ESPN NFL

A committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton, Matt Williamson -- assembled this offseason to create a unique version of our traditional Power Rankings.

Naturally, NFC North teams are featured prominently in what amounts to a three-year projection of Power Rankings for the 2015 season . The Green Bay Packers received the top spot as the team best equipped to compete three years from now, while the Detroit Lions were not far behind at No. 6.

The file requires an Insider subscription to read in full, but I can pass along where our four teams ranked and also a glimpse at the methodology used. Here is how the committee evaluated each team and the degree of impact each category had:

• Roster (32.5 percent of total score): Players under 30 emphasized
• Coaching (20 percent): Capability and stability of current staff
• Quarterback (17.5 percent): Where quarterback play would be in three years
• Draft (15 percent): Based on team's 2012 class and how many picks available in next three years.
• Front office (15 percent): Ability to manage roster and market's attraction to free agents.

Now on to the NFC North rankings with comments from me:

1. Green Bay Packers
Seifert comment: The presence of a 28-year-old MVP quarterback and one of the NFL's top general manager-coach combinations puts the Packers on an ideal long-term path.

6. Detroit Lions
Seifert comment: Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a 5,000-yard season before his 24th birthday. That's a nice start. General manager Martin Mayhew has elevated the team's talent level every season of his tenure and most of the Lions' key players -- Stafford, receiver Calvin Johnson, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Louis Delmas and linebacker Stephen Tulloch -- are under 30.

17. Chicago Bears
Seifert comment: Jay Cutler is a legitimate franchise quarterback, but the best players on the Bears' defense are all over 30. That list includes defensive end Julius Peppers, linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, and cornerback Charles Tillman.

31. Minnesota Vikings
Seifert comment: Questions about quarterback Christian Ponder's long-term prospects made it difficult for the committee to project future success. There are also concerns about a lack of young impact players on defense. Defensive end Jared Allen is 30 and linebacker Chad Greenway is 29.

Chicago Bears

Bears GM Phil Emery is already putting his stamp on the team, writes the Chicago Sun-Times' Sean Jensen.

How will the Bears utilize Devin Hester in 2012? Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. at Windy City Gridiron examines the possibilities.

Detroit Lions

The Lions aren’t interested in trading for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, reports NFL.com's Jason La Canfora.

Lions GM Martin Mayhew will attend this weekend's Super Regional Combine at Ford Field, which is expected to include more than 100 draft prospects, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Some of them [the prospects] have played at good schools and played good football and been productive, so I'm excited about who that crop of guys is, or who those players are. Looking forward to getting over there," Mayhew said.

Look for the Lions to pick a developmental quarterback late in the draft, writes Tim Twentyman for the team's website.

Green Bay Packers

Coach Mike McCarthy will shake up his normal training camp practice schedule after the new collective bargaining agreement banned true two-a-day practices, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Is automatic replay review for turnovers a good rule change? Packers.com's Mike Spofford and Vic Ketchman debate.

Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne, and other top draft prospects are scheduled to attend the team's annual Top 30 event at the Winter Park practice facility, reports Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Linebacker Chad Greenway told 1500ESPN.com that he thought Roger Goodell made the right move by coming down hard on the Saints for their bounty program. "I think you need to have them learn their lesson, and have it be a lesson to everybody else in the NFL that this is just not going to be happening," Greenway said. "Even though it may have been the culture 30 years ago, it's not the culture anymore, and the game has changed a lot."

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- If the nose tackle and middle linebacker represent the gut of a defense, then it's safe to say the Minnesota Vikings have signed themselves up for plastic surgery this season.

(Too much? I liked it. Come on. Lighten up.)

The takeaway from my time with Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on Wednesday morning was that he will have a new starting nose tackle in 2012 and is close to deciding on his next middle linebacker. Fifth-year player Letroy Guion will replace the released Remi Ayodele at nose tackle, while Frazier indicated that Jasper Brinkley is his top choice to start at middle linebacker.

Both players are longtime backups and draft choices of newly promoted general manager Rick Spielman, and their anticipated ascension is a reasonable illustration of how Spielman hopes to run the franchise.

