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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs examines three key questions surrounding the Bears' offense: 1) Will Jay Cutler deliver? 2) Can the Bears run the ball effectively? and 3) Will the O-line get the job done?

The Tribune's Dan Pompei looks at the impact new director of player personnel Tim Ruskell will have on the organization.

ChicagoBears.com has the second installment of a video series on rookie minicamp. This one features sixth-round pick Dan LeFevour, who grew up dreaming of playing for the Bears.

Detroit Lions

Carlos Monarrez preview the training camp battles between incumbent running back starter Kevin Smith and first-rounder Jahvid Best.

When the Lions released safety Daniel Bullocks last week, they purged the last player remaining on the roster from the Matt Millen era. The Detroit News' Tim Twentyman looks at how far the Lions have come since Martin Mayhew took over as GM.

Green Bay Packers

In his latest podcast, ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde looks at whether an NFL team could replicate what the NBA's Miami Heat did in free agency.

Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at the challenges facing Dan Froelich, the chef feeding the Packers during training camp.

The team's website has an interview with former tackle Greg Koch, who will be one of three 2010 inductees into the team's Hall of Fame.

Minnesota Vikings

In his latest mailbag, vikings.com's Mike Wobschall looks at the odds of the team making a run at veteran running back Brian Westbrook.

Four Vikings fans are planning to make a trek from Minneapolis to Hattiesburg, Miss., to thank Brett Favre personally.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

General Manager Jerry Angelo is excited about the potential of Mike Martz's offense.

The Browns signed former Bears second-round pick Bobby Engram.

Detroit Lions

The Lions released safety Daniel Bullocks, who was the last of former general manager Matt Millen's draft picks from 2002-06 on the roster.

Receiver Nate Burleson said quarterback Matthew Stafford has the same confident mindset that Daunte Culpepper had in his prime.

Charles Woodson talks about the Packers and says he'd play in any scheme for Albert Haynesworth money.

ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde spoke with tight end Jermichael Finley, who is going into camp with a "chip on [his] shoulder."

Minnesota Vikings

Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter speaks out about Sidney Rice. Meanwhile, Rice's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, tweeted that Rice has a lingering hip injury, but it won't require surgery. Rice told Chip Scoggins Thursday that "everything is alright. I'll be ready to go at camp."

It's been a week since we wondered if the entire NFC North would be fighting for free agent safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. I had a wild mental image of each team pulling a different Atogwe limb, but it didn't work out that way.

The Green Bay Packers, who rarely pursue veteran free agents, never seemed a serious candidate. There were some connections between Atogwe and the Chicago Bears, but as Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com pointed out, there isn't much money left in the Bears' player payroll budget.

The Minnesota Vikings have indicated their safety depth chart could change, but apparently it won't include Atogwe. Friday, coach Brad Childress said the Vikings had no interest in him. "We've got who we need right now on this football team," Childress said.

(For now, the Vikings are giving Jamarca Sanford -- a seventh-round draft pick in 2009 -- a chance to unseat either Madieu Williams or Tyrell Johnson.)

That leaves the Detroit Lions, who have been the NFC North's most active team in free agency over the past two years. Atogwe is a native of nearby Windsor. Although he is nearly 29, Atogwe plays a position that historically has featured stars in their mid-30s.

Most important, check out the Lions' current stack of safeties in the chart to your right. It doesn't exactly rule out the need for further talent, especially when you consider that three of the six players on the list -- Marquand Manuel, Daniel Bullocks and Ko Simpson -- are recovering from season-ending injuries.

So the question circles back to Atogwe. As Howard Balzer pointed out in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Rams are letting him test the market. If anyone has made a significant bid for him -- the Lions or anyone else -- it hasn't been reported.

Stay tuned. Or, at least 25 percent of you should.

We've spent much of the offseason debating the future configuration of Green Bay's offensive line. But as it turns out, some of those possibilities will have to be placed on hold.

Second-year guard/tackle T.J. Lang had wrist surgery April 5 and isn't expected to participate in offseason team activities this spring. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports Lang should be ready when training camp begins at the end of July.

According to Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Lang fractured the scaphoid bone in his left wrist during a practice in December. The injury didn't improve during the early stages of the offseason, necessitating surgery. When he's healthy, Lang could be in play for both the left guard and right tackle positions.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Green Bay left tackle Chad Clifton discusses the flood damage his farm sustained in Tennessee. Here's Lori Nickel's report in the Journal Sentinel.
• Former Minnesota defensive lineman John Randle has selected former Vikings defensive line coach John Teerlinck to introduce him for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, according to the Star Tribune.
• Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press considers the future of Lions safety Daniel Bullocks.
• Can Chicago receiver Johnny Knox succeed in Mike Martz's offense? That's one of the questions Jeff Dickerson addresses in this ESPNChicago.com mailbag.
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune culls some Bears draft knowledge from the now-infamous photograph of Dallas' draft board.

