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We're Black and Blue All Over:

If you haven't already, you really should check out the extensive statement released Monday by former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, especially in light of the recent suicide of ex-Bears safety Dave Duerson.

As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune points out, Hillenmeyer -- whom the Bears released Monday -- notes that he hasn't yet been cleared to play in 2011 because of a history of recurring concussions. He insisted that the Bears forced him to sit out most of the 2010 season and expressed gratitude for it.

Hillenmeyer, in part: "Barring some unforeseen turn of events, I don't think there was a set of circumstances where I would have been cleared to play next season anyway. The more we pull back the curtain on the long-term effects of head injury, the scarier it gets for players in my position, who have multiple diagnosed concussions and countless more 'dings' and headaches.

"On one hand, I feel lucky to have been relatively candid about my symptoms compared to some colleagues who do everything they can to conceal their struggles. I can only thank the Bears organization, from the trainers and the doctors up to Lovie [Smith] and Jerry [Angelo], for trying to be proactive in the way concussions are handled. On the other hand, any player who tells you they aren't affected by the tragic stories like Dave Duerson's, that seem to be popping up all too often, are lying."

As unfortunate as the circumstances are, you would hope that players and teams will use the Bears' treatment of Hillenmeyer this season as a baseline for their approach to concussions moving forward. Hopefully Hillenmeyer's status as a reserve player didn't make it easier than if it had occurred with a star. And let's also hope that players follow Hillenmeyer's lead in refusing to hide his symptoms.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears defensive lineman Tommie Harris on his release, via Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times: "I'm not disappointed at all. I'm ready to start all over. But it's one of those bittersweet deals."
• Harris was "nuts, but in an endearing, harmless way," writes David Haugh of the Tribune.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "It's March 1 and the draft is two months and a lockout away, so don't believe anyone who claims he knows what the Lions will do with the 13th pick."
• UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, a possible target for the Lions at No. 13 overall, had a disappointing performance at the scouting combine, notes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com: "While the possibilities are seemingly endless, I firmly believe there is one thing the Lions will not do: Draft Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. Not with the 13th pick and not even if they trade back 10 or 12 spots."
• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy on backup quarterback Matt Flynn, via Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "I'm not letting him go."
• Former Packers running back Ahman Green has confirmed he will play for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL this season.
• The suburb of Arden Hills, Minn., has agreed to work with Ramsey County to investigate a possible stadium site for the Minnesota Vikings. Sarah Horner of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• The Vikings don't expect their defense to change much under new coordinator Fred Pagac, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin confirmed to reporters Monday that he is being treated for sleep apnea, a condition that might have triggered his increasing frequency of migraine episodes this summer. Harvin said the diagnosis came when he was hospitalized after an Aug. 19 collapse during a Vikings practice.

Harvin (via Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press): "They'd just barge in the room and be like, 'Harvin, you OK?' I'd say, 'I think so.' [They said] 'Well, your heart just wasn't beating.' I was like, 'What do you want me to do?'"

Indeed, doctors determined his heart was stopping and then re-starting during the night, a common symptom of sleep apnea. He now sleeps with an oxygen device and said he feels a "100 percent difference" when he wakes up in the morning.

