ESPN NFL

In March, two Minnesota Vikings players -- punter Chris Kluwe and center John Sullivan -- called for the NFL to suspend New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for his role in the Saints' bounty program prior to the 2009 NFC Championship Game. At the time, we noted a developing and awkward dynamic: NFL Players Association (NFLPA) members advocating against their union brethren.

Sullivan, in fact, went so far as to say: "As a union member, I'll be very upset if we come to the defense of these acts. They're indefensible. You can't defend them. It's despicable, has no place in the sport."

Vilma, whom the NFL said offered a $10,000 reward for any player who knocked then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game, received a one-year suspension. We haven't yet heard from Sullivan, but Kluwe said via Twitter that the suspension is "just."

Kluwe also provided an extended and nuanced analysis of the what he called a "tough spot" for the NFLPA, which has already pledged to "vigorously protect" Vilma and the three other suspended players and "pursue all options on their behalf."

Here's what Kluwe tweeted:

"Vilma and the others deserve the right to an appeal; while I agree with the commissioner's decision others may not, and that's fine, this is America. However, the union has to simultaneously balance defending four guys against the judgment, of [Roger] Goodell (which needs oversight, make no mistake) while at the same time recognizing those four guys were attempting to harm other union members, who also deserve that same protection. The union cannot be just about appeals when someone does something wrong. It also has to be a shield for those men who are a part of it that you never hear about, but pay the same dues and play the same game. I can only hope that the leadership of the NFLPA realizes this, and acts in *all* of its members' interests, however that takes place."

I find this a fascinating, if subtle, subplot of this story. The NFLPA argues the NFL hasn't provided evidence of its accusations, but obviously there are at least some players -- and union members -- who are convinced otherwise. By definition, players engaging in a bounty system are trying to harm other players. Why isn't the union jumping to the defense of the targeted players, which according to the league includes Favre, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton?

I realize this is a tough day in the NFL for a lot of reasons. I just think this issue merits some discussion along with everything else. The story has thus far centered around the aggressors. What about the victims?

We noted Thursday that Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe wants the NFL to ban New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for life after his reported role in the team's bounty program prior to the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Kluwe is no stranger to bold public statements, but he has now been joined by a far more conservative teammate.

Center John Sullivan, who was a first-year starter on that 2009 team, told KFAN-1130 that he agreed with Kluwe's assessment and also wants to see the NFL penalize two other former Saints: Safety Darren Sharper and defensive end Bobby McCray. In an impassioned but nuanced argument, Sullivan questioned the meat behind the in-season suspension of Saints general manager Mickey Loomis -- "seems like it would be more effective as a punishment during the draft," he said -- and broached the sensitive topic of how the NFL Players Association should proceed.

Most importantly, Sullivan made clear he thinks the Saints were playing to hurt quarterback Brett Favre in that game.

"If you want to offer money to knock somebody out of a game on a clean hit, fine," Sullivan said. "But the guys that went after it in the wrong way, that's the exact opposite of sportsmanship. It's just disgusting. To think that you're going to take money to hit someone illegally and hurt them out of the game, I can't even fathom that somebody would do that."

Sullivan cited a number of instances, starting with McCray's hit on Favre after a second-quarter handoff. McCray was penalized 15 yards and ultimately fined $25,000 by the NFL. He implied that at least one of Sharper's two hits on Favre were illegal and said that, although neither Sharper nor McCray are in the NFL anymore, they can still be disciplined in a meaningful way.

"I really think if you go back and look at that game, anybody who took a shot at Brett illegally and you can see with the intention of trying to injury him [should be banned]," Sullivan said. "And the big two that come to mind are Sharper and Bobby McCray. They've got to do something to those guys, too, whether it's no Hall of Fame [or] you're not allowed to be associated with the NFL anymore. I have a hard time talking about it. It just disgusts me that you would go out there and try to hurt somebody and take away their livelihood. It' s just gross."

