ESPN NFL

We're Black and Blue All Over:

As Minnesota state leaders zero in on the Metrodome site in Minneapolis for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, a significant political hurdle has arisen. Part of the city charter requires a voter referendum for any expenditure of more than $10 million toward a new stadium, and on Thursday, a majority of city council members expressed opposition to overriding that charter for this project.

As Eric Roper of the Star Tribune points out, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak has proposed $300 million in city tax revenues be used for the stadium. The plan had been to insert language in the bill that would override the referendum requirement, but the council opposition will at least require further massaging of the issue.

A referendum would not only delay the process but also almost certainly scuttle the project. It's generally assumed that voters want a new stadium but won't approve public funds to be used for it. A referendum request is largely responsible for darkening hopes for the Vikings' proposed project in suburban Arden Hills, Minn.

Baseball's Target Field was built only after a public referendum in Hennepin County was avoided.

Rybak bravely said: "We're not going to do a referendum in the city. We are going to have a referendum in a couple years when I stand for re-election." To that end, however, it looks like he has more work to do.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• It appears the state portion of the stadium financing will come from electronic pull-tabs, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune wonders if the Vikings have too many holes to fill in the draft.
• Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells on free agency, via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean: "I think something like that could weigh on you if you allow it. But I'm not going to let that happen, not now at least. Right now, I am just enjoying the moment [at the Pro Bowl]. I am soaking all of this in with my family, and everything else can wait."
• The Packers need to elevate their pass rush, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Detroit Lions have prioritized getting a long-term contract done with receiver Calvin Johnson, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Tim Twentyman of the Lions' website concludes a three-part interview with Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr.
• In a video, Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte describes his health and his contract situation, via ESPNChicago.com.
• The Bears' next general manager will have his hands full, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Oakland Raiders' apparent decision to hire Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as their head coach will result in some stability among the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff.

Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss and defensive coordinator Dom Capers were both candidates in the Raiders' job search, which was run by former Packers executive Reggie McKenzie, now the Raiders' general manager. Moss had been considered by many media members to be a favorite for the job, but McKenzie conducted a wide search.

To this point, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is the only assistant to depart the staff. Philbin is the Miami Dolphins' new head coach. Coach Mike McCarthy hasn't announced a replacement yet. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements remains a candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head-coaching job.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "It might be a little premature to declare Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy out of the woods completely, but any predictions about his staff being ravaged by outsiders seem to be overblown."
• Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren doesn't wonder what might have happened if he had stayed with the team rather than bolt for the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will meet Wednesday with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf to discuss the Metrodome stadium site. Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune details the political infighting currently in play on that site.
• Vikings general manager Rick Spielman allowed four reporters to sit in on an interview with Auburn long-snapper Josh Harris at the Senior Bowl. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• The Vikings plan to find more work for running back Toby Gerhart, regardless of Adrian Peterson's health, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Detroit Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. spoke positively in rare public comments about the team. Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is sitting out the Pro Bowl because of an Achilles injury, but he is still heading to Hawaii this week and is bringing the Lions' entire receiving corps, notes Dave Birkett of the Free Press.
• Two Lions assistant coaches, Tim Walton (secondary) and Shawn Jefferson (receivers) are close to signing new contracts to stay with the team, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• ESPNChicago.com has a rundown of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's comments on using the pain-killer Toradol.
• Urlacher expanded on those comments with Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli endorsed his director of college scouting, Phil Emery, for the Bears' general manager job. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times explains.
• The Bears' new general manager will have the flexibility to change as much of the scouting staff as he wants. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the team's six college scouts and three pro scouts all have expiring contracts.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Minnesota Vikings are 2-8 with six games remaining this season, tying them for the second-worst record in the NFL. Their season has gone so poorly that Mark Craig of the Star Tribune appropriately took a moment to note the performances of the worst teams in the franchise's 50 previous seasons.

Here is the key paragraph: "In Vikings history, there are two teams that set the benchmark for misery. The 1962 team (2-11-1) had the fewest victories and the worst winning percentage (.179). The 1984 team had the most losses [with 13]. Only three other teams in franchise history lost 11 games, the last coming in 2001."

