There was one group of players not eager for labor peace this spring – the defensive backs at Murphy High, the Mobile, Ala., school where Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was a volunteer assistant for two weeks during the NFL's work stoppage.

Munnerlyn, who lives in Mobile during the offseason, helped out during spring practice at the request of his former coach, Ronn Lee.

It's tough to say who enjoyed the experience more – the players or their 23-year-old coach.

“They were just happy with me being around. They were like, 'Man, we hope the lockout doesn't end anytime soon, coach Captain,'” Munnerlyn said. “It was just fun being around those guys and showing them the ropes.”

Munnerlyn was working out at Murphy, Alabama's largest high school with nearly 2,500 students. So he figured he might as well as take Lee up on his offer.

“Little did I know I had the whole secondary by myself,” he said. “(Lee) trusted me with those guys. It was fun. I called coverages and had them roll coverages.”

Munnerlyn said he used techniques – and some of the same coach-speak – he'd heard from his position coaches at South Carolina and the Panthers.

But Munnerlyn taught his players more than just a proper backpedal. Lee asked him to sit in on meetings with players and their parents when disciplinary issues would arise.

Munnerlyn, who also spoke at the school's baccalaureate service, hopes to be a source of inspiration to the teen-agers.

“They see that they have a chance, coming from the same high school as them. I'm not that big of a guy,” said Munnerlyn, listed at 5-8 and 186 pounds. “A couple of those guys were bigger than me.”

Munnerlyn said he turned down Lee's offer to pay him.

“I told him it was fine, I don't need the money,” Munnerlyn said. “I was just doing it because I love the game of football and love to help some kids out and teach them the right (way).”

Instead, Lee took Munnerlyn to dinner and kept him well-stocked in Murphy athletic gear. But Munnerlyn said volunteering was the least he could do for a longtime coach who “took care” of him in high school when he needed tutoring or a word of encouragement. Murphy ended spring drills by defeating a school from Mississippi in a scrimmage.

Munnerlyn was in Charlotte this week for the first two days of the informal workouts organized by Panthers offensive linemen Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton. Like his experience in Mobile, Munnerlyn said there is a lot of instruction at the sessions at Charlotte Christian, where players are trying to familiarize themselves with Ron Rivera's schemes.

“We've got a whole new coaching staff, so it's going to be different,” Munnerlyn said. “Some of us got the playbooks and we went over a couple of coverages on defense, trying to get this thing started.”

Munnerlyn is trying to become a full-time starter in his third NFL season. He started five of the final six games last season when Chris Gamble was dealing with injuries and off-the-field issues that landed him in John Fox's doghouse.

Munnerlyn responded with interceptions in his first two starts, including a pick of former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme that Munnerlyn returned 37 yards for a touchdown at Cleveland.

Munnerlyn's stature makes him susceptible to fade routes, and presents match-up problems against teams with taller receivers. But the seventh-round pick from 2009 is confident he can start for a Panthers' team expected to have a vacancy at corner if Richard Marshall is not re-signed.

“I'm a competitive player and I feel I can go out there and be an every-down corner. I did in college. I did it at every level,” said Munnerlyn, who has nine career starts. “As I started getting comfortable out there every down (last season), I started making plays.”

Munnerlyn, the Panthers' primary punt returner his first two seasons, returned to Mobile to work a football camp at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, site of the Senior Bowl. He plans to be in Charlotte next week for the last couple of optional workouts.

But he will be back at his alma mater in July to host his own camp for the second consecutive year. Munnerlyn has options if the lockout lingers into the fall.

“I've got a lot of years left in me in football. So it's not something I'm going to do anytime soon,” he said. “But down the road when I get up in age, I can see myself coaching.”