Maynard added that in some special-teams meetings, players were joking and laughing.

He wore creased pants and players joked about risking injury from the sharp creases if they slid near him.

But some players have joked among themselves about it.

One player joked that the last time he experienced something so unpleasant was when he had major dental work done.

During the card game, the players, including Dave and Alice, joked about products that were not but maybe should have been on the market.

Some players now joked when they saw him, "Where's your brother?"

One player joked today that the magic number for the Yankees was six because it is the day next month when the dreary season will end.

In the locker room after the practice, players joked and chatted as usual.

At practice, when a play was brought in from the sideline, the players joked in the huddle if Testaverde approved it.

Mitchell, the Penn quarterback, said players have been joking with one another about beating "the school where you couldn't get accepted."