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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good Monday morning. Hopefully everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. We're pretty much full speed ahead toward the NFL draft, which opens in just 17 days, and have plenty of ground left to cover. But first, let's ease back into the football routine with a tour around the NFC North:

• The Chicago Bears lost defensive lineman Amobi Okoye to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night. It's not clear how intensely the Bears pursued him. Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com has more.
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune examines whether the Bears' offensive line can improve without changing the personnel.
• Dan Pompei of the Tribune runs through the Bears' remaining needs.
• The Detroit Lions' offensive line is confident in its future, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Maintaining their level will be the Lions' biggest challenge in 2012, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The family of former Lions receiver Charles Rogers doesn't want to comment publicly after his most recent legal entanglement. Andy Hoag of Mlive.com has more.
• Former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Blair Kiel has died, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Packers hosted defensive lineman/linebacker Dave Tollefson on a visit, but Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette writes that it's unclear if they made Tollefson an offer before he signed Friday with the Oakland Raiders.
• Former Packers offensive linemen Daryn Colledge, Tony Moll and Jason Spitz will soon debut the third vintage of their "Fat Guys" label Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic brings us up to date on this important story.
• The Minnesota state legislature is nearing a session stalemate on a variety of important issues, including the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill, according to Baird Helgeson of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings are scheduled to meet with Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Green Bay Packers have received the maximum number of extra draft picks available to teams through the NFL's compensatory draft program, while the Minnesota Vikings have received two.

That's our local upshot of Monday's always-anticipated announcement of compensatory draft picks. The Packers got four extra picks and will now have 12 in next month's draft, while the Vikings will have a total of 10. Neither the Chicago Bears nor the Detroit Lions were expected to receive a compensatory pick.

The NFL doesn't reveal its exact formula for determining the extra picks, but in essence it's based on the difference in value between the free agents a team loses and the ones it signs the previous year. In 2011, the Packers bid farewell to free agents Daryn Colledge, Brandon Jackson and Cullen Jenkins, among others, and did not sign a significant free agent of their own.

The formula granted the Packers two fourth-round picks and two additional seventh-rounders. The Packers' total of 12 picks includes three in the fourth round and four in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Vikings received two fourth-round picks, No. 33 and No. 39 in the round, after losing receiver Sidney Rice, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and defensive end Ray Edwards in 2011. They signed nose tackle Remi Ayodele, but he made little impact.

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

FALLING

1. Secondary play in Chicago and Minnesota: Between the two of them, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have maybe one or two defensive backs who should be considered 2012 starters heading into the offseason. Bears cornerback Charles Tillman qualifies, and perhaps Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will as well if he returns healthy from a fractured collarbone. Otherwise, the Bears and Vikings need a serious overhaul to their defensive backfields. Both teams tried season-long rotations at safety, neither of which led to any personnel conclusions, and cornerback play outside of Tillman has been atrocious for both teams. It will probably be a multiyear process for these franchises to rebuild these positions. With Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler in this division, they better hurry.

2. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: We all remember ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer's harsh criticism of Ponder shortly after the draft. In brief, Dilfer said Ponder looks the part of an NFL quarterback but quickly falls from his comfort zone and loses accuracy under pressure. Dilfer softened some of that analysis after Ponder's relatively strong debut, but we should note that Ponder has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks against extra pass-rushers this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he is completing about 39 percent of his passes when opponents send five or more pass-rushers. The only player with less success against the blitz? Denver Broncos quarterback/running back Tim Tebow. It's not necessarily a warning sign if a rookie doesn't perform well under pressure, but to this point Ponder's performance hasn't veered much from Dilfer's original analysis.

3. Marion Barber, Bears running back: Barber's mental errors in a loss earlier this month to the Broncos, and his inability to keep his troublesome calf healthy, would seem to spell the end of his short tenure with the Bears. Kahlil Bell's hard-charging 123-yard performance Sunday night offers the Bears a much younger option for the role of backing up starter Matt Forte. It was a nice run, as they say.

