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We've known the market for the NFL's top running backs for some time. The Minnesota Vikings guaranteed Adrian Peterson $36 million as part of a seven-year deal last summer, and the Tennessee Titans awarded Chris Johnson $30 million in a six-year extension.

Now we have a decent idea of how NFL teams value the next tier of running backs. The Seattle Seahawks signed Marshawn Lynch to a four-year deal Sunday night that includes $17 or $18 million in guarantees, and hours later the Houston Texans agreed on a five-year deal with Arian Foster. Terms of that deal haven't been reported yet, but it's reasonable to assume it falls between Lynch's deal and the five-year contract the Carolina Panthers gave DeAngelo Williams last summer; Williams' deal included $21 million in guarantees.

Why are we hashing through that information? Because it should help solidify the market for Matt Forte, whom the Chicago Bears made their franchise player last Friday.

If a dispute remains, it's this: What tier does Forte belong in? Did Forte's multi-faceted performance in 2011, in which he amassed 1,487 all-purpose yards in 12 games, make him one of the NFL's top backs? Or should he be paid closer to the range of Williams, Lynch and/or Foster?

The market has formed well enough for the sides to reach a long-term agreement, which would allow the Bears to rescind the franchise tag. But that's only if they can agree on Forte's standing among his peers. As always, your thoughts are welcome.

Another in a daily series on NFC North players who are candidates to receive their team's franchise tag. The window for tagging players opens Monday and closes March 5.

From the moment the Chicago Bears ended contract negotiations last summer with tailback Matt Forte, the endgame seemed clear. The Bears would place their franchise tag on him before his contract expired in March 2012, a move that would enhance the Bears' flexibility at the position but eliminate his options for seeking a payday elsewhere.

The Bears have since changed general managers, and we should at least consider the possibility that Phil Emery could take a different approach than predecessor Jerry Angelo. But as is the case with the Green Bay Packers and Jermichael Finley, the finances of making Forte a franchise player seem too alluring to consider other options.

As Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com notes, the Bears could lock up Forte for 2012 with a franchise tag worth an affordable $7.7 million in cash and salary-cap commitments. What team wouldn't prefer that option over a lucrative long-term deal for a running back, the most punishing position in the game?

Forte reportedly turned down a deal that included $13 million-$14 million in guarantees over four years. He hasn't said what type of deal he is looking for, but it's worth noting that he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2011 over Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson, who signed a seven-year extension last season that guaranteed him $36 million. Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson was guaranteed $30 million as part of a contract extension last summer.

The Bears' only risk in pursuing the franchise route is if it spurred a training-camp holdout. Speaking last month, Forte acknowledged that franchise tags can often serve as a stepping stone to a long-term agreement. But Forte implied he will react poorly if the Bears don't indicate a willingness to negotiate beyond the tag because it will leave him without any guaranteed money beyond the 2012 season.

In that scenario, Forte said: "I wouldn't say holdout, but people probably wouldn't know where I was."

Many around the NFL will be watching Forte's situation closely. There is typically a collective grimace when a team feels compelled to sign veteran running backs to lucrative second contracts, considering how quickly their careers can power down. A sprained ankle, for example, cost Peterson three games last season before he blew out his knee in Week 16. Johnson, finished 2011 with a career-low 1,047 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Stay tuned.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Chances of a new contract for Matt Forte, Chicago Bears tailback: We've been discussing the risks and rewards of giving big money to a running back for months. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com recently posted some updated thoughts. But it's worth noting that the better Forte plays this season, the more sense it makes for the Bears to avoid a long-term deal and instead use the franchise tag on him next spring and possibly beyond. Forte's MVP pace has elevated his value substantially since the start of training camp. The Bears can either pay out an ever-increasing total of guaranteed money, or wait until the spring, when they can lock in Forte for less than $8 million in total compensation. Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, who is averaging 2.8 yards per carry this season after receiving $30 million in guarantees, is providing the latest cautionary tale.

