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In sifting through the mountains of rookie camp coverage over the weekend, I stumbled upon this video from the Detroit Lions' reporting team of Tim Twentyman and Mike O'Hara. Toward the end, the pair addressed an issue that brought up two interesting questions:

1. Is there anything to read into the fact that Lions coach Jim Schwartz hasn't yet signed a long-promised contract extension?
2. If not, at what point is it significant that Schwartz's contract, at least of this moment, is set to expire after this season, or in about 10 months?

From the top, we should point out that coaching contracts are among the best-kept secrets in the NFL. There is no salary cap for coaches, nor is there a union, so teams don't have to file the final documents with many outside entities. News releases are typically issued to announce a new deal, although they often don't include the duration and never mention dollar figures.

Schwartz reiterated over the weekend that he won't talk about his contract, nor will he say if he would confirm a deal if it had happened. Regardless, it's probably safe to assume the Lions don't yet have a final agreement with Schwartz. That doesn't really matter at the moment, and to me it won't be an issue until the first day of training camp -- the symbolic start of a team's season.

There is every reason to think the sides will come to an agreement. If you judge coaches by playoff appearances, Schwartz is the Lions' best coach in more than a decade. And unless Schwartz has previously undisclosed designs on some sort of dual general manager/coaching job that wouldn't be available in Detroit, there is every reason to think he wants to stay put.

Those factors suggest a friendly negotiation that will wrap up in due time. But if Schwartz and the Lions report to training camp in late July to begin earnest preparations for the 2012 season without a resolution, then there is reason to start asking fair and legitimate questions about the future.

For what it's worth, the past three coaching contract extensions in the NFC North all came at least 11 months before the deal's expiration.

With his deal set to expire after the 2011 season, Bears coach Lovie Smith signed a two-year extension in February 2011. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy's five-year extension came in March 2011; his contract was scheduled to expire after the 2012 season. And in November 2009, former Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress received an extension about 13 months before his deal was set to expire.

Judging by your comments, some of you are neither surprised nor particularly upset to learn that the New Orleans Saints had a bounty on then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Over on our Facebook page, for example, Ace wrote: "Wait a second. Does anybody actually care that NFL players are actively trying to hurt each other? I thought that's why we watch the game?"

Fair point. There is absolutely a segment of football fans drawn to the game by its physical brutality. For you, players incentivized to hurt one another ultimately enhance the violence and elevate the game to a modern-day gladiator scene, where combatants win by disabling their opponent. If you like that sort of thing, you loved seeing Favre pummeled during that game and probably should remove yourself from this conversation.

The rest of you are wondering why it took the NFL two years to document what seemed painfully obvious (pardon the pun) in the days that followed: Regardless of their motivation or incentive, the Saints seemed determined to batter Favre, inside or outside the rules.

It was clear early on, when defensive end Bobby McCray drilled Favre in the chin after a handoff, and continued through a game that included two personal fouls and a third the NFL later said should have been called. Favre's ankle was heavily bruised after McCray grabbed it as part of a high-low hit in the third quarter, and in all it was one of the most brutal beatings we've seen a veteran quarterback take.

McCray was fined $20,000, and looking back, there were plenty of clues and suspicions circulating that suggested this was more than just a physical game. The Vikings were incensed by the Saints' approach and complained to the league the next day. A few months later, then-coach Brad Childress said: "What I hate to see are late hits or attempts to hurt anybody. I don't think there's a place for that in the game."

Asked if he thought that happened in the NFC Championship Game, Childress said: "Yes, I would have to say that, yes."

It's even worth taking a second look at the Twitter "feud" between then-Saints safety Darren Sharper and Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the spring of 2010. What most of us thought was fun self-promotion takes on a different meaning with what we know now. The exchange began when Sharper, noting Favre's subsequent ankle surgery, tweeted: "Well y'all seen Brett had surgery on that ankle we got after in the championship game. Come Thursday night 1st game. X marks the spot."

We even discussed the issue of deliberate attempts to injure that spring. Did anyone know the Saints had a bounty on Favre in that game? Would it have mattered?

To me, not really. Whether there was a bounty or not, the Saints did everything they could to remove Favre from the game. In some cases, what they did violated NFL game rules. We've known that for two years. The only thing that's changed for me is that I no longer blame McCray or any other individual for playing out of control. Clearly, they were acting as part of a larger mentality conceived by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and endorsed, at least tacitly, by coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Not to get all preachy here, but indulge me for a moment. Competition spurs some people to high achievement, but it puts others on a mission to limit the achievement of their opponents. Are you trying to win? Or are you trying to make the other guy lose? It's a subtle difference and doesn't necessarily correlate to win-loss records, but in the end, the Saints succeeded in making the Vikings worse than them on that day.

Under duress and in pain, Favre threw two interceptions, one of which came after an illegal hit by McCray. The Saints won in part by disabling their opponent. But at what price? The NFL will soon provide an answer to that question.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Well hello there. I missed more than I thought I would last week, but not so much that we can't dig ourselves out. Let's see. The Chicago Bears placed the franchise tag on tailback Matt Forte, the Minnesota Vikings took an important step toward a new stadium and, oh yeah, the NFL announced that the New Orleans Saints ran an organized bounty system during the time they put a royal beating on then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

That should catch us up.