Guion was a fifth-round pick in 2008 and has started three games over four seasons since then. His newly-prominent role became clear when the Vikings signed him to a three-year contract earlier this month that will pay him $2.5 million. Ayodele was subsequently released.

"We want him to be the starting nose tackle," Frazier said.

Brinkley, meanwhile, was a fifth-round pick a year after the Vikings selected Guion. He was the backup to starter E.J. Henderson in 2009 and 2010, starting six games after Henderson's broken leg in 2009, but missed all of 2011 because of a hip injury.

"We believe he is healthy now," Frazier said. "And he has started for us when E.J. was injured in the past. We think he is capable of doing it. We just haven't had him do it for 16 weeks. But we think he's about ready to take that role. We'll determine that in the weeks and months to come."

Doctors have cleared Brinkley for all football activities, and if there was any hesitation in Frazier's response, it should be attributed to the universal NFL caveat at this time of year. The Vikings have 10 draft picks, including seven of the top 138, and a starting-caliber middle linebacker could be a target.

Absent that event, however, the chances seem high that Brinkley will team with Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway to form the Vikings' 2012 trio of linebackers. During that 2009 stretch, Brinkley proved to be a physical run-stopper who is most likely not going to be on the field in nickel situations.

Again, everything could change after the draft. But regardless of the ingredients, it seems likely the Vikings will have a new defensive gut in 2012.

The NFL's relatively depressed market for linebackers allowed the Minnesota Vikings to bring back starter Erin Henderson at a low-risk rate. After an encouraging season as a first-time starter in 2011, Henderson agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2 million, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Our friends at Pro Football Focus (PFF) have been singing Henderson's praises all offseason, concluding he had one of the best performances of any 4-3 outside linebacker in 2011. Among PFF's finds from a season-long analysis: Henderson led all players at the position by making a tackle on 16.1 percent of the plays he was on the field for. He also had the highest percentage of "stops," which are tackles that led to an offensive failure in the running game.

PFF: "Just looking at tackle figures you might not be drawn instantly to his name, but Erin Henderson made more positive defensive plays relative to how much he was on the field than any other linebacker, and showed a real knack for shedding blocks and affecting the play. Against the run he wasn’t just having a good season, but there may not have been a better player in the NFL at his position last year."

Henderson expressed frustration via Twitter recently about the seeming lack of urgency to re-sign him, but the reality is the market value for linebackers has either dropped or at best stayed flat as the NFL continues its shift toward the passing game and pass defense.

In any event, the Vikings can now say they have two of their three starting linebackers under contract in Henderson and Chad Greenway. It's not clear who will start at middle linebacker, where long-term starter E.J. Henderson remains on the market. One possibility is Jasper Brinkley, but he missed all of 2011 because of a hip injury.

With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at one major question facing each NFC North team as it begins preparations for the 2012 season:

CHICAGO BEARS

In last year's version of Leading Questions, we wondered when the Bears would address the depth behind their aging defensive stars. That issue is still on the table, but of greater 2012 importance is this: How will the Bears manage their transition to new offensive coordinator Mike Tice?

Tice will retain much of the terminology and some of the philosophy from former coordinator Mike Martz. But Tice has his own spin on the "three-digit offense," and the Bears will need to realign behind a power running game and a passing approach that emphasizes downfield throws.

Tight end and receiver are two positions the Bears need to focus on this offseason, either by developing their existing players like Kellen Davis and/or acquiring a legitimate downfield threat. New general manager Phil Emery should have more than $20 million in cap space to work with, and the free-agent market should be deep with receivers.

But to make Tice's offense work, Emery will also need to ensure the return of free-agent tailback Matt Forte and find him a reliable backup as well.

DETROIT LIONS

In a tight salary-cap situation, can the Lions keep their nucleus together and add where needed?

Years of high draft positioning made the Lions a talented team but also one facing a cap crunch in 2012. Preliminary cap reconciliation leaves the Lions with $122 million in cap commitments, about $2 million above the estimated $120 million cap. And that total doesn't include three defensive starters who are pending free agents: defensive end Cliff Avril, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

The Lions will need to find ways to shave from that total, whether it's borrowing from future caps -- a tool now available in the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) -- or reducing the cap figures in existing contracts.