The NFL's investigation has dredged up some obvious animosity from Vikings players who participated in the game. We know now that team officials complained to the league days after the game, and whether or not there was a bounty, there has obviously been a feeling for some time that the Saints crossed the line many times. McCray grabbed Favre's ankle during a high-low hit that caused both an interception and an injury, and defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove was also called for a 15-yard penalty following a hit on Favre.

(Hargrove has denied his hit was motivated by a bounty).

Clearly, those who remain from that game are repulsed by the backdrop of the Saints' bounty system. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is working with the NFL Players Association to determine a punishment for the players involved, and Sullivan threw down the gauntlet Friday should union officials be conflicted.

"As a union member, I'll be very upset if we come to the defense of these acts," he said. "They're indefensible. You can't defend them. It's despicable, has no place in the sport."

Will the strong sentiments of Sullivan and Kluwe sway Goodell one way or the other? It's doubtful. But this unprecedented story has brought us a rarely, if ever, seen development: Multiple NFL players calling for the ouster from their brethren. Strange days indeed.

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has never been afraid to speak his mind, and on Thursday he went on ESPN 1500 radio in the Twin Cities and called for a lifetime ban of New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

According to the NFL, Vilma offered $10,000 to any player who knocked Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Commissioner Roger Goodell has punished the Saints, general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton, but he hasn't announced specific discipline for players involved in the Saints' bounty program and is awaiting a recommendation from the NFL Players Association.

"I think this is a spot," Kluwe said, "where the [NFLPA] definitely has to take a stand and say, 'Look, you put other guys' livelihoods in danger. You're jeopardizing other guys' chances to play.' Football is violent enough as it is. It's hard enough to stay healthy in the league and so by maliciously trying to hurt people they need to show, we need to show, that there's no place in the game for that kind of behavior."

Based on the Saints' abuse of Favre, Kluwe said he spoke with Vikings place-kicker Ryan Longwell during the game about the possibility of a bounty.

"But you don't want to believe that something like that is happening because you think better of the other players."

Kluwe's point is well taken, and Goodell has already surprised most observers with the harshness of his initial penalties. A lifetime ban might be unrealistic, but we've already learned our lesson about projecting Goodell's plans in this instance.

In what seems like ages ago, we pointed out that Minnesota Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler suffered a season-ending fracture in his lower back last Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Via Twitter, punter Chris Kluwe lashed out at Atlanta Falcons receiver Kerry Meier for what he considered an "unecessary" hit that "cheap-shotted" Loeffler.

Friday, the NFL fined Meier $20,000 for the hit, ruling it was an "illegal blindside block to an opponent’s head area," according to the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora.

"Well, hopefully Meier learns from that one. Good job front office," Kluwe tweeted Friday.

At least one member of the Minnesota Vikings is livid about the hit that appears to have ended the season of long-snapper Cullen Loeffler. Via Twitter, punter Chris Kluwe said the Atlanta Falcons' Kerry Meier "cheapshotted" Loeffler on a legal but "totally uncalled for" hit that caused a fracture in the long-snapper's lower back.

Kluwe: "To the Falcon that cheapshotted Loeffler - I hope someone does the same [expletive] to you and knocks you out for the rest of the year too."

(Here's the link to Kluwe's timeline. Warning: It contains adult language.)

When you watch the replay, you see Meier sprint across the field and catch up to Loeffler, who was covering on a second-quarter punt. As Loeffler turned to chase Falcons returner Eric Weems, Meier flattened him with a legal block to the chest.

At the time, Loeffler was outside of the right hashmark. Weems was outside of the left hashmark, meaning they were about 10 yards away.

"There was no call to do something like that," Kluwe tweeted.

Meier isn't likely to be disciplined for the block. Because he broke no rules that I'm aware of, he shouldn't be. But you hate to see a player suffer a violent injury so far away from the action. The Vikings will have to sign a new long-snapper this week.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A few thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' 45-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings:

What it means: The Packers are more than halfway through an undefeated season at 9-0 after a laugher that carried none of the drama of a typical NFC North game in November. The outcome was never in doubt, and the Vikings need to take a hard look at how and why they arrived at Lambeau Field with so little energy.