2. Cedric Griffin, Minnesota Vikings cornerback: How many times have you heard about an NFL player continuing his career after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in both knees? That's what Griffin has done after suffering those two serious injuries in less than a year, missing only 14 games over a two-season span because of the timing in each case. But the Vikings will take some time during their bye week to evaluate his play and determine whether a demotion is in order. It's a cruel business, but Griffin's admirable push to get back on the field and do his job has revealed him to be less effective than he once was. When he was drafted in 2006, Griffin was considered a cornerback/safety. Is it time to give the latter a try?

3. Sack totals for Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions defensive tackle: Let's be clear from the top. A defensive tackle can have a fine season without recording a single sack. But lost in the national conversation about whether Suh is a dirty player, and his scheduled meeting Tuesday with NFL officials, has been a noticeable decline in his sack production. Suh has three sacks through eight games, tying him with 22 other players for No. 26 in the NFL. Through eight games of his rookie season, Suh had 6.5 sacks on the way to 10 for the season. As we've discussed many times, good fortune is one of several key factors in running up high sack totals. Sacks are but one measure of an effective defensive tackle. So take the drop-off for what you will.

RISING

1. NFC North in prime time: The NFL's top division is preparing for a nice run of national exposure. Three of our four teams will appear on "Monday Night Football" over the next two weeks, first the Bears (at the Philadelphia Eagles) and then the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers (at Lambeau Field). The Packers and Detroit Lions have a pretty meaningful Thanksgiving Day game looming, and the Bears and Packers will stage their second matchup of the year on the night of Christmas. And we're just getting into the flexible portion of the NFL's national schedule!

2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings tailback/receiver: That's right. Peterson caught five passes for a career-high 76 yards in Sunday's victory over the Carolina Panthers. Included in that mix was a 19-yard touchdown on a middle screen. For reasons I don't fully understand, the Panthers' defense was playing deep against the Vikings' receiving corps, leaving Peterson with room to roam underneath. It sounds simple, but quarterback Christian Ponder was smart enough to take advantage. "I will take that all day," Ponder told reporters. Peterson hasn't always been the smoothest of receivers. But screens and checkdowns are an easy way for a young quarterback to deal with pressure, and there is no better player in the open field than Peterson once he gets the ball in his hands.

3. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions place-kicker: Hanson drilled his fourth field goal of 50 or more yards this season in Sunday's victory at the Denver Broncos, a nice eight-game accomplishment for any kicker but one especially noteworthy for a 20-year veteran. Only two NFL kickers, Sebastian Janikowski and Josh Scobee, have converted more attempts of 50 or more yards. I know we've mentioned Hanson before in Stock Watch. But he continues to excel at an elite pace. Overall, Hanson is tied for first among NFL kickers with 17 field goals. His only miss this season has been from 52 yards.

Trevor reached out during Tuesday's SportsNation chat:

Trevor (De Pere, WI)

Kevin! We need a ForteWatch up in this blog! He's on pace for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage! LOUD NOISES!

Kevin Seifert (2:16 PM)

I can see that. I need four arms to keep up with all of my Watches....

Trevor must be an experienced NFC North blog reader. Any Will Ferrell movie reference gets you points with the blogger, especially if it's a Brick Tamland line. And if anything, Trevor undersold Forte's season to this point.

Forte isn't just on pace for 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards, a feat accomplished on 58 occasions in NFL history, according to Pro Football Reference. He has given himself a shot at producing one of the best seasons ever for a running back.

Check out the -- yes -- ForteWatch chart. At his current levels, Forte would finish the 16-game season with 2,493 total yards (rushing and receiving). That total would put him just 16 yards shy of the record set in 2009 by the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson.


(An aside: If there were ever a time for the Bears to break team policy and re-enter contract negotiations during the season, isn't it now? The Bears are in their bye week, and Forte's market value continues to rise.)

Obviously we still have more than half of the season remaining. Sometimes projecting 16-game performance is a silly exercise at this point in the season, but I think it's worthwhile to note that we have some NFC North players who are off to historic starts. Forte has joined Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (10 touchdowns) and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (11.5 sacks) in deserving their own Watches so far this season. We'll obviously add and subtract as needed. (Still trying to decide how to handle Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' sizzling start.)

