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We had overwhelming participation in Tuesday's SportsNation chat, no doubt a response to our two undefeated teams. As it turned out, one of the questions I didn't get to sparked an idea for this week's Have at It.

Several of you asked who I thought was the NFC North's top free-agent acquisition so far this year. I think we'll get to that at some point in 2011, but being the negative cynic I like to be, I want to turn the question upside down. This week, tell me which free-agent departure has most hurt an NFC North team.

Candidates include:

• Tight end Greg Olsen, who has caught 17 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns for the Carolina Panthers. The Chicago Bears have only one player, tailback Matt Forte, with more than 12 receptions.
• Receiver Sidney Rice, who has caught 11 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in two games for the Seattle Seahawks. Neither of the Minnesota Vikings' top two receivers, Percy Harvin (172) and Michael Jenkins (144), have matched Rice's yards in four games.
• Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins has four sacks in four games for the Philadelphia Eagles. That matches the total number of sacks for all Green Bay Packers defensive linemen, who have given up the second-most passing yards in the NFL.
• Linebacker Ben Leber has played in four games for the St. Louis Rams, starting three. The Vikings have surely missed his veteran presence and leadership during their second-half collapses this season.

As always, give me your thoughts in the comments section below. I'll post a representative sample, along with my own thoughts, by the end of the week. Have at It.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I'll soon be headed out to the Green Bay Packers' second practice of the summer. It starts at 8 p.m. ET and I'll have a few thoughts sometime before midnight. But first, let's hit some important tidbits from the Minnesota Vikings' reporting day at Minnesota State University, Mankato:

(Information via video of coach Leslie Frazier's news conference.)

• Until quarterback Donovan McNabb is eligible to practice Aug. 4, Joe Webb will work with the first team. Frazier said he wanted to go with the player who has "the most experience."
• The Vikings will open camp with two Hendersons working with the first-team defense. E.J. Henderson will resume his role as the middle linebacker, while his younger brother Erin Henderson will be working on the outside. Frazier said he wants Erin Henderson to replace free agent Ben Leber, whom the Vikings have not re-signed.
• Cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) and right guard Anthony Herrera (knee) won't be ready to start camp, Frazier said.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each NFC North team:

Chicago Bears

1. Assemble a starting offensive line: As we've noted many times, the Bears have held off any public discussion about their five linemen pending the results of free agency. Well, we're here. It's time for the dominoes to start falling. The first will be whether center Olin Kreutz re-signs. It's generally expected, but nothing is guaranteed. Then, the Bears need to decide whether to pursue any starting-caliber guards or tackles. You would think they'll seek at least one new starter. Will they raid the Atlanta Falcons' glut of linemen? Might they take a flier on Robert Gallery? We'll know soon enough.
2. Establish a strongside linebacker: The position has largely been held by Pisa Tinoisamoa and Nick Roach over the past two years, but both have expiring contracts. It makes sense to re-sign at least one given the lack of offseason work for a presumptive new starter, and Roach is the younger of the two. If the Bears have another player on the roster they've targeted for this job, it's not readily apparent. While they're at it, the Bears should seek depth at defensive tackle following the release of Tommie Harris. They did draft Stephen Paea, but the Bears might pursue Seattle Seahawks free agent Brandon Mebane, as well.
3. Sift through receivers: From a media perspective, at least, there has been more offseason talk than ever suggesting the Bears will/should/might pursue a free-agent receiver. This year's class is deep, from Sidney Rice to Santonio Holmes to Randy Moss, and a number of other veterans could be available via trade. Coach Lovie Smith has said he wouldn't mind a receiver bigger than his current trio of sub 6-footers, and Devin Hester has lobbied publicly to sign Santana Moss. I think the increased discussion is largely a product of lockout boredom, but it wouldn't hurt the Bears to add depth so that Hester can be used more efficiently.