Whether this cures his migraines, slows them down or merely helps him sleep better, Harvin appears to be in a better place than he was a month ago.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's enthusiasm hasn't dampened following a Week 1 loss at New Orleans. According to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, Wilf said: "We built a team that we expect to go all the way. We're not holding back right now. ... We pretty much feel that we're all in. We're going to try our best to fulfill our goal."
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "Sidney Rice expects to remain on crutches for a couple more weeks, and the Minnesota Vikings' top receiver said on Monday he hasn't set a target date for returning to practice following last month's hip surgery."
• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel lists these veteran agent running backs as available if the Green Bay Packers look for outside help to replace Ryan Grant (ankle): Willie Parker, Ahman Green, Justin Fargas and J.J. Arrington.
• Because the Packers spent the entire game at Philadelphia in the nickel, A.J. Hawk did not receive a single defensive snap, notes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Inside linebackers coach Winston Moss: "If I was in that same situation, I would be upset if I didn't play and I was going into an opening game ... and I had a very good preseason. I would have wanted to play. I'm sure a highly competitive guy would have wanted to play. I would use it as -- if I have to do whatever it takes and do more to stay on the field as much as possible, I've got to do whatever it takes. That would be my attitude."
• The Packers plan to re-sign defensive lineman Jarius Wynn to replace the injured Justin Harrell (knee), confirms Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Detroit Lions agreed to terms with former Chicago Bears cornerback Nate Vasher, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. Vasher could replace injured nickelback Aaron Berry.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz called backup quarterback Shaun Hill "one of our biggest offseason acquisitions," writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on his series of injuries in the NFL: "Pretty perfect hits. Guys dropped me on my shoulder pretty hard both times. I'd call them weird, freaky injuries more than anything." Michel Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is willing to gain yards on the ground, notes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com questions the Bears' decision to match Lions receiver Calvin Johnson in single coverage on the play that nearly beat them Sunday.
• Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz made a number of concessions Sunday for his still-developing offensive line, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Devin Aromashodu started the 2010 season the way he ended the 2009 season: as the Bears' hottest receiver."

When the Green Bay Packers needed an emergency running back last October, they signed veteran Ahman Green. It took Green most of two weeks to get into playing shape before he could give the Packers the help they needed.

Should the Packers or anyone else desire another go-around in 2010, Green will be ready to hit the ground, er, running. His decision to sign with Omaha of the United Football League will have him in midseason football shape when the NFL might come calling.

The UFL was smart to schedule its season to end in mid-November, a time when NFL teams are often looking for injury fortifications to their roster. One of the allures for signing up is to be in position to offer immediate help.

In case you missed this transaction, Omaha is coached by former Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.

My NFC West colleague Mike Sando put together a chart that confirms in quantitative fashion what you might have realized intuitively. The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, two of the NFL's better teams last season, have to this point retained the vast majority of players with whom they finished the 2009 season.

Much can change between now and September, but the analysis is especially relevant when compared to the rest of the league. The Vikings' 94.4 percent retention rate is the league's highest, while the Packers' rate of 87.3 ranks fourth.

According to my records, the only players Minnesota hasn't brought back is running back Chester Taylor, cornerback Karl Paymah and offensive lineman Artis Hicks. The Packers' list includes punter Jeremy Kapinos, running back Ahman Green, safety Matt Giordano and defensive end Mike Montgomery. (The Packers' percentage is lower because they had a larger base of players when taking into account those on injured reserve.)

Chug-a-chug. Chug-a-chug. Can you hear it? That's the sound of our NFC North train gaining steam as we approach the 2010 NFL draft. We're at T-minus 19 days. The intensity of our discussions will continue ramping up until April 22 arrives.

There are any number of places where we can rap about the draft. (Like my flow?) You can hit the mailbag, join us over on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter. Let's see what's on your mind this weekend.

Christopher of Minneapolis writes: Kevin, I gotta ask why you think players have been turning down coming to play for the Vikings. Last offseason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh decided to go to a Seattle team that was obviously in a much worse place than the Vikings at the time in their division. Then this year already two free agents have chosen other teams over us: LaDainian Tomlinson and Tye Hill (not sure how good of an addition he would actually have been). So I'm asking what do you think it is about playing here? We have a an owner that wants to win, a very good team with a good chance at making a deep playoff run. I just don't get why free agents would pass up the opportunity to play here.

Kevin Seifert: Christopher, I think you're looking at only half of a trend. There's no doubt some high-profile free agents/trade candidates have turned down offers from the Vikings in recent years, but there are plenty of others who did not. The list includes quarterback Brett Favre, defensive end Jared Allen, receiver Bernard Berrian and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. It's not as if no one will come to the Vikings. It's more like some.

If there is a trend, we should look for a common denominator. In the cases you mention, I don't see one. Houshmandzadeh went to Seattle in part because he thought the Seahawks' quarterback position was stronger. Favre was still months away from signing. Tomlinson, meanwhile, is going to play a lot more with the New York Jets than he would have in Minnesota. That's just a fact of life with Adrian Peterson on the roster.