When the season began, few of us thought the Vikings would compete in the NFC North this season. But I'm not sure we thought they had a terrible team, either. After losing big leads in their first three games, they've produced some increasingly uncompetitive losses. It's hard to imagine them doing anything other than adding another one Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings haven't invested nearly enough in drafting offensive linemen in recent years, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• In an appearance on ESPN 1500, Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson (hamstring) said he hopes to return to the starting lineup this week.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders how much a knee injury is bothering Green Bay Packers right guard Josh Sitton, who has been inconsistent this season.
• Packers running back James Starks credits being bowlegged for escaping a significant injury last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune on why the Chicago Bears should acquire quarterback Kyle Orton: "Orton is by far the best available player who is not on an NFL roster. He plays a position of need for the Bears."
• Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times profiles current Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie.
• ESPNChicago.com writers think Hanie will need to be more than a game manager in place of starter Jay Cutler.
• The Detroit Lions' coverage teams face a big test in Packers returner Randall Cobb, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: "The Lions haven't exactly made Thanksgiving Day games compelling holiday viewing in recent years. They have lost six in a row by an average of 23.3 points. Talk grows louder every year the league should take the game away from Detroit. Owner William Clay Ford and vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. have fought diligently at the owners' meetings over the years to keep the tradition that started here in 1934. It's time the team held up its end of the bargain."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We haven't spent much time discussing the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings trading for Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson, who is holding out from the San Diego Chargers. For starters, Jackson has a three-game NFL suspension looming, meaning he wouldn't be available for immediate help in light of Sidney Rice's recent hip surgery. The suspension could last six games based on how the Chargers classify his absence.

But what if Rice misses more time than anticipated? Would Jackson make more sense in the long term? Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports implores the Vikings to acquire Jackson with this deal: A conditional third-round draft pick in 2011 and a one-year contract worth $6 million with a promise not to make Jackson a franchise player next year.

Would you do that deal? I would. The question is whether the Chargers and Jackson would actually agree to those terms. The Chargers are facing zero return on a Pro Bowl receiver if they don't make some kind of deal, so they could have motivation. And Jackson would surely prefer not to sit out the season if he had a reasonable option, and I'm guessing he would consider the possibilities of playing in the Vikings' offense with quarterback Brett Favre.

To be clear, there are no indications that discussions have occurred. But it's an interesting scenario nonetheless.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings are expected to sit many of their starters Thursday night against the Denver Broncos, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Star Tribune looks at the Vikings' options to be the third-down back.
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press considers some the possibilities for some of the Vikings' bubble players.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com writes that Tim Masthay would have to have a "disastrous" game Thursday night at the Kansas City Chiefs to lose the Green Bay Packers' punting competition.
• Safety might be a position the Packers look to improve via the waiver wire this weekend, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Some NFL teams are interested in acquiring Packers backup tackle Breno Giacomini, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Detroit Lions linebacker Zack Follett admitted the preseason has been "bumpy for me," according to Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. said he is "very happy" with the team's new regime of general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz, according to Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Chicago Bears need to reduce the volume in their offense, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "Alibis for ineptitude aren't exclusive to the Bears offense, apparently. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli attributed the team's inability to stop teams on third down this preseason to the staff experimenting to 'find the right mix of what we want.'"
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "In 15 drives, the [Bears'] starting defense has given up three touchdowns and two field goals (27 points), 398 net yards and allowed opponents to convert 10 of 19 third downs (52.6 percent). Of those 10 third downs, the Bears' starting defense has allowed opponents to convert eight from seven or more yards."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Ford family doesn't always attend the annual NFL owners meetings, but this week, Detroit vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. has represented ownership. He also spoke to local beat reporters for the first time since suggesting in 2008 that he would fire former general manager Matt Millen if it were up to him.

Millen was fired days later. On Monday, Ford offered a resounding endorsement of the Lions' new direction under general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz.

Ford called Mayhew "the most prepared guy I've been around" and added: "It is the early stages. Early with Martin, early with Jim. But the early returns are, I think, very good. And I know my father's [William Clay Ford] very pleased with both of them."

Here is coverage from the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Mlive.com.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The cost of Chicago signing St. Louis safety O.J. Atogwe would be "prohibitive," writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears are paying new nickelback Tim Jennings about half what the deposed Nathan Vasher was scheduled to make, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Green Bay's offseason moves make clear that leadership is important, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy is "incredibly valuable" to the league's ongoing labor negotiations, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota owner Zygi Wilf was "really disappointed" when left tackle Bryant McKinnie was dismissed from the NFC Pro Bowl team, but Wilf said the Vikings have no interest in parting ways with McKinnie. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune has more.