Top five free agents: Center Olin Kreutz, safety Danieal Manning, punter Brad Maynard, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Detroit Lions

1. Sign a starting cornerback: The Lions' top cornerbacks under contract are Alphonso Smith and Nate Vasher. Chris Houston, who started 15 games last season, is a free agent, so it's possible the Lions will bring Houston back. Or they could seek an outside upgrade, be it Nnamdi Asomugha or Ike Taylor or Johnathan Joseph. Lions Fever would spike if they can land Asomugha, but they would have to use most of their salary-cap space to do it. For several reasons, the odds are against it.
2. Sort out the linebacker position: DeAndre Levy is the only linebacker assured a 2011 starting job, but even Levy can't be totally sure if he will play outside or in the middle. That answer will come only after the Lions sift through the available free agents. They could pursue one with a background in the middle, perhaps Stephen Tulloch. Or they could seek an outside linebacker to replace the released Julian Peterson. One of their outside positions is likely to be decided by a training camp competition among incumbents.
3. Evaluate right tackles: Early indications have been that Gosder Cherilus has made progress from microfracture surgery on his knee. If there is any question, however, the Lions might want to bolster their depth. Corey Hilliard did a decent job as Cherilus' replacement late last season. But keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy is at a premium this season. Do the Lions want to face the possibility of opening the year with a backup plan at right tackle?

Top five free agents: Linebacker Bobby Carpenter, cornerback Chris Houston, linebacker Landon Johnson, quarterback Drew Stanton, safety John Wendling.

Green Bay Packers

1. Stay the course: It's been well-documented that general manager Ted Thompson hasn't participated much in free agency over the past few years, and it's hard to imagine his changing tack dramatically this summer. Thompson's most important decisions will be deciding which of his pending free agents to re-sign and which ones he should allow to depart.
2. Re-sign place-kicker Mason Crosby: Thompson gave Crosby a second-round tender in February in the event Crosby wound up as a restricted free agent. That move suggested Crosby is in the Packers' future plans and makes re-signing him one of the first orders of business now that he is an unrestricted free agent. Crosby has had some difficulties over the years, but kicking in Green Bay is difficult given the weather and he has made some important adjustments. Concerns about his kickoffs should be minimized by the NFL's decision to move them up 5 yards.
3. Think twice: The Packers appear set to let defensive end Cullen Jenkins depart. They can do so knowing they have a number of intriguing young players to compete for that job, from Mike Neal to C.J. Wilson to Jarius Wynn. But another player the Packers might lose, Daryn Colledge, doesn't have an obvious replacement. Would the Packers shift T.J. Lang from backup tackle to guard? Would first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, their projected left tackle of the future, get a crash course on step down? It's something to think about and, given the lack of an offseason, might spur further discussion about re-signing Colledge.

Top five free agents: Guard Daryn Colledge, place-kicker Mason Crosby, defensive end Cullen Jenkins, receiver James Jones, running backs John Kuhn/Brandon Jackson.

Minnesota Vikings

1. Address receivers: Are the Vikings about to bid farewell to receiver Sidney Rice, a 24-year-old who is one year removed from an 83-catch Pro Bowl season? There is nothing they can do to stop it at this point, and Rice seems intent on at least testing his value on the open market. The Vikings spent most of last season searching for a suitable replacement when Rice was injured, and that job will intensify this summer. They have added an additional pass-catching threat in rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph. But if they lose Rice, the Vikings must either sign or trade for an established veteran to join Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian (if he makes the team).
2. Find a kicker: The Vikings made no known effort before the lockout to re-sign veteran Ryan Longwell, who has converted 43 of 46 kicks over the past two seasons. It's possible they'll make their move now. But they did not draft a kicker, and if Longwell signs elsewhere, the Vikings will have to scour the always-murky free-agent market. I'm guessing they already have a plan on this issue, but we haven't smoked it out yet.
3. Establish QB depth: We all know that rookie Christian Ponder eventually will assume the starting job. But are the Vikings comfortable with Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar as their only alternatives if Ponder needs some development time? I'm not sure about that. I also wonder if making Webb the No. 2 quarterback would limit his opportunities to contribute in other ways, perhaps as a receiver or a kick returner. For that reason, it would make sense for the Vikings to seek a quarterback with more experience to pair with Ponder.

Top five free agents: Defensive end Ray Edwards, linebacker Ben Leber, place-kicker Ryan Longwell, receiver Sidney Rice, nose tackle Pat Williams.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: Since the end of last season, the Minnesota Vikings have promoted Leslie Frazier from interim to permanent head coach, revamped their offensive staff and forged a new path at quarterback. The lockout hasn't just cost Frazier the chance to set a new tone in the locker room. He's also been unable to get his offense introduced, much less installed, and will enter training camp with a truly blank slate at quarterback. For those reasons, the lockout has hit the Vikings as hard as any team in the NFL. It will be a struggle to bring their offense online.