As for Hill, you're right: His decision was a relatively minor one. At best, he would have competed for the nickel job with Benny Sapp. The timing of his decision to sign with Tennessee -- hours after visiting the Vikings -- suggested the visit might have been intended all along to increase leverage with the Titans.

I know there are some issues that might make the Vikings less than attractive to some free agents, from the aging practice facility to their uncertain future in the Metrodome. But I don't see any common thread in the instances you've mentioned.

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Via Facebook, Ben of Fort Smith, Ark., writes: I just read that Jared Gaither could possibly be available for a second-round pick. He played very well last year and still has plenty of room to improve. I believe the Ravens use a different blocking scheme than Green Bay does, but do you think it would be worthwhile for the Packers to make a move for him and get the jump on one of the top corners or OLBs in the draft, rather than settle for possibly the fifth-best tackle prospect and then whichever corners or OLBs are left later on?

Kevin Seifert: I've gotten more than a few questions on Gaither, not only from Packers fans but also from those who follow Detroit.

To review: Gaither is Baltimore's 24-year-old left tackle, a player many in Baltimore figured would be a fixture for the next 10 years. The Ravens hedged their commitment, however, by placing only a first-round tender on him as a restricted free agent. That means a team signing Gaither to an offer sheet would only have to give up a first-round pick, and perhaps less if they work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Ravens.

If you're the Packers, you would gladly give up the No. 23 overall pick for a long-term answer at left tackle. The same would probably go for the Lions, who have the second pick (No. 34 overall) of the second round.

But here's the question: Is Gaither a lock to be that kind of franchise player? It's only fair to wonder when the Ravens, who know him best, seem prepared to listen to offers. You could point out that Baltimore has Michael Oher on board and ready to move to left tackle. But if the Ravens trust Gaither's future, it's doubtful they would give up on him regardless. They seem to have some doubts.

It's easy to think that another team's disappointment could be your club's success story. Ultimately, that could be the case with Gaither. But if he's really available, it's fair to wonder why the Ravens don't want to keep him.

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Rob of Milwaukee writes: If the rumors are true about the Packers interest in Brian Westbrook, could this mean the end of Ahman Green in Green Bay?

Kevin Seifert: First, I don't have any confirmation that the Packers are in fact interested in Westbrook. General manager Ted Thompson doesn't often have interest in aging veteran free agents, no matter what position or talent level. And as we discussed Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy believes backup tailback Brandon Jackson made significant strides last season.

If the Packers decide they need a veteran in the backfield, I wouldn't at all be surprised if Green -- not Westbrook -- is the choice. Here's what McCarthy said on that topic at last month's owners meeting: "...I like what Ahman Green gave us there at the end of the year. I thought once he got reacquainted with some of the things we do that are different from when he was here earlier, and frankly he did some nice things on special teams once he got comfortable. I mean, he's definitely an option that's potentially out there."

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Bryan of St. Marys, Ga., writes: I was wondering if you had heard anything about a possible trade between the Lions and Redskins switching first round picks?

Kevin Seifert: It's certainly being rumored, but like most draft-related intrigue, it's based mostly on circumstantial evidence.

St. Louis seems likely to draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford at No. 1 overall. The next-best quarterback is Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, who seems to be drawing interest from Washington (No. 4) and Cleveland (No. 7), among other teams.

So if you're Detroit and you want to trade out of the No. 2 pick, you have to hope that multiple teams emerge with a strong desire to draft Clausen. That team could take a chance and deal with Tampa Bay at No. 3, but the only way to ensure Clausen will be available is to trade into the Lions' spot.

To be clear, there is no evidence that we've reached this point yet. But that's what would need to happen for the Lions and Redskins to swap places in the draft.

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Chris of San Diego writes: I read that Lance Louis of the Chicago Bears is subject to the NFL conduct policy for a crime he committed prior to being drafted because he pleaded guilty to it a year after he was drafted. Can you explain why he is retroactively subject to NFL rules?

Kevin Seifert: The original incident -- a fight with a former San Diego State teammate -- occurred in November 2008. But from what I understand, the league considers the incident part of its personal conduct policy because the charges were filed after Louis signed with the Bears last summer. That's the distinction, however arbitrary it might be.