Ha. I'll hit those issues and more in greater detail Monday, but let's also remember that we've reached the deadline for the Detroit Lions to place the franchise tag on defensive end Cliff Avril if they choose. The sides have been working on a long-term contract but haven't reached an agreement. The deadline for using the tag is 4 p.m. ET, and (UPDATE) the Lions would eventually have to have enough salary-cap space -- about $11 million -- to fit in Avril's franchise number.

I don't think any other franchise news will come from the NFC North; we've already downplayed the possibility of the Green Bay Packers using theirs on quarterback Matt Flynn. But hang on. Today should be an interesting ride.

For now, let's take our morning stroll around the division:

• Several Bears players wonder if injuries that occurred during their 2011 game against the Saints came as a result of the bounty. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has more.
• New Bears general manager Phil Emery plans to spend a good portion of his week on the road scouting during the NFL season, according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders if the Bears should consider signing Saints guard Carl Nicks.
• The Lions last used the franchise tag in 2007, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Here's what Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh had to say about the bounty story, via the Charlotte Observer: "It's unfortunate to hear these things come out. Me personally, I don't take part in those things and knowing my teammates and knowing my coaches, we wouldn't allow that. I understand it's a tough situation the commissioner has to deal with. As he has in the past, he's going to deal with it with a stiff hand. Hopefully, people can learn from the mistakes and make an example out of it."
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "If I'm Ndamukong Suh or James Harrison or any other player recently suspended by the league in his push to promote player safety, I'm watching this case intently, waiting to see if justice really is blind in the NFL. If you get a game for being a repeat offender delivering illegal hits, what do you get for repeatedly soliciting illegal hits as a coach?"
• It seems unlikely that the Packers will use their franchise tag on Flynn, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Sentiment should not play a part in the Packers' decision on whether to bring back receiver Donald Driver, writes Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.
• The Packers raised $67 million in their latest stock sale, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk posted this photograph on his Twitter account after cutting his famously long hair to benefit children with cancer.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com: "In retrospect, it's now clear that at least some of the key participants on the Vikings sideline, including coach Brad Childress, knew something wasn't right with how aggressive coordinator Gregg Williams' defense was being against Favre. Childress would say as much several months later."
• Some serious political pressure, on both sides of the issue, is about to be applied on the Vikings' stadium front, according to Rachel E. Stassen-Berger of the Star Tribune.
• The actual stadium bill is not expected to be ready Monday, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

We've had two front office moves in the NFC North literally in a matter of minutes Tuesday. The Chicago Bears relieved general manager Jerry Angelo of his duties, throwing the entire franchise into uncertainty, and then the Minnesota Vikings named Rick Spielman their general manager.

I've already offered my first-blush thoughts on the Angelo move. The significance of the Vikings' announcement on Spielman rests in the details. Namely: Does Spielman truly have ultimate authority over all football-related aspects in the organization? Or is this just bureaucratic window dressing?

Spielman has spent nearly five years as the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, part of a three-man leadership committee we've sometimes referred to as the "Triangle of Authority." Spielman ran the personnel department and had final say over the draft. The coach -- Brad Childress and later Leslie Frazier -- presided over on-field operations. Rob Brzezinski, the longtime vice president of football operations, negotiated contracts and managed the salary cap.

All three corners of the Triangle reported directly to owner Zygi Wilf, meaning big-picture and long-term decisions were required to be made as a group. The checks-and-balance theory sounds good in principle but doesn't always work in practice. In football franchises stocked with Type A personalities, it helps to know who is in charge. During Wilf's ownership tenure, that basic question has always been unanswerable.

The title change implies that Spielman is now in charge, and the Vikings issued a press release that seems to confirm it. Wilf is quoted as saying the move "establishes the leadership structure that will lead to the long term success of the Vikings." If so, that means Frazier now works for Spielman. You can call an executive a general manager if you want, but if he doesn't have the power to hire and fire the coach, then it's window dressing. So if Spielman has that power, the Vikings would operate under a single voice and navigate a streamlined vision for the first time since Jim Finks left his job as general manager in 1974.

Reasonable people can debate whether or not the committee leadership style is truly at fault for two consecutive losing seasons in Minnesota. A traditional general manager is not an upgrade unless he is a good general manager, as the Detroit Lions found out after a decade under Matt Millen. Reasonable people can also debate whether Spielman's performance merits a promotion, given the obvious roster holes that exist on this team.

We'll address those issues in the coming days and months. But at the very least, a traditional power structure would give the Vikings a clearer sense of public accountability for wins and losses. It would eliminate the need to massage internal debate to accommodate personal viewpoints and presumably allow the franchise to move more decisively to address its shortcomings. It will also put Spielman in the potentially awkward position of employing a coach he didn't hire. Stay tuned on that one.

Friday's waiver wire brought some interesting news to the NFC North. Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb went unclaimed amid reports that the Chicago Bears have no interest in him at this point. But veteran Sage Rosenfels will be returning to Minnesota after the Vikings claimed him off waivers from the Dolphins.