I would imagine some Detroit fans were upset Monday when a calmer coach Jim Schwartz declined to toss out a “sacrificial lamb” as an accountability message to players who absorbed a 48-3 loss at Baltimore. Here’s how Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press put it:

"Schwartz looks silly today. There is no getting around it. After his team lost, 48-3, in Baltimore on Sunday, he strongly implied that he would make roster changes, then he came back Monday and said, in effect, "Hey, never mind, our players might be bad but they're all we have." And when you are a head coach and you get into serious discussions about whether your team quit ... well, like I said, Schwartz looks silly."

The backdown didn’t bother John Niyo of the Detroit News, who wrote: “Frankly, we've seen enough publicity stunts from this team over the years.”

As we discussed Monday, the reality is there wasn’t much Schwartz could do with three games left in the season. His mistake was letting his emotions get the best of him immediately after Sunday’s game. While I appreciate Schwartz’s willingness to speak his mind, this was a lesson in the 24-hour rule for coaches. In short: Make no promises, announcements, decisions or predictions in the immediate aftermath of a game. Emotions are too high. It’s good theater for reporters, but that’s about it.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. has stepped away from focusing on the Lions this season, he told Ken Thomas of the Associated Press.
• Minnesota rededicated itself to running the ball Sunday against Cincinnati, according to Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings place-kicker Ryan Longwell has converted 22 of 23 field goals this season, notes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers is still producing unscouted looks to opponents, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers linebacker Brandon Chillar took the sure thing of a contract extension rather than test what could be an uncapped offseason, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher played his first full game Sunday in Chicago but showed some signs of fatigue, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler’s performance Sunday was worse than it looked in the box score, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago offers five reasons to keep watching the Bears this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Welcome to preseason week No. 2 in the NFC North. We'll be following plenty of storylines as our lads get back to training camp. Among them:

1. The quarterback battles in Minnesota and Detroit.
2. The health of Chicago's defense.
3. The first week of practice for Green Bay defensive end B.J. Raji, who agreed to contract terms late last week.

As for me, I'll be chatting at SportsNation later Monday (1 p.m. ET, as usual) and then wrapping up my training camp tour with a trip to Detroit. If all goes as planned, I'll be at practice starting Tuesday morning. More details to come.

For now, let's skip around the division after a day off for three of the Black and Blue's four teams:

• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune notes that quarterback Jay Cutler has made headlines recently after two somewhat innocuous public statements. Haugh: "This is the difference between a starting quarterback and a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and we all are going to have to get used to it."
• The Bears' thin depth at cornerback was exposed Saturday night in Buffalo, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago has a final word on the Bears' preseason opener. Among those who helped themselves was rookie safety Al Afalava.
• The Lions had quite an on-field celebration after winning their preseason opener, notes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press. Said team vice chairman Bill Ford Jr.: "We've been through this before."
• Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has improved the Lions' screen play, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay coaches aren't ready to make a decision about the center competition between Jason Spitz and Scott Wells, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The gulf widened over the weekend between Packers backup quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Running back Albert Young is trying to crack a talented Minnesota backfield, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings center John Sullivan admitted he was nervous before the preseason opener at Indianapolis, but said reports that he lost his lunch were not true. Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press gets to the bottom of it.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

We're fresh and raring to go here at Black and Blue headquarters. Thanks to the fellas at Scouts Inc. and my colleagues within the ESPN Blog Network for keeping things going here while I was out. I'm pretty much caught up on all things Favre, Cutler and Williams Wall -- the topics that seemed to dominate the headlines last week.

Many of you have been asking what the legal ruling means in the case of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Ultimately, it seems the NFL's best case continues to be the portion of its policy that makes players responsible for what they put in their bodies. There are plenty of tentacles to this thing, but ultimately it keeps coming back to that.

Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune offers his analysis here of where the lawsuit might go in Minnesota state court. This situation isn't over yet. But if the Vikings hadn't already started planning for the four-game absence of their two Pro Bowl defensive tackles, they probably should now.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• It's interesting that Cleveland kick returner Josh Cribbs is using the contract Devin Hester received last summer as the basis for his negotiations, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. I wonder how Hester will feel if Cribbs gets the same money to be far less of an offensive factor than Hester is for the Bears.
• If you didn't catch it over the weekend, here is an excellent primer on the 3-4 defense from Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Party houses near Lambeau Field are under attack by the Green Bay City Council, according to Paul Srubas of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Detroit coach Jim Schwartz recently purchased a home from a Detroit Red Wings executive, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press on the Bill Ford Jr.'s rare outburst last fall preceding the firing of president/general manager Matt Millen: "Months later, I still don't know if that was a) Junior's attempt to force Senior's hand, b) a planned good guy/bad guy act, so Senior had an excuse to fire Millen, whom he liked personally, or c) Junior's attempt to pre-emptively distance himself from his father, knowing full well that the firing was coming."
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Minnesota Vikings (10-6) The Vikings converted an offseason spending spree into their first division title since 2000. Most notably, the additions of defensive end Jared Allen (14.5 sacks) and receiver Bernard Berrian (964 receiving yards) turned a .500 team into a 10-win group. The Vikings still have some areas to work on, but they will enter the playoffs with victories in five of their past six games while boasting arguably the NFL's best player in tailback Adrian Peterson. Grade: B+ Biggest surprise: Coach Brad Childress benched protégé Tarvaris Jackson after an 0-2 start, a shocking admission that the quarterback Childress groomed as his starter was not ready to take the reins of a playoff-caliber team. Even more surprising, backup Gus Frerotte -- whom the Vikings coaxed away from retirement in the offseason -- replaced Jackson and won eight of 11 starts. Jackson has since regained the starting job, but it would have been hard to predict such a turn of events at the game's most crucial position. Biggest disappointment: The Vikings have one of the NFL's best placekickers in Ryan Longwell, but overall their special teams were a surprising liability this season. Opponents scored seven special teams touchdowns against them, a league record. Some of the issues could be traced to individual mistakes -- punter Chris Kluwe dropping a snap or an incorrect alignment on field goal protection -- but for the most part the breakdowns were across the board. The Vikings missed coverage demon Heath Farwell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason, and created some disarray by failing to settle on return men for either kickoffs or punts. Biggest need: Years of heavy offseason spending has left the team fairly well stocked, but one area of concern is right tackle. Ryan Cook was rarely effective in his 15 starts, and the Vikings tried to replace him with utility backup Artis Hicks before Hicks suffered a torn triceps muscle. Cook's three-year conversion to right tackle has been bumpy and the Vikings should consider replacing him in the offseason. Second-guessing: Why did Peterson fumble nine times on the way to the NFL rushing title? Peterson's theory is that his strong running style leaves him upright more than most running backs, giving defenders more time to pop the ball loose. There is some merit to that explanation, but it doesn't explain every fumble. The bottom line is that Peterson at times lost focus on one of his primary jobs -- protecting the ball -- in his effort to break long runs.

Chicago Bears (9-7) The Bears took early control of the NFC North but missed a chance to create a deep cushion after giving up leads against Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. And yet even with those missed opportunities and a 1-3 stretch in late November, the Bears could have earned a wild-card berth had they won their season finale at Houston. That failure should jump-start a number of self-scouting exercises, especially to figure out why their defense slipped in nearly every area two years after leading the team to the Super Bowl. Grade: B- Biggest surprise: There was a general consensus that Matt Forte could be a 1,000-yard back in the NFL. But Forte not only rushed for 1,238 yards, but he also led the team with 63 receptions. Those weren't all dump passes into the flat, either. Forte showed a natural ability to position his body for red zone receptions and was by far the most important player on the Bears' offense this season. Biggest disappointment: The Bears finished the season ranked No. 30 against the pass, failing to mount much of a pass rush from its defensive line and displaying little coverage savvy in the back end. Cornerback Nate Vasher was a complete non-factor and might not return next season, while multiple other players alluded to frustration with defensive coordinator Bob Babich's schemes. The Bears blitzed more than any team in the NFL, according to STATS, an approach that too often left the secondary exposed for big plays. Biggest need: Fantasy players need the Bears to upgrade their receiver position, which boasts no one who should be considered a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. But until they get their defense rectified, it's not going to matter how many offensive weapons they add. The Bears should look for defensive game changers -- no matter what position they play -- this offseason. No position, other than that of Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs, should be considered untouchable. Second-guessing: Was Devin Hester's performance as a receiver -- 51 receptions, 665 yards and three touchdown -- worth reducing his threat as a returner? There was no way Hester would have kept up the scoring pace of his first two seasons (11 touchdowns). But he never came close to returning a kickoff or punt for a touchdown this season. There has to be some connection. Right?