For those who are curious how Forte's performance compares to the best seven-game starts since 1960, Pro Football Reference's outstanding database has the answer.

Forte's 1,091 yards ranks eighth on a list that includes some pretty important names. Jim Brown totaled 1,193 yards in the first seven games of the 1963 season. Also appearing on the list are Marshall Faulk, O.J. Simpson and Terrell Davis. (Full list here.)

Related: Forte ranks fifth on NFC West blogger Mike Sando's MVP Watch this week.

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.

Everything is relative in NFL contract negotiations, so the most realistic way to assess the Chicago Bears' talks with tailback Matt Forte is that they've ended -- until they start up again. Any other dramatic conclusion would be total speculation.

As you might have heard, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a radio interview Monday night that the sides have agreed to "focus on the season." Nothing would stop either side from re-starting negotiations, of course, and in truth the Bears should be motivated to use some of their $19 million salary-cap surplus in 2011 on Forte's next deal, sparing heavier cap hits in future seasons.

Here's what Angelo said, courtesy of the Bears' website: "We've spent a lot of time trying to work out an extension with Matt and his agent did as much work as he could do. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to come to an agreement at this point so we've decided that we're just going to focus on the season. That's something we talked about when we went into the negotiations. We were hopeful. Not saying the door is shut. But right now our focus is going to be on the season."

Forte is in the final season of the four-year rookie contract he signed in 2008. Talks for an extension have been going on for most of the summer, but Angelo said last month that at some point he would need to draw a "line in the sand" and table negotiations. The market for running backs changed last week when the Tennessee Titans signed holdout tailback Chris Johnson to an extension that included $30 million in guaranteed money. According to ESPNChicago.com's Michael C. Wright, the Bears have offered less than half of that total.

Forte won't come close to Johnson's deal, but should he get less than half of his guarantees? I'm guessing that's one of the sticking points in these talks.

Regardless, I wouldn't get too worried about Forte's future with the team. More often than not, these things work themselves out. There just isn't likely to be a resolution soon. As always, stay tuned.

Earlier this offseason, Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson said he was "in the driver's seat" as he approached the final year of his rookie contract. He was due to make at least $10.72 million in 2011 and had a premium foundation from which to base contract negotiations.

You can now add another weapon to Peterson's negotiating sheath. As you've probably heard by now, the Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with tailback Chris Johnson on a four-year contract extension worth $53.5 million, including a precedent-smashing $30 million guaranteed. The four years will be added to Johnson's existing deal, leaving him under contract through 2016.

Other than having one additional year's worth of wear and tear, Peterson lines up pretty squarely with Johnson in terms of market value. So for the first time, we in the public have a decent idea of what it will take for the Vikings to lock up Peterson.

There have been no reports of intense negotiations between the sides. We discussed through the relative lack of urgency during training camp and wondered if the Vikings wouldn't play out the season and then place a (decidedly cheaper) franchise tag on Peterson this winter. Franchise tags don't usually go over well with players, but the Vikings have to at least consider the well-discussed pitfalls of premium second contracts for running backs.

Some of you might wonder if Johnson's deal will impact negotiations between the Chicago Bears and Matt Forte. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has reported the Bears are offering a guarantee of less than half what Johnson received Thursday. Ultimately, I think the Johnson deal will go down as a premium contract for a special player, but there is no denying the ceiling has been raised for all of those on the running back market. Stay tuned.

Reviewing Saturday's action at LP Field

Tennessee Titans 14, Chicago Bears 13

Preseason record: 1-2

Of interest: First, the good: I thought tailback Matt Forte continued his strong summer performance in carrying 17 times for 74 yards and a rare goal-to-goal touchdown. Quarterback Jay Cutler connected six times with receiver Earl Bennett, who if it were up to Cutler would be the Bears' No. 1 receiver. Cutler also broke the ice with receiver Roy Williams, hitting a 17-yard pass on the offense's first play. Finally, the Bears' run defense looked pretty strong against a Titans team that was admittedly without tailback Chris Johnson. ... Now, the other side: Cutler's second pass, also intended for Williams, was intercepted. My first-blush reaction was that Williams shouldn't be blamed, but he did say afterwards that he should have caught it. Regardless, the play won't do much for the duo's chemistry. The Bears defense had no interceptions and managed only one sack, by reserve defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. ... Tailback Chester Taylor didn't play after Forte departed and Marion Barber strained a calf. Are the Bears trying to keep him healthy for a potential trade? Or do they plan to release him and don't want an injury to force them into an injury settlement?