RodgersWatch: Ho hum. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished with a 140.3 passer rating, courtesy of four touchdown passes, a 76.7 completion percentage and no interceptions. The game got so out of hand that Rodgers departed after throwing his final score with 10:59 remaining.

Questioning: There is no doubt the Vikings were outmatched in this game. The only time their offense made it to the red zone came after Packers punt returner Randall Cobb lost a fumble at his own 14-yard line. But I didn't see a lot of fight from a team that seemed to know it would lose this game before it even started. That's too bad. The Vikings seemed to want this game to be over as quickly as possible. It's rare that you'll see a prime-time division game so poorly competed, regardless of the teams' records.

No question: After a week of discussion about their performance against the pass this season, the Packers defense found plenty of ways to pressure quarterback Christian Ponder. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers blitzed often, but linebacker Clay Matthews took advantage of a pair of 1-on-1 matchups to record his first two-sack game of the season. The Vikings finished with 266 yards and 14 first downs.

CobbWatch: Cobb essentially put the game away less than two minutes into the game by returning Chris Kluwe's first-quarter punt 80 yards for a score. Cobb seems to save his best games for prime time. In the Week 1 kickoff game, Cobb had a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The fumble represented the risk-reward of a flashy but young punt returner.

What's next: The Packers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Lambeau Field and the Vikings host the Raiders.

By now you've probably heard that the NFL has fined Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk $10,000 for flashing his middle finger at the team's bench during last Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams, a story first reported by Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

Hawk has apologized for the gesture and said it was an inside joke with teammates he declined to name. Regardless, the discipline has conjured the Hypocrisy Police. They are wondering why Hawk received a five-digit fine for his one-digit salute, while neither Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz nor San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh were disciplined for their part in last Sunday's postgame fracas at Ford Field.

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was among the first to take to Twitter: "A.J. Hawk fined 10k for flashing a middle finger as an inside joke. Harbaugh and Schwartz fined nothing for fighting. #doublestandardmuch"

Part of me wants to note that there are two different sets of circumstances here. The other is begging me to quote the NFL's own 2011 standards for game-related discipline. Here it is:

"It is important to note that the unsportsmanlike conduct rules apply to all personnel in the team area, including players, coaches, team employees, and officials. Lack of respect or other unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated during games or at other times, including postgame interviews. This includes abusive, threatening, insulting, or profane language or gestures, and physical acts by coaches, players, and other club personnel directed at opponents, officials, game personnel, or fans."

Normally I like to push back on the Hypocrisy Police, but in this case they have a point. It's true that NFL players are governed under a collectively bargained system of discipline they have tacitly agreed to. And yes, we should point out that Schwartz and Harbaugh didn't actually fight. Harbaugh did slap Schwartz on the back during their post-game handshake, and Schwartz bumped Harbaugh's shoulder from behind. But otherwise there was just a lot of yelling, screaming and "hold-me-backs."

Coaches aren't governed under the CBA, but they are supposed to be held to the standard quoted above. The NFL said neither man was disciplined because they didn't fight. But I think you could make an argument that their behavior was "unsportsmanlike" and "threatening," not to mention "insulting" and "profane." I don't think anyone would have protested had they been fined.

So where does this leave us? Hawk has no room to complain about his fine. He got caught in an act that is clearly covered under the rules he plays under. The coaches? Quite frankly, they caught a break. The money itself is not as big of a deal as is the message: The NFL tacitly condoned a coach melee on one of its fields minutes after an emotional game. We'll file that away for the next one.

Getting inside the Friday injury report, which is only half complete because Saturday is the Friday for our two Monday Night Football participants. We'll touch on the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in a separate post to come.

