ESPN NFL

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."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Sorry for the late start. Technical issues.

It was a nice run for our 2010 training camp tour, which ended Wednesday in Mankato, Minn. It was great to embed with each NFC North team for three days, and hopefully we all have a much better feel for the division than we did two weeks ago.

I've got plenty of information left in my notebook, and the plan is to sprinkle it into the blog over the next few weeks as we ramp up for -- gasp -- the start of the regular season. Amazing, isn't it?

While we all re-claim our bearings, mostly me I guess, let's take a jaunt around the division:

• Don't forget that Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz once coached the offensive line in San Diego. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Safeties Danieal Manning and Major Wright are in a first-team rotation, according to ESPNChicago.com.
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times: "The consensus around town for some time now is that the giant doomsday clock is running out on Bears coach Lovie Smith and his staff. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lovie. Even if you believe that, here's an indisputable fact: the Bears aren't coaching like it."
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com: "The Detroit Lions' scouting department believes [cornerback Amari Spievey] has a lot of ability and can be a productive player. The coaching staff thinks otherwise."
• Frustration is mounting for Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy, who has missed 11 consecutive days of practice because of a back injury. Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has more.
• Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham on the status of linebacker Caleb Campbell when he worked out for the team this spring after two years away from the game: "It was beyond rust. It was like dust." Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Breno Giacomini has finally started putting things together, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Packers figure to favor tight ends over fullbacks when it comes down to their final roster decisions, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examines the Packers' financial decisions in recent years and moving forward.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com doesn't consider the Minnesota Vikings to be in a placekicking competition.
• Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley, the understudy for returning starter E.J. Henderson, has been having a good camp, according to Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Aside from the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Brett Favre, the battle for right cornerback is the most intriguing story line at Vikings training camp."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've discussed the impending return of Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who missed most of last season because of a fractured wrist. This week, however, Urlacher discussed the hoped-for return of the Bears' Cover 2 defensive scheme.

Speaking to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, Urlacher said the addition of defensive end Julius Peppers should elevate the defensive line's pass rush, reduce the frequency of blitz calls and allow the Bears to play the scheme they employed with great success in the middle of the decade.

Urlacher: "I mean the year before the Super Bowl and the year of the Super Bowl, we were good. We ran so much Cover 2, and it worked, man. We had pressure on the quarterback. We had a lot of picks. Yes, we have the talent and the ability to play more man coverage. But here's the thing: Cover 2 works. When we do it right and when we have pressure with our front four and we're breaking on the ball like we've been doing all this spring, it works. There is no doubt in my mind that we will have pressure on the quarterback this season. ... I would hope we blitz less. Hopefully we won't need to. Pressure on the quarterback from the front is huge. You're dropping seven and that's more eyes on the quarterback, more people breaking on the football. It's just better for everyone.''

Pressure from the front four is a goal of every defense, but over the past three seasons, we've seen what happens when the Bears don't get it. Can Peppers alone reverse that trend? Urlacher believes he will.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com isn't sure why the Bears have placed so much trust in defensive end Mark Anderson, who will start opposite Peppers: "What has Anderson done to restore the Bears' faith in him? Why was [Alex] Brown deemed expendable? These are questions only Anderson can answer by his performance on the field."
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times traces the journey of Bears guard Johan Asiata.
• The Minnesota Vikings have expressed interest in free-agent receiver Kelley Washington, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• The father of Vikings center John Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack last month, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com takes a look at the Vikings' quarterback depth.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers this doomsday scenario for the Green Bay Packers' offensive line: "[Chad] Clifton and [Mark] Tauscher get old in a hurry, and when they are able to line up their level of play dips dramatically. [Bryan] Bulaga struggles at left tackle. T.J. Lang's post-surgical wrist takes a long, long time to heal. Breno Giacomini isn't the answer. No one emerges at left guard. Daryn Colledge proves that he shouldn't even have been brought back. Jason Spitz really is a center. Allen Barbre fails again. Marshall Newhouse can't anchor inside. Lang isn't able to punch and grab. Bulaga finally is moved inside in October, but by then it's too late."
• Defensive lineman Justin Harrell's career is on the brink, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Detroit Lions would be better off having running back Jahvid Best hold out than defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson thinks Corey Graham is the team's best nickelback.

After posing three questions about the offense Monday, the Tribune's Brad Biggs turned to the defense today with three more questions: 1) Is Julius Peppers worth $20 million this season? 2) Will there be an issue at cornerback? and 3) Who's going to step up at safety?

Detroit Lions

The Lions gave backup quarterback Shaun Hill a one-year extension.

With just eighteen days left until training camp starts, the Detroit News' Tim Twentyman looks at 10 questions facing the Lions.

Team president Tom Lewand should be suspended for a game following his guilty plea to operating a vehicle while visibly impaired last week.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers signed the first of their two fifth-round picks, tight end Andrew Quarless.

Offensive line coach James Campen believes Breno Giacomini could possibly beat out veteran Mark Tauscher for the starting right tackle job.

Minnesota Vikings

Michael Lombardi writes that Adrian Peterson is the next star who will be unhappy with his current deal.

Brett Favre has tested his surgically repaired ankle and is working out with high school students in Mississippi.

We’ll soon be emerging from what I consider the dog days of the NFL season. The novelty of regular-season games has long worn off, but we seem a little too far from the playoff chase to start making January plans. Thanks for sticking with us during this difficult time.

As always, you can vent, complain, complement and question anything and everything through the mailbag, Facebook or Twitter.

Let’s touch on a few issues in this weekend’s mailbag:

Jon of Thunder Bay, Ontario, writes: Do the Packers get any kind of compensation for having Brian Brohm signed off of their practice squad?

Kevin Seifert: Nope, they sure don’t. That’s the risk of carrying any player on the practice squad, and it should spell out the ambivalent feeling the Packers had about Brohm 18 months after making him the No. 56 overall pick of the 2008 draft.