Local coverage: Williams on the interception, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com: "The second one, that's my fault, I still have to catch that one. I felt like it should have been a flag somewhere in there, but it's the NFL. I got past that one, and go to the next play." ... In that same post, Cutler called Bennett "just a football player" and added: "We need a couple more of those in the locker room." Hmmmm. ... The Bears offense had 239 yards and had converted five of seven third downs by halftime, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. ... Coach Lovie Smith on why Taylor didn't play, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "We wanted to take a look at someone else tonight, in particular, Kahlil Bell. Kahlil hadn't gotten an opportunity to play much. We wanted to take a good look at him, [and] we were able to. I think he did a good job of taking advantage of the carries he got." ... The offensive line continues to improve, notes Dickerson. ... The Bears have only one fully dependable receiver at this point in Bennett, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. ... Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com isn't sweating the small stuff of the Bears' preseason.

Up next: Thursday against Cleveland Browns

We're Black and Blue All Over:

A national eye will be on the Detroit Lions during Saturday night's preseason game against the New England Patriots, scheduled to be televised by CBS. Will the country see the debut of the first high Lions draft choice to get on the field?

It appears possible, at least, that rookie receiver Titus Young will get an opportunity to play. He has made it through most of this week of practice while coming back from a hamstring injury. It's still possible the Lions will deactivate him for precautionary reasons, but Young has shown enough progress this week to make it possible to play.

Here's how coach Jim Schwartz put it, via Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com: "I don't know if he's over the hump yet, but he's close to it. He was able to put a week of practice together and was able to finish practices. We have done a lot ... doing individual, adding a little bit more, doing some 7-on-7, doing a little bit more here and there. But I think he's at the point where he can go out and get through a whole practice and be able to play in a game."

Young has spent most of the summer on the sideline. Whether he plays Saturday night, this week has provided significant encouragement that he will be ready to contribute on some level when the regular season begins.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press profiles Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who is "intimidating, impossible to please and more than a bit intense."
• Terry Foster of the Detroit News profiles Lions receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, who last year participated in a practice in shoulder pads.
• Chicago Bears safety Major Wright on his glaring missed tackle Monday night, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com: "It's definitely something I can learn from. Taking a better angle, slowing down and breaking down."
• Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times on Bears tailback Matt Forte: "Let's start with what Forte isn't: He's not an elite running back. He's not Maurice Jones-Drew. He's not Chris Johnson. He's not Adrian Peterson. He's not going to make something out of nothing along the line."
• Bears receiver Johnny Knox should be starting ahead of Roy Williams, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• Bears left guard Chris Williams worked out this offseason in a barn, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Green Bay Packers have quite a battle going on at tight end for roster spots. Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• Packers guard Josh Sitton, via Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "I'm really just trying to establish myself as one of the better guys in this league at [my] position."
• Packers running back Ryan Grant should get a heavy workload in Friday night's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings guard Anthony Herrera told reporters he has no concerns about making it back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings have a deep group of receivers, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune on Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave: "He'll accentuate his strengths, but, more importantly, he won't overly expose his weaknesses, which at the moment is an offensive line that has a shaky new left tackle and an ongoing competition at right guard, among other question marks lingering from a poor showing in 2010."

MANKATO, Minn. -- If some good came of Adrian Peterson's unfortunate use of analogies this offseason, it's this: It forced one of the NFL's highest-profile players into a bond with two of the world's most prominent advocates for ending human trafficking.

As you probably tried to forget, Peterson described the league's labor relationship with players as "modern-day slavery" in a March interview with Yahoo! Sports. The comment drew national rebuke for its gross exaggeration. Around here, it grew especially worrisome when Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, among others, began supporting Peterson's "position." (I posted my thoughts on the matter here.)