Detroit will open this second full week of May by continuing to search for help in the secondary. According to John Niyo of the Detroit News, the Lions will host free-agent safety C.C. Brown on a visit Monday.

My NFC East colleague Matt Mosley had a few choice words for Brown during his tenure with the New York Giants last season, and Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. wrote Brown was "overmatched" in coverage before the Giants benched him.

But at this point in the offseason, all available free agents are flawed. And the Lions absolutely need more help at safety, where Louis Delmas is the only clear starter. Many of you are counting on Daniel Bullocks making a recovery from microfracture surgery, but that's a tall order.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Detroit coach Jim Schwartz on seventh-round draft pick Tim Toone: "Interesting guy. White guy with dreadlocks." Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has more.
• Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has pledged to learn the playbook by the time he returns for spring practice on May 17, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Chicago safety Danieal Manning has no plans to skip the Bears' mandatory minicamp, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Manning hasn't signed his restricted free-agent tender but is participating in offseason workouts after signing an injury waiver.
• The Bears should convert Soldier Field to an artificial surface in order to maximize Mike Martz's offense, writes Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on the Packers' progress under general manager Ted Thompson since 2005: "In a subjective assessment, the Packers have improved at 11 of the 22 starting positions, gotten worse at seven spots and stayed the same at four others. At three positions -- tight end, nose tackle and one cornerback spot -- the Packers are significantly better. They also have upgraded their depth."
• The Packers' draft class might not get an opportunity to make an immediate impact, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Find out Toby Gerhart's favorite childhood cartoon in this interview with Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth would have interest in moving to Minnesota, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

Sorry for the light posting Wednesday. Life intervenes sometimes. We’ll be back at full strength Thursday, but for now I wanted to pass along a helpful list dug up by NFC South landlord Pat Yasinskas.

We’ve touched a bit on the potential changes if the NFL goes to an uncapped system in 2010. One is that players would need six years of experience to become unrestricted free agents instead of four. Below you’ll see a list of NFC North players who would be unrestricted in the current system but would become restricted in an uncapped year. Remember, restricted free agents can shop for contracts with other teams but can have those offers matched or else require compensation to depart.

Chicago Bears: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, defensive end Dusty Dvoracek, safety Danieal Manning and linebacker Jamar Williams.

Detroit Lions: Safety Daniel Bullocks, center Dylan Gandy, defensive end Jason Hunter, receiver Adam Jennings, guard Daniel Loper, safety Ko Simpson and linebacker Cody Spencer.

Green Bay Packers: Safety Atari Bigby, cornerback Will Blackmon, guard Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, fullback John Kuhn, safety Derrick Martin and center Jason Spitz.

Minnesota Vikings: Tackle Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, nose tackle Fred Evans, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, cornerback Karl Paymah and fullback Naufahu Tahi.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Detroit’s depth at safety dwindled so much this summer that it suddenly became necessary to start shopping for more. That’s why they felt compelled Thursday to acquire Buffalo safety Ko Simpson.

As you might recall, the Lions finished up offseason workouts with five veterans -- Daniel Bullocks, Gerald Alexander, Kalvin Pearson, Marquand Manuel and Stuart Schweigert -- competing with rookie and Louis Delmas. Alexander was traded to Jacksonville to reduce the glut, Bullocks suffered a re-occurrence of an old knee injury and Manuel has been limited by injuries in training camp. Delmas and Pearson have been working with the first team, but Pearson has struggled and Delmas is still learning the NFL game.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been rolling veterans in and out of his building for what amounts to extended tryouts. So I can’t say that Simpson is going to challenge Pearson for his starting job. But it’s pretty clear the Lions depth at the position has dissipated considerably.

	Scott Boehm/Getty Images
	New Lions coach Jim Schwartz is attempting to change the atmosphere in Detroit.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Upon arriving in Detroit to begin offseason workouts, Lions players found their locker room had been painted. Their lockers had been moved around. They had been assigned new parking spaces. Their lifting regimen had been changed. Their uniforms looked different.

Most symbolic, a number of motivational signs were replaced by one that simply read: "National Football League" -- a reminder of the high standards set for everyone who walks into the building.