In fact, Brohm’s departure offers us an avenue to perform an early evaluation of the Packers’ 2008 draft, one in which they traded out of the first round in order to amass three picks in the second round. Suffice it to say, the Packers haven’t gotten much immediate help from this group. Let’s take a look:

Round 2a: Receiver Jordy Nelson
Comment: As a reserve, 44 catches in 22 games

Round 2b: Quarterback Brian Brohm
Comment: Reached bust status in less than two years

Round 2c: Cornerback Pat Lee
Comment: Injuries have limited him to two tackles in five games

Round 3: Tight end Jermichael Finley
Comment: High upside derailed by 2009 knee injury

Round 4a: Linebacker Jeremy Thompson
Comment: Hasn’t found a position and buried on depth chart

Round 4b: Guard Josh Sitton
Comment: Starting at right guard

Round 5: Tackle Breno Giacomini
Comment: Backup has gotten no turn in revolving door

Round 7a: Quarterback Matt Flynn
Comment: No. 2 status by default thanks to Brohm

Round 7b: Receiver Brett Swain
Comment: Strong on special teams but lost for season (knee)

---

Keith of Detroit writes: Around here, Calvin Johnson is starting to come under heavy scrutiny. He is consistently dropping passes during the games and is starting to have the look of someone that has been "Lionized." (To be Lionized means you become a soul-less football zombie, you are strictly in survival mode. This occurs to various players and coaches because of the infectious losing and hopeless atmosphere. Other prime examples include Rod Marinelli, Roy Williams, Bobby Ross, Darryl Rogers, James Hall.)

Kevin Seifert: Interesting way of putting it, Keith. I like it. I know it feels like Johnson is “consistently” dropping passes, but in reality we’ve got him with three drops via ESPN Stats & Information. Sometimes I wonder if some of the superior catches and plays he made last season has raised expectations for what should be his baseline play this season.

Also working against Johnson in this regard is his low-key demeanor. I’ve interviewed him a couple of times and found him to be friendly but pretty quiet. He’s not expressive and doesn’t always have much to say.

Does that mean he’s been “Lionized?” I’m not willing to go there yet. Johnson also has been dealing with a knee injury for much of the season. But as we discussed earlier this season, I think being “Lionized” is a real and dangerous condition, one that poses perhaps the biggest challenge that new coach Jim Schwartz will face.

---

Angry Tom writes: Just so you are aware of it, you can list Jay Cutler is FALLING OFF THE PLANET for all I care. Here is a clue that you are missing. HE IS THE BEARS QB AND WILL BE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. I could care less if he throws FIFTY INT's it is not going to change it. If you want to actually CONTRIBUTE to the discussion why not talk about the lack of help he has from the offensive coaching and the O-line. Here, I think this would be interesting to know. How many times have each of the starting QB's been Hit, Hurried, and Sacked. SHOCKER. I bet that OLD MAN 4 is at the bottom - BY FAR.

Kevin Seifert: Glad to hear from you, AT. It’s been a while. Unfortunately, quarterback hits and hurries aren’t officially tracked and therefore aren’t fair to compare between teams. (Each team’s defensive coaches keep their own statistics in those categories, using their own criteria.) But in terms of sacks, it’s just a fact that Cutler and Favre have taken an equal amount.

Here’s your NFC North starter totals:

Aaron Rodgers: 41
Jay Cutler: 19
Brett Favre: 19
Matthew Stafford: 17 (in seven games)

I don’t doubt that Cutler has faced some jailbreak situations, but I can’t put pass protection high on the list of explanations for his 17 interceptions this season. In fact, I would say the offensive line is more to blame for not giving Cutler a good run-game option than it is for putting him in pressure passing situations.

---

Craig of Oconomowoc, Wis., writes: Do you think it possible that the Packers and Lions could pull an inter-division trade involving Ernie Sims and Aaron Kampman. Sims is getting outplayed by DeAndre Levy in DET and Kampman isn't the right fit for GB's 3-4 scheme. It could fill a need for both teams. Am I crazy thinking this could actually benefit both teams?

Kevin Seifert: First, I think that should be “intra-division,” but I’m not the best grammarian. Anyone?

Secondly, Kampman would probably fit in better in a 4-3 scheme, which Detroit runs. (Although coach Jim Schwartz’s emphasis on heavier players might make his scheme less than ideal for Kampman.) Would Sims excel as a 3-4 linebacker? I’m not sure.

Regardless, it’s highly unlikely this trade would ever happen. Most division teams measure their own status against that of their rivals. If the Packers make a trade that helps the Lions get better, or vice versa, it’s probably going to be a net loss. That’s why you rarely, if ever, see intra-division trades.

---

Jeremy of Grand Forks, North Dakota writes: With this season coming to an end soon and Favre being forty and possible not coming back next year, I'm wondering if having him to learn from has had any effect on Jackson or Rosenfels to make you think that when he leaves the Vikings quarterback situation will not go back to what it was before this season?

Kevin Seifert: I’ll stand by what I’ve said before: The Vikings’ next quarterback is not currently on their roster. I personally believe the Tarvaris Jackson experiment has run its course and that he will have an opportunity to leave via free agency this winter. And nothing that happened during training camp convinced me that coach Brad Childress would feel comfortable naming Sage Rosenfels his starter.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

More than a few of you noted how civil and intelligent the conversation went during this week’s Have at It debate. I’m proud of you. Really, I am. I knew you could do it.

	Jeff Hanisch/US PRESSWIRE
	Chad Clifton's absence has caused the Packers to reshuffle their offensive line.

We asked you to consider three warning signs -- Green Bay’s offensive line play, Minnesota’s run defense and Chicago’s running game -- and tell us which is most likely to continue as a trend and whether any were short-term mirages.

After sifting through your responses, it seems pretty clear that most of you consider the Packers’ front five the greatest concern and the most difficult to fix. Fayld encompassed the majority view well:

When your coach's response is essentially "we need to man up" and "we could have seven guys blocking but if our lineman gets blown up, there is nothing we can do about it schematically," that is a HUGE red flag to me. There is still time for the line to "gel" so to speak, but if individual blockers can't hold their own, no amount of "coming together" is going to help.