Biggest challenge: One way or the other, the Vikings must quickly identify and prepare a Week 1 starting quarterback. Rookie Christian Ponder received a playbook during the one-day lockout respite in April, but he has still missed valuable offseason prep work. Ponder is said to be smart, but starting as a rookie in Week 1 is difficult enough even with a full offseason. Should the Vikings seek a short-term answer in free agency? At the very least, they'll need a backup plan if Ponder needs more time.

Peterson decision looming? Tailback Adrian Peterson is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $10.72 million in 2011. Will the Vikings allow him to play out the final year of the deal? Will they offer him an extension, if for no other reason than to lower his salary-cap number? Those questions were intentionally put off until after the lockout. Well, we're here. Peterson's future with the team hangs in the balance.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Defensive end Ray Edwards, linebacker Ben Leber, receiver Sidney Rice, nose tackle Pat Williams.

The latest round of NFL labor discussions, held smack dab in the middle of steamy NFC North territory, produced a number of rumors and a series of speculative reports about how free agency might be administered in what will be a short window between a collective bargaining agreement and the start of training camp.

My NFC South colleague Pat Yasinskas has discussed the idea of giving NFL teams a right of first refusal on some unrestricted free agents. I'm not sure if that one will fly with the NFL Players Association, but here is one proposal I've heard bandied about that makes some sense: Creating an exclusive, post-lockout period for teams to negotiate with their free agents before the full market opens.

It's true that teams had ample opportunity to negotiate and strike deals with those players in February. But in some cases those talks were weighed down by uncertainty surrounding the framework and timing of the next CBA.

Some decisions made sense no matter what the terms, and that's why the Green Bay Packers re-signed linebacker A.J. Hawk and safety Charlie Peprah. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, re-signed defensive end Brian Robison. Regardless, I wonder if some teams would take a more aggressive approach with other players if they had the full slate of rules and the exact calendar in front of them.

Would it make sense for, say, the Chicago Bears to be more aggressive in re-signing center Olin Kreutz after they lost an entire offseason that might otherwise have been used to identify and develop his successor?

Similar changes of stance are conceivable throughout the NFC North. Might the Vikings be more compelled to bring back linebacker Ben Leber, whose experience in their system could be more valuable given the lack of development time for potential replacements? Do the Packers have a bigger need for running back Brandon Jackson, who could expertly fill the third-down role that the Packers might have targeted rookie Alex Green for?

At the very least, a 48- or 72-hour window would give teams a chance to make their own free agents a newly competitive offer if their roster outlook indeed has changed since February. I'm guessing the NFLPA wouldn't offer strong opposition; players could simply refuse their team's offer and wait for the full market to open.

The other option would be simply to open up full free agency on the first business day after a new CBA is reached. That kind of mad scramble would be fun for media types and agents, but to me it would make some sense for everyone to take a deep breath and ease into the process.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

If I counted right, the chances of which are about 50 percent, the Green Bay Packers have received five* vaunted ESPY award nominations. Fans will determine the winners based on online voting, so if this matters to you, get busy. Voting closes July 9 for most categories, and the winners will be announced during the live broadcast July 13.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been nominated for two awards, including Best Male Athlete and Best NFL Player. Packers coach Mike McCarthy is among those nominated for best head coach/manager, and the 2010 Packers are also nominated as the best team. *Update: Linebacker Clay Matthews is also a candidate for Best NFL Player.

As you recall, ESPN The Magazine has already named the Packers the best pro sports franchise.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Rodgers' post-touchdown "Belt" celebration has spiked sales of wrestling belts, according to Tony Walter of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• McCarthy, via Earl Vaughn Jr. of the Fayetteville Observer: "When the lockout lifts, we'll attack it like everybody else. We're not interested in being paper champions. We're going to go back at it the same way we always have, working on fundamentals, the things you do prior to the season. Every NFL season is a long journey. The preparation part is important. Whatever block of time we have to get ready will be the same as our opponents."
• Former Chicago Bears safety Doug Plank isn't expecting an offer to return to the organization as a coach, writes Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears' offense is ready to shine, tight end Greg Olsen told ESPN 1000: "For awhile here we've been the stepchild. The offense has always played second fiddle, deservingly so because we've had some of the top defenses and top defensive players in league history. But we feel like we have a good core nucleus of young offensive players and Jay being right up there as the guy. With Matt [Forte] and our receivers, Earl [Bennett], Johnny [Knox] and Devin [Hester], I think we've got a lot of guys who are ready to have a little bit of consistency."
• Detroit Lions place-kicker Dave Rayner on the NFL's new kickoff procedures, via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press: "If it was, like, 10 yards, I would say that would be a big deal. To me, I think the 5 yards is going to have those guys that already hit a ton of touchbacks just hitting more. Returners are going to bring it out if it's 5 [yards] deep. I mean, they do now. So if you're kicking now, and you're averaging [kicking to] the goal line, it's going to go 5 deep. They're still going to bring that back."
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune: "The reality is if they were really, really wanting me back then maybe something would have been said before the lockout. I had a good meeting with Coach [Leslie] Frazier and [vice president of player personnel Rick] Spielman at the end of the year. Each side expressed how much I'd like to be here and finish my career here. I am hopeful and hope that I can come back and be a Viking again. But I'm also a realist and I've been through this process before. It's not always up to you and you have to be willing to move on."
• Fellow Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway harbors no bitterness about the franchise tag, writes Luke Hagan of the Daily Republic.