RISING

1. Home-field advantage: The Packers have a quirky history when it comes to playing at home in the playoffs. In the big picture, the state of Wisconsin has provided one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports. The Packers are 15-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including games played in Milwaukee. But those three losses have come in their past five playoff games at home: In 2003 to the Atlanta Falcons, in 2004 to the Vikings and 2007 to the New York Giants. One of the two victories, meanwhile, came in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, at least, opponents haven't been intimidated by playing at Lambeau Field.

2. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions tight end: A significant debate erupted in 2009 when the Lions used the No. 20 overall pick to draft Pettigrew, passing up offensive lineman Michael Oher and receiver Percy Harvin, among others. But the Lions insisted that a multi-faceted tight end was critical to their offense, and they have followed through by utilizing Pettigrew as much as any team in the NFL. The Lions have used him as an extension of their running game, and although he is averaging a modest 8.7 yards per reception, his total of 76 catches ranks third among tight ends. By all accounts, Pettigrew is an excellent blocker as well. The Lions have gotten by this far with Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus as their tackles, minimizing the need for Oher. And while Harvin would have been a nice addition, the Lions have found value by signing veteran Nate Burleson and using a second-round pick to draft Titus Young.

3. T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman: When the season began, how many people would have chosen Lang as the Packers' most valuable offensive lineman? Not me. Lang had been an inconsistent starter and player who couldn't find a position and was behind a rookie on the depth chart when the season began. But Lang outplayed first-round pick Derek Sherrod in camp to win the left guard job and has provided a seamless transition from departed starter Daryn Colledge. And when the Packers needed someone to jump over to right tackle after injuries to Bryan Bulaga and Sherrod, Lang successfully made the move. On Sunday night, at least, he held his own against Bears pass-rushers Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. Center Scott Wells might be the Packers' best offensive lineman this season, but not many left guards could jump out to right tackle as well as Lang appeared to do Sunday night.

Let's cruise Monday's training camp highlights in quick-hitting fashion:

Item: Speaking of his competition at left guard, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that T.J. Lang graded out slightly higher than rookie Derek Sherrod in Saturday's preseason opener.
Comment: Both players continue to split practice repetitions while also getting work at tackle. Conventional wisdom suggests that a first-round draft pick is always the favorite in a competition that is anywhere close, but I'm sure the Packers will do what's best for protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.

Item: Tight end Jermichael Finley (glute) returned to practice Monday after missing Saturday's game.
Comment: Finley is by all accounts ready to get back on the field after his October knee injury. It will happen soon, possibly as early as Week 2 of the preseason.

Item: Former Packers guard Daryn Colledge said "it's a disappointing fact" that neither he nor most other former Packers were invited to last Friday's White House ceremony.
Comment: Reminder No. 6,363 that the NFL is a cold business. Surely Colledge knew that by now.

Item: Minnesota Vikings right guard Anthony Herrera, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Comment: It's not clear if Herrera's return is imminent, but he is a feisty and crafty veteran whose presence would no doubt be welcomed by quarterback Donovan McNabb. The timing of Herrera's return from the PUP suggests he is on track to be ready to play sometime next month.

Item: Detroit Lions left tackle Jeff Backus, recovering from a pectoral injury, has begun working out on the side with shoulder pads.
Comment: Lions coach Jim Schwartz has expressed full confidence that Backus will be ready to start the regular season, and this is a step toward that direction.

Item: The Chicago Bears made no changes to their starting offensive line in practice Monday after giving up four sacks in the first half of their preseason opener Saturday.
Comment: I wouldn't have expected a quick hook from offensive line coach Mike Tice. You might as well give this group a chance to take steps from one week to the next before blowing it up.

Item: I am an idiot, news that comes as no surprise to many of you.
Comment: In this particular instance, I goofed in a post early Sunday morning about the Packers' starting cornerbacks in their preseason opener. Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams sat out, leaving Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee as the starters. I didn't read the comments on that post but I'm sure I deserve (most) everything that you wrote.

The Green Bay Packers will make a brief detour on the way to their Aug. 13 preseason opener in Cleveland.