Green Bay Packers (6-10) It was reasonable to expect some drop-off following the departure of quarterback Brett Favre, but few could have predicted a second-half collapse that would leave the Packers with a 6-10 record. The defense fell into an injury-induced tailspin, and while quarterback Aaron Rodgers produced solid statistics, he didn't take over in the fourth quarter of close games as Favre often did. This team had far too much talent to finish with a losing record. Grade: D Biggest surprise: Tramon Williams stepped from obscurity into a substantial role as a part-time starting cornerback. He ranked third on the team with five interceptions while displaying solid coverage skills and undeniable big-play ability. Williams excited enough people that it seems possible the Packers will move veteran cornerback Al Harris during the offseason and install Williams as a full-time starter alongside Charles Woodson. Biggest disappointment: Safety Atari Bigby seemed on the verge of big things at the end of last season, but he was never healthy in 2008. He managed only 21 tackles and one interception in seven games before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The ripple effect of his injuries were notable throughout the defense. Backup Aaron Rouse struggled, and eventually the Packers were forced to use Woodson at safety for three games. Bigby is a tremendous athlete with big-time hitting ability but, like the Packers, had a very unlucky year. Biggest need: It's a toss-up between offensive tackle and defensive line, but the need for defensive help seems more immediate. The Packers played most of the year with three healthy defensive tackles and they would be taking a huge risk if they count on former first-round pick Justin Harrell for anything next season. The Packers need to improve not only their interior run defense but also on the edge in passing situations. The losses of Cullen Jenkins (injury) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (ineffectiveness) left Aaron Kampman all alone in disrupting opponents' passing attacks. Second guessing: The decision to part ways with Favre was defensible. Allowing the divorce to extend well into training camp was not. Because they didn't believe Favre really wanted to play for another team, the Packers decided to hold tight and assumed he would eventually go away. When Favre refused, the Packers were left with a monstrous distraction at a crucial time of team-building. No matter what anyone said at the time, the drama disrupted the team and played a role in the general confusion and miscommunication that has plagued the team all season.

Detroit Lions (0-16) There are 16 reasons why Detroit will undergo yet another rebuilding program this offseason. The first 0-16 season in NFL history exposed a poorly-constructed team that needs help at nearly every position, most notably along both lines. They'll have two first-round draft picks to jump-start the process, including the No. 1 overall, but first will have to replace fired head coach Rod Marinelli. Grade: F Biggest surprise: President and general manager Matt Millen had kept his job for so long, amid so much losing, that it seemed he had a lifetime appointment. So while his firing was not undeserved, it was downright stunning to see owner William Clay Ford -- with prompting from son Bill Ford Jr. -- pull the trigger after the Lions opened 0-3. Even Ford could see where Millen's incompetence had led the franchise. And if you're looking for the Lions' second-biggest surprise, it would be Ford's decision to retain Millen's top two subordinates -- interim general manager Martin Mayhew and chief operating officer Tom Lewand -- to rebuild the team. If there was ever a time for a clean slate, it's now. Biggest disappointment: There are so many choices, but the best place to start is quarterback Jon Kitna. When the season began, you could have made an argument for Kitna as the best quarterback in the NFC North. But he was average at best during the first month of the season and never seemed comfortable with new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto. The Lions essentially fired Kitna by placing him on injured reserve with a relatively mild back injury. The move left the team shuffling through four different quarterbacks, and it's possible that none of them will be in Detroit next season. The Lions ended the season with the division's worst quarterback situation. Biggest need: The Lions' defense gave up almost 170 rushing yards per game and got pushed around on a weekly basis. The first step to rebuilding the defense is finding some defensive linemen who can control the line of scrimmage. You can't always add a star at this position, but there are plenty of free agents and likely draft picks who could add some muscle and physicality there. Second-guessing: Why did Marinelli think that Colletto could transition the offense from Mike Martz's passing attack to a zone-blocking run scheme? First of all, the zone-blocking scheme can take several years to install. Marinelli should have known he didn't have that long. Second, Colletto had never been a coordinator in the NFL. As the season progressed, it didn't look like Colletto had many schematic answers for the way the Lions were playing. Colletto is a well-known offensive line coach who might have been in over his head in this job.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

We're already getting a pretty good glimpse at Detroit's plans for 2009 and beyond on Day 1 of the offseason. If you're a Lions fan hoping for a complete overhaul following an 0-16 season, you're going to be deeply disappointed.

Although they fired coach Rod Marinelli, the Lions announced the departures of only four assistant coaches. By my count, that means 14 of Marinelli's assistants at least temporarily have jobs. That includes offensive coordinator Jim Colletto, who was re-assigned to offensive line coach, and special teams coordinator Stan Kwan. Two of the fired assistant coaches are directly related to Marinelli: Defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who is Marinelli's son-in-law, and assistant offensive line coach Mike Barry, who is Joe Barry's father.