Green Bay Packers: Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) will miss his second consecutive game and be replaced by Marshall Newhouse for Sunday night's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) is doubtful and isn't likely to play, either. Linebacker Brad Jones (hamstring) is questionable.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) hasn't practiced all week and is listed as doubtful. Unless he makes significant progress over the weekend, Winfield will miss Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Chris Cook would be his replacement in the starting lineup, with Asher Allen working in the nickel. Punter Chris Kluwe (hamstring) is listed as questionable but expected to play.

Wednesday's practice update:

Chicago Bears: Did not have a formal practice and had no media access.

Detroit Lions: The Lions held a "bonus" workout Wednesday and will begin earnest preparations Thursday for Monday night's game against the Bears. Linebackers Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch didn't participate, according to Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com, but the Lions aren't required to distribute a formal injury report until Thursday. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley practiced for the second time since undergoing surgery on his foot in August. His status for Monday night's game against the Bears is unclear.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Frank Zombo (shoulder) practiced for the first time since fracturing his scapula in the preseason. It's not yet clear if he will be able to play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, but he is obviously making progress. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), receiver Donald Driver (shin), linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps), tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) and cornerback Charles Woodson (foot/knee) missed practice. Of that group, Bulaga seems most unlikely to play against the Falcons.

Minnesota Vikings: Punter Chris Kluwe (hamstring), center John Sullivan (ankle) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) didn't practice Wednesday. There is no indication that any of their injuries are serious enough to force them out of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Kinda hit a wall Friday evening. Happens. Now refreshed and ready for a weekend that will include our first training camp stop (more on that in a bit), let's slam through some random NFC North thoughts in quick-hit fashion:

Item: Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte reported to training camp on time Friday after general manager Jerry Angelo assured his contract would be upgraded. "He told me a deal will get done," Forte said. "He said I'm a priority of his. What that means, hopefully that means soon. I mean, there's no telling with them. But to me priority means soon."
Comment: Timing is only half of the uncertainty. Angelo's idea of a fair deal for a running back might be different than Forte's. It's good to know the Bears will make an effort. But after DeAngelo Williams scored $21 million in guarantees from the Carolina Panthers, will their effort match Forte's demands?

Item: Bears camp opened without center Olin Kreutz, who remains an unrestricted free agent.
Comment: Kreutz is in discussions with the Bears but also has interest from the San Francisco 49ers. Odds remain he will return to Chicago, but Kreutz might be wise to let the Bears have a few practices without him to emphasize his value to them. And I'm guessing he won't be too disappointed if his time in Bourbonnais, Ill., is cut short a bit anyway.

Item: The Bears signed defensive end Vernon Gholston to a free agent contract.
Comment: I just googled Gholston to find his career stats. The first suggestion was "Vernon Gholston bust." That tells you all you need to know. The No. 6 overall pick of the 2008 draft has no career sacks. But there is no downside to giving him a flyer for camp, and if anyone can get something out of him, it's Bears defensive coordinator/line guru Rod Marinelli.

Item: The Detroit Lions placed left tackle Jeff Backus (pectoral) and cornerback Alphonso Smith (foot) on the active/non-football injury list.
Comment: Originally both players were destined for the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The difference? Because the injuries occurred during the lockout, the contracts of both players would void (with no injury settlement) if the Lions decide to part ways. I don't think that's going to happen in either case, but it's an available option.

Item: Referring to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's brand-building activities this offseason, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said: "There were more Suh sightings than Bigfoot."
Comment: I'm glad someone said it.

Item: The Green Bay Packers agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette and others.
Comment: The new collective bargaining agreement has rendered rookie negotiations pretty uneventful, at least until agents start finding some loopholes. But at this point, it would be a surprise if an NFC North team had a rookie holdout. The Packers' first practice is Saturday night.

Item: Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his wife, Jessica, welcomed baby daughter Isabella Conroy late Thursday night.
Comment: Sure, McCarthy won the Super Bowl last season. But if he really wants to show us something, he'll take the 2 a.m. feeding throughout training camp.