Yes, they'll make a long-awaited visit to the White House on Aug. 12 to celebrate their Super Bowl XLV championship with President Barack Obama. For one day, at least, Obama will have to subordinate his status as the nation's No. 1 Chicago Bears fan. I'm guessing cornerback Charles Woodson won't let him forget the result of the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

An excerpt from Woodson's post-game speech that day: "President don't want to come watch us play in the Super Bowl? Guess what? Guess what? We'll go see him. White House on three. One, two, three. White House!"

White House visits usually take place during the offseason, but the NFL lockout forced the Packers to delay their trip. As a result, players (and presumably coaches) who have signed with other teams won't be able to join their 2010 teammates in Washington, D.C.

That will no doubt come as a bummer to players like guard Daryn Colledge, who started all 16 games last season but has signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Linebacker Nick Barnett, who finished the season on injured reserve and has since signed with the Buffalo Bills, tweeted: "Unfortunately don't get to go to the white house guess I'll make the trip next year ;-)"

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I could bore you with details of the Green Bay Packers' first football work together since Super Bowl XLV. I could tell you how more balls sailed than normal, how interceptions were dropped and how players jumped offsides.

But in the end, expectations (at least for me) weren't that high. What we saw Saturday night was a condensed version of 14 organized team activities and three days of minicamp. Coach Mike McCarthy said it was a "better practice than I thought it would be" but made clear: "It's great to be out here. The crowd was great. We're excited. But this was a practice in helmets. That's the reality of these [early] practices. It's really about getting your practice formatted and everybody going in the right direction."

Here are the two most interesting things I saw:

1. Rookie first-round pick Derek Sherrod worked as the first-team left guard. We've discussed various options for the Packers to replace the departed Daryn Colledge, but it's clear the Packers want to give Sherrod the first opportunity. He was drafted as a left tackle, but the Packers have long followed a philosophy of getting their best five linemen on the field regardless of position.

When the second team got work, T.J. Lang was at left guard and Sherrod was at left tackle. There is something to be said about offensive linemen anchoring themselves at one position, but the Packers generally have not valued that approach.

Said McCarthy: "Really the philosophy is of having great competition and giving the offensive line, particularly all those young guys, the chance to compete to get the best five on the field." Asked if he would rotate other players into the first-team role, McCarthy said: "We have a rotation set for the offensive line and frankly, performance will always be the indicator."

That tells me that it's Sherrod's job to lose, at least in the early going -- even if his long-term position is at left tackle.

2. Place-kicker Mason Crosby can't practice until Aug. 4 because of the NFL's free agency rule, and the Packers don't have a second camp leg on their roster. So punter Tim Masthay handled the placekicking duties during special teams work. He was more impressive than you might think, drilling three of four kicks from 38 yards.

I'll be back Sunday with more fun.

Multiple reports suggest it's only a matter of time before the Green Bay Packers formally part ways with offensive lineman Daryn Colledge. The Arizona Cardinals appear to be the leading candidate for his services.

This news should come as no surprise because the Packers have declined numerous opportunities to sign Colledge to an extension in recent years. He is now an unrestricted free agent. Clearly, the Packers are comfortable with depth along the offensive line and decided to allocate their cash and salary-cap space elsewhere.

So who will take over for Colledge at left guard? The best guess, as suggested by ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde, is T.J. Lang. I believe Lang has played every position except quarterback in his three seasons with the Packers, and if anything he's proved a quick study. And although it's totally irrelevant, Lang has also demonstrated a solid John Madden-like sense of humor on his Twitter feed (@TJLang70).

Recently: "I hate dropping ketchup on clothes I just washed."

Who doesn't?

Seriously, there are two other backups who could figure into this competition: Nick McDonald and Marshall Newhouse. But what interests me the most is if the Packers will feel compelled, as they have in the past, to shift a starter or rising starter from another position into an open spot in the name of getting their best five linemen on the field.

In this case: Would the Packers move right tackle Bryan Bulaga to left guard, where he spent a bit of time in training camp last summer? Or would they try to get first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, a left tackle in college, onto the field as a left guard?

We have no immediate indication on those possibilities. Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to speak with reporters Saturday morning. Stay tuned.