First, on McNabb and the Bears: We noted Thursday that McNabb grew up in Chicago and might be a better option in an emergency than current third-stringer Josh McCown. But the Bears did not place a claim on him, and ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported they do not plan to pursue him via free agency, either. Regardless, the Vikings are now on the hook for what remains of McNabb's $5.05 million base salary.

The Vikings, however, busily spent Friday attempting to replenish their quarterback depth. They tried to sign second-year player John Parker Wilson off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but Wilson chose the Falcons' offer to join their 53-man roster instead. Then, they claimed Rosenfels to resume a long-running relationship with Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman.

Spielman acquired Rosenfels in 2002 for the Miami Dolphins and again in 2009 for the Vikings. Former Vikings coach Brad Childress never wanted Rosenfels on the roster, however, and won an internal battle in 2010 to make Tarvaris Jackson the backup to Brett Favre.

Rosenfels, 33, has been ill for most of this season because of complications from strep throat, prompting first his release from the New York Giants and later the Dolphins. He presumably is healthy now and will spend the remainder of the season as a backup to rookie Christian Ponder, while also providing roster flexibility if the Vikings want to use second-year quarterback Joe Webb as a receiver.

Rosenfels' contract will expire after the season, but I'm sure he will return as the Vikings' 2012 backup if it's up to Spielman. In truth, they could do a lot worse.

There is a lesson to be learned from the last time the New Orleans Saints played in the NFL's kickoff game, and fortunately it happened right in front of our very own NFC North eyes.

The Saints, as you might recall, entered last season's kickoff game against the Minnesota Vikings with their reputation as blitzing defense intact. They had battered and bruised quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, and there was every reason to believe they would follow a similar path in the teams' September 2010 rematch.

Instead, defensive coordinator Greg Williams opened in a relatively conservative Cover-2 look that took the Vikings by surprise and left them out of sorts for most of the Saints' 14-9 victory. After his team went three-and-out on five of its 10 possessions and managed only 12 first downs, then-coach Brad Childress said: "I have to take my hat off to them. It was set up as a big blitz game. The blitz was very, very infrequent. So they did a nice job with that."

As they prepare for Thursday night's game against the Saints, the Green Bay Packers are no doubt expecting the proverbial unexpected. Coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that his previous Packers teams have seen "between 20 and 30 percent" of so-called unscouted looks in their season openers, making it doubly important to "stay true to your base principles," he said.

The term "unscouted look" usually refers to a scheme, play, coverage or blitz that a team has never before put on film. That isn't exactly what the Saints did to the Vikings last season; they had played Cover-2 before under Williams but rarely for the majority of a game. But there is little doubt that the Saints, and probably the Packers for that matter, will do something new or totally out of character Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

The unscouted look is an especially important weapon for established teams. Both the Packers and Saints are entering their sixth season under the same head coach. Both Williams and Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers are entering their third seasons. There shouldn't be many secrets between these teams.

But that's what makes Week 1 among of the most intriguing points on the NFL calendar. Somebody is going to come up with something new that causes a ripple effect on the way to victory. We'll know in about 60 hours or so what it is. (What? You expected me to tell you what it's going to be?)

Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spent four seasons with the team as a defensive coordinator and has holdover assistants sprinkled throughout his coaching staff. It is now clear, however, that Frazier's promotion in no way ensured continuity within the Vikings roster.

Frazier released left tackle Bryant McKinnie at the start of training camp, and news is beginning to trickle out about the departures of some other stalwarts of the Brad Childress era. Linebacker/special teams ace Heath Farwell confirmed to multiple media outlets, including 1500ESPN.com, that he has been released. Meanwhile, agent Ralph Cindrich tweeted that tight end/fullback Jeff Dugan will be a free agent as of this evening, implying he will be released.

Dugan confirmed the move to Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.

Reserves throughout their careers, Dugan and Farwell were nevertheless among the Vikings' most tenured players. Dugan was a 7th-round draft choice in 2004 and Farwell joined the team as an undrafted rookie in 2005. Only two players, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and linebacker E.J. Henderson, have been with the Vikings longer than Dugan, and both he and Farwell were the kind of easy-going glue players that Childress and former coach Mike Tice wanted in the locker room.

That's not a knock on Frazier and his staff for moving on. It's difficult to develop young talent if you keep veterans as backups. Schemes change, players age and circumstances transform. Dugan and Farwell are dependable, of high character and unfortunately for them, they are replaceable.

If there was any question, it's now clear that Frazier will be blazing his own trail despite his relatively deep roots within the organization.

Short echoed the concerns of some other Minnesota Vikings I've heard from during Tuesday's SportsNation chat:

The Vikings' offense looks eerily similar to the one [Brad] Childress ran his first couple of seasons here: run, run, 2-yard slant pass on third down, close your eyes and hopefully fall forward for the first down. How can they expect fans to endure that again? They simply have no one who can stretch the field. Your observations, please.

The question reminded me of the guys who used to sit at the Metrodome, in full Childress costume, carrying a mock playcard that showed two plays: "Chester Taylor right" and "Chester Taylor left." Anyway, while I'll admit the Vikings offense hasn't been too exciting or productive yet this summer, I would caution about drawing too many conclusions about preseason playcalling. And it's also worth noting that two of their most explosive pass-catchers, receiver Percy Harvin and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, have been sidelined by injuries.