As we've discussed, receiver Calvin Johnson should be the first target for a cap-reducing contract extension. He's projected to account for about $22 million against the cap in the final year of his rookie deal. Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch are estimated to account for nearly half of the Lions' total cap allotment.

What does all this mean? We are all figuring out the NFL's new salary-cap rules together, but it's clear the Lions must make some difficult short-term decisions and weigh them against long-term prosperity.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

What can the Packers do to improve a pass defense that gave up more passing yards than any team in NFL history?

The easiest answer is to address the pass rush, which weakened in 2011 when the Packers couldn't find a suitable replacement for departed free agent Cullen Jenkins. The rush could come from the defensive end position, where the Packers have waited two years for the highly touted Mike Neal to make an impact, or through acquiring a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

General manager Ted Thompson has been reluctant in recent years to utilize veteran free agency, and the truth is that few teams allow a legitimate pass-rusher to depart without compensation. But the situation was serious enough in 2011 that Thompson will at least need to consider every avenue available for a substantial and fast-acting solution. The Packers had 29 sacks in 2011, tied for the third-worst total in the NFL.

Parallel to that issue, however, Thompson will also have to monitor a situation at safety that contributed to the Packers' defensive problems in 2011. Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins will find out in March whether he can continue his career or if he must retire because of a serious neck injury. The Packers missed his leadership and instincts in center field and would need to acquire a long-term replacement if he retires.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The development of quarterback Christian Ponder will dominate many of the Vikings' offseason headlines, but there is an equally important question hovering over the team: How fast can it upgrade its historically poor pass defense?

Vikings opponents finished the season with a 107.6 passer rating, the third-highest figure in NFL history. Their eight interceptions tied for the league's lowest total in 2011 and only one player among the back seven who started the majority of games in 2011 -- linebacker Chad Greenway -- is assured a starting job in 2012.

It's difficult to replace six starters in one offseason, but the Vikings have already begun their defensive overhaul by hiring new defensive coordinator Alan Williams, bringing back Brendan Daly as their defensive line coach and making former coordinator, Fred Pagac, their primary linebackers coach.

The personnel situation is most dire in the secondary, where two of the Vikings' primary safeties -- Husain Abdullah and Tyrell Johnson -- are free agents. Talented cornerback Chris Cook, suspended for the final 10 games of the season following a domestic-violence incident, remains in limbo. Cook's trial date is tentatively scheduled for March 5. The future of veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield must be addressed as well; Winfield turns 35 in June.

No, I didn't forget. The Pro Bowl will be played Sunday night, starting at 7 p.m. ET, in Honolulu. I can't say I plan to watch every down, but I know there are many who will.

By my count, 12 players from the NFC North will participate. Below is the full list of players from our division who were named, either originally or as injury/Super Bowl replacements, over the past few weeks.

Chicago Bears

• LB Lance Briggs+
• RB Matt Forte
• ST Corey Graham
• DE Julius Peppers
• CB Charles Tillman
• LB Brian Urlacher+

Detroit Lions

• WR Calvin Johnson+

Green Bay Packers

• WR Greg Jennings
• FB John Kuhn+
• LB Clay Matthews*
• NT B.J. Raji
• QB Aaron Rodgers*
• C Scott Wells
• CB Charles Woodson*

Minnesota Vikings

• DE Jared Allen*
• LB Chad Greenway#

(Footnotes: *Starter; +Won't play; #Alternate/replacement)

Previewing some of the big decisions facing NFC North teams early in the 2012 offseason:

A flurry of moves last week left the Minnesota Vikings with two linebacker coaches but no short- or long-term answers at the all-important middle linebacker position. Fred Pagac has returned to coach linebackers, where he will join forces with Mike Singletary, but veteran middle linebacker E.J. Henderson is a pending free agent and his heir apparent hasn't played since 2010.

As of late December, the Vikings hadn't approached Henderson about a new contract. He will turn 32 in August and spent part of this season battling knee problems that stem from a brutal leg injury that probably should have ended his career in 2009.

Now would be a logical time for the Vikings to elevate Jasper Brinkley, a fifth-round draft pick in 2009 who started four regular-season games and another two in the playoffs as a rookie after Henderson fractured his leg. But Brinkley missed all of 2011 after surgery to repair a torn hip labrum and would at least need to clear some rust this offseason before jumping back into the fray.