With all that said, Louis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, making it unlikely he'll face an NFL suspension. A fine could be in order, however.

If I had even a penny for every time a Green Bay fan has asked about Brian Westbrook or LaDainian Tomlinson or some other possibility to provide depth behind tailback Ryan Grant, well, I'd have many coins. Let's face it: It would be out of character for the Packers to sign a veteran free agent this time of year.

But there are other elements at play here as well. Listening to coach Mike McCarthy speak last week at the NFL owners meeting, it sure sounded like he has supreme confidence in Brandon Jackson to handle the job. If a veteran becomes a necessity at some point, Ahman Green might be the first option.

McCarthy said he thought Jackson took a "huge step" last season, specifically in a Dec. 20 game at Pittsburgh.

"I thought against Pittsburgh that his blitz pickup was as good as I've seen since Marcus Allen in the early '90s," McCarthy said. "And his confidence and everything from that game, I thought he took a big step and I'm hoping he can maintain that or take it further as we move on."

My thoughts on this topic have evolved now that Grant has established himself as a legitimate full-time runner. As with Minnesota, the Packers' backup running back is a secondary role that becomes a big deal only if the starter is unavailable. Grant has proved exceptionally durable in three years with the Packers, playing in 47 of a possible 48 games.

The Packers haven't often gotten big-time yardage from a backup running back in recent years, as you can see in the chart below. Last season, in fact, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was their second-leading rusher. Green and Jackson followed with 160 and 111 yards, respectively.


So while you can never rule out the possibility of high-profile addition, most clues -- and common sense -- suggest the Packers will put their faith in Jackson to handle this role in 2010.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Chicago was one of 28 NFL teams to vote in favor of Tuesday's overtime rules change, but before the vote, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune presented some compelling Bears-related evidence for maintaining the status quo.

Biggs noted the Bears are 11-3 in the past 10 seasons in overtime, including 8-1 under coach Lovie Smith. They are 4-1 in games ending with a field goal on the first possession of overtime over the past 10 years, and place-kicker Robbie Gould is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history.

Tuesday was a more pressured environment than I've seen at an owners meeting in quite some time. There were some important and powerful people who really, really wanted this measure to pass.

I'll be spending some time with NFC coaches here Wednesday morning on the final day of the meetings. I'll be back with you mid-morning. For now, let's take a quick spin around the division:

• Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew wants to meet with free-agent cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. It appears Mayhew's interest in Jones is serious.
• The Lions' interest in Jones and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove is somewhere between "strong interest" and "due diligence," writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• Mayhew is confident the Lions will get an offer to trade down from the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Running back Ahman Green wants to return to Green Bay this season, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio has gotten new defensive end Aaron Kampman on board with playing on the right side, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• NFL owners voted on the overtime change while coaches who opposed the measure were out playing golf, notes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Several Minnesota players wish the new rule had been in place for their NFC Championship Game in January, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said Tuesday night that he backed the decision to change the rule even though he voted against it, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

As we head into the second full week of free agency, it's probably a good time to revise our look at each NFC North team's unsigned players. We haven't had a restricted free agent (RFA) receive an offer sheet yet, so we'll limit this post to unrestricted free agents (UFAs) -- who have total freedom to sign with another team.

Chicago Bears
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Comment: None have re-signed. The Bears are trying to bring back Tinoisamoa.

Detroit Lions
UFAs as of March 5: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.
Comment: Ciurciu, Heller and Jansen have re-signed. Foote seems likely to return to Pittsburgh.

Green Bay Packers
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.
Comment: Clifton and Tauscher have re-signed. Kampman signed with Jacksonville.

Minnesota Vikings
UFAs as of March 5: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.
Comment: Kennedy and Sapp re-signed. Taylor signed with Chicago. Hicks signed with Washington.

Chicago Bears

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Jamar Williams.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: With no picks in the first or second round of next month's draft, the Bears are gearing up for a relatively major jump into free agency. They're expected to bid for defensive end Julius Peppers and possible safety Antrel Rolle and would also like to re-sign linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could also be a target. Manumaleuna played for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in St. Louis.