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

"It sort of made a little statement to the players," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "The whole idea was that when the players came back, they didn't walk into the building and have the same old thing. ... The objective was for them not to say, 'Whoop, same old stuff around here.' That was the plan."

That approach has extended into training camp, where more than half of the players on Detroit's 80-man roster are newcomers. Schwartz has tweaked his practice plan for every day of camp, both to reinforce the message and provide variety. After taking over the first 0-16 team in NFL history, he really had no other choice.

"You can't stand pat," Schwartz said. "That's something that gives the players a little bit of comfort, that we're not standing pat. ... Every time they come to practice, they're working on a different situation, a little bit different drill, different emphasis of periods and things like that. There's drudgery in walking out of the hotel every morning and going to bed and walking to the next meeting. But when they walk onto the practice field, it's a fresh plan that day. It's not the same old thing."

(Note: Due to circumstances, my stay in Detroit was cut short. But for additional information, make sure you've checked out this practice report posted earlier this week.)

Key questions

	Mark Cunningham/Getty Images
	Detroit rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford has played well enough to be the starter.

1. Who will start at quarterback?
I hope it doesn't sound patronizing to praise Daunte Culpepper for losing 30 pounds during the offseason. Culpepper reported to camp at 260 pounds and has never looked lighter in his NFL career. During the practice I attended this week, he was decisive and his passes were sharp.

To be honest, Culpepper probably couldn't have done more thus far to win the Lions' starting job. And he still might not see the field this season.

Rookie Matthew Stafford, whose pre-draft contract agreement ensured he would not miss a day of training camp, has practiced his way into a legitimate opportunity to start the Sept. 13 opener at New Orleans. (Let that be a lesson to all future No. 1 draft picks.) In practice, at least, it's difficult to see much difference between him and Culpepper. If that remains the case, it's hard to imagine Stafford opening the year on the bench.

Stafford still has plenty of work to do, beginning with his anticipated start Saturday night against at Cleveland. But at the very least, it looks like Stafford is going to give Schwartz a very difficult decision.

2. Can the Lions retrofit their defensive line?
You won't find two more dissimilar defensive schemes than when you compare the Lions' 2008 approach with the one Schwartz is implementing now.

"The philosophy here in the past had been small and quick," he said. "The philosophy here now is big and powerful."

That put the Lions' personnel department on a search for larger defensive linemen, while incumbents were required to gain weight in the offseason. Such changes don't occur overnight, and it appears the Lions are about halfway there.

They've added some interior bulk in Grady Jackson (340ish pounds), Shaun Smith (325 pounds) and rookie Sammie Lee Hill (329 pounds). Based on pure size, that trio should be more difficult to drive off the ball than the players Detroit used last year.

On the outside, however, the Lions will miss veteran Jared DeVries, who ruptured his Achilles tendon early in camp and is lost for the season. Their current depth at end -- led by Cliff Avril, Jason Hunter and Dewayne White -- is thin.

3. What impact will the free agent/trade crop have?
The Lions' revolving personnel door has continued into training camp, most recently with Shaun Smith. New veterans are sprinkled all over the field, from Smith and Jackson
to cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, from linebackers Larry Foote and Julian Peterson to receivers Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt.

Considering the personnel deficit that contributed to last season's record, an influx seemed unavoidable. The Lions decided to pursue the veteran route in hopes of establishing some short-term credibility while building for the long term behind the scenes. In all, it looks like the Lions will have at least 11 new starters when the season opens.

Market watch

Henry

The Lions acquired Henry, 33, in exchange for quarterback Jon Kitna. Henry is of the age where cornerbacks typically convert to nickel backs or safety, but for now the Lions have him listed as a starter opposite Buchanon.

You wonder whether that will last all season or if Henry will eventually make his way to safety. From the outside, he doesn't appear to be a good matchup for the speedy receivers in this division, be it Green Bay's Greg Jennings, Minnesota's Bernard Berrian or Chicago's Devin Hester.

A previous surplus of safeties has been whittled down to the point where this move might make sense, if the Lions can find another cornerback they feel comfortable inserting into the lineup.

Peterson

Newcomer to watch
During the best portion of his career, Peterson was a pass-rushing, play-making force to be reckoned with. Offenses had to account for him on every play.

At 32, Peterson might be past that prime. But the Lions believe he can still be a disruptive player who will help cover for some pass-rushing deficiency in other areas. His success or failure will play a big role in whether the Lions can improve their takeaway totals from last season.