In May, Peterson shot a video for the DNA Foundation, founded by actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. He spoke publicly about the matter for the first time Friday, taking full accountability for his word choice and saying he has committed to further cooperation with the DNA Foundation.

"I regret using those words," Peterson said. "Because obviously there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you can compare to slavery. It stands alone. ... I should have used better wording to put out there. But it's spoiled milk. It's old. Hopefully we can move on."

I'm all for that, especially now that Peterson has made clear what I think he knew all along: That modern-day slavery actually exists under a different name: human trafficking. I've always believed that Peterson wasn't making any sort of political statement. He has always presented himself as a professional and respectful public figure, and there was no reason to think he harbored some previously unexpressed level of insensitivity. Like many of us, he probably just didn't know that in 2010, 12.3 million people world-wide were in forced or bonded labor.

To that end, Peterson jumped at the chance to work with Moore and Kutcher.

"They approached me," Peterson said. "It was a great deal. I had fun with Demi Moore and Ashton. They are some great people and we're actually getting together to do some things for my foundation and his foundation this year with human trafficking. And it's going to be exciting."

I give Peterson all the credit in the world for working to make an inadvertent wrong into an intentional right.

Which, in some strange way, brings us to his return to the Minnesota Vikings' training camp Friday. After missing three days to witness the birth of his son, named Adrian Jr., Peterson said he is excited about the Vikings' new offense and in no way concerned that the team has yet to extend his contract, due to expire after this season.

"I'm comfortable where I'm at," he said. "I'm committed to my deal. It's obviously the last year of my deal. I have guys that take care of that, my agents Ben Dogra and Tom Condon. I'll let those guys handle that. For now I'm focused on football. I'm not worried about contract at all."

Peterson said he never considered holding out, and the truth is he has every reason to feel comfortable at this moment. Thanks to a number of contract accelerators, he will earn a princely $10.72 million this season. He could earn an additional $2.5 million in bonuses, a situation that makes him much different than Tennessee Titans tailback Chris Johnson, who is holding out, and even Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears, who admitted he thought about holding out until the Bears assured him an offer was on the way.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has said the team values Peterson's presence in the long-term, but Peterson's current contract effectively eliminates the pressure many teams come under to offer early extensions for players who might have overperformed their rookie contracts. While Peterson would assuredly like an extension, he couldn't possibly argue he is underpaid with a $10.72 million salary.

As we discussed last month, the Vikings face a complicated decision on Peterson's future. But at this moment, everyone can relax. Peterson will happily collect an eight-figure salary, and the Vikings have the opportunity to get another workhorse season from the game's best running back without having to make a future commitment.

In what seems to be a decade ago -- I guess it was Tuesday morning -- we discussed the difficult decision the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears would face in offering (or not) a second contract to tailbacks Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte, respectively.

The Carolina Panthers had no such difficulty Wednesday, and I'll be curious to see how their deal with tailback DeAngelo Williams impacts the running back market. Williams, 28, received a five-year deal with a whopping $21 million in guarantees.

Williams is a one-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 842 rushing yards per season in his career. Peterson has averaged 1,442 while Forte has 1,078 yards. So if DeAngelo Williams got $21 million in guarantees, what does Peterson (and, for that matter, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans) merit? How about $25 million? Do I hear $30 million?

Meanwhile: Should Forte be considered a financial equal to Williams? You could make that argument.

In any event, we're now talking about some awfully high numbers for players who man the most brutal position in the game. But the 2011 market has been set. We'll see soon enough how the Vikings and Bears view it.

From Tuesday: Congratulations to the NFC North, which placed two players among the first six listed in ESPN.com's Power Rankings of the NFL's top 10 players. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished No. 4 overall, while Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson ranked No. 6.

You'll see that our list is pretty quarterback-heavy, accounting for the top four players and six of the top 10. So goes the position's importance, be it the Year of the Quarterback or the Year of the Rabbit. (It's both, actually.)

We debated Rodgers' standing among quarterbacks in April, and I continue to maintain my position that he deserves to be No. 2 behind Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. Simply put, that's why I voted Rodgers the No. 2 player in the league. As I noted in the award-winning video below, the No. 2 quarterback in the NFL is the No. 2 player for me.