Detroit Lions

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Copeland Bryan, offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, defensive lineman Jason Hunter, offensive lineman Daniel Loper, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, safety Ko Simpson, linebacker Cody Spencer.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: The Lions aren't likely to be as active as they were last year, but general manager Martin Mayhew said over the winter that he could envision a five- or six-man free agent class. Running back, defensive end and defensive back are all positions they will investigate. They'll also need to find a backup quarterback, assuming Daunte Culpepper moves on.

Green Bay Packers

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.

Potential restricted free agents: Safety Atari Bigby, defensive back Will Blackmon, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, running back John Kuhn, offensive lineman Jason Spitz, cornerback Tramon Williams.

Franchise player: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett

What to expect: The Packers will have a demanding offseason filled with difficult decisions. To this point, they haven't re-signed either of their starting offensive tackles. They are clearly approaching injured linebacker Aaron Kampman with caution. And they have a long line of restricted free agents who would like long-term contracts, starting with Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. The Packers have more than enough to keep them busy, but they haven't dabbled much in free agency in recent years, anyway.

Minnesota Vikings

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Potential restricted free agents: Offensive lineman Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Fred Evans, safety Eric Frampton, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, fullback Naufahu Tahi.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Vikings are awaiting word from quarterback Brett Favre on the 2010 season, a decision that could impact their offseason plans. They would like tailback Chester Taylor back, but it's possible Taylor will at least test his value on the open market. As a Final Four team, the Vikings will be limited to signing players that have been released by other teams unless they lose one of their own unrestricted free agents first.

» AFC Free Agency: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

An early look at the free agency situation in the NFC North.

Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.

Chicago Bears

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Key figures: Defensive end Mark Anderson and safety Danieal Manning are two key players who would have joined the list of unrestricted free agents if the NFL weren't on track for an uncapped offseason. The Bears can block both from moving now. Ogunleye is unlikely to return if he's seeking significant money. The Bears want to re-sign Tinoisamoa, even after his injury-shortened 2009 debut. Peterson's eight-year run with the team might be coming to a close.

Detroit Lions

Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Key figures: The Lions have a total of 20 unrestricted and restricted free agents, a product of the extended roster tryouts they held throughout the 2009 season. The biggest name among their UFAs is Foote, who seems unlikely to return and should be replaced by DeAndre Levy. Culpepper will seek offers on the open market, but it's not out of the question he could return as Matthew Stafford's backup. James had some moments in 2009 and might be worth a return engagement.

Green Bay Packers

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive tackle Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, nose tackle Ryan Pickett, offensive tackle Mark Tauscher.

Key figures: The Packers have a notable list that includes four starters and would have included six more if not for the uncapped year. Clifton will be 34 this summer and Tauscher will turn 33, and it's time for the Packers to begin a succession plan at both positions. T.J. Lang figures as Tauscher's replacement, but Tauscher was actually playing better than Clifton at the end of 2009. Kampman seems unlikely to return as a linebacker in the 3-4, especially while he rehabilitates a knee injury. Pickett could be phased out by B.J. Raji.

Minnesota Vikings

Unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, receiver Greg Lewis, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Key figures: Taylor is perhaps the most valuable backup tailback in the league, considering his abilities as a receiver and third-down converter. He will be 31 when the 2010 season begins, but figures to get some attention if he enters the free-agent market. The Vikings want him back, but probably won't devote a huge salary to him with starter Adrian Peterson approaching the expiration of his contract. Sapp probably made himself some money with a credible replacement of injured starter Antoine Winfield.

Chicago Bears

The Vikings would like to keep Chester Taylor, but Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks the running back would look good in Mike Martz's offense.

The Bears came in sixth in The Dallas Morning News' annual analysis of the league's special teams.

Detroit Lions

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press says it's officially "Lion Season."

Wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, guard Dylan Gandy and defensive end Copeland Bryan are among the league's players taking part in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program.

Green Bay Packers

Running back Ahman Green is looking forward to returning to the Packers for the 2010 season.

ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde starts his offseason look at each position, beginning with the quarterbacks.

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is hoping linebacker E.J. Henderson, who fractured his left femur in December against the Cardinals, can begin working out this spring.

Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman discussed a number of issues regarding the team during the annual Arctic Blast snowmobiling event.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Charles Woodson knew all was well the moment he received Green Bay’s practice schedule last week. Coach Mike McCarthy had given players an extra day off Friday so they could enjoy Christmas.

If there was any question about how the Packers would bounce back from a stunning loss at Pittsburgh last week, McCarthy nipped it with one flick of his pencil.

“I don’t remember a time in my career -- college, high school, pros -- when the coach has given you off the whole day for a holiday,” Woodson said. “You just don’t get that opportunity to spend the whole day with your family. That’s a day away from preparation. Most coaches are not going to take you away from preparation. He showed his support in this team and his trust in this team.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell Woodson that many NFL coaches, including all four in the NFC North, designed a similar schedule last week. But from that moment, it was clear to Woodson and the rest of the Packers' locker room that they would stomp an undermanned Seattle team in their final home game of the regular season.

That they clinched a wild-card playoff berth, courtesy Carolina’s stunning 41-9 defeat of the New York Giants, was a bonus. You can say what you want about the level of competition the Packers faced Sunday -- and we will soon -- but there is no debating that the Packers successfully circumvented what could have been a devastating loss.

As a result, they remain one of the NFL’s hottest teams after winning for the sixth time in seven games.

“It’s an impressive body of work, this second half of the season,” McCarthy said. “That’s the truth. That’s the reality, and that has been acknowledged.”

In Pittsburgh, Green Bay made clear they were a playoff-caliber team -- if not one equipped to win a postseason game on the road. And it’s only fair to point out the Seahawks appeared to have given up on this season about three weeks ago. They’ve lost their last three games by a combined score of 106-24, and I thought quarterback Matt Hasselbeck made a measured observation Sunday afternoon.

“They are a good football team,” Hasselbeck said of the Packers. “We made them look really, really good today.”

Indeed, playing the Steelers on the road is much closer to a playoff atmosphere than taking on the Seahawks at home. But before we dig too far into the Packers’ chances to make a run in the NFC playoffs -- “Anything is possible,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said -- we should give them a moment to enjoy their clinching moment. Meanwhile, we can reflect on how they got there.

In many ways, Sunday’s victory provided a high-octane example of how the Packers pointed themselves in the right direction after a 4-4 start.

First, they adjusted their offense to compensate for severe pass-protection issues. Sunday, you saw the fruits of their primary tweaks. Running backs accounted for all six of their touchdowns: Three by Brandon Jackson (one via a screen pass), two for Ryan Grant and one for Ahman Green.

Grant’s 56-yard scoring run in the second quarter officially buried the Seahawks in a 21-3 lead. Over this seven-game stretch, Grant has broken off three scoring runs of 24 yards or longer and has a total of six scores.

“It’s nice to have some of the burden taken off of you,” said Rodgers, who was sacked once Sunday and has taken only 15 during the seven-game stretch. He took 37 over the first eight games of the season.

Indeed, you didn’t hear much from Seattle defensive end Patrick Kerney, who was largely shut down by another improvement the Packers made at midseason. Right tackle Mark Tauscher, who replaced former starter Allen Barbre, held Kerney without a sack and with only one quarterback hit.

From a defensive perspective, meanwhile, the Packers have overwhelmed most opponents with havoc at the line of scrimmage. Sunday, they sacked Hasselbeck three times and intercepted him on four occasions. They’re playing coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme at a high level, rendering moot some early complaints from Woodson and defensive end Cullen Jenkins.

Here’s one anecdote to explain what I’m talking about.

With the Seahawks facing third-and-8 from their 31-yard line in the third quarter, Woodson lined up across from Seahawks receiver Deion Branch in the slot. Woodson noticed tight end Cameron Morrah in the backfield and immediately recognized the upcoming play.

Before the snap, he turned to Packers safety Atari Bigby and filled him in.