Owner William Clay Ford also followed through with plans to retain chief operating officer Tom Lewand and interim general manager Martin Mayhew. Lewand was promoted to team president, while Mayhew was given the permanent general manager title. So while Ford said last week that he will add a front-office executive, you have to assume that person's role will be subordinate to Mayhew and thus only marginally impactful. (The firing of Dave Boller, assistant director of pro personnel, provides a clue as to the type of hire the Lions are looking to make.)

A few points can be safely extrapolated from these moves in advance of a late-morning news conference in Detroit:

• It's customary for teams to retain the rights to some assistant coaches immediately following the departure of a head coach. Sometimes the assistants are asked to perform final personnel evaluations for the front office. Occasionally they are interviewed for the head coaching position, and often teams try to protect valued assistants in the event that the new head coach wants to retain them. But to fire only four of 18 assistants, and to re-assign Colletto, makes you wonder whether the Lions will ask the new head coach to take on at least some of them. If that's the case, good luck hiring a dynamic head coach.
• Although Lewand deals mostly with the salary cap and contract issues, it's well known that he has the ear of owners William Clay Ford and Bill Ford Jr. As team president, you can expect Lewand to be intricately involved in every aspect of the Lions' operation. But Lewand faces an inherent paradox: Either he'll have to repudiate everything the Lions have done this decade, of which he played a significant role, or the Lions won't be adopting a new way of doing business.
• Mayhew is a complete unknown as it relates to running football operations. What type of team does he value? How does he evaluate talent? How will he change the way the Lions scout and rank players to avoid their annual draft problems? And what role did Mayhew himself play in those mistakes as the assistant to former general manager Matt Millen? Why would the Lions want any continuity from that era?
• From the outside, I continue to wonder what role cash flow is playing in these moves. The Fords' personal stake in the struggling automobile industry is well-known, as are the Lions' problems in selling out Ford Field this season. Are these moves the best for the organization? Or are they simply the most affordable? Promoting two long-standing members of the front office after the worst eight-year run in NFL history, along with retaining 14 assistant coaches, suggests the latter.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

So the Lions are two games away from infamy. Exactly 120 minutes of football time separate them from a perfectly awful 0-16 season. It's one record no NFL team wants to reach, and we're here to help.

More on lousy Lions •  Merrill: Lions, city struggle •  Jemele Hill: Go for 0-16! •  Scouts: 10 Lions to keep •  Wickersham: Honolulu Blueprint •  Watch: Fantasy vs. reality •  Football Today: Lions talk

As part of ESPN.com's Thursday Hot Read on the topic, we hereby offer 16 suggestions for fixing the Lions:

1. Dispatch the denial. Stop counting the near-misses and lamenting the "few plays here and there." Admit you're broken in a fundamental way. With few exceptions, the NFL's competitive model puts most teams relatively close to one another. There's a reason you hear so much about "any given Sunday." For one team to start 0-14, and lose 21 of its past 22 games, indicates an overhaul -- not a tweak -- is necessary.

2. Start at the top. No one knows exactly how the Lions' ownership runs the team. But we got a glimpse this season when vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. publicly campaigned for the firing of president/general manager Matt Millen. Two days later, chairman William Clay Ford did the deed. All indications are that the elder Ford continues to wield final say, but it's time for Ford Jr. -- whose judgment on Millen far surpassed his father's -- to take over.

	Leon Halip/US Presswire
	Rod Marinelli has a 10-36 record in his three seasons in Detroit.

3. Put Rod Marinelli out of his misery. Marinelli might be a good football coach, but no one can lose so many games in a such a short period while maintaining credibility inside or outside the organization. I know, Marinelli hasn't been blessed with the NFL's best personnel. But it's hard to convince anyone you're moving forward with a coach who has lost 36 of 46 games over a three-year tenure.

4. Before hiring the next head coach, settle on a front-office structure that provides checks and balances to avoid a repeat of the unchallenged mistakes Millen routinely made. Most people assume that chief operating officer Tom Lewand will retain a prominent business role, which is fine. On the football side, however, the Lions need a general manager and coach tandem that understands each other's philosophies and will consider contradictory thoughts. The current model is in Atlanta, where general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith are said to work exceptionally well together.