For those who missed the original debate, I've included the chart I compiled to help explain why I ranked Rodgers ahead of Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. For those wondering why I sentenced Brees to the No. 8 position, I just felt that I needed more diversity at the top and cut off the quarterback run with Manning at No. 3.


I gave Peterson his highest ranking at No. 4, and he was surprisingly left off three of the eight ballots. Ultimately, at No. 6, Peterson was the highest-ranked offensive player who isn't a quarterback.

I hope you've enjoyed the madness that has been our offseason Power Rankings. I know I've learned a lot, mostly about how seriously these lists are taken. Point noted.

Earlier this week, we reviewed the tackling proficiency (or lack thereof) of NFC North defenses last season using Football Outsiders' annual charting project. Now let's check out how Football Outsiders rated each NFC North offense's ability to break tackles.

As a reminder, broken tackles in this subjective analysis are defined thusly: "Either the ballcarrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ballcarrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ballcarrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle."

To me, the rankings listed in the chart make intuitive sense. The Minnesota Vikings have two of the NFL's best open-field runners at their positions, tailback Adrian Peterson and receiver Percy Harvin, and those two players largely accounted for the Vikings' No. 13 overall ranking. There are many talented running backs and receivers in the NFC North, but not many of them are known for breaking tackles.

Some notes and thoughts on players listed in the individual rankings:

• Peterson ranked No. 8 in the NFL, and tops among NFC North players, with 35 broken tackles on 320 touches. His friendly rival, Tennessee Titans tailback Chris Johnson, broke 41 tackles on 360 touches.
• The NFC North boasted two of the top three receivers in this category. Harvin led the NFL with 13 broken tackles on 89 touches, while the Detroit Lions' Nate Burleson broke 12 in 69 touches. Meanwhile, Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennett broke a tackle at a higher rate than either Harvin or Burleson -- 18.9 percent, or nine broken tackles in 49 touches.
• Bears tailback Matt Forte had one of the NFL's most productive seasons in 2010, but I think we can all agree that breaking tackles isn't among his strengths. He had 15 on 297 touches for a rate of 5.2 percent.
• One mild surprise: Green Bay Packers tailback John Kuhn was credited with only four broken tackles among 99 touches. But in retrospect, many of Kuhn's runs are of the "fall-forward" rather than "run-through-people" variety.

As we noted earlier, Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson participated Tuesday in a SportsNation chat during a visit to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. I found two of his answers particularly interesting.

One was on the topic of the Vikings' proposed new stadium:

Drew MN [via mobile]

Would you rather have a roof in the new stadium or battle the elements during the winter months?

Adrian Peterson (2:36 PM)

Yes, I want a roof. A retractable roof would be great. Yes.

Adrian Peterson (2:37 PM)

The weather isn't always bad. We have lot of nice days too so a retractable roof would be nice.

The answer touches on an under-addressed portion of this issue. I would think many of the Vikings' speed-based players would prefer to play indoors, where their speed is maximized, than outdoors in the elements. Current plans call for a retractable roof, but Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has suggested the roof would be utilized for non-football purposes and wouldn't necessarily be closed during inclement weather for football games.

The second answer referred to ESPN.com's own Power Rankings, where we recently voted Peterson and Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson the two best offensive players (non-quarterbacks) in the NFL.

Scott Terry (Lincoln, NE)

You tied with Chris Johnson in a recent poll of ESPN NFL writers for best offensive player (non-QB) ... that sound about right?

Adrian Peterson (2:33 PM)

No, that doesn't sound right. I'm not cocky at all. But I feel like the work I put in, there are not many guys like me. Johnson is a great player and I have much respect for him but I have been in the league longer and he needs to put in more work to be in the same category. But he is a great player that I love to watch.

Peterson has been answering questions about Johnson for several years, consistently remaining respectful but always making clear whom he believes to be the best player. Nothing changed Tuesday.

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

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

Chicago Bears

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

Detroit Lions

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

Green Bay Packers

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

Minnesota Vikings

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