Here are the raw numbers, for the record: The Vikings first-team offense unofficially has run 31 plays over four possessions this summer. It has gained 135 yards, including 81 on its final drive last Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, along with eight first downs and three points.

Based on everything we've heard from coach Leslie Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, the Vikings won't attempt to replicate the downfield passing success they achieved in 2009 and tried to carry over to 2010. This offense will revolve around tailback Adrian Peterson. It will look for occasional big plays from Harvin and wisely take advantage of two really skilled pass-catching tight ends in Shiancoe and rookie Kyle Rudolph.

(Worth noting from Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: "No player in camp has looked better" than Rudolph.)

But I would be careful about putting that general philosophy in the same category of what Childress ran in his early years with the Vikings. From a pure football perspective, Musgrave's scheme is inherently different than Childress'.

Musgrave has said often that he'll tailor his playbook to the skills of his players, and we'll delve into that plan soon here on the blog. But for now, it's worth noting that even the basic terminology and concepts have a different origin than Childress' west Coast scheme.

We all like to put titles on offensive and defensive schemes, so here is how Musgrave described his during a summer interview with The Daily Norseman blog:

"Well, our language is based more on the Ron Erhardt system. Of the three different systems that have withstood the test of time in the NFL, you could count Don Coryell's number system, of course Paul Brown and Bill Walsh's West Coast offense system, and Ron Erhardt's system, which has been run for years, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, now with coach [Ken] Whisenhunt in Arizona. Of course it's being run in Atlanta with Mike Mularkey, and portions of it are being implemented in New England, and with the Giants. So our offense will be rooted in that base language."

For perspective, consider that both the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions run a version of Coryell's number system. The Green Bay Packers, of course, use West Coast terminology and concepts. The Vikings, then, will use the same terminology as the Cardinals, Falcons and Steelers, among others.

In the end, I think the 2011 Vikings will feature the run and won't have nearly as many downfield passing plays as they did in 2009 and parts of 2010. But will it be Adrian Peterson left, Adrian Peterson right and a 2-yard pass to a blocking tight end? It's too early to know that.

I realize this topic has nothing to do with the 2011 season, but I think it's still worth noting that former Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress has revealed in a succinct way why he released receiver Randy Moss last year.

Speaking to NFL.com this week, Childress said: "We had good guys, by and large, [but Moss] walked in the locker room and vomited on it."

Childress probably could have used better word choice, and in the video below, ESPN's Skip Bayless suggests that he is merely trying to shift blame for the decision 10 months later. I think Childress is right in a sense; Moss had quickly become an untenable locker room presence. But did he turn the rest of the team on Childress? I don't think so. That happened independently.

In the end, the mistake the Vikings made was believing Moss would be on his so-called "best behavior" after they acquired him from the New England Patriots. Moss pretty much behaved as he always had, something Childress was not prepared to tolerate.

MANKATO, Minn. -- The summer of 2011 is not the time for Nervous Nellies. After the NFL lockout wiped out five months of offseason work, there is a lot to do and (almost) no time to do it. If you freak out under stress, you aren't going to be much good to anyone this August.

Fortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, their new coach is probably the most serene leader in the NFL. Leslie Frazier makes Tony Dungy look like a spaz. No matter what curveball he has been dealt since accepting the Vikings' interim job last November, Frazier has projected a tranquility that should serve the team well during the hectic run-up to the 2011 season.

In the span of about six weeks, Frazier will oversee the installation of a new offense. He'll preside over the transition to quarterback Donovan McNabb, develop a new left tackle and do his best to instill a tone of professional confidence that reflects his own personality.

Three days at Minnesota State University, Mankato, revealed the Vikings are well on their way to adopting Frazier's style. Players and staff worked hard but with an emotional ease that belied the tense tenure of former coach Brad Childress. It's been a while since I've seen smiles during a full-contact Vikings practice, and I was amazed at how downright happy people were -- from the elite players on the roster to the lowest-level staffers. Even left guard Steve Hutchinson, whose next career is certain to include a role as Oscar the Grouch, chatted gregariously with reporters after last Wednesday's practice.

As a football team, the Vikings have a long way to go in terms of chemistry and scheme. But I can tell you this: No one seemed worried.

"I've been around enough successful teams," said Frazier, who won a Super Bowl as a player [the 1985 Chicago Bears] and assistant coach [the 2006 Indianapolis Colts]. "I think I have an idea of what it takes to win in this league. That's what I've tried to get across to the players over and over, and will continue to do that."

THREE BIG ISSUES

1. How quickly can the Vikings install Bill Musgrave's new offense? Players are learning different terminology and an entirely new scheme, one that will roughly resemble what the Atlanta Falcons run under coordinator Mike Mularkey. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder received a partial playbook during the one-day lockout respite in April, and he helped distribute it to teammates by making copies himself.

Still, Musgrave freely admits there isn't enough time to install everything. He has cut back the volume of the playbook and won't have his full arsenal installed for some time, if at all, in 2011.