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has said he could blitz as often as 40 percent of the time this season. Expect him to lean heavily on Peterson in those situations.

Observation deck
The Lions signed veteran Maurice Morris to back up starting running back Kevin Smith, but you wonder what Morris' role will be if rookie Aaron Brown continues to display big-play capabilities. Brown's speed might make it difficult to keep him off the field. ... When the summer began, the Lions had too many safeties. But their surplus has thinned out considerably after the trade of Gerald Alexander and a season-ending knee injury to Daniel Bullocks. Rookie Louis Delmas and veteran Marquand Manuel have been limited by injuries. When it's all said and done, expect Delmas and Kalvin Pearson to hold starting jobs. ... Receiver Demir Boldin, the brother of Arizona's Anquan Boldin, is a long shot to make the roster but made a number of professional-level catches during the practice I watched. ... Receiver Calvin Johnson has been limited by a thumb injury during much of camp and will miss his second consecutive preseason game Saturday at Cleveland. But Johnson is expected to be healed in time for the regular season. ... Quarterback Drew Stanton appears close to locking down a roster spot after seeming to be on the brink of release during the offseason.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Detroit's training camp got a jolt Wednesday when rookie safety Louis Delmas put a big-league hit on running back Aaron Brown during a full-pads drill, causing a fumble and sending Brown sprawling to the turf near the sideline.

Players generally are asked to avoid such hits in practice to prevent injury, and media accounts report that coach Jim Schwartz told Delmas the hit was unnecessary. But I'm guessing no one was too upset to see the spurt of aggression from Delmas, who the Lions have been hoping would add some nastiness to their secondary. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham admitted he smiled when he saw it, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press:

"You shouldn't do that in practice, but I turned around and smiled. I loved every second of it. Boy, he blew him up. That's the kind of tackling we hope to get out of him."

Delmas had been limited during training camp because of a swollen knee and is just getting back to full participation in practice. He is expected to play Saturday at Cleveland.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The season is over for Lions safety Daniel Bullocks, who hasn't been able to overcome knee soreness, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette breaks down the Packers' recent drafts. Vandermause: "After a blazing start in 2005 and 2006, in which five of six players taken in Rounds 1 and 2 eventually became starters, [general manager Ted Thompson] has run into a bit of a slump."
• Packers safety Nick Collins is trying not to focus on his contract situation, writes Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler took the full blame for his interception last week at Buffalo, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago examines why Frank Omiyale has overtaken Josh Beekman at left guard for the Bears.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune wraps up the Bears' training camp, which breaks Thursday. Safety Al Afalava was the most impressive rookie and receiver Juaquin Iglesias was the most disappointing, according to Haugh.
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune looks at how the Vikings' schedule might change after the acquisition of quarterback Brett Favre.
• Reebok employees are working overtime to stock Twin Cities stores with Favre jerseys, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Will Favre get a chance to call audibles? Jensen asks the Vikings' former starter, Gus Frerotte.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Minnesota has dealt with gimpy quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Chicago is trying to get defensive tackle Tommie Harris back on the field. Green Bay has been thin at linebacker and is down a defensive end while B.J. Raji's contract negotiations drag on.

But no NFC North team is more black and blue than Detroit. The latest addition to the Lions' injury list is defensive end Jared DeVries, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Monday. Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com reports the Lions signed free agent lineman Shaun Smith, but as Kowalski points out, defensive line is only one of several thin positions this week in training camp.

Consider:

• The Lions' top four receivers all missed practice Monday. Calvin Johnson, in fact, was wearing a protective cast over his jammed thumb. And the Lions still haven't gotten No. 2 receiver Bryant Johnson on the field because of lingering issues from a golf cart accident last month. (Yes, that sentence is accurate.)
• Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew (thigh) and rookie safety Louis Delmas (knee) have been limited for much of camp. Both were in uniform Monday but were limited to individual drills.
• Safety Daniel Bullocks, who appeared to have a good chance to start opposite Delmas, is having knee problems again.

That's a few more key players than coach Jim Schwartz probably wants to see. But to mangle an old phrase, look at the positive: The sooner you get hurt, the more time you have to get healthy.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- I'll be headed out to Chicago's practice here in a few hours on what is predicted to be a 92-degree day in the greater Bourbonnais-Kankakee area. That's football (practice) weather if I've ever heard of it.

Three-fourths of the NFC North was off Sunday, but one news item caught my eye Monday morning: Green Bay hasn't made any progress on Michael Vick, but it has moved a bit closer in contract negotiations with first-round draft choice B.J. Raji, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. A deal might not be imminent, but Denver's agreement with No. 12 overall pick Knowshon Moreno seems to have had a positive effect on the Raji talks.