GB Arodge12 notes there is “no way they’ll give up 80 sacks this season,” as is their current pace. But left tackle Chad Clifton’s ankle injury has caused a ripple effect that is going to make it hard to maximize continuity. Indeed, left guard Daryn Colledge will have to move to replace Clifton, causing center Jason Spitz to move to left guard and center Scott Wells to reclaim his center spot.

Kacky102 wrote: “Green Bay's o-line woes look like the real thing. To have one injury to the LT affect so many positions is a BAD sign. There is no reason to think that this will not continue to be an issue all season.”

Most of you were hesitant to make dramatic conclusions so quickly about the Vikings’ run defense, which has given up an average of 109 rushing yards in its first two games.

Kjzero9 noted that “a team that knows how to stop the run doesn't forget overnight.” The fact that the Vikings have returned all of their run-stopping personnel, including middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, suggested to many that it’s only a matter of time before things tighten down. “Will they be the #1 run defense in the NFL?” asked jmrushton. “Probably not, but they don't have to be. Anywhere around top five will suffice.”

The Bears’ rushing game, which has led to only 84 yards on 38 carries for tailback Matt Forte, is the least of your concerns.

Biffjacker suggested that the Bears might have wanted to attack Steelers reserve safety Tyrone Carter last Sunday. And many of you agreed with Brees mole, who compared the Bears to a kid with a “shiny new toy” in quarterback Jay Cutler. The Bears are taking Cutler for a spin before settling back into their core philosophies.

My take? I can’t argue with what any of you have said. I’m most alarmed about the Packers’ offensive line situation, mostly because they really don’t have many options at this point if they truly believe their personnel is underperforming. Their depth is entirely untested and inexperienced.

Do you want a rookie (T.J. Lang) or near-rookie (Breno Giacomini) protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Is there any reason to believe that unsigned veteran Mark Tauscher can suddenly ride in on a horse and save the day? Otherwise, how much can you improve an offensive lineman’s individual technique and performance during the course of a season? I’m not sure about that.

I touched on the Vikings’ run defense Thursday, and it’s important to have some perspective. While they’re giving up 35 percent more yardage than their three-year average, the total numbers are still solidly in the middle of the NFL rankings. And from a statistical standpoint, it would only take a couple of strong games to bring those averages back down.

The only concern I would have is if nose tackle Pat Williams, who turns 37 next month, has suddenly hit a wall. I have no reason to believe that, but the numbers suggest it will happen some day.

Finally, I’m not ready to draw any conclusions about the Bears’ running game. To me, you have to emphasize a running game for it to work over time. At Green Bay, the Bears had passing plays called on 23 of their first 33 plays. That’s not how you get your running game going. As for last week’s game against Pittsburgh, check the stats. Not many teams run well against the Steelers. At this point, I consider it a bad sample set and nothing more.

This was a fun exercise, but I thought waynewf put it in good perspective:

“Each team has shown some weaknesses so far ... now is when we really see what our coaches are worth and what sort of adjustments and game plans we all use going forward to make up for our deficiencies and play to our strength. Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, it's just a matter of taking advantage of what you do well and covering up what you do not.”

Good stuff.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Thanks to everyone who participated in Tuesday’s chat over at SportsNation. (Full transcript available here.) The most frequent question I got was on the state of Green Bay’s offensive line -- and whether there is anything the Packers can do about it in the very short term.

I like the idea so much I plan to incorporate it into this week's "Have at It" debate. Details, as always, to come Wednesday morning.

But here’s one option the Packers won’t have: Buffalo has signed rookie offensive tackle Jamon Meredith off the Packers’ practice squad. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the news. Meredith was a fifth-round pick in April but fell behind current backups T.J. Lang and Breno Giacomini during training camp.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

DETROIT -- Here are some early-game highlights of NFC North inactive lists:

• Green Bay rookie defensive lineman B.J. Raji (ankle) will miss his second consecutive game.
• Packers offensive line Breno Giacomini is inactive, just in case you thought the Packers might pull a fast one and replace right tackle Allen Barbre.
• Detroit defensive end Cliff Avril (hamstring) won’t play against Minnesota. Neither will guard Daniel Loper (knee), who had been listed as probable on the injury report. Manny Ramirez will start for Loper.
• Detroit cornerback Phillip Buchanon (neck) will make his regular season debut, but Lions receiver Dennis Northcutt will return punts for him.
• Minnesota linebacker Heath Farwell (hamstring) will play against the Lions.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

I wasn’t planning to post anything at halftime of this Chicago-Green Bay game. I’m not there and won’t pretend to bring you the kind of insight we expect to get on site.

But I’ll just throw this one out: Green Bay is going to have to find something better than Allen Barbre at right tackle. Like, now. Otherwise, quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t going to make it through this game.

I know. There are so many angles to a game Green Bay leads 10-2 at halftime. (That’s not a typo.) Jay Cutler has three interceptions amid a surprising ratio of 22 passes to 11 runs. The Packers defense is swarming, and Cutler seems in total disarray.

But Barbre has been no match for Chicago defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who has tossed him aside for two sacks and at least four other post-throw hits on Rodgers. It’s no coincidence that Rodgers is getting a case of happy feet, and he’s missed on what would have been two long touchdown passes -- one to Donald Driver and one to Greg Jennings.

And we don’t have to remind you about the Packers’ depth behind Rodgers. Second-year player Matt Flynn, who is still recovering from a sprained shoulder, is the long and short of it.

The Packers’ primary option at right tackle Sunday evening is rookie T.J. Lang. Breno Giacomini is inactive. If they’re not keen on putting a rookie into this game, the Packers will have to at least give Barbre tight end help on every pass play.