Item: New Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb secured his No. 5 from punter Chris Kluwe in a deal captured on video by the team's web site. McNabb agreed to donate $5,000 to a charity Kluwe supports. He also pledged to mention Kluwe's band in five separate news conferences and finally to buy Kluwe an ice cream cone.
Comment: Kluwe, who will wear No. 4, is one of the breakout stars of the lockout.

Item: The Vikings are presumably still in negotiations to sign a free agent receiver, but coach Leslie Frazier had this to say: "Bernard Berrian is going to step up and have a great year."
Comment: Berrian could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the transition from Brett Favre to McNabb. For reasons that haven't fully been explained, Favre and Berrian never connected on a personal or football level.

Leave it to Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe to insert some humor into what has been a tense day for his organization.

Kluwe has worn No. 5 for the Vikings since his 2005 arrival. Upon the news that quarterback Donovan McNabb had agreed to a trade that would send him to the Vikings, Kluwe immediately placed a price (via Twitter) on the number McNabb has worn his entire career.

So here's the deal. If McNabb comes and wants 5, it's his, BUT he has to promise to mention Tripping Icarus in at least 5 press conferences.

Who (or what) is Tripping Icarus? Naturally, it's a Minneapolis-based alternative rock band. Kluwe is the bassist.

Let's see whether McNabb shares in the humor.

What number will Kluwe take? No. 4 would work, he tweeted, because "pi is not an option."

I was concerned about 2010 fatigue this week when I asked for some help in compiling our All-NFC North team. It's been almost six weeks since the end of the regular season, and I figured many of you had moved on to offseason mode.

More than 800 responses later -- via the comments, Twitter and the mailbag -- I am glad to admit my concerns were unwarranted. There was great interest in putting this team together, and you can see the results in the chart to your right. Below, I've offered explanations and context for the final decisions.

From the top, many of you were surprised that I didn't make Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson a "lock." Wrote kprugger2010: "I will consume my first born child ... if you don't immediately make Adrian Peterson the undisputed/unanimous/worship-worthy RB on this list."

I realize Peterson led the division with 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing one game. But I thought Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte had an exceptional second half of the season, and I wanted to see where that conversation went. In the last six weeks of the season, during which the Bears locked up their NFC North title, Forte had the third-most yards from scrimmage (718) in the NFL.

In arguing Forte's case, drhodes77 wrote: "Forte for RB. No other real RB's in the league that did anything consistently. And by league I mean NFCN. Peterson had another standard year for him but in terms of being all important to his team, his team [stunk]."

In the end, I cheated a little and converted the TE/FB category to "RB." I thought both Peterson and Forte were among the top players in the division. Both were deserving of inclusion.

Offensive line was a struggle for me and many of you as well. The only position I felt certain about was right guard, which the Green Bay Packers' Josh Sitton manned consistently all season. The other four? Let's just say this wasn't the best year for NFC North offensive lines.

Although Packers left tackle Chad Clifton was named to the Pro Bowl, I went with the Detroit Lions' Jeff Backus. @JohnWayne506th pointed me in the direction of these STATS Inc. analyses for Clifton and Backus. By STATS' measure, Backus gave up half as many sacks as Clifton over the course of the season. Sack responsibility is open to interpretation, but others have shared in this opinion as well.

For the rest of the line, I went with Vikings left guard Steve Hutchinson, Packers center Scott Wells and Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

While Hutchinson's play slipped in 2010, I don't think any of us could argue that the Lions' Rob Sims, the Packers' Daryn Colledge or the Bears' Chris Williams was better. At center, it was pretty much a toss-up between Wells, the Lions' Dominic Raiola and the Bears' Olin Kreutz. I went with Wells because several Packers coaches and players said at the Super Bowl that he had his best-ever NFL season in 2010.

Right tackle was particularly challenging. I chose Bulaga because he had an uneventful year after making the conversion from left tackle. For offensive linemen, "uneventful" often equals "successful." I'll admit that isn't the most scientific explanation, and the Lions' Gosder Cherilus had a case here. But as hendrix197731 noted, the Lions' offensive line was ranked No. 32 in the NFL by Football Outsiders, whose methods I trust. In a close decision, that ranking pushed me in the other direction.