5. Thank interim general manager Martin Mayhew for his eye-opening work after replacing Millen. And then send him on his way. This is in no way a comment on Mayhew, who in other circumstances would make a fine general manager for the Lions. But remember our general premise: This is not an organization that needs tweaking. It needs to be rebuilt in a big-picture sense. You can't convince your fan base, free agents or even coaching candidates that you're making fundamental changes if Millen's top assistant replaces him -- no matter who it is.

6. Throw a bone to fans -- not a gimmick or a marketing slogan, but something that genuinely invites their interest. A 10 percent cut in ticket prices might be a start. Or, perhaps, a real barnstorming tour that allows fans to ask unedited questions of the Lions' football decision-makers over the course of the season. Transparency and honesty during the rebuilding process, while not comfortable, will help re-connect to a fan base that has lost faith in the team's ability to operate effectively.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

CHICAGO -- Not sure what they were calling for here in the midwest, but it's a pretty perfect day for football in Chicago. I'm looking at a cloudless sky on the other side of the hotel window. It's 44 degrees now but the temperature should break 60 by this afternoon. There's no wind to speak of, but I'll let you know if that changes once we arrive at Solider Field.

The media buildup to this game has been interesting from the perspective of both starting tailbacks. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson ranks third in the NFL with 563 yards and Chicago's Matt Forte is fifth with 459 yards, but there is some local hand-wringing going on with both players.

As Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune notes, Peterson has created such wild expectations that it's hard to get excited about three 100-yard efforts in the first six games of the season. Maybe that's because Peterson has seen a notable decrease in explosive plays of late. In fact, Zulgad points out this statistic: In the 12 games since rushing for an NFL-record 296 yards in November 2007, Peterson's longest run is 34 yards.

Forte, meanwhile, hasn't had a 100-yard game since debuting with 123 yards on opening night in Indianapolis. David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune suggests Forte has proved himself to be talented enough that he should be judged with higher expectations.

The way this game matches up, you would think the passing games will be more critical than the run games. But there will be plenty of eyes on Peterson and Forte. See you there.

Continuing around the NFC North this morning:

• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times notes how unusual it was for Bears coach Lovie Smith to admit he erred by ordering a squib kick at the end of last week's game against Atlanta.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune tried to get inside the head of the Vikings' quietest star, defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Here's one nugget from Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar: "When you hear people talk about football IQ, I think his football IQ is off the charts."
• The father of Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian didn't raise his son to be a braggart, Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes. That's probably why you didn't hear Berrian say much this week about his triumphant return to Solider Field.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy has never won in Green Bay. Dungy is 0-7 at Lambeau Field but will try to get his first win Sunday afternoon.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette takes a look at the film study of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
• Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press generates Sunday's depressing Lions statistic: Since 2002, the Lions (29-72) have a worse record than the expansion Houston Texans (33-68).
• Jerry Green of the Detroit News suggests it's time for Bill Ford Jr. to take over the Lions franchise from his father, William Clay Ford.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

At this point, we're not sure how the Detroit Lions will spin the decision to part ways with president/general manager Matt Millen. It's a sensitive issue with no shortage of familial dysfunction clouding the picture.

Nevertheless, it's fair to wonder what Millen's departure means for the most fundamental way the Lions have operated under owner William Clay Ford. Namely: Did his son, Bill Ford, Jr., in essence take control of the franchise this week?

As you recall, Ford Jr. said Monday that he would fire Millen if he had the authority. At the time, he did not. His father has run the team with an autocratic hand for years. According to multiple reports, he had tuned out his son's suggestions to fire Millen.

Something changed between Monday and Wednesday. From one angle, Ford Jr.'s public statement can be viewed as a power play that embarrassed his father and forced his hand. Millen might not have made it to the 2009 season regardless, but it's difficult to imagine him leaving this week had it not been for Ford Jr.'s public outburst.

As the days, weeks and months pass, it will be interesting to see if this event represents a one-day blip in the Ford family hierarchy -- or if it will go down as a coup d'etat.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

It will be interesting to see what treatment option Green Bay cornerback Al Harris chooses for his ruptured spleen.

Whether he opts for surgery or several months of rest, he will almost certainly miss the remainder of the season. But one of the options -- surgical removal -- reportedly would decrease his chances of returning in 2009.

So Harris will have some heavy thoughts on his mind starting Wednesday. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, he sent his medical records to a pair of specialists Tuesday and should get their recommendations within 24 hours. Tramon Williams is expected to take his place in the starting lineup.