Chicago Bears

NFL.com's Elliot Harrison looks into why the Bears can repeat as NFC North champions.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is "especially looking forward" to the Oct. 16 contest against the Chicago Bears, reports the Tribune's Fred Mitchell.

Detroit Lions

In the third in a 13-part series ranking the NFL's best at each position, the Detroit News' Tim Twentyman looks at where Calvin Johnson ranks among wide receivers.

Green Bay Packers

Former Green Bay Packers guard Fuzzy Thurston is selling his Super Bowl II ring to settle his $1.7 million tax debt.

In a chat with readers, Press-Gazette reporter Kareem Copeland attempts to answer the question: Is Aaron Rodgers one of the NFL's top 10 players?

Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk's wrist feels good enough, apparently, to participate in a celebrity golf tournament next month.

Coach Mike McCarthy will be in Fayetteville, N.C., Monday to be the keynote speaker at a Jimmy Raye Youth Foundation fundraiser.

Minnesota Vikings

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is showing support for the young Vikings quarterbacks.

Vikings linebacker Ben Leber predicts the season will begin on time.

» NFC Underrated Players: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the most underrated players in the division.

Chicago Bears

Matt Forte, tailback: You have to wonder how many people outside the NFC North realize that in his first three NFL seasons Forte has accumulated nearly 5,000 combined rushing and receiving yards. Forte's quiet personality and smooth style tend to deflect attention rather than attract it, but the fact remains he has been one of the NFL's most productive running backs over the past three seasons. In fact, he is one of six NFL players to record at least 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards since 2008. The other names on that list -- Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice -- tell you what kind of company Forte should be considered in.

Detroit Lions

Cliff Avril, defensive end: It's hard to go a minute without hearing about the Lions' now-vaunted defensive line. The discussion starts with All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, continues with new partner Nick Fairley, then shifts over to veterans Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch. If he's lucky, someone will mention Avril, who has more sacks over the past three seasons than any of them. (Granted, he has a two-year head start on Suh and three on Fairley, but you get the point.) Avril has recorded 19 sacks in 41 games since joining the Lions in 2008, one of 29 NFL players to do so over that stretch.

Green Bay Packers

Josh Sitton, guard: Packers veteran Chad Clifton was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl team, but most football people will tell you Sitton long has been the team's best offensive lineman. He hasn't missed a snap since the start of the 2009 season, the only Packers player on offense or defense to accomplish that feat. Sitton is without question the Packers' most powerful run-blocker, helping the Packers average 4.48 yards per carry up the middle in 2010, according to NFL statistics. He has elevated his pass-blocking to a near-equal status. Recognition outside of Green Bay has been fleeting, but he was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2010 and was named the league's best offensive lineman by NFL Alumni.

Minnesota Vikings

Ben Leber, linebacker: Some players stand out as superstars. Others fill in behind. Leber falls into the latter category, and that is by no means an insult. In five seasons with the Vikings, Leber displayed a deep, if not spectacular, skill set that is critical to any good team defense. He called defensive signals when middle linebacker E.J. Henderson was injured. He finished 2007 with five sacks, had seven pass breakups in 2008 and led the NFL with four fumble recoveries in '08 -- all while playing 79 of a possible 80 regular-season games. Leber might depart via free agency, but close observers know how good he is.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

Defensive end Israel Idonije is confident the Bears will be ready to roll once the lockout ends. Idonije: "When the lights turn back on, we’ll be ready.”