"We're in uncharted territory," he said. "We've never been through anything like this, whether as a coach or a player. We're trying to be smart in whittling down the volume that we present to the players. We want to be diverse and difficult to defend on offense, but at the same time, we want to know what the hell we're doing. We also want to get these guys back in football shape, so we don't want to work hard mindlessly. We want to work smart. We're balancing all those factors."

For now, at least, less will have to be more.

2. Cedric Griffin's quick recovery: I'm not sure if Griffin's story has gotten enough national attention, but it will be remarkable if it holds up. Griffin tore both anterior cruciate ligaments in a span of 10 months, starting with the right knee in January 2010 and then the left knee last October. But doctors cleared him for full participation when training camp began and he was working with the first team throughout my three days in Mankato.

Griffin was never the fastest cornerback in the NFL, and it's fair to wonder how two major knee surgeries will impact his ability to run downfield with receivers. But the Vikings appear to be counting on Griffin, who is backed up by a pair of young cornerbacks -- Chris Cook and Asher Allen -- who each struggled last season.

Griffin probably won't play in the preseason opener, but Frazier said he has every intent of starting him in the Sept. 11 season opener against the San Diego Chargers. Said Griffin: "Injuries are a part of this game. If you get hurt, you get back up and continue to work hard. That's what I do."

3. Replacing Sidney Rice: The reality is the Vikings weren't going to find a receiver who could duplicate Rice's ball skills and leaping ability. Instead, they signed Michael Jenkins to offer reliable hands and precise routes. They renegotiated the contract of receiver Bernard Berrian, who should be motivated to put aside two lost years caused by a poor connection with former quarterback Brett Favre.

Most of all, however, the Vikings have thrust their faith behind third-year pro Percy Harvin, whom they hope will be their pseduo-No. 1 receiver and the top playmaker in their passing game. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Harvin doesn't have the prototypical size for that role. But he has already earned the respect of McNabb, for one.

"I have played with guys that play big, but are short in stature and have been so successful," McNabb said. "You talk about guys like DeSean Jackson and Santana Moss. There is no reason why Percy can't be a perennial Pro Bowler, as a starter at the receiver position with over 1,000 yards receiving, 90-100 catches."

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The release of left tackle Bryant McKinnie could qualify as both the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment of the Vikings' summer. We'll classify it as the former because no one, not even Frazier, saw these circumstances coming. Specimens like McKinnie, who is 6-foot-8 with a 94-inch wingspan, are rare and can take years to suitably replace.

Last week, I suggested McKinnie's departure was a warning shot to a roster that might have underestimated Frazier's demeanor. But I really don't think Frazier arrived at training camp intending to make that kind of splash, a belief Frazier reinforced during an interview.

"It really wasn't intended to send a message to our team," he said. "I had not planned in this offseason to have a new left tackle. That was not the plan. It was just a matter to do what's best for our team and our organization. If there is anything from them to get from this, it's that. That's why I did what I did it. Every decision I make is going to be what's best to bring a championship to Minnesota. No hidden agenda. No personal agenda, that was it."

Indeed, Frazier could have chosen a less crucial position if he was just looking to make a point. No, Frazier arrived in Mankato to find he had an unexpected crisis on his hands: a key player who was in no condition to play anytime soon. The Vikings planned for uncertainty at quarterback. They orchestrated intentional changes at receiver and defensive line. All the while, they were counting on McKinnie as their left tackle. His condition stunned and angered them and will leave them weakened for some time.

MOST DELICATE JOB

The Vikings acquired McNabb for the shortest of short-term jobs: To help them win until Ponder is ready to start. In order to give McNabb a fair chance to do that, Frazier and Musgrave must give him unconditional support. But they'll have to do it while keeping one eye on Ponder's development as well.

The first week of training camp suggested the Vikings aren't close to having a quarterback controversy on their hands. McNabb authoritatively took control of the offense, working with several veterans at a local high school until he was eligible to practice, and then learning enough of the playbook to effect a smooth transition on his first day as the starter.

Ponder, on the other hand, looked like a rookie in his first week of professional practices. He displayed a quick release and an obvious ability to throw on the run, but his inexperience manifested itself in poor downfield accuracy and some bad interceptions.

McNabb's one-year, $5.05 million contract doesn't suggest he is in the team's long-term plans. But Frazier said he hasn't given much thought to the eventual quarterback succession, and I for one believe him.

"I really haven't thought that far ahead," Frazier said. "From time to time I'll look a little bit ahead, but there is so much to get done right now. It's all-encompassing. So to start saying right now what we're going to do a year from now or two years from now, that we're going to do this or that in certain positions. ... With all the changes we're having in 2011, you better get your focus on right now or you'll look back and regret certain things."