The Packers are back on the field at 3 p.m. ET Monday. You would think Raji's deal will be done at some time this week, but we're now entering the territory where his availability for the first preseason game will be in question. The Packers will host Cleveland on Saturday night.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Detroit practiced in brutal heat Sunday, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. It was 93 degrees when practice started and the heat index was 106.
• Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (thigh) returned to practice after missing a week, notes Monarrez. Safety Daniel Bullocks, meanwhile, traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to have his troublesome knee checked out by Dr. James Andrews.
• Minnesota receiver Bobby Wade clarified his comments regarding Minnesota's quarterback competition, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. Wade seemed to indicate over the weekend that Tarvaris Jackson will win the job, but Sunday he said, "I have no clue" whether Jackson or Sage Rosenfels will be the starter. Sounds like someone got to someone.
• Minnesota center John Sullivan indicates that he's a few inches shorter than what the Vikings have him listed at in this interview with Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 
• Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald writes he is "more than a little concerned" about the long-term future of Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris.
• The Bears are trying to shape Danieal Manning in the mold of versatile defensive backs Aeneas Williams and Ronde Barber, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Catching up on the training camps around the NFC North:

It's been interesting that Josh Beekman is hanging on to the starting left guard job in Chicago despite the presence of free agent Frank Omiyale, who presumably was signed to take over the position.

Through a week of training camp, Beekman has "far and away" outperformed Omiyale, writes ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson.

Dickerson: "I freely admit to being one of those who felt Omiyale would start given his contract and the speed with which the Bears pursued him in free agency. It's not even close. To be fair, Omiyale is learning a new position in a new system, and he doesn't have much experience. I'm not writing him off, but he has a long way to go to unseat Beekman, who's had an excellent first week in Bourbonnais."

Omiyale is set to earn $6.3 million this season as part of a four-year contract worth a total of $11.4 million. Will he really be a high-priced backup when the regular season begins? That will be an interesting subplot as September approaches.

In Detroit, cornerback Anthony Henry saw some work at safety while Louis Delmas and Daniel Bullocks nursed injuries. There has been talk of Henry, 33, eventually finding his way to safety but for now Henry said he expects to remain at cornerback.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said that tight end Tory Humphrey (broken arm) should be able to play at some point this season. Cornerback Pat Lee is day-to-day because of a back condition. Linebackers Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Jeremy Thompson (groin) were held out of Friday's indoor practice. McCarthy said Thompson should be available for Saturday's Family Night scrimmage. The same goes for defensive lineman Justin Harrell, who didn't practice Friday for precautionary reasons.

There's gonna be some hitting around the division over the next 24 hours. Minnesota has scheduled a "live" full-pads practice Friday night. The Packers, Bears and Lions all have scrimmage-style practices scheduled for their home stadiums on Saturday. All four will be off on Sunday. Yee-haw.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

	AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
	Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears will need a young receiver to step up in camp.

Chicago Bears
Training camp site: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.)

Campfires
The only Bears receiver with a guaranteed job is Devin Hester. Otherwise, the position is wide open. Veterans Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis will compete with rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox for the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 receiver positions. If general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't like what he sees, the Bears could pursue a proven veteran later this summer.

The free safety position is also wide open as the Bears replace the departed Mike Brown. Craig Steltz ended spring practice atop the depth chart, but he'll have to battle converted cornerback Corey Graham. Former New Orleans starter Josh Bullocks is also on the roster as a third, if distant, option.

Although the Bears hope it never matters, they'll have to sort out their depth behind new quarterback Jay Cutler. Unproven Caleb Hanie is set to battle free agent Brett Basanez in a competition that, like receiver, could ultimately give way to a veteran from outside the organization. Hanie, however, is a favorite of coach Lovie Smith and will get every opportunity to win the job.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... the Bears realize this summer that they haven't given Cutler enough weapons. While young players don't always develop on a convenient timetable, it should be pretty clear by mid-August if the Bears have enough mature depth at the receiver position. Adding a veteran at the end of the summer is an imperfect solution and would limit his chances to develop a rapport with the new quarterback.