Talk to you when this one is over. I mean it this time.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Green Bay's evening practice Monday turned out to be a newsy one. When it was over, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the likely arrangement of his opening week offensive line and gave some strong indications about the makeup of his linebacker corps. As for the line, McCarthy said that Jason Spitz will start at center, Josh Sitton at right guard and Allen Barbre at right tackle. (Left tackle Chad Clifton and left guard Daryn Colledge were already locked in.) The toughest decision was replacing four-year starter Scott Wells at center, and McCarthy had a long one-one-one conversation with him earlier in the day. McCarthy: "Very tough decision. Scott Wells has graded out at a very high level. Scott is probably one of our top three or four linemen as far as grading out so far in the preseason, so that was a very difficult situation as far as determining what starter to go with. Scott has been a starting center for us, has played a lot of football here, but this is the group that we feel we are going to start with this week. ..." Barbre had been competing with Breno Giacomini at right tackle, but McCarthy said: "I just think Allen is further ahead than Breno." Meanwhile, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) returned to full practice and immediately took Brandon Chillar's place in the starting lineup. And veteran Brady Poppinga continued working with the first team at right outside
linebacker despite the return of Jeremy Thompson. Rookie Clay Matthews (hamstring) remained sidelined, suggesting that Poppinga has the inside track to remain the starter. Continuing around the NFC North: Chillar and Desmond Bishop could see time in the Packers' nickel package, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Detroit placekicker Jason Hanson, who had surgery on his right knee earlier this month, remains hopeful he'll be ready to kick when the regular season begins. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has details. The Lions' top three receivers -- Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt -- have missed the first two preseason games. But all practiced Monday, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Free Press. Lions coach Jim Schwartz on watching the film of last Saturday's preseason loss at Cleveland: "A lot of times they say, it's not as bad as you think and it's not as good as you think when you watch the film. I think it's one of those cases where it was every bit of bad as I thought." John Niyo of the Detroit News takes a closer look. Chicago is still getting used to what quarterback Jay Cutler can do, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. Safety Danieal Manning and cornerback Zack Bowman, who both have sore hamstrings, participated in part of practice Monday, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago. Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at how the Vikings' offense might expand with quarterback Brett Favre. Vikings backup Sage Rosenfels will return to Houston when the Vikings play their third preseason game there next Monday, notes Chip Scoggins and Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert Green Bay's evening practice Monday turned out to be a newsy one. When it was over, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the likely arrangement of his opening week offensive line and gave some strong indications about the makeup of his linebacker corps. As for the line, McCarthy said that Jason Spitz will start at center, Josh Sitton at right guard and Allen Barbre at right tackle. (Left tackle Chad Clifton and left guard Daryn Colledge were already locked in.) The toughest decision was replacing four-year starter Scott Wells at center, and McCarthy had a long one-one-one conversation with him earlier in the day. McCarthy: "Very tough decision. Scott Wells has graded out at a very high level. Scott is probably one of our top three or four linemen as far as grading out so far in the preseason, so that was a very difficult situation as far as determining what starter to go with. Scott has been a starting center for us, has played a lot of football here, but this is the group that we feel we are going to start with this week. ..." Barbre had been competing with Breno Giacomini at right tackle, but McCarthy said: "I just think Allen is further ahead than Breno." Meanwhile, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) returned to full practice and immediately took Brandon Chillar's place in the starting lineup. And veteran Brady Poppinga continued working with the first team at right outside linebacker despite the return of Jeremy Thompson. Rookie Clay Matthews (hamstring) remained sidelined, suggesting that Poppinga has the inside track to remain the starter. Continuing around the NFC North: Chillar and Desmond Bishop could see time in the Packers' nickel package, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Detroit placekicker Jason Hanson, who had surgery on his right knee earlier this month, remains hopeful he'll be ready to kick when the regular season begins. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has details. The Lions' top three receivers -- Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt -- have missed the first two preseason games. But all practiced Monday, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Free Press. Lions coach Jim Schwartz on watching the film of last Saturday's preseason loss at Cleveland: "A lot of times they say, it's not as bad as you think and it's not as good as you think when you watch the film. I think it's one of those cases where it was every bit of bad as I thought." John Niyo of the Detroit News takes a closer look. Chicago is still getting used to what quarterback Jay Cutler can do, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. Safety Danieal Manning and cornerback Zack Bowman, who both have sore hamstrings, participated in part of practice Monday, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago. Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at how the Vikings' offense might expand with quarterback Brett Favre. Vikings backup Sage Rosenfels will return to Houston when the Vikings play their third preseason game there next Monday, notes Chip Scoggins and Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

	Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
	Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is experiencing the changes on the Packers' defense first hand.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Someone is bearing down every time Aaron Rodgers throws a training camp pass. One play it's cornerback Charles Woodson. Then it's safety Nick Collins. Sometimes outside linebackers Jeremy Thompson and Aaron Kampman crash the pocket together. Then it's Thompson and inside linebacker Brandon Chillar.

Camp Confidential: NFC North • Vikings: Sun., Aug. 2 • Packers: Sun., Aug. 9 • Bears: Thurs., Aug. 13 • Lions: Fri., Aug. 21 • Training camp index

After only a few minutes of watching training camp, the scope of Green Bay's defensive scheme change is plainly obvious. Pressure and unpredictability will be cornerstones of the Packers' new 3-4 approach, and players on both of sides of the ball have instantly recognized the possibilities.

"It's tougher to go against," Rodgers said. "It really is tougher. Going against our old scheme, there was just a lot of man coverage. You kind of knew you were going to get 'one-high' man or 'two-high' man or a very rare Cover 2. But what you saw in practice, they were bringing guys off both edges. Corner blitz. Safety blitz. Then they play Cover 2, Cover 3 or Cover 0. They mix up the coverages and the blitzes so often... It makes it a lot more difficult to try to get a read on it. They force you to make a quick decision."

There is little doubt Green Bay's new defense will be different and take more chances in 2009. But no one believes the scheme alone will turn around a team that finished 6-10 last season. The Packers are still testing their players' aptitude for the 3-4 and adjusting it accordingly. They've also initiated a significant overhaul of their offensive line, are transitioning the tight end position with a greater emphasis on second-year player Jermichael Finley and are holding a wide-open competition for a new punter.

"Certainly the whole idea behind this defensive scheme is to be more unpredictable and to hand more question marks to the offense," general manager Ted Thompson said. "But like everything else, it still gets down to football players making plays and defeating the guy across the line of scrimmage."

Key questions

1. Do the Packers have the right players for a traditional 3-4 defense?

Initially posed in January, that question remains relevant 10 days into camp. I saw Kampman and Jeremy Thompson, both defensive ends last season, valiantly chasing receivers downfield during team drills. No matter how quickly those players make the schematic adjustment, that seems to be a mismatch.