OBSERVATION DECK

• After spending four seasons in a West Coast, zone-blocking scheme, tailback Adrian Peterson appears invigorated by the potential of Musgrave's offense. "The running back is definitely asked to do a lot more," Peterson said. "I'm excited about it. [There are] different formations, different looks that a running back has outside of the box. I'm excited to get this installed in my mind, this playbook, and get out there on Sunday to showcase the new Vikings offense." If all goes as planned, Peterson will play a much bigger role in the Vikings' downfield passing game than in previous years.
• Peterson wants to be on the field for every play, but obviously the Vikings will need to establish both a backup and some potential relief on third down as well. Conventional wisdom suggests it will be Toby Gerhart, a second-round pick in 2010 who ran for 322 yards in limited service as last season. But I wouldn't rule out fourth-year pro Lorenzo Booker, a late addition last season who could also return kickoffs. During full-padded goal-line drills, Booker hit the holes quicker and more decisively than Gerhart, who seems to need time to gather a head of steam.
• The Vikings' left tackle transition has attracted national attention, but it's not the only offensive line position in flux. Right guard Anthony Herrera is still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last November and has not yet returned to practice. His status for the start of the regular season is uncertain at best. The Vikings are using second-year player Chris DeGeare in his spot, but they also re-signed veteran Ryan Cook as a possible alternative. From what I saw, neither player can match Herrera's aggressive play. On the plus side, Hutchinson and right tackle Phil Loadholt both reported to camp in the best shape of their Vikings careers.
• While the offense is under significant schematic renovation, the defense doesn't appear much different under new coordinator Fred Pagac. That's no surprise. Pagac was the Vikings' linebackers coach for five years, including four under Frazier, and will run a similar hybrid form of the so-called "Tampa-2" scheme. Pagac implied that his game-day calls might be more aggressive than Frazier's, and there was plenty of blitzing during the team drills I saw. "The calls might be a little different according to the different situations but that's just a difference in philosophy," Pagac said. "Our defense is going to be the Viking defense that you've seen here for the last five years except again, we're going to push running to the football, playing with our hair on fire and having fun. We're going to get after it."
• Fourth-year pro Erin Henderson is working with the first team at outside linebacker, the position vacated by the unsigned Ben Leber. It's not clear if Henderson is merely the first of a rotation of players who will get an opportunity or if the Vikings intend for him to be their starter. Henderson has been a good special-teams player but hasn't previously done much to distinguish himself on defense. Another candidate, Kenny Onatolu, is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.

MANKATO, Minn. -- I walked onto the field bright and early Wednesday morning at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback of the present was standing off to the side, biding his time until he's eligible to practice. Their quarterback of the future was throwing with a bunch of rookies and backups who might or might not make the 2011 team.

So who is running the Vikings’ first-team offense while Donovan McNabb waits and Christian Ponder learns? Why, of course, it is Joe Webb -- the quarterback who is neither the present nor future of the position.

McNabb is expected to jump in with the first team as soon as NFL rules allow on Thursday morning. So I think it’s fair to ask why Webb, and not Ponder, has received the valuable first-team reps during the first three days of training camp. After all, the expectation is that Webb will serve as a backup quarterback and multipositional weapon during the season. Why not begin experimenting and training him on those skills right away?

The answer, I think, is two-fold. First, coach Leslie Frazier has already demonstrated an old-school approach to making personnel decisions. Webb finished last season as the Vikings’ starter, so therefore, he should get the first snaps of training camp when the other options are Ponder, a rookie, and Rhett Bomar, a late-season addition in 2010.

Second, the Vikings wanted to give Webb a solid footing at the quarterback position before spinning him off elsewhere. If McNabb is injured early this season, it’s possible Webb would get the call to replace him ahead of Ponder. And as a quarterback, Webb is implicitly learning the roles of each receiver and running back as well.

"These last three days have been very important for me," Webb said. "It's so different from the classroom or when you’re studying the plays. There is nothing like having real reps for the plays. This has been a great opportunity for me to get better. I've been preparing to be a quarterback, but I’ve had in the back of my mind that they might do something else with me. Right now, I'm just focused at quarterback. If during the season we have something else in the game plan for me, I’m all for it."

I get a steady stream of questions about what the Vikings might have planned for Webb, and from what I heard Wednesday, it would be surprising to see him simply buried on the depth chart behind McNabb and Ponder. The NFL now allows No. 3 quarterbacks to be active and enter a game without penalty, a rule change that offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave noted when discussing potential plans for Webb this season.

"I’ve heard a lot about Joe and I’m looking forward to seeing what all he’s got under the hood," Musgrave said. "He’s doing a nice job at quarterback now. We want him to focus on quarterback and not dilute his pot too much. We know he can run, we know he can throw it 80 yards, we know he can make people miss.

"The new rules will enable us to kind of have a Joe Webb package I can see in the future, too. ... We're looking forward to finding out what Joe’s all about and if he proves to be one of our 11 best players at times then we’ll get his [expletive] on the field."

I’ll be interested to see what goes into the "Joe Webb package," but it will have to be highly specialized given his lack of experience beyond the quarterback position. No matter how athletic a player is, he can’t simply trot out to wide receiver and know how to play the position. Perhaps we'll see him as a Wildcat quarterback. Maybe you'll see him in the backfield with McNabb. Perhaps he'll stretch a few defenses with outside go routes.

Regardless, time is a wasting. For Webb, that work will begin Thursday. Stay tuned.

In 2002, Bryant McKinnie was the No. 7 overall pick of the NFL draft. In 2006, he signed a seven-year contract extension as the Minnesota Vikings sought stability in the first year of coach Brad Childress' tenure.