Division Camp Previews • Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North • Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East • Thursday: NFC South | AFC South • Friday: NFC West | AFC West MORE • Camp battles: AFC | NFC • Schedule: Training camp dates

The best-case scenario is if Bennett can parlay his familiarity with Cutler -- they were college teammates at Vanderbilt -- into a quick claim on the No. 2 job. That would lessen the pressure on the rookies and relieve the need to rely on Davis, who isn't a starting-caliber receiver. But if Bennett stumbles, the domino effect could significantly diminish the Bears' passing attack early in the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Smith can lay the groundwork for a revived defense. Smith has taken over as the de facto defensive coordinator and will call most defensive signals during games. He'll need to restore the Bears' core values -- producing a pass rush with the front four and making big plays in the secondary -- in order to meet the standard his defenses set earlier this decade.

It might be difficult to judge the success of this venture during camp and even in the preseason; Smith isn't likely to give away too much from a schematic standpoint before the regular season begins. But make no mistake: The origin of any improvement must come during technique and drill work in training camp.

O-verhaul
Quietly, the Bears shook up 60 percent of their offensive line this offseason. Center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza are the only returning starters. Chicago is hoping that left tackle Orlando Pace, left guard Frank Omiyale and right tackle Chris Williams can breathe some life into a group that grew stale last season.

Pace is the short-term key. Injuries have caused him to miss 25 games over the past three seasons. His health and conditioning will be monitored carefully in training camp. It will be interesting to see if the Bears also work Williams at left tackle -- his natural position -- as a contingency should Pace suffer another injury.

---

Detroit Lions
Training camp site: Team facility in Allen Park, Mich.

	Rashaun Rucker/zuma/Icon SMI
	The Lions would like Daunte Culpepper to earn the starting quarterback job ahead of Matthew Stafford to start the season.

Campfires
No Black and Blue battle will be more scrutinized than the competition between Lions quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford. Conventional wisdom suggests Culpepper will win the job as long as he maintains his offseason conditioning level. But coach Jim Schwartz has said Stafford will start as soon as he meets two criteria: when he is ready and when he surpasses Culpepper as the team's best option.

Stafford's status as an underclassman suggests he faces a steep learning curve this season. That, along with Culpepper's familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's scheme, imposes a two-pronged challenge for Stafford to win the job in training camp.

Another rookie, safety Louis Delmas, appears to be one of the few locks to start in the secondary. You would assume Phillip Buchanon will win one cornerback spot, but the other two starting roles seem wide open.

Anthony Henry could start at cornerback, or he could move to safety. Other safety candidates include Daniel Bullocks, Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert. The competition will be wide open as the Lions look for defensive backs who are aggressive and eager for contact.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... every player on the roster suffers a season-ending injury on the first day of camp. Otherwise, there is nowhere to go but up for a team that went 0-16 last season.

Seriously, there is one position where Detroit is keeping its fingers crossed. The Lions signed 36-year-old nose tackle Grady Jackson to help tighten their run defense and also keep offensive linemen off their talented trio of linebackers. But Jackson missed all of spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in February. Jackson is as important as any player the Lions acquired this winter and he needs to get at least some practice time in training camp to ensure he will be ready for the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Culpepper can win the job outright, rather than become the starter simply because Stafford isn't ready. If Culpepper can recapture some of his previous magic with Linehan, the Lions will have a much better chance to be credible in Schwartz's first season.

And despite the protestations of modern-day thinkers, Stafford can only benefit from some time on the sidelines. That doesn't mean he should sit for three years. But rare is the quarterback who can start -- and succeed -- on day one. A rejuvenated Culpepper is the first step in the Lions' rebuilding project.

Linebacker city
Through trade and free agency, the Lions have put together a competent group of linebackers in Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Ernie Sims. It will be interesting to watch defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham experiment with ways to utilize their playmaking skills.

Cunningham has said he plans to blitz 40 percent of the time this season. Peterson could make some big plays if he has maintained the athletic skills of his prime. The same goes for Foote. We'll get a good idea of how much each player has left in the tank this summer.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

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

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

OK, let's get on with it:

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

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

Here's the team-by-team breakdown:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Hat tip to Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com for scouring Detroit's Web site for this bit of news: The Lions released linebacker Alex Lewis last Friday, according to this page of transactions.

Lewis was a part-time starter last season but wasn't going to be in the mix this year after the acquisition of veteran Julian Peterson from Seattle. Lewis, a fifth-round draft pick in 2004, spent five seasons in Detroit and totaled 176 tackles.

By my count, that leaves the Lions with one member of the 2004 draft class on their roster: Cornerback Keith Smith. Earlier this offseason, we discussed the eradication of the 2005 class. All told, I count 17 players remaining from the Lions' first nine drafts of this decade. Here's the breakdown:

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