But defensive coordinator Dom Capers insisted he has no coverage that gives an outside linebacker sole coverage responsibility on a receiver. In those instances, Thompson and Kampman are responsible for underneath routes and have safety help downfield. That's an example of the short-term adjustments Capers will have to make for the scheme to work in 2009.

We're also still waiting to see how many of the Packers' 4-3 defensive tackles and ends can hold up as a 3-4 end in this scheme. Cullen Jenkins appears to be a natural, but Johnny Jolly has missed significant time with an ankle injury and former first-round pick Justin Harrell has been on a snap count. Which brings us to ...

	Mike Roemer/AP Photo
	Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji's contract situation is costing him valuable conditioning time.

2. How much immediate help will the Packers get from their pair of first-round draft choices?

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji remains unsigned as of Sunday morning, meaning he has missed nine practices and at least temporarily delayed the Packers' plans to transition him into the starting left end. Linebacker Clay Matthews, meanwhile, was beginning to challenge Thompson for a starting job on the outside when he tweaked a hamstring injury that slowed him for much of the spring.

Thompson has displayed superior athletic skills, but when healthy it appears Matthews is the more polished player. Matthews seems destined to start when the regular season opens -- if he can stay on the field.

You want to say the same about Raji, but he remains in a market logjam that is keeping five other players out of NFL camps. Raji was probably the best overall defensive lineman in the draft and he'll make quick progress once he arrives. But his ab
sence has been long enough to affect his conditioning. And no one should underestimate the challenge and significance of Raji's move to defensive end. Every snap he has missed is one less opportunity to grow comfortable before the season starts.

3. Can the Packers achieve stability on the offensive line?

One of coach Mike McCarthy's primary goals is to end the revolving door of line play caused by changing the positions of multiple players. Daryn Colledge is now locked down at left guard, and it appears the Packers are giving Jason Spitz (center) and Josh Sitton (right guard) every opportunity to be the long-term answers at their respective positions.

That still leaves both tackle positions as mild question marks. But left tackle Chad Clifton appears healthy enough after having four offseason surgeries: arthroscopic procedures on both shoulders and both knees. The Packers are still limiting his snaps in hopes of squeezing one more year out of his 33-year-old body. Nothing I saw suggested Clifton is done, but it's very early.

On the right side, Allen Barbre has worked exclusively with the first team while youngsters T.J. Lang and Breno Giacomini rotated behind him. I don't get the feeling the Packers consider Barbre a long-term solution but to this point, his hold on the starting job does not appear threatened.

Market watch

Ted Thompson said that linebacker Nick Barnett is "on pace" to be activated soon from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. It could happen sometime this week, but Barnett will find several new challenges when he returns to the field for the first time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last November.

The most obvious is pushing through the usual soreness and uncertainty that goes with ACL injuries. Players are rarely at full speed when they first return to the field. As well, Barnett will have to get an on-field crash course in the new scheme. No matter how many meetings he has attended or practices he has watched, there is no substitute for practice reps.

And finally, Barnett's replacement has actually proved adept in the new scheme. Linebacker Brandon Chillar played in a similar blitz scheme earlier in his career in St. Louis and will have a significant role this season no matter what happens with Barnett. "This really fits Brandon's talents as far as all the sub packages we have," McCarthy said. "And he's a good blitzer. He gets good pressure."

This is not to suggest the Packers will move on without Barnett. But his football world has changed significantly since we last saw him on the field.

	AP Photo/Morry Gash
	Green Bay's Quinn Johnson is an intimidating presence at fullback.

Newcomer to watch

We've already discussed the absence of Raji and Matthews. On the other hand, one rookie who has opened some eyes is fullback Quinn Johnson. The Packers list him at 250 pounds, but Johnson would pass for a defensive tackle if he didn't have a number on his jersey.

Needless to say, Johnson is a load as a lead blocker. He also displayed some intriguing quickness on the rare occasions I saw him carry the ball. The Packers don't give the ball to their fullbacks much -- they combined for eight rushes and 10 receptions in 2008 -- but I doubt too many defenders would be eager to tackle him.

Johnson is competing for a roster spot with incumbents John Kuhn and Korey Hall, but it's hard to imagine him not making the team after the Packers spent a fourth-round pick on him.

Observation deck

At the urging of veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, Rodgers is openly expanding his leadership role within the locker room. "I think it's the opportunity that presents itself," Rodgers said, "and the vibe that I'm getting from the guys [is that they] are looking to me for leadership. In certain situations, they are expecting me to speak up." Rodgers also said he is getting "more freedom" from McCarthy to influence scheme and game plans. ... During individual drills one night last week, Rodgers drilled three passes into a small square from more than 40 yards away. ... The intense vibe of this camp is like night and day from last year's distraction-filled affair. I have no idea why the Packers would consider risking that relative tranquility by signing Michael Vick. Multiple reports suggest they have been doing their due diligence on the former Atlanta quarterback. ... You wonder whether this is the end of the line for veteran center Scott Wells, who is battling Spitz for the starting job. If Spitz wins, as expected, it's not clear if the Packers would keep Wells as a backup. ... With Spitz and Sitton in the starting lineup, the Packers should have a bigger offensive line this season. "Were some teams stronger up front than us last year? Yeah, probably so," McCarthy said. "We'll see what happens this year." ... The Packers are pitting Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks in a punting duel, but neither has been impressive and it's possible the Packers will have to look elsewhere once teams starting making roster cuts. ... Linebacker Brady Poppinga is behind Thompson, Matthews and Kampman on the depth chart but believes this scheme was made for his skills. "I feel like I'm in a defense that really fits who I am," Poppinga said. ... No idea where he fits in, but first-year receiver Jake Allen caught my eyes during the early portion of practice. Allen is 6-foot-4, has long arms and made a number of acrobatic catches during red zone work. Allen spent last season on the Packers' practice squad.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

The weekend mailbag returns with a vengeance, leading off with Angry Tom's latest missive. AT contacted me through traditional means of the mailbag, but remember you can also get your message across via our piping-hot Facebook page and our steadily-humming Twitter feed.

