The expression on Sean Lee's face twisted from a smile to one of excruciating pain.

A youngster whose head came just about to the top of Lee's knees, had just slapped the linebacker a vicious low-five during last Friday's Lift for Life competition.

Other than that, Lee looked pretty healthy in street clothes, crutch-free on the sidelines at Holuba Hall. It was a much different scene in April, when Lee tore his ACL during non-contact drills on the same turf.

Earlier this summer, Lee required crutches to get around and had to wear a brace that didn't allow him to move his knee. Now, he's walking on his own power and wearing a brace that allows him full range of motion.

"I'm walking normal, just getting back to normal life instead of being on crutches," Lee said.

When he left Holuba Hall, Lee walked across a sunny practice field, back to the Lasch Football Building where he undergoes rehabilitation with head athletic trainer, Dr. George Salvaterra.

Lee said the first part of rehab is to "get the knee working right." In order to do that, he's had to regain extension and flexibility in the knee. Recently, Lee has been running in a pool and riding a stationary bike trying to regain strength in his joint.

"It's at the point where we're transitioning into trying to get the leg stronger," Lee said. "Doing squats, lunges, leg presses. The whole gauntlet of exercises."

Lee's spirits seemed good as he watched his teammates work out Friday. He signed autographs and chatted with fans. He said the closer the team gets to the season, the more he will feel the itch to play, but he is looking forward to watching his teammates.

"Mentally, I take it week to week," he said. "I see it as a job that I have to get done everyday and I do that and I try not to look too far ahead because it can be kind of a daunting process. I was thinking come the season, it will be a lot harder once the games start."

Dr. Salvaterra did not immediately return calls by press time.

High-Definition Offense

Pat Devlin chuckled when asked about his completion percentage.

But then his eyes narrowed and his tone lowered when he talked about the myriad of weapons Penn State will utilize in the 'Spread HD' offense.

There seems to be only one spot that is not definite. That being the position Devlin plays.

Weeks away from the start of preseason camp, Penn State coaches have not named a starting quarterback and Devlin said he still didn't know if he or Daryll Clark would start in the fall. Devlin did say both have continued to work equally with the team's wide receivers about "three or four times a week."

The Downingtown native described the competition between he and Clark as friendly and said both are learning equally from each other and the team's more experienced receivers.

Clark and Devlin told reporters they were looking forward to playing with so many weapons and behind a battle-hardened offensive line.

Both signal callers expressed their excitement to play in the Spread HD that will use four-wideout sets. The running back duo of Evan Royster and Stephfon Green also excites the quarterbacks.

"I think [the spread offense] will maximize the use of our athletes that we have," Devlin said.

Golden's NFL days not over

After being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles early last month, Terrell Golden had time to stop by Friday's Lift for Life. Golden walked around the event, greeting fans and talking with old teammates.

Golden said his short stint as an Eagle was eye-opening, but didn't necessarily squash his plans to catch on in the NFL.

"I learned a lot," Golden said. "Just going out there and learning how things work in the NFL, how practice goes. I think it was overall a great experience."

The Eagles had to get down to the NFL-mandated 80-man roster for training camp, and Golden was one of nine players cut. He said Friday that other NFL teams had inquired about him, including the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Denver Broncos.

The Bills and Jets both have nine wideouts listed on their current rosters, while the Broncos have 11. If Golden were to sign a free agent contract with one of those teams, at 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, he would immediately add size to their receiving corps.

"They like big receivers and that's kind of my selling point," Golden said. "I'm a big guy that can block. I think they would all be good fits, but I'll just have to wait and see and hopefully get one of those invites to camp and go out there and try to make the best out of the opportunity."

Golden said the biggest difference between college and the pros that he noticed was the scrutiny young players face as soon as they put on a set of pads.

"I think every rep counts a lot more," Golden said. "It's more so, 'What have you done for me lately?' thing in the NFL. You can have a great day today and tomorrow you come out and you don't do so well and that's all they remember."