What other options do the Vikings have? Henderson's younger brother, Erin, started 11 games at outside linebacker but has some experience in the middle. I doubt the Vikings would move the position of Pro Bowl linebacker Chad Greenway, but stranger things have happened. Free agency and the draft typically offer avenues for finding an immediate starter at middle linebacker as well.

Before anything else, the Vikings must determine whether E.J. Henderson should be brought back. Then the Vikings' medical staff will need to evaluate Brinkley; it's worth noting that most players return from hip labrum surgery without any long-term affects.

I don't think any final decisions have been made, but general manager Rick Spielman has said he wants the roster to get younger. Re-signing a 32-year-old middle linebacker probably wouldn't fit into that philosophy.

We're Black ad Blue All Over:

Lost in other season-ending issues for the Detroit Lions was a significant injury that could impact the team's offseason plans.

Left tackle Jeff Backus suffered a torn biceps muscle late in the Lions' 45-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and coach Jim Schwartz confirmed that Backus was set to undergo surgery Monday. Schwartz said Backus will miss "a significant portion of time" as he recovers this offseason.

Backus is an unrestricted free agent, and if the Lions tried to extend his contract during the season, it was never reported publicly. He will turn 35 shortly after the 2012 season starts, and at some point the Lions will have to begin addressing his replacement. Whether this injury will jump-start that process is unclear. He isn't likely to be recovered when free agency opens in March, so some projection will be required.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "The Lions will be the next 'it' team this offseason, an offspring of the mind-blowing hyperbole that makes the NFL a 12-month talking point. They've got a young quarterback at the cusp of elite status and a monstrous receiver that scientists finally confirmed is actually a cyborg. But they'll quickly learn how expectations abruptly conflict with reality. The Lions are more than just a few roster tweaks from being a serious playoff threat."
• The Lions must re-sign pending free agent Cliff Avril, writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
• Lions running back Jahvid Best said he is free of concussion symptoms and is confident he will play in 2012. Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com has more.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com shares some information from previous interviews to give a sketch of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, whose son Michael was found dead Monday.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Instead of the usual excitement at the stadium that accompanies the start of a playoff work week, there was sadness and a feeling of helplessness."
• When they return their gaze to football, the Packers will have to deal with a formidable New York Giants defensive line. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway actually had a better season in 2010 than in 2011, but he is headed to the Pro Bowl nonetheless, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune reviews the Vikings' quarterback situation.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com grades the Chicago Bears.
• A wide receiver is the Bears' top need, according to Dickerson.
• Tim Ruskell would not necessarily be Jerry Angelo 2.0 as the Bears' general manager, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The NFL's long process for adjusting and re-adjusting its Pro Bowl rosters, based on injuries and postseason participation, has begun. So far, three NFC North players have been affected. I'll do my best to keep you updated throughout the next few weeks.

Monday, Chicago Bears linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher pulled out for injury reasons. One of the replacements was Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who will make his first Pro Bowl appearance. Below is the running list I'll keep of NFC North participants and non-participants for those interested:

Chicago Bears

• LB Lance Briggs+
• RB Matt Forte
• ST Corey Graham
• CB Charles Tillman
• LB Brian Urlacher+

Detroit Lions

• WR Calvin Johnson*

Green Bay Packers

• WR Greg Jennings
• FB John Kuhn*
• LB Clay Matthews*
• NT B.J. Raji
• QB Aaron Rodgers*
• C Scott Wells
• CB Charles Woodson*

Minnesota Vikings

• DE Jared Allen*
• LB Chad Greenway#

(Footnotes: *starter, +won't play #alternate/replacement)

While we have a moment to catch our breath, I want to circle back on an underplayed moment of the Minnesota Vikings' media availability Tuesday. The promotion of general manager Rick Spielman drew most of the attention, of course, but reporters also had an opportunity to speak with coach Leslie Frazier and get his early thoughts on the 2012 season.

I asked Frazier directly if he thought it was viable to shift to a 3-4 defense, as the Vikings reportedly are contemplating. His answer was revealing on a day when the team elevated Spielman's authority above his own.