“You recognize what a team is doing to you,” Woodson said. “You recognize sets. I’ve seen that set a number of times, and I just let [Bigby] know what they were going to run. Either the ball will go short and I’ll get it, or it will go long and he gets it.”

As it turned out, Hasselbeck overthrew Branch on a seam pattern. Bigby was in place to make the interception.

Those are the types of game-changing plays a well-coached and well-oiled defense makes. Opponents will still find weaknesses, as the Seahawks did Sunday by targeting Packers nickelback Jarrett Bush on a 31-yard pass to receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a 16-yard touchdown to tight end John Carlson. More often than not, the Packers’ smart defensive plays have outnumbered their mistakes during the second half of the season.

So where does this all leave us? Sunday, it meant a team that changed its defensive scheme in January and significantly altered its offensive scheme in November is now in the playoffs. Its flaws have surfaced against some of its most difficult opponents, Minnesota and Pittsburgh among them, giving us some pause when you consider the Packers’ postseason aptitude.

But in terms of reaching the playoffs, the Packers ultimately minimized those losses and prevented them from consuming their season.

“You’ve got to keep your vision,” Woodson said. “I think most of the guys on this team have done that. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of things said. A lot of things were not said. But everybody realizes our ultimate goal. We’ve now got a chance.”

Some final tidbits as the countdown continues to Packers-Lions II:

Detroit Lions: What a mess the Lions have at safety. They placed starter Ko Simpson (knee) on injured reserve and declared Kalvin Pearson (hamstring) out of the game. Fellow starter Louis Delmas (ankle) is questionable but likely to play. Still, that leaves Marvin White as the only other safety available on the active roster. White was claimed off waivers from Dallas last month. … Linebacker Ernie Sims (hamstring) has also been declared out for the game, while quarterback Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and defensive end Dwayne White (toe) are doubtful and unlikely to play. … Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee, hand) is questionable but will be limited at best if he plays.

Green Bay Packers: An MRI showed no damage on center Scott Wells’ knee, so it appears he will start Thursday. Wells told Wisconsin reporters that “nothing’s torn” and that the swelling has receded. He’s officially listed as probable. Tailback Ahman Green (groin) and tackle Allen Barbre (ankle) are the only two players the Packers likely won’t have available to them.

Today is like a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all rolled into one for Green Bay and Detroit as they prepare for a Thanksgiving Day matchup at Ford Field. Both teams have long injury lists and a short time to get healthy. Here’s the best we can gather from both teams:

Detroit Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and receiver Calvin Johnson (hand/knee) were among six players who didn’t practice Tuesday. Stafford said he felt “a little sore” but it seems pretty clear that Daunte Culpepper will start in his place Thursday. Johnson’s status is less certain. Coach Jim Schwartz said: “He probably won't do much this whole week, but we'll see when it gets to Thursday, how full speed he's going to be or how much up to speed he'll be or whether he'll be able to go.” Safeties Kalvin Pearson (hamstring) and Ko Simpson (knee), linebacker Ernie Sims (hamstring) and defensive end Dewayne White (toe) also have uphill battles to play Thursday.

Green Bay Packers: Center Scott Wells (knee) didn’t practice and might not be ready to return in a short practice week. If that’s the case, rookie Evan Dietrich-Smith would become the third player to start a game at center for the Packers this season. Running back Ahman Green (groin) and tackle Allen Barbre (ankle) also didn’t practice. Brandon Jackson’s strong performance Sunday against San Francisco gives the Packers every reason to let Green heal fully before returning. Meanwhile, the Packers promoted cornerback Trevor Ford from the practice squad, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here are the highlights of the NFC North inactive lists Sunday morning:

• Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) worked out before Sunday’s game against Seattle but was left off the active roster for the fourth consecutive game. Listed as doubtful, it seemed unlikely Winfield would play.
• Green Bay running back Ahman Green, who strained a groin during practice last week, won’t play against San Francisco.
• Detroit deactivated defensive end Dewayne White (toe) and kick returner Derrick Williams (hip). Cliff Avril will start in White’s spot and Aaron Brown likely will replace Williams. Daniel Loper will start at right guard for Stephen Peterman (ankle).