Moving over to defense, I picked the Vikings' Jared Allen over the Packers' Cullen Jenkins and the Lions' Kyle Vanden Bosch. Allen had more sacks (11) and was the only one among that trio who played in all 16 games.

Levy50613 pushed to have Bears linebacker Lance Briggs removed and replaced by the Vikings' Chad Greenway, a move I considered. Wrote Levy50613: "He had 20 more solo tackles than Briggs had total tackles! 144 total tackles for Greenway. About 20 DB's had more tackles than Briggs (89)."

Ultimately, I wasn't going to downgrade Briggs based on tackles, an unofficial statistic. Greenway had a really good season, but I'm good with Briggs on this list.

There was some discussion about making the Vikings' Antoine Winfield the second cornerback, but I agreed with LamboLeak's observation of the Super Bowl: "We saw what happened when [Woodson] went out of the game Sunday: 21-3 turned into a game." Woodson had a quieter season in 2010 than he did in 2009, but that doesn't mean his play slipped beyond that of All-NFC North status.

As for safety, I flipped several times between the Bears' Chris Harris and the Lions' Louis Delmas to pair with the Packers' Nick Collins. I think we can agree that Harris -- like Forte -- was exceptional during the Bears' division title push. Harris had all five of his interceptions after the Bears' Week 8 bye.

Finally, special teams provided an opportunity to let flow my Vikings bias. (SARCASM ALERT.) Place-kicker Ryan Longwell missed only one field goal all season and punter Chris Kluwe led the division in net average (38.9) and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (32). I realize that Kluwe punted 12 more times than the candidate many of you pushed for, the Packers' Tim Masthay, but I didn't consider that difference large enough to make up for their respective production disparity.

Again, thanks to everyone for participating. Hopefully, the NFL's looming labor strife won't disrupt our plans to do it all over again next year.

During this week's visit with "The Reusse & Mackey Show," we touched on the playoff viability of Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, the prolific tweeting of Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe and what this season would look like if it were extended to 18 games.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton returned to Minnesota last Sunday for the Vikings' 50th anniversary celebration. But Tarkenton left town before Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears, skipped an on-field halftime ceremony and clearly still hasn't come to grips with Brett Favre's two-year tenure as the Vikings' quarterback.

During a radio interview on 97.5 FM in Philadelphia, Tarkenton slammed Favre for pushing his way into the lineup Monday night and said Favre has "set the franchise back."

Tarkenton: "It's absolutely selfish. With Brett Favre -- he talks about the team, and I'm for the team and I want to play for my home fans and my teammates. It was "Monday Night Football" last week. He hadn't had enough publicity in the last week. He had been on the bench for two weeks. It's not right. He ought to take himself out of the equation and say 'This is not best for the team.'"

I would agree with that sentiment if Favre had actually leapfrogged a more worthy candidate. I'm not sure if Joe Webb, a rookie whose future could well be at another position, qualified under what was "best for the team" Monday night. But I think we all know where Tarkenton has stood, continues to stand and will forever stand on this issue.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Quarterback Rhett Bomar is with the Vikings two years later than he thought he would be, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.
• Vikings punter Chris Kluwe on getting booed for intentionally kicking the ball out of bounds for most of Monday night's game, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune: "The game plan for that was pretty much the epitome of being a team player because I sacrificed my stats to make sure that he didn't return it, and then they boo me. So I was like, 'Sweet, thanks, guys.' But there's a reason why you don't see a lot of punting out of bounds in the NFL. It's so hard to get the ball out of bounds to where you want it to go, especially if you're making sure that it gets out of bounds. I can aim for a spot 40 yards up the field, but there's like a 50-50 chance that it's going to stay in bounds."
• Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson (knee) still hasn't returned to practice, notes Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz on whether he would be interested in another head-coaching job, via Michael C. Wright and Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com: "Sure, if the opportunity were to come up again, who knows? Shoot, I'm 59 years old. I'm very happy with what I'm doing right now, and if that's it for me, I'd be the happiest guy in the world, too."
• The Bears are a rare team that improved itself by spending premium cash in the offseason, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.
• Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga made a rare mental mistake during the team's final possession last Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, notes the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Sunday's matchup between the Packers and New York Giants is a de facto playoff game, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The 2010 season has been a huge disappointment for Packers safety Atari Bigby, notes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "The Lions have dragged their feet in putting Matthew Stafford on season-ending injured reserve, but coach Jim Schwartz said that reluctance has nothing to do with wanting Stafford to avoid the stigma of going on IR each of his first two years."
• It appears that Shaun Hill will replace Drew Stanton as the Lions' starting quarterback this week, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