"I don't want to eliminate any possibilities at this point, but my background is 4-3," Frazier said. "I want to do what's best for our team. You do take a look at your personnel, and you determine what you do based on your personnel. You don't want to jump on the bandwagon purely because it's popular in some other city and they've had success. If it doesn't fit what you do, you better do what fits you."

Frazier can be difficult to read at times, but that sure reads like a case for the schematic status quo despite heavy scrutiny within the organization. I understand where the discussion is coming from. The Vikings finished this season with the second-highest defensive passer rating (107.6) in NFL history, and all options should be considered. But at the outset, I wonder how smart the 3-4 would be, at least for 2012 season.

Atop any list of concerns would be the impact on Jared Allen, a classic 4-3 defensive end who is already on record saying he wants no part of a 3-4. Playing outside linebacker might provide Allen some better matchups in the pass rush, but he would also have at least some coverage responsibilities and would be starting his rush from a much different angle.

Allen was the Vikings' best player in 2011 and nearly broke the NFL record for sacks in a season. Would you move your top player, and one of the league's best overall in 2011, out of position for the sake of a scheme change? I'm not sure about that.

Allen will be 30 in a few months, and you could argue that no team's long-term direction should be driven by concern for a player more than halfway through his career. If that's the case, though, the Vikings would be better off trading Allen to a 4-3 team than schematically limiting his effectiveness.

Veteran defensive lineman Kevin Williams is best suited to be an under tackle in the 4-3, but could conceivably play end in a 3-4. And it's possible that the speedy Chad Greenway could make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker. But unless I'm missing something, there is little about the Vikings' current personnel that makes them an obvious candidate to switch.

Asked if he thinks his current personnel makes the 3-4 viable, Frazier shrugged and said: "Maybe." There wasn't a lot of conviction in his voice. Stay tuned.

Reviewing the Minnesota Vikings at their bye:

Record: 2-6

Eight-game capsule: The Vikings blew three substantial halftime leads in September and have lost five games by a touchdown or less. Still, it's been clear for weeks that 2011 would not be a playoff season in Minnesota. Their offense has made tailback Adrian Peterson the NFL's leading rusher but has lacked explosiveness. Their defense has proved vulnerable to age, injuries and crime. The ascendance of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder has generated a bright spot in a rebuilding season.

MVP: Peterson's 798 yards leads the NFL and qualifies as the second-best first half to a season of his career. He is also on pace for 334 attempts, which would be his highest total in three seasons. But it's obvious Peterson is the most dynamic player on the team and at this point should be their centerpiece. He caught five of Ponder's 18 completions last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, and it would make sense to expand his role in the passing game.

Runner-up: Defensive end Jared Allen has a league-leading 12.5 sacks, putting him on an early pace to break the NFL record of 22.5 for the season. With three forced fumbles, an interception and four tipped passes, Allen is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. The Vikings are giving up the third-most passing yards per game (273.6) in the NFL, and opponents have the second-most touchdown passes against them (14), but Allen can't do much more than he is doing. Those failures speak to the lack of depth and coverage skills among the Vikings' back seven.

Biggest surprise: That so many people thought quarterback Donovan McNabb would be better than what he showed in the season's first six games. There were plenty of clues about how football people regarded McNabb's skills this summer, from the relative pittance the Vikings paid to acquire him and renegotiate his contract to the lack of other suitors. McNabb proved to be marginally accurate, adverse to pushing the ball downfield and seemingly resigned to his fate as an ill-equipped place-holder for Ponder. If the Vikings gained anything by acquiring him, it was giving Ponder six weeks to learn the NFL routine before taking the job.

Expected much more: Linebacker Chad Greenway has always been a reliable, active and earnest player. But when the Vikings gave him $20 million guaranteed as part of a new five-year contract, it seemed time for Greenway to emerge as a big-time playmaker. That simply hasn't happened. He unofficially leads the team with 66 tackles, but he hasn't had a sack, forced a fumble or intercepted a pass this season. When an opponent is roaring back from a 20-point halftime deficit, as the Detroit Lions did in Week 3, you hope that a player like Greenway would make a play to stop the bleeding and secure victory. There's still time, though.

Stat to note: Peterson has gained a higher percentage of his total yards (57.3) after first contact than any other NFL running back. That speaks both to his relentless running style and the relative lack of room his offensive line has afforded him.