The Bears and "Hard Knocks"? Dan Pompei says there is "zero chance" of that happening.

Detroit Lions

Coach Jim Schwartz has settled on a nickname for his defensive line: "Silver Crush."

Getting his rookies up to speed will be one of the biggest challenges facing Schwartz and his staff. “Right now, our rookies would be a couple weeks into our offseason program, they would have already adjusted,” Schwartz said. “Everybody thinks they’re in shape until they show up and see what veteran football players, what kind of shape those guys are in. So it’s that adjustment period.”

Green Bay Packers

ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde caught up with right tackle Bryan Bulaga to discuss his offseason so far.

NFL.com's Vic Carucci: "Either the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers know something that numerous others in the NFL don't, or they're simply comfortable with taking a risk that they might not be as prepared as necessary whenever the 2011 season gets a green light."

Minnesota Vikings

Chad Greenway doesn't like the odds of Ben Leber returning to play with the Vikings in 2011.

Despite some veteran no-shows, Christian Ponder was pleased with the work put in on Wednesday in Florida.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The pending prison release of former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress will no doubt generate substantial speculation about where he might seek to play in 2011. Already, players on several teams have made public pitches. And I'm sure that in an NFC North context, we'll hear plenty of Chicago Bears speculation.

Will it be merited?

Here's all we know so far: Bears coach Lovie Smith has said he wouldn't mind acquiring a bigger receiver to join the trio of Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester. Burress is 6-foot-5.

But would the Bears want the baggage Burress brings, not to mention the rust from two years of inactivity? Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune doesn't think so.

Pompei: "Burress has three things working against him. The first is he will be 34 when the season starts. The second is he has not played football, or even trained with a football team, for two full years. The third is he has a history of getting in trouble. I don't think the Bears are that desperate."

I tend to agree. We've spent plenty of time discussing receivers and the Bears, but I'm not sure Burress and the Bears will be a fit.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears rookie Gabe Carimi is making an impact on Chicago's Jewish community, writes Donald Liebenson of the Tribune.
• The Detroit Lions' unwillingness to participate in "Hard Knocks" indicates they aren't sure how good they will be in 2011, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson hopes he will have fresher legs during games after the team drafted rookie receiver Titus Young. Dave Birkett of the Free Press has more.
• Check out this Twitpic of Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in London's Trafalgar Square. Suh is participating in the Gumball 3000 road race.
• The Green Bay Packers have scheduled their annual shareholders meeting for July 28, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers linebacker Clay Matthews charmed the crowd at the Rochester Press-Radio Club's Day of Champions banquet. Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has more. Among Matthews' lines: "For all you guys out there, I'll be in each and every one of your showers," referring to his upcoming line of Suave shampoo.
• A group of Minnesota Vikings are working out in the Twin Cities at a local fitness club, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. The group includes: linebacker Heath Farwell, offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway, center John Sullivan and tight end Jim Kleinsasser.
• Receiver Hank Baskett and several Vikings teammates from 2010 participated in a charity event last weekend to benefit victims of child abuse, according to Lynn Hoppes of ESPN.com.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We're entering the Wild West portion of our Lockout'11 offseason, the part when players of at least some teams plan to show up for work Tuesday morning after U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered the lockout lifted. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, players will be treated courteously if they show up but the NFL has instructed teams not to open their weight rooms or engage in any contract discussions.

Not every team will face that uncomfortable situation, however. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Lions player representative Kyle Vanden Bosch is advising teammates to "hold tight" and not report until the situation is more structured. As of early Tuesday morning, the league was still trying to come up with a plan for how to conduct business while its attorneys seek a stay to resume the lockout while they appeal Nelson's verdict. For players, showing up for work would trigger workout bonuses that can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.

ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson called Monday's ruling "a critical win for the players" and suggests they are well on their way to permanently overcoming the owners' lockout tactic. If that's the case, we could soon be headed toward the resumption of the NFL offseason under rules imposed by the owners.

