Antonio Gates didn't show up in San Diego. John Abraham was absent in New York. A bunch of high draft picks also stayed away as teams opened training camps.

Those are not permanent situations. The champion Patriots losing yet another key player is.

Ted Johnson, who started at inside linebacker alongside Tedy Bruschi last season, retired Thursday, a week after Bruschi announced he wouldn't play this season after suffering a small stroke following the Super Bowl. Johnson, 32, feared long-term medical effects from the pounding of pro football.

"After the season, I just felt like I was really putting myself at risk by playing again," Johnson said. "There could be irreparable damage."

He played for the Patriots' three Super Bowl-winning teams in the last four seasons and was with New England for the Super Bowl loss to Green Bay in 1997.

In 2003, concussions limited him to eight games and two starts. Last season, he rebounded to start 15 games and played in all three playoff games. His 112 regular-season tackles were his most in six years.

"Ted was a pillar in the organization," outside linebacker Willie McGinest said. "He helped me out and definitely made it easier for me out on the field. It was a surprise for us and sad to see a guy like that go."

Bruschi was placed on the physically unable-to-perform list. That designation allows him to collect his salary and even come back after Week 6 if he chooses.

Richard Seymour, the Pats' two-time All-Pro defensive lineman, was listed on the Patriots' "did not report" list. One of the Patriots' co-captains, he is due to make $2.87 million this season and wants to renegotiate.

So do Gates and Abraham.

Gates, who went from being an undrafted rookie tight end to All-Pro in just two seasons, has yet to sign a $380,000 contract the Chargers tendered him as an exclusive rights free agent during the offseason. Gates can't report until he signs either the tender or a long-term deal, which the team says it has been working on since last season.

Abraham, the New York Jets' star defensive end and designated the team's franchise player, has not signed the tender offer. GM Terry Bradway has spoken with Abraham's agents, Rich Rosa and Tony Agnone, but nothing has changed and the Jets don't know when he will report.

"We've had discussions with Terry Bradway the last couple of days," Rosa said. "We're going to continue to keep the lines of communication open."

Among the top draftees still not under contract are every first-rounder between No. 2, Miami's Ronnie Brown, and No. 22, Baltimore's Mark Clayton. Only the first overall selection, San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith, has signed among the highest choices.

Tampa Bay reported for training camp Thursday without running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. The former Auburn star was the fifth player selected, but negotiations have not progressed as quickly as general manager Bruce Allen hoped, in part because two runners picked ahead of Williams - Brown and Cedric Benson - also have not signed.

"I don't know the strategies and how this whole thing works, but I do know it's a unique season," coach Jon Gruden said. "There haven't been three backs picked in succession this early in the draft in some time, so it's new to a lot of people, not just us."

A high-profile rookie who did make it to camp is Denver running back Maurice Clarett.

Clarett, the team's third-round draft pick, made good on his promise that he would not be a holdout. Clarett challenged the NFL's draft rules in 2004 and lost, and has not played since the 2002 season, when he helped Ohio State win the national championship.

Several veterans expected to hold out instead were with their teams: RB Edgerrin James with the Colts, WR Javon Walker in Green Bay and RB Deuce McAllister with New Orleans.

McAllister agreed to a seven-year contract extension with New Orleans. The deal was announced a half-hour before the Saints' first mandatory meeting of training camp Thursday.

Entering his fifth season, McAllister has run for 4,194 yards.

"I basically know that they're putting everything on my shoulders and I'm big enough that I can carry it," McAllister said. "I want the pressure. I want the ball because I want to get us in the playoffs, where we haven't been."

Elsewhere:

- Dwight Freeney, last season's NFL leader in sacks, sat out the Colts' morning practice with a shoulder injury. He had what has been described as minor offseason shoulder surgery.

- Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace was on the field at the start of the St. Louis Rams' camp for the first time in three years. He has been a holdout in the past, but signed a new long-term deal after firing his agents, Carl and Kevin Poston.

- A stomach virus that may have helped send Miami Dolphins guard Jeno James to the hospital has affected other players, including quarterback A.J. Feeley. He missed Thursday's practice to see a doctor, and coach Nick Saban said a couple of other players were affected by the virus, though no others missed practice because of it.

Former Pro Bowl safety Lance Schulters signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins, six weeks after he was released by Tennessee for salary-cap reasons.

- The San Francisco 49ers signed running back Frank Gore to a three-year contract, meaning all 11 draft picks are under contract two days before the first practice.

- Denver also signed second-round pick Darrent Williams, its top choice, to a four-year contract.

- Rod Gardner passed his physical with the Panthers, completing his trade from the Redskins for a sixth-round draft pick. The move clears $2.1 million of salary cap space for the Redskins, who need the money to sign first-round draft picks Carlos Rogers and Jason Campbell.