Bonus stat to note: The Vikings have run on a higher percentage of their first down plays (61) than all but every NFL team except the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Looking ahead: When they're not distracted by the team's stadium situation, Vikings fans will have Ponder's continued development to keep them interested. With a tough schedule that includes games at Green Bay, Atlanta, and Detroit, the Vikings should be thrilled to split their final eight games.

Related: Bye week looks at the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. Go here for the Bears and here for Packers.

We had our usual assortment of debatable officiating calls in Week 3, and we'll hit two of them in this edition of Dirty Laundry. The first nullified one of the most unusual and innovative plays you'll ever see at the NFL level.

As you know by now, Chicago Bears cornerback/special teams ace Corey Graham was called for holding during Johnny Knox's 89-yard punt return for a touchdown. Television replays obviously were limited because, like the Green Bay Packers' cover team, the cameras focused on Devin Hester's decoy attempt to field the ball. When you see Graham at that point, he isn't within 20 yards of a Packers player.

But as Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has already pointed out, the penalty came long before then. Graham was lined up alongside Knox as a "jammer" across from Packers "gunner" Jarrett Bush. When you watch the replay of FOX's original live broadcast, you see Knox take off downfield to grab the punt while Graham chases Bush downfield.

About 15 yards past the line of scrimmage, Graham clearly reaches out with his right hand and grabs Bush's shoulder, twisting him slightly. It wasn't the most aggressive hold I've ever seen, but you see it called pretty routinely in the NFL.

You might wonder why Graham felt compelled to reach out at all when it was clear that Bush had already taken the bait of Hester's fake. Bush was running away from the point where Knox was setting up to field the ball, apparently believing Hester was set to catch it. My guess is that part of the decoy called for the Bears' punt-team blockers to "sell" the Hester return, much like offensive linemen have to sell a run on play-action passes.

If Graham had simply let Bush run past him without an attempt to block, in theory he could have tipped off Bush that something was amiss. I understand why Graham did it, but I hope no one thinks this was a so-called "phantom call."

A few hours earlier in Minnesota, referee Ron Winter's crew had whistled Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway for a horse-collar tackle against Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, a 15-yard penalty that put the Lions in position for a late field goal. I haven't seen the full replay because of a glitch in the NFL's Game Rewind feed, but many of you have reported that FOX analyst John Lynch adamantly disagreed with the call.

The horse collar is one of the trickier rules in the NFL rule book. Let's review how it's worded.

Rule 12, Section 2, Article 1 (d): "All players are prohibited from: grabbing the inside collar of the back of the shoulder pads or jersey, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling down the runner. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket. Note: It is not necessary for a player to pull the runner completely to the ground in order for the act to be illegal. If his knees are buckled by the action, it is a foul, even if the runner is not pulled completely to the ground."

The photograph accompanying this post confirms that at one point, Greenway had his right hand inside the collar over Pettigrew's right shoulder. That satisfies the first part of the rule. Did Greenway "immediately pull down the runner?" By all accounts, he did. Was it with the kind of violence the NFL had in mind when it implemented this rule? Perhaps not. But Winter's crew has the latitude to make a judgment call there, and most NFL officials are going to err on the side of safety.

The horse collar isn't a perfect rule, but it's been around long enough for us to expect this call to be made. In general, defenders would be wise to keep their hands out of any part of an opponent's collar unless it's the only way to save a touchdown.

On to our updated penalty tracker...

MINNEAPOLIS -- The headline quote from the Minnesota Vikings' postgame locker room came from tailback Adrian Peterson.

"They wanted it more tonight," Peterson said after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored the final 14 points of a 24-20 victory before a stunned Metrodome crowd. The Bucs had stormed back from a 17-0 halftime deficit, blistering the Vikings for 273 yards and 16 first downs on only 30 plays over that time period.

The implication from Peterson, and a few other Vikings players, was that the team somehow didn't match the mythical energy the Buccaneers brought from the halftime locker room.

Said defensive end Jared Allen: "We must have rested on our laurels."

Receiver Percy Harvin: "We didn't play 60 minutes and our record shows it."

