000 workout bonus, said his appearance should count toward the bonus even though he couldn't work out.

"Oh, most definitely," he told ESPNNewYork.com. "I made every opportunity to avail myself to work out. But at this time I wasn't afforded that opportunity."

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said she wouldn't rule on the NFL's request for a stay of her order until at least Wednesday, so she can hear from players (they have a 10 a.m. ET deadline to respond) -- even as attorneys for the players asked her for clarification of her order.

The players are asking Nelson to clarify what it means when she says the lockout is enjoined, according to the judge's docket. The NFLPA is trying to force the league to impose working rules or get the year started without rules. Nelson ordered the owners to respond by 6 p.m. ET Wednesday.

The NFL also has filed a notice of appeal questioning whether Nelson exceeded her jurisdiction, seeking relief from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

Ultimately, it's a matter of complying with the law, Smith said.

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