Those two events gave McKinnie what appeared to be lifetime tenure as the Vikings' left tackle, a position that teams can struggle for years to fill. The Vikings soon forgot the pain of his near-100 day rookie holdout. They never seemed overly concerned about a number of off-field issues. They turned the other way when the NFL kicked him off the 2009 Pro Bowl team and, most important, seemed willing to tolerate some underwhelming seasons -- most recently in 2010.

Finding a true long-term answer at left tackle is arguably as difficult as finding a franchise quarterback. There aren't many of them out there, and in truth McKinnie is better than many of them -- regardless of how short he might have fallen from reaching his potential.

For that reason, if nothing else, I was surprised to hear the Vikings terminated McKinnie's contract Tuesday. He had been placed on the non-football injury list the day before, reportedly overweight and, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, fighting off the Vikings' efforts to cut his $4.9 million base salary.

No matter McKinnie's blemishes, real and imagined, you can understand why the Vikings stood by him for so long. Although they have a few options for replacement, none of them will play at the level McKinnie could have been counted on this season. Namely:

1. Charlie Johnson: The Vikings signed him Monday as a free agent who has played multiple positions along the line. Johnson has played left tackle, most recently for the Indianapolis Colts, but at 6-foot-4, he doesn't have the typical frame of a 16-game left tackle.
2. Phil Loadholt: The Vikings' 6-foot-8 right tackle played on the left side at Oklahoma and reported to training camp in good shape. Loadholt, however, has yet to establish himself as an above-average right tackle. Could he make the switch to left tackle at this point in his career?

Obviously, no team wants to part ways with its left tackle two days into training camp. So why did this happen? Why did the Vikings choose now to battle McKinnie on issues that have been present at various times throughout his career?

Perhaps we'll find out more when coach Leslie Frazier addresses reporters Wednesday morning. But until then, I'll consider it a warning shot from a new coach who wanted to shake up a culture of continuity.

Frazier was the Vikings' defensive coordinator for four years before the Vikings promoted him to the full-time head coaching position. So it would be reasonable for players to expect a comfortable transition, robbing Frazier of the unease that many new coaches project on an underachieving roster. In that regard, who better to chase off than McKinnie, who might be the most stark symbol of the Vikings' problems over the past decade?

Latest evidence: McKinnie's three-word summation of his career via Twitter: "Its been fun."

Without question, this move will cause some short-term pain. It's rare to have a seamless transition at left tackle. You could argue that Frazier might have found a less critical position to sacrifice to make his point. But if McKinnie has lost his tenure, no one on the Vikings roster should feel comfortable. Welcome to Camp Frazier.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

I turned away from the computer for a few hours, coinciding with the night time ritual known as catching a few winks, and it looks like I've missed some important NFC North news. Here's the biggest:

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Justin Durant, once thought to be a target of the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Durant has also posted some Lions-centric tweets overnight, including: "So the DLine is called the Silver Crush huh? Ok I can get with that"

Yes, any linebacker signing with the Lions will have the benefit of a strong defensive line to keep blockers away from him. Durant had a tough time staying on the field with the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed six games last season, but he is a strong player who will fill an obvious need on the outside if he can stay healthy.

The Lions have also pursued free-agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch. No word yet on Tulloch's decision. But for now, at least, Durant's arrival will keep DeAndre Levy in the middle of the Lions' 4-3 scheme.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Lions: "Oh, there will be ample time for skepticism. For now, go ahead and buy in with the Lions. You certainly wouldn't be the only one."
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press: "People are actually excited about the Lions this year, and not just in the usual, delusional, 'Hey, maybe if those 17 guys who have always stunk suddenly get good, we can go .500!' sort of way. The Lions have a plan. They have talent. They have ... hope."
• Are the Chicago Bears trying to trade tight end Greg Olsen? Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that agent Drew Rosenhaus sent a mass email to NFL executives indicating just that but later asked the email to be ignored.
• A market is developing for Bears receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Green Bay Packers have told guard Daryn Colledge "they have no interest in my services at a high price," Colledge told Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. This is no surprise. For whatever reason, the Packers have never appeared interested in locking up Colledge for the long term.
• Packers receiver Donald Driver is going to have to prove himself all over again this summer, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette examines the Packers' looming competition at outside linebacker.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com digs into the hip surgery that seemed to end receiver Sidney Rice's career with the Minnesota Vikings.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Donovan McNabb is washed up, and it's a waste of money and a roster spot to trade for him. That is one way to look at the acquisition of the 34-year-old quarterback the Washington Redskins no longer wanted. Apparently, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier sees it differently."
• Former Vikings coach Brad Childress, who coached McNabb in Philadelphia, believes McNabb will give teams "hell to pay" because he will have a chip on his shoulder with the Vikings. Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune has more.

I wish I could put my finger on it. For more than a year, something has been off between the Minnesota Vikings and Sidney Rice.

A frost began developing after the 2009 NFC Championship Game, during which Rice suffered a hip injury that eventually required major surgery. It never thawed, and for that reason it came as no surprise Wednesday night when Rice agreed to terms on a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal includes $18.5 million in guarantees.

Like all other contracts, the agreement is pending a physical. Rice's will be a little more important than most; microfracture surgery on a hip is no small procedure. I know for a fact the Vikings were concerned about the long-term implications, and I can make an educated guess that Rice resented that concern, even after the injury caused him to miss more than half of the 2010 season. That injury played a big role in the Vikings deciding against a contract before the 2010 season. No player likes to hear such news.