I understand why a player would instinctively reach for that explanation, but strongly disagree that it was behind the Vikings' second-half collapse. From my vantage point, at least, this game wasn't decided on effort. If we can say anything definitive about the 2011 Vikings, it's that they are constructed with absolutely no margin for error and few alternatives with which to juggle the momentum swings of a typical NFL game.

Through two weeks, at least, the Vikings (0-2) have been intent on controlling the ball on offense and limiting exposure for their defense. When that works, you're up 17-0 at halftime. But when the slightest issue goes awry, you're left incapable of covering for it elsewhere. To date, the Vikings haven't demonstrated a quick-strike mentality, or capability, on either side of the ball.

The Vikings are like an old-school locomotive amid a fleet of F-16's. Loaded full of coal, they can start smoothly and pick up steam on the track. Knock it ever so softly off its tracks, however, and its stuck in mud while the rest of the NFL zooms by.

"This," quarterback Donovan McNabb said, "is a game we should have won. No doubt about it."

For that to happen, however, the Vikings would have needed their low risk, low-reward approach to continue producing flawlessly. In rolling up their big first-half lead, the Vikings put together three long and time-consuming drives. Using Peterson and a passing game that almost exclusively relied on fake runs, they went 90 yards on 12 plays, 82 yards on 14 plays and 75 yards on eight plays.

McNabb threw for 153 yards in the first half, most of which came on low-risk bootlegs and screen plays. Relying on power running and a short passing game decreases your total number of possessions, placing a premium on scoring a touchdown after every drive.

The Vikings, however, had one possession stall at the Buccaneers' 4-yard line and another at their 11. A touchdown in either instance likely would have given them an insurmountable lead.

"The ability to score a touchdown in the second half really would have changed the course of the game," McNabb said.

As it turned out, however, the Bucs spread out their offense in the fourth quarter much like they did at the end of their Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. Over the final nine minutes and 41 seconds, they put together scoring drives of 80 and 61 yards. Receiver Aurelius Benn caught a 25-yard touchdown pass for one score, and LeGarrette Blount scored from four yards out for the winner with 31 seconds remaining.

Successful NFL teams have the capability to score an easy touchdown every now and then. The Vikings piled up 398 yards Sunday, but they never came close to scoring from outside the red zone. Peterson compiled 120 yards on 25 carries, but both of his scores came from inside the 10-yard line. The Vikings had hoped to jump to an early lead and then ride Peterson to victory, but there were too many times in the second half when just handing it to Peterson to grind out the clock wasn't good enough.

On a first-and-goal at the Bucs' 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, Peterson lost a yard. That put McNabb in an undesirable position to throw consecutive passes, both of which fell incomplete.

Later in the quarter, McNabb faced a third-and-6 from his 26-yard line. There was 4:25 left in the game, and a first down would have put the Buccaneers into timeout mode. The Vikings' play call there? A deep pass down the right sideline to reserve receiver Devin Aromashodu, who was blanketed by cornerback E.J. Biggers.

McNabb said afterward that the Vikings' performance on those key plays "is something that will be corrected." But as currently constituted, and with defenses intent on limiting Peterson's potential for a big play, the Vikings will have to be perfect to make it work. Their red-zone touchdown conversion rate was 50 percent Sunday. That's not bad. What the Vikings didn't have Sunday, nor in their Week 1 loss to the San Diego Chargers, is a player in their passing game who can get them an easy touchdown or make the critical third-and-6 catch with the game on the line.

Nor, to this point, have the Vikings had a defensive player step forward to make a game-changing play in the second half. Last week, they committed three encroachment penalties to sustain the Chargers' final possession. On the first of the Bucs' fourth-quarter scoring drives, the Vikings allowed quarterback Josh Freeman to convert two third-and-1 plays with 2-yard scrambles. On the next possession, Freeman sat in the pocket and completed seven of eight passes before Blount's game-winning romp.

We know that defensive tackle Kevin Williams was completing his two-game suspension. That left Allen, who had one sack and three quarterback hits earlier in the game, and linebacker Chad Greenway as the only potential playmakers on the field. Neither stepped up.

"I don't know what happened," Allen said. "I'm trying to find a positive word to use. I don't really have one. You look at it, and they had one big run [Blount's 27-yard score in the third quarter] and one big pass. But they kicked the crap out of us in the second half, and that sucks, because we were dominating the first half."