Speaking of which, I want to thank those of you who have responded to our expansion efforts on Facebook and Twitter. I'm getting more efficient with both applications and fully plan to continue communicating through them during the season. So tell you friends! The more people we have, the better and more vigorous our discussions will be.

Now, on with it.

The aforementioned Angry Tom writes: I have read before in your blog that your general assessment of the BEARS defense is "aging." I am thinking the Vikings are not quite as young as you think.

Kevin Seifert: It's a fair point Tom, and one that produced some interesting results when I looked into it. At the outset, however, I should say that I consider aging to be not only a numeric figure but also a less specific depiction of wearing down over time. (We all know there are plenty of 50-year-olds in the general population who are in far better physical condition than a lot of 30 year-olds.)

With that said, I've compiled the average Opening Day ages for Chicago and Minnesota's projected defensive starters. You'll find the Bears are about a half-year younger than the Vikings, on average. Both teams have nine projected starters under the age of 30. Vikings nose tackle Pat Williams (36) is the oldest and Bears safety Craig Steltz (23) is the youngest. (Corey Graham, who could beat out Steltz, is one year older at 24.)

I'll have a few more comments below the chart:

Minnesota Vikings

Defensive end Jared Allen: 27
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams: 29
Defensive tackle Pat Williams: 36
Defensive end Ray Edwards: 24
Linebacker Chad Greenway: 26
Linebacker E.J. Henderson: 29
Linebacker Ben Leber: 30
Cornerback Antoine Winfield: 32
Safety Tyrell Johnson: 24
Safety Madieu Williams: 27
Cornerback Cedric Griffin: 26

Avg. age: 28.2
Under 30: Nine of 11

Chicago Bears

Defensive end Alex Brown: 30
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris: 26
Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek: 26
Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye: 32
Linebacker Lance Briggs: 28
Linebacker Brian Urlacher: 31
Linebacker Piso Tinoisamoa: 28
Cornerback Charles Tillman: 28
Safety Craig Steltz: 23
Safety Kevin Payne: 25
Cornerback Nate Vasher: 27

Avg. age: 27.6
Under 30: Nine of 11

Two of the Bears' oldest starters, Ogunleye and Urlacher, have slipped in recent years. Ogunleye's sack total dropped to five last season and the Bears tellingly made no move to extend his contract, which expires after this season. Urlacher, meanwhile, has now gone consecutive years without making the Pro Bowl. And while defensive tackle Tommie Harris is 26, his creaky knees forced the Bears to ration his repetitions last season as if he were a much older player.

That's a nutshell illustration of the Bears as an aging defense: Key players whose performance has descended from their previously elite levels.

The Vikings have some age at key positions as well, most notably with Williams and Winfield. But it's only fair to point out both players made the Pro Bowl last season. They are aged but to this point haven't played that way. Minnesota officials have some long-term planning ahead of them in eventually replacing Williams and Winfield, but they have every reason to expect elite performances from both in 2009.

---

Via Twitter, AMSERV writes that Brett Favre missing part of Minnesota's training camp isn't as big of a deal as everyone thinks. Tons of players -- rooks thru vets -- hold out til after training camp starts.

Kevin Seifert: A late arrival isn't unprecedented, but it's typically accompanied by angst, distraction and a mad effort to catch up from a physical and mental standpoint. Green Bay tailback Ryan Grant, for example, held out for the first week of training camp and promptly developed a sore hamstring that bothered him for much of the season.

A late arrival would give Favre even less time to develop a rapport with his teammates and, particularly, his new stable of receivers. I know Favre overcame that obstacle last year with the New York Jets, but it's far from preferable.

---

Ben of Iowa City writes: Just wanted to know why you have consistently left Breno Giacomini out of the competition at RT for the Packers. He will be squarely in the mix.

Kevin Seifert: I'm not so sure about that. Giacomini missed much of the offseason program because of an ankle injury. He's running a distant third to Allen Barbre and T.J. Lang, and the No. 3 tackle doesn't usually get much opportunity to compete for a starting job. Barring injury, there is a high likelihood that either Barbre or Lang will be the starter.

---

Lion-O of Atlanta writes: Will Matt Stafford be able to sit and adjust to the league as say an Aaron Rodgers or will he be pushed out to the field because of the money Detroit is paying him?

Kevin Seifert: I don't think he'll get the three years Rodgers did, but if the Lions' new regime is true to its word, Stafford won't play until he's ready. There's no doubt that $41.7 million in guarantees will be burning a hole in his pocket, but that's an investment in the long-run. If I had to guess, I'd stay Stafford won't open the 2009 season as the starter but he will in 2010.

---

Susan of Glendale, Ariz., writes: I'm a huge Viking fan who struggles to get good info on the team living down here in the desert for the past 4 years! I've been looking for a status update on E.J. Henderson and haven't found a thing. Do you know how he's doing and will he be back in camp?

Kevin Seifert: Henderson's status has been the topic of a steady stream of offseason questions, but the reality is that he's been healthy since the end of last season. In fact, coach Brad Childress said Henderson could have played in the postseason had the Vikings not decided to place him on injured reserve. So to my knowledge, Henderson is 100 percent and ready for the start of training camp.

---

Jim of Des Moines writes: I was wondering if you could let us know how the recovery of Nick Barnett is going.

Kevin Seifert: Earlier this month, Barnett joked he is "93.758" percent healed from last season's torn anterior cruciate ligament. Most people believe he will be ready to start the regular season, but it's possible he'll open training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list. That's a decision the Packers will make toward the end of next week.

---

Via Facebook, Eddie writes: My number one Bears question mark continues to be the secondary. Can you give me a very brief overview of how you see it playing out? It just seems like there are conflicting reports of who has the upper hand everywhere I look. I know that Tillman is going to start at the one corner, and I am guessing Payne wil
l start at safety. What do you envision after that?