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

FALLING

1. Margin of error in Green Bay: Given their list of injuries to prominent players, the Packers probably are fortunate to remain in playoff contention at 8-6. None of their losses this season have come by more than four points, and their total margin of those six defeats is 20 points. But there is no longer any wiggle room. The Packers will be eliminated from the playoffs if they lose Sunday to the New York Giants. They need victories in their final two games to ensure a wild-card berth. Given the unpredictable nature of an NFL season, all any team can hope for is to be in this position. There is no sense lamenting how injury-free the Chicago Bears were on the way to their division title. The Packers have an opportunity and need to capitalize on it.

2. Candid speech in Minnesota: Shortly after he tweeted that the field at TCF Bank Stadium was "unplayable," Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe said he had been asked to stop publicly discussing field conditions. Later, ESPN's Ed Werder reported the Vikings instructed all players to stop criticizing it. To be fair, most private companies would do the same thing. You aren't guaranteed free speech as part of employment, especially if it casts your employer in a poor light. But at the same time, there was a strong sense that NFL and team officials were glossing over potential safety issues with the field by expressing unfounded confidence and revealing only vague details about the preparation process. Muzzling players only added to that suspicion. Why shut them down if there is nothing to hide?

3. Concerns about the Chicago Bears' receivers: We spent a fair amount of time last offseason debating the merits of the Bears' receivers and whether they would overlook the skills of tight end Greg Olsen in the Mike Martz scheme. The Bears kept telling us they considered the sum of the parts to be greater than any one individual, and on cue, they have three wide receivers with 36 or more catches. Johnny Knox is nearly on pace for a 1,000-yard season. Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester each have three touchdown receptions. And while Olsen has been limited to 35 receptions, he has a team-high five touchdowns.

RISING

1. Holiday cheer in Oconomowoc, Wis.: We noted Monday that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre wore a towel with a backwards "4" in honor of 5-year-old Anderson Butzine, who has a terminal brain tumor. Favre and his wife, Deanna, visited Butzine's family in suburban Milwaukee last Friday. If you haven't already, take a few minutes to watch this homemade video of Favre's visit. No matter what you might think of Favre, the impact of his visit is undeniable. If you're interested in more of Butzine's story, be sure to check out his CaringBridge page. And then be sure to give your children an extra hug today.

2. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears coach: Last winter, there were suggestions that the Bears would have fired Smith were it not for the $11 million buyout on his contract. This winter, he's the top coach in the NFC North. Smith has been described by detractors as tone-deaf to the realities of the world around him, but that proved to be an attribute for this season. Even if it was misplaced, Smith's genuine confidence in this Bears team helped everyone tune out the near-universal expectations for an all-out collapse in 2010. Sometimes, insulation helps.

3. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions defensive tackle: Although he hasn't had a sack in three games, Suh continues to have a precedent-setting season. In an ESPN Insider piece this week, Vince Verhei of Football Outsiders suggests Suh is having the best rookie season of a defensive tackle in at least 13 years. Football Outsiders measures defensive tackles partly with a metric known as "defeats" -- the sum of plays that result in a loss of yardage, turnover and/or a stop on third or fourth down. Suh has 25 defeats this season, two more than Shaun Rogers had for the Lions in 2001. I think we all know Suh is having a great season, but this analysis helps us put it in some historical context.