As it turns out, the Minnesota Vikings had previously scheduled a news conference Tuesday afternoon with vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman and coach Leslie Frazier to discuss that little draft thing I hear is coming up. I'll be sure to head over there and give you a sense for what at least one NFL facility is like on this potential day of chaos.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions could draft a defensive lineman in the first round with an eye toward the future, writes Birkett.
• Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News: "Wide receivers not named Calvin Johnson or Nate Burleson combined for 21 receptions, 240 yards and zero touchdowns last season for the Lions."
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com would love to see the Lions select Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith.
• Linebacker is definitely a position of need for the Chicago Bears, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times: "The Bears might not be as interested in using a first-round pick to protect quarterback Jay Cutler as many assume. With Tommie Harris gone, it could be argued that defensive tackle is an even greater need, especially with the importance of the 'three-technique' tackle in coach Lovie Smith's cover-2 scheme."
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, like special teams coordinator Dave Toub, recently turned down a contract extension because it didn't include a raise.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wonders if the Green Bay Packers will have the opportunity to draft Alabama running back Mark Ingram.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com on the Packers' need for an outside linebacker: "While undrafted rookie free agent Frank Zombo and midseason pickup Erik Walden both did good things that encouraged the coaching staff after season-ending injuries to Brad Jones and Brady Poppinga, none of the four have shown enough to guarantee a starting job. If Packers GM Ted Thompson can land a true complementary rusher for Matthews, he will."
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, technically a free agent, told the Associated Press (via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com) that it makes sense for players to "let the dust settle" before making their next step.
• The market value for Vikings receiver Sidney Rice is unclear, writes Pelissero.
• Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder might be the third-best quarterback in the draft, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune looks at five players the Vikings could draft with their No. 12 overall pick.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Periodically this offseason, we've heard rumors and seen reports that the Minnesota Vikings have (or will) target Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb as their next quarterback. McNabb appears unlikely to return to the Redskins and should be available via trade or after his release whenever the lockout ends.

Mike Jones of the Washington Post provides the latest installment. My guess is the Vikings would pursue McNabb only if they're unsatisfied with their draft haul next week. Coach Leslie Frazier has said on several occasions that the "ideal situation" is to draft a quarterback that he can start right away and thus accelerate the development process.

Bringing McNabb into a situation where there is an obvious heir in the wings would be far from ideal. And let's make clear that the long-standing connection many have made between McNabb and the Vikings -- the presence of former coach Brad Childress, McNabb's first quarterbacks coach in the NFL -- is no longer valid. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings could be on the lookout for a tight end in the draft, notes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Frazier would like to get young linebackers Jasper Brinkley and Kenny Onatolu on the field, perhaps in place of free agent Ben Leber, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Cornerback and safety aren't big need positions for the Green Bay Packers, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wonders if UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers will fall to the Packers at No. 32 overall.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News wonders about Ayers for the Detroit Lions at No. 13.
• NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt said that, via a "connection" with Lions coach Jim Schwartz, he doesn't think the Lions will draft an offensive lineman in the first round next Thursday. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• The Chicago Bears seem likely to take another developmental quarterback this year, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears receiver Earl Bennett has changed agents, according to Liz Mullin of the Sports Business Journal via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Now more than ever, it makes sense to identify the NFC North players who will be most involved in resolving the NFL's looming labor dispute. Below you'll see each team's union representatives, based on the most recent list published by the NFL Players Association.

Chicago Bears
Rep: Place-kicker Robbie Gould
Co-alternates: Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and receiver Rashied Davis
Comment: Hillenmeyer was released earlier this week and might retire, but he is expected to remain active in union activities regardless.

Detroit Lions
Rep: Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch
Co-alternates: Place-kicker Jason Hanson and linebacker Julian Peterson
Comment: Vanden Bosch took over this year for offensive lineman Jon Jansen, who was released. Peterson is expected to be released this spring.

Green Bay Packers
Rep: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Co-alternates: Cornerback Charles Woodson and receiver Donald Driver
Comment: Rodgers took over the lead role during the 2010 season. Woodson recently released a statement supporting Wisconsin public workers in their ongoing dispute with the state.

Minnesota Vikings
Rep: Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Co-alternates: Defensive end Jared Allen and linebacker Ben Leber
Comment: Hutchinson predicted last summer the NFL would lock out its players. Leber is unsigned for 2011.

INDIANAPOLIS -- I joined a group of reporters who caught up Thursday with Rick Spielman, the Minnesota Vikings' vice president of player personnel. Most of our conversation revolved around the team's ongoing efforts to find a starting quarterback, a topic I'll be taking up at length Friday.

For now, I want to pass along a number of personnel hints, clues and assessments Spielman dropped on us. At the top of the list was the clear indication the Vikings want to sign three of their best young players -- linebacker Chad Greenway, receiver Sidney Rice and tailback Adrian Peterson -- to contract extensions.