Kevin Seifert: I would agree that Tillman and Payne will be two of the starters. The fact that coaches moved Graham to safety means it's more likely than not that Vasher will re-claim his starting cornerback job. That would leave Graham and Steltz to battle it out for the other safety position. If Steltz wins, Graham could end up as the nickel back. But if I had to predict a winner, I'd say it will be Graham.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

We had a little action last week in the NFC North, but as expected, the news certainly slowed as all four teams enjoyed some time away from their practice facilities. We got an update on the Williams Wall story, debated the pressure on Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford and argued over the identity of the NFC North's breakout player in 2009. (I say Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin, you say Chicago tight end Greg Olsen.)

But there's always material for the mailbag, thanks to your intrepid participation. Remember, you can contact me through said mailbag, our lightning-fast Facebook page or Twitter. Phones? They're, like, sooooo 2008. I don't even know why I have one.

OK, let's get on with it:

Brad of Chicago notes our breakdown of Detroit's drafts this decade, hooked to the release of linebacker Alex Lewis, and asks for a comparison with the rest of the division.

Kevin Seifert: Thanks for the assignment, Brad. Seriously, it's a good idea. As it turns out, the Lions rank last among the four NFC North teams in this category. The Packers lead with 33 players. Of course, these numbers can be skewed based on the total number of draft choices. But over time, it's at least a decent gauge of overall draft success.

Here's the team-by-team breakdown:

DETROIT LIONS
2000: 0
2001: 2 (Tackle Jeff Backus, center Dominic Raiola)
2002: 0
2003: 0
2004: 1 (Smith)
2005: 0
2006: 2 (Linebacker Ernie Sims, safety Daniel Bullocks)
2007: 5 (Receiver Calvin Johnson, quarterback Drew Stanton, defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, guard Manny Ramirez, cornerback Ramzee Robinson)
2008: 7 (Tackle Gosder Cherilus, linebacker Jordon Dizon, tailback Kevin Smith, defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, defensive end Cliff Avril, fullback Jerome Felton, defensive tackle Landon Cohen)
TOTAL: 17

CHICAGO BEARS
2000: 1 (Linebacker Brian Urlacher)
2001: 0
2002: 2 (Defensive end Alex Brown, tailback Adrian Peterson)
2003: 2 (Cornerback Charles Tillman, linebacker Lance Briggs)
2004: 2 (Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, cornerback Nate Vasher)
2005: 0
2006: 5 (Safety Danieal Manning, receiver Devin Hester, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, linebacker Jamar Williams, defensive end Mark Anderson)
2007: 6 (Tight end Greg Olsen, running back Garrett Wolfe, guard Josh Beekman, safety Kevin Payne, defensive back Corey Graham, cornerback Trumaine McBride)
2008: 9 (Tackle Chris Williams, tailback Matt Forte, receiver Earl Bennett, defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, safety Craig Steltz, cornerback Zackary Bowman, tight end Kellen Davis, defensive end Ervin Baldwin, linebacker Joey LaRocque)
TOTAL: 27

GREEN BAY PACKERS
2000: 1 (Offensive tackle Chad Clifton)
2001: 0
2002: 1 (Linebacker Aaron Kampman)
2003: 1 (Linebacker Nick Barnett)
2004: 1 (Center Scott Wells)
2005: 4 (Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, safety Nick Collins, linebacker Brady Poppinga, defensive end Michael Montgomery)
2006: 7 (Linebacker A.J. Hawk, guard Daryn Colledge, receiver Greg Jennings, center Jason Spitz, cornerback Will Blackmon, offensive tackle Tony Moll, defensive tackle Johnny Jolly)
2007: 9 (Defensive end Justin Harrell, running back Brandon Jackson, receiver James Jones, safety Aaron Rouse, offensive tackle Allen Barbre, fullback Korey Hall, linebacker Desmond Bishop, placekicker Mason Crosby, running back DeShawn Wynn)
2008: 9 (Receiver Jordy Nelson, quarterback Brian Brohm, cornerback Pat Lee, tight end Jermichael Finley, linebacker Jeremy Thompson, guard Josh Sitton, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, quarterback Matt Flynn, receiver Brett Swain)
TOTAL: 33

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2000: 0
2001: 0
2002: 1 (Left tackle Bryant McKinnie)
2003: 2 (Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, linebacker E.J. Henderson)
2004: 2 (Defensive end Kenechi Udeze, tight end Jeff Dugan)
2005: 0
2006: 5 (Linebacker Chad Greenway, cornerback Cedric Griffin, offensive lineman Ryan Cook, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, defensive end Ray Edwards)
2007: 5 (Running back Adrian Peterson, receiver Sidney Rice, cornerback Marcus McCauley, defensive end Brian Robison, receiver Aundrae Allison)
2008: 5 (Safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback John David Booty, defensive tackle Letroy Guion, center John Sullivan, receiver Jaymar Johnson)
TOTAL: 20

---

Dictionary Guy objects to our use of "apocryphal" in a post about Brett Favre's appearance in the iconic "There's Something About Mary." Writes DG: Think about your demographic for about 5 seconds, then think about whether they know what apocryphal means. If you're not sure about the intelligence of your readers, try reading the comments sections. I have a college degree and I had to look it up. might want to dumb it down at least a LITTLE.

Kevin Seifert: What "college" did you go to, DG? Seriously, I get this type of note more often than you might care to believe -- and I hardly consider myself a wordsmith. My reading of the comments section reveals pretty much what we already know: The world is made up of geniuses, yokels and a lot of people in between. On this blog, we'll cater to everyone. And if you occasionally have to consult a dictionary, by gosh, consider making it a habit. It won't bite you.

---

VikingJ of Wausau, Wis., writes: Saw an ESPN story yesterday about certain teams allowing seasoned vets to go home during camp and not force them to stay in a college dorm room. You then hear coaches say that training camp is a period to build team unity (whatever that means). What are your thoughts on this subject, and what direction are the NFC north teams taking?

Kevin Seifert: You probably were reading about Washington coach Jim Zorn following in the footsteps of what ex-Baltimore coach Brian Billick once did with the Ravens.

I have often heard veterans complaining about off-site training camps. Some players don't like being away from their families. Many are uncomfortable in tiny dorm rooms and old mattresses, a legitimate concern when you consider how much energy they must expend during practice. For those reasons, I can see how it might help to sleep in your own home and bed. And to me, relationships can be formed during training camp whether you're sleeping at home or in the dorms.