At some point, I also think Rice also grew weary of thinly veiled implications last season from former coach Brad Childress, who questioned the timing of Rice's decision to have surgery and later suggested Rice wasn't as eager to return from rehabilitation as he should have. Rice eventually wrote a blog post for his personal website with this headline: "A Bunch of Bull."

Anytime a player feels compelled to respond to "A Bunch of Bull," it's fair to question whether he will look for a fresh start as soon as the opportunity arose.

The new collective bargaining agreement gave Rice a chance this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Despite the hip issue, he is only one year removed from an 83-catch Pro Bowl season and was sure to generate interest. The Vikings have a new offensive staff and a new head coach in Leslie Frazier who wanted him back, but it appears the damage was done.

I don't know what other team, if any, was in pursuit. But it only takes one to make a deal, and Rice eagerly jumped into an offense that is unsettled at best. Former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will install a version of the West Coast scheme possibly with former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson behind center. Former Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable, meanwhile, has been hired to reshape the offensive line.

Free agent receivers usually take into account a suitor's stability at quarterback, and the Seahawks appear to be in transition. That should tell you how hot Rice was for a change of scenery. Not even the Vikings' pursuit of quarterback Donovan McNabb was enough to change Rice's mind.

NFC North defensive coordinators no doubt are breathing a sigh of relief. When healthy, Rice is nearly impossible to defend when the ball is in the air. He is 6-foot-4, has long arms and excellent ball skills. In 2009, quarterback Brett Favre quickly learned to trust that Rice could consistently outfight smaller defenders for the ball, no matter how closely he was covered.

As we discussed Tuesday, the Vikings will now rely on Percy Harvin as a quasi-No. 1 receiver. Veteran Bernard Berrian, whose future has been in doubt, said via Twitter that he has been given a playbook. For now, it appears he will remain with the Vikings.

Still, I think the Vikings are going to have to make a deal, via trade or free agency, for a veteran receiver at some point. I've heard some names, but nothing is confirmed. Stay tuned on that one.

» Best of NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

As part of Best of the NFL Week on ESPN.com, here are six bests for the NFC North:

Best mascot, Ragnar: Every now and then, a kid feels compelled to tug the beard of the "Santa Claus" sitting atop his chair at the local mall. I imagine the same urge strikes some football fans when they encounter Ragnar, the real-life Viking who serves as the Minnesota Vikings' game-day mascot. Joseph Juranitch has a real beard and has his own Viking-style life history to share. You might be surprised that he was born in the middle of Packers territory (Milwaukee), but you probably wouldn't be shocked to know he claims to hold the world record for shaving a beard with an axe (8 minutes, 43 seconds).

Best team facility, Allen Park: It might be cool to show up for work every week at Lambeau Field, but the Detroit Lions' Allen Park facility is a sparkling and first-class building with most every amenity imaginable. (And I'm not just saying that because the press room includes a stocked kitchenette.) Opened in 2002 at the price of $36 million, it is smartly organized and features a cool two-story hallway that separates the locker room from the weight room. For those interested, it was also ahead of its time in terms of renewable resources, including bamboo floors in the lobby and rubber floors elsewhere.

Best throwback uniforms to hate, Packers: Throwback jerseys generally get the benefit of the doubt, but I don't think I'm alone in hoping that the Packers never, ever, never, ever, never wear the 1929 uniforms they threw on for last season's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Brown pants, a different shade of brown helmets, along with blue jerseys and numbers centered in a circle on the front aren't my idea of a good time. Occasionally, progress is a good thing.

Best non-meddling owner: I've been critical of Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's communication skills, but I would have to imagine he's among the top five owners in the NFL to work for. Since buying the team in 2005, Wilf has given his football people almost everything they've asked him for. He has busted his player payroll budget on a number of occasions, going back to his minority investors to ask for cash infusions, and to my knowledge has never imposed his personal views on a football decision. Wilf is involved but doesn't meddle, the best combination imaginable.

Best training camp site, Green Bay Packers: Most people imagine ideal NFL training camps in a small college town away from the hustle and bustle of the team's big-city roots. The Packers have all that and more at their year-round facility surrounding Lambeau Field. (Players live in dormitories at nearby St. Norbert College.) Players face a long walk from the locker room to their practice field, so the tradition of kids lending out their bicycles and carrying helmets lives on. The ensuing scramble is one of the NFL's most endearing training camp scenes. The Packers have upgraded their facility to include bleachers and concessions, eliminating the need for fans to stand on a sidewalk outside a chain-link fence, but the Packers' training camp remains the most unique of experiences.

Best rivalry, Packers-Bears: A few years ago, I got in trouble for suggesting that the Packers-Vikings rivalry had surpassed Packers-Bears in intensity in recent years. I still think there was more animosity between the actual teams during the Mike Tice/Brad Childress and Mike Sherman/Mike McCarthy eras. But from a fan standpoint, which is really all that matters, there is no substituting Packers-Bears. We found that out last January in the weeks leading up to the Epicenter of Humanity, aka the NFC Championship Game.