Elsewhere in the NFC North this morning:

• The Packers' entire secondary is banged up. They open the practice week unsure if either starting safety -- Atari Bigby (hamstring) and Nick Collins (back) -- will be ready to play Sunday at Tampa Bay. Overall, it's already been a bad year for injuries in Green Bay, writes Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Are the people of Wisconsin moving on? Television ratings in Milwaukee for Brett Favre's third game with the New York Jets were down 42 percent compared to his first two games, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Detroit backup quarterback Drew Stanton spent some extra time with coaches Tuesday, prompting Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com to wonder if a change is coming after the Lions' bye week. Starter Jon Kitna said no one had informed him of anything and added: "I'm all about this team winning. If they feel that's necessary, then so be it. But I don't think I'm the problem."
• You have to love Lions receiver Roy Williams. As long as everyone is expressing their opinion -- vice chairman Bill Ford, Jr., said Monday he would fire general manager Matt Millen if he could -- Williams went ahead and blurted this out: "And if I was the offensive coordinator, I'd be in four-wides. It means nothing. Everybody has their opinions."
• Chicago defensive tackle Tommie Harris didn't agree with the team's decision to release receiver Mark Bradley, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. Harris: "I don't feel like he had a fair chance. I feel like he just had his job taken from him. You know how it goes: He had a knee surgery, then he lost his job."
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times on Bradley's release: "It signals new accountability at Halas Hall."
• Minnesota has one game remaining before left tackle Bryant McKinnie returns from an NFL suspension. His replacement, Artis Hicks, will be matched up against Tennessee Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch on Sunday. Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune has details.
• The playing time for Minnesota nose tackle Pat Williams has decreased notably this season, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Coach Brad Childress said he is simply trying to keep Williams' legs fresh and that there are no injury issues.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Perhaps this is my Detroit Lions naiveté surfacing, but I'm surprised no one is even mildly chiding Detroit vice chairman Bill Ford, Jr., for publicizing his dissent with the way his father runs the team.

Because, in essence, that's what Ford Jr. did Monday when he told reporters he would fire president/CEO/general manager Matt Millen if he had the authority. He doesn't, of course. That responsibility remains with his father, William Clay Ford, who hasn't listened to his son's advice.

Yes, it was a breath of fresh air to hear a Ford acknowledge the mistake Millen has been. And we in the media always appreciate the truth. But it hardly promotes respect for the chain of command, an essential tenet for an NFL team and any other corporation. Is this no different than an assistant coach publicly questioning the head coach's play-calling?

I suspect Millen fatigue is so intense these days that it supersedes all other problems. As Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News writes: "Nothing can move forward with this team until the main guy is held accountable. The Lions are paralyzed and poisoned by Millen's presence, by his stunning incompetence, and he has to know it."

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press suggests Ford Jr.'s comments could give Millen an opening to resign and save at least a minimal amount of public respect: "If Millen is so fond of [William Clay Ford], how can he let himself be the wedge between Senior and Junior? I don't see how he can rationalize that to himself."

And, as Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com writes, Ford Jr.'s comments came too early to wait until after the season to address them: "Ford can't allow the dark cloud to hang over this organization for the rest of the season."

As of Tuesday morning, there were no indications the Lions were planning any changes. Firing Millen or accepting his resignation now wouldn't do much to save the season, but it would give the team a head-start on hiring their next leader.

The Lions have a bye this weekend and the timing is right. But after Ford Jr. took the extraordinary route of placing public pressure on his own father, his father could be more dug in than ever.

Elsewhere in less controversial regions of the NFC North:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examines whether the career of Green Bay cornerback Al Harris could be over because of a ruptured spleen. If Harris ultimately has his spleen removed, "a return would be less likely," Silverstein reports.
• The Packers aren't thrilled with the inconsistency of new punter Derrick Frost, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "He needs to do a better job, there's no doubt about that," coach Mike McCarthy said.
• Tampa Bay offensive lineman Jeremy Trueblood accused unnamed Chicago defenders of grabbing his genitals during Sunday's game at Soldier Field. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris didn't deny it, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. Asked if it was possible someone on the Bears did it, Harris said: "Yeah, the same way my junk got grabbed during the game. That happens, so guard your junk." Hmmmm.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune thinks coach Lovie Smith should give his laid-back style a "mini-makeover" and get after a few of his players publicly.
• Minnesota has benched starting fullback Thomas Tapeh, whom they signed to a five-year contract on the first day of free agency. In his place is third-year player Naufahu Tahi, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings have the NFL's worst touchdown percentage in the red zone, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. The Tennessee Titans, their opponent Sunday, have the best.