Because let's be clear: Regardless of where you sleep, camp is a daily 18-hour affair. Typically, players are scheduled from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. If you're not practicing, you're either eating or in meetings or napping. For that reason, some players would prefer staying and sleeping in dorms because they're the closest thing to them. The long hours wouldn't really give them much chance to see their families anyway.

I'm not aware of a sleep-on-your-own policy in the NFC North. Everyone sleeps in dorms (Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay) or in a hotel (Detroit).

---

Jimbo of Chicago writes: Kevin, what's the inside scoop on the other Adrian Peterson? With Matt Forte and Kevin Jones getting the bulk of the carries, and the Bears talking about how they need to get Garrett Wolfe on the field more this year, where does that leave a veteran like AP? Does he even have a spot on this team? Do they really hold a spot for him just to play special teams?

Kevin Seifert writes: Jimbo, there are a couple of interesting factors in play here. First, you wonder if the Bears really would keep four tailbacks on the 53-man roster. If they only keep three, the competition conceivably would be down to Wolfe and Peterson. To me, we'll find out once and for all if the Bears are serious about using Wolfe on offense. That would be the primary reason to keep him over Peterson.

Second, Wolfe showed proficiency as a special teams player last season, leading the team with 21 tackles. The Bears put a strong emphasis on coverage and wouldn't part easily with Peterson. But at least they would know that Wolfe can handle coverage assignments.

---

Randall of Monoma, Wis., writes: If the Williams Wall wins, why couldn't the Wisconsin legislature pass legislation forbidding the calling of penalties against the Packers in home games at Lambeau Field, as a violation of their employee rights?

Kevin Seifert: Haha. (I think. I'm presuming you're joking.) Randall, of course, is referring to the lawsuit filed by Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Essentially, the players are arguing that the NFL's steroid testing policy violates Minnesota state law. (The NFL contends the policy, which is part of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, should be subject only to federal laws.)

But I cordially invite the Wisconsin legislature to take a break from its busy schedule to pursue such a law. Just to see what happens. And I'm guessing there would be more than a few legislators willing to take up the issue. Revolution!

---

Joseph of Fort Meade, Md., writes: As a Bears fan I'm glad to see the "Williams Wall" case delayed. At the end of the day, the NFL doesn't care about the state of Minnesota's stance on drug testing. The wall will lose. So hopefully they can be suspended at a more critical time in the season.

Kevin Seifert: Joseph, you actually bring up a good point. We have no way of predicting how long the legal process will take here. One month? Three months? Six months? Who knows with these things. But if you strictly go by the regular season schedule, the Vikings' first four games might represent the best stretch for them to miss if it comes to that.

None of their first four opponents -- Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco and Green Bay -- had winning records last season. And from a preseason perspective, at least, the only running game I would fear in that group is the Packers'. If the players' legal case ultimately results in them missing games later in the season, it could play a more important role in the Vikings' playoff aspirations. No doubt.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Tait

Williams

A look at the key loss and his replacement for each team in the division:

Chicago Bears

Who's out: John Tait, right tackle (Retired unexpectedly)

Who's in: Chris Williams (2008 first-round draft pick)

Outlook: The Bears originally expected Williams to start at left tackle, and he still projects there in the long-term. But the fallout from Tait's unexpected retirement, as well as the free agent departure of John St. Clair, left Chicago scrambling.

The Replacements • Tuesday: AFC North | West • Wednesday: AFC South | East • Thursday: NFC South | East • Friday: NFC North | NFC West

As it turned out, veteran free agent Orlando Pace was the best option. Rather than shifting Pace out of his longtime spot on the left side, the Bears decided to let Williams break into the NFL at what is generally considered a less challenging position.

This seems to be a reasonable arrangement and a good response to Tait's decision. All things equal, new quarterback Jay Cutler would surely prefer backside protection from Pace rather than an untested player. Williams will get a chance to learn the NFL game without that pressure.

Kitna

Orlovsky

Detroit Lions

Who's out: Jon Kitna/Dan Orlovsky, quarterbacks (Traded to Dallas/Departed via free agency)

Who's in: Daunte Culpepper/Matthew Stafford, (Culpepper restructured his contract, Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick of the draft)

Outlook: The Lions didn't lose anyone they had hoped to retain, but the quarterback transition is the biggest item on their agenda this summer.

Culpepper

Stafford

Stafford ultimately will take over the starting job, but the question is when. Culpepper is viewing this season as a final chance to salvage
his career. The pieces are in place for him to have at least short-term success, most notably offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and receiver Calvin Johnson.

Unless Stafford proves to be the rarest of talents, it's likely Culpepper will open the season as the Lions' starter. If he can achieve modest success, he will give Stafford the long-term gift of a full season of development on the bench.

Tauscher

Barbre

Green Bay Packers

Who's out: Mark Tauscher, right tackle (Currently a free agent as he rehabilitates a torn anterior cruciate ligament)

Who's in: Allen Barbre/Breno Giacomini/T.J. Lang (A training camp competition is expected.)

Outlook: The Packers almost certainly would have brought back Tauscher were it not for the injury, and it's always possible he could return at midseason if and when he fully recovers. Until then, however, the Packers will have to determine if anyone on their current depth chart can handle the job.

Barbre will get the first chance. He's seen reserve action in 15 games over the past two seasons, mostly at guard, but has a mean streak that could serve him well in a primary run-blocking position of the offensive line. Some consider Lang, a fourth-round pick in 2009, a potential long-term answer.

Birk

Sullivan

Minnesota Vikings

Who's out: Matt Birk, center (Signed with Baltimore as free agent)

Who's in: John Sullivan (Sixth-round pick, 2008)

Outlook: The Vikings made a late run at trying to sign Birk but all along seemed prepared to pass the torch to Sullivan, a Notre Dame project who was one of the first players to report for offseason training this winter.

Sullivan doesn't have Birk's size, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep some of the game's top defensive tackles out of the Vikings' backfield. But from a mental standpoint, no one expects any difficulty with Sullivan's line calls or his capacity to otherwise handle the position.