The Vikings named Greenway their franchise player this week, a move that often leads to a long-term deal. That decision left Rice likely to be tendered as a restricted free agent, but Spielman said: "Hopefully we'll be able to get Sidney under contract this year."

Peterson, meanwhile, in essence has one year remaining under his original contract. (It technically extends through 2012, but the final year is voidable.) Because of several escalators, Peterson is scheduled to make a whopping $10.720 million base salary in 2011, giving him a salary cap figure of $12.775 million if the NFL returns to its previous accounting system.

We discussed the Vikings' complicated financial situation with Peterson last spring, noting his high 2011 salary but also recognizing that running backs have shorter career spans than other positions. As a result, there is a line of thought that suggests the best approach would be to let Peterson play out his deal and then determine his future on a yearly basis thereafter, possibly through franchise tags.

But Spielman indicated the Vikings will consider Peterson's deal after the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement is completed.

"That's going to have to get addressed," Spielman said. "Once we understand what we're dealing with, then we'll be able to address that."

A few other highlights from our conversation with Spielman:

• Spielman was pretty noncommittal about re-signing linebacker Ben Leber, who will be an unrestricted free agent. "Are we going to keep everybody?" he said. "I don't know. Would you love to have Ben back? Ben's been a very good football player for us, done a lot of good things for us. I don't know where that's going to go to be honest with you."
• In addition to Leber, there has been some discussion about the Vikings parting ways with some high-priced veterans who are still under contract. Safety Madieu Williams and receiver Bernard Berrian rank atop that list, but Spielman downplayed the possibility of any player movement before a new CBA. "Right now we're going to keep our roster status quo," he said. "I don't anticipate any moves."
• Spielman reiterated the organization's commitment to troubled defensive end Everson Griffen and said he is confident Griffen can play an elevated role in 2011. Griffen has been arrested twice this month in Los Angeles and was also involved in organizing a Las Vegas party that USC school officials barred its players from attending. "You always look at that but I know [coach Leslie Frazier] and Everson had a pretty good conversation. I'll keep internally what's been discussed but we feel very confident in Everson. What he did, I'll leave that for Leslie to discuss. He is a very talented football player and felt very fortunate we were able to get him in the draft last year and showed signs of that as a rookie. Have a lot of high expectations for him going into next season." Two Vikings defensive ends, Ray Edwards and Brian Robison, are eligible for free agency this year.

Officially, Thursday is the first day NFL teams can place a franchise tag on players whose contracts are expiring and would otherwise be eligible for unrestricted free agency.

But in one of many twists we can expect in the structure of the 2011 offseason, the NFL Players Association has declared the franchise tag to be irrelevant until a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is reached.

The existing CBA will expire March 3, and the reality is no players will be changing teams this offseason -- whether they are franchised or not -- until the league reaches a labor resolution.

It is possible, however, that players who are franchised now could be grandfathered into the next CBA. So it's at least worth discussing who might be candidates here in the NFC North. The exact salary levels, as well as the number of years required for unrestricted free agency, are yet to be determined. Below we've included players with at least four years of experience.

Team: Chicago Bears
Prominent players with expiring contracts: Defensive tackle Anthony Adams, tight end Desmond Clark, cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, center Olin Kreutz, safety Danieal Manning, punter Brad Maynard, linebacker Nick Roach and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.
Comment: Kreutz probably doesn't need to be protected with a tag. Hanie could garner interest around the league but would you guarantee him franchise money to stay?

Team: Detroit Lions
Prominent players with expiring contracts: Safety C.C. Brown, cornerback Chris Houston, defensive end Turk McBride and quarterback Drew Stanton.
Comment: Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com reports the Lions won't use the tag.

Team: Green Bay Packers
Prominent players with expiring contracts: Safety Jarrett Bush, left guard Daryn Colledge, running back Brandon Jackson, receiver James Jones, defensive end Cullen Jenkins and running back John Kuhn.
Comment: Jenkins is a possibility, although the Packers have a young player in Mike Neal who might be ready to take over his spot next season. Colledge's status is uncertain.

Team: Minnesota Vikings
Prominent players with expiring contracts: Defensive end Ray Edwards, linebacker Chad Greenway, linebacker Ben Leber, receiver Sidney Rice, defensive end Brian Robison and nose tackle Pat Williams.
Comment: Greenway and Rice are young players the Vikings would hate to part ways with. They have seemed cooler on Edwards' status.