One big run and one big pass was all it really took to knock the Vikings of the tracks. They didn't stop playing hard. They didn't make a ton of mistakes. They just fell off the narrow wire they've given themselves to maneuver. I consider it a crisis of construction, not performance or attitude.

Inside the Minnesota Vikings' organization, there never seemed much doubt about the future of All-Pro tailback Adrian Peterson. From owner Zygi Wilf on down, team officials made clear that under no circumstances would Peterson leave when his rookie contract expired after this season. He is a once-in-a-generation player who has been the franchise's most consistent face the past five years. Peterson, meanwhile, appeared totally at ease with the situation from the start.

The only questions were the nature and timing of his return. Would he play out the final year of his current deal and hit the negotiating table this winter? What if the Vikings tagged him their franchise player? Would the team's uncertain future in Minnesota play any role in its financial commitment?

We got the answers Saturday afternoon in decisive fashion, when the Vikings extended Peterson's contract through the 2017 season. The deal is worth between $96 million and $100 million, depending on escalators, and includes a total of $36 million in guarantees. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, $32 million of the $36 million is guaranteed for skill and injury. The other $4 million is guaranteed for injury only, meaning the Vikings wouldn't have to pay Peterson that final $4 million if he is ever released for performance reasons.

Regardless, Peterson is now the NFL's highest-paid running back and one of the top-paid non-quarterbacks in the league. The agreement was announced as the Vikings boarded their team charter to San Diego, where they will open the season Sunday against the Chargers -- the team, by the way, that allowed Peterson's NFL-record 296 yards in a 2007 game.

Some further thoughts:

• The Vikings clearly were unconcerned about the risks of a huge second contract for a superstar running back. We discussed that issue this summer, noting the relatively short career spans for running backs and the recent examples of big-time runners whose production dipped dramatically after signing their second contracts. Peterson has tallied 1,334 touches in his career, including kickoff returns, but has missed only three of a possible 64 games and has had no off-field issues that would compromise his eligibility to play with the league.
• At 26, it's reasonable to expect at least two or three more elite seasons left in Peterson's career. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, he will receive $40 million, including all of the guaranteed portion of the deal, in the first three years. Three more seasons of an All-Pro running back for a total of $40 million? The Vikings would be thrilled with that return on their investment.
• Most NFL observers consider Peterson and the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson as the co-best running backs in the league, but Peterson's deal exceeds the one Johnson signed last month. Johnson's extension averaged $13.3 million in new money and included $30 million in guarantees. Peterson's will average nearly $15 million per season in new money over the life of the deal, in addition to the $36 million guaranteed. But Peterson was always in position to get a better contract because his current contract was already paying him $10.72 million. Johnson was due to make less than $3 million this season.
• Peterson's contract came five days after linebacker Chad Greenway signed a five-year, $41 million extension with $20 million in guarantees. So in the course of a week, Wilf has committed at least $56 million and up to $141 million in potential compensation to two of his best players. Say what you want about Wilf and his pursuit of public money to build a new stadium, but recognize this: He has never let finances get in the way of fielding a competitive team.
• Peterson was to count $12.7 million against the Vikings' salary cap this season. You would assume the new contract will lower that number, but it might be a few days before we know those details.

While we have a moment, let's catch you up on where this weekend's flurry of roster moves have impacted NFC North salary-cap figures. Keep in mind that some numbers were impacted by NFL financial adjustments unrelated to each team's roster moves.

Chicago Bears
Current space: $17.6 million
Comment: All of safety Brandon Meriweather's $3.25 million in 2011 compensation will count against the 2011 cap.

Detroit Lions
Current space: $3.3 million
Comment: Among other things, the Lions saved about $1.4 million in cap space by releasing punter Nick Harris.

Green Bay Packers
Current space: $7.6 million
Comment: Guard Josh Sitton's new deal consumed about $3.7 million in additional cap space and he now counts $4.9 million against the cap.

Minnesota Vikings
Current space: $4.5 million
Comment: Linebacker Chad Greenway's new five-year contract created $2.8 million in new space and he now counts $7.2 million against the cap.