Recent Packers posts: The Packers trust Mason Crosby as their place-kicker of the future. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers really, really wants the Packers to re-sign receiver James Jones. To little surprise, the Packers told linebacker Nick Barnett he will be traded or released.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

I turned away from the computer for a few hours, coinciding with the night time ritual known as catching a few winks, and it looks like I've missed some important NFC North news. Here's the biggest:

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Justin Durant, once thought to be a target of the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Durant has also posted some Lions-centric tweets overnight, including: "So the DLine is called the Silver Crush huh? Ok I can get with that"

Yes, any linebacker signing with the Lions will have the benefit of a strong defensive line to keep blockers away from him. Durant had a tough time staying on the field with the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed six games last season, but he is a strong player who will fill an obvious need on the outside if he can stay healthy.

The Lions have also pursued free-agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch. No word yet on Tulloch's decision. But for now, at least, Durant's arrival will keep DeAndre Levy in the middle of the Lions' 4-3 scheme.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Lions: "Oh, there will be ample time for skepticism. For now, go ahead and buy in with the Lions. You certainly wouldn't be the only one."
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press: "People are actually excited about the Lions this year, and not just in the usual, delusional, 'Hey, maybe if those 17 guys who have always stunk suddenly get good, we can go .500!' sort of way. The Lions have a plan. They have talent. They have ... hope."
• Are the Chicago Bears trying to trade tight end Greg Olsen? Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that agent Drew Rosenhaus sent a mass email to NFL executives indicating just that but later asked the email to be ignored.
• A market is developing for Bears receiver/special-teams ace Rashied Davis, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Green Bay Packers have told guard Daryn Colledge "they have no interest in my services at a high price," Colledge told Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. This is no surprise. For whatever reason, the Packers have never appeared interested in locking up Colledge for the long term.
• Packers receiver Donald Driver is going to have to prove himself all over again this summer, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette examines the Packers' looming competition at outside linebacker.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com digs into the hip surgery that seemed to end receiver Sidney Rice's career with the Minnesota Vikings.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Donovan McNabb is washed up, and it's a waste of money and a roster spot to trade for him. That is one way to look at the acquisition of the 34-year-old quarterback the Washington Redskins no longer wanted. Apparently, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier sees it differently."
• Former Vikings coach Brad Childress, who coached McNabb in Philadelphia, believes McNabb will give teams "hell to pay" because he will have a chip on his shoulder with the Vikings. Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune has more.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each NFC North team:

Chicago Bears

1. Assemble a starting offensive line: As we've noted many times, the Bears have held off any public discussion about their five linemen pending the results of free agency. Well, we're here. It's time for the dominoes to start falling. The first will be whether center Olin Kreutz re-signs. It's generally expected, but nothing is guaranteed. Then, the Bears need to decide whether to pursue any starting-caliber guards or tackles. You would think they'll seek at least one new starter. Will they raid the Atlanta Falcons' glut of linemen? Might they take a flier on Robert Gallery? We'll know soon enough.
2. Establish a strongside linebacker: The position has largely been held by Pisa Tinoisamoa and Nick Roach over the past two years, but both have expiring contracts. It makes sense to re-sign at least one given the lack of offseason work for a presumptive new starter, and Roach is the younger of the two. If the Bears have another player on the roster they've targeted for this job, it's not readily apparent. While they're at it, the Bears should seek depth at defensive tackle following the release of Tommie Harris. They did draft Stephen Paea, but the Bears might pursue Seattle Seahawks free agent Brandon Mebane, as well.
3. Sift through receivers: From a media perspective, at least, there has been more offseason talk than ever suggesting the Bears will/should/might pursue a free-agent receiver. This year's class is deep, from Sidney Rice to Santonio Holmes to Randy Moss, and a number of other veterans could be available via trade. Coach Lovie Smith has said he wouldn't mind a receiver bigger than his current trio of sub 6-footers, and Devin Hester has lobbied publicly to sign Santana Moss. I think the increased discussion is largely a product of lockout boredom, but it wouldn't hurt the Bears to add depth so that Hester can be used more efficiently.

Top five free agents: Center Olin Kreutz, safety Danieal Manning, punter Brad Maynard, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Detroit Lions

1. Sign a starting cornerback: The Lions' top cornerbacks under contract are Alphonso Smith and Nate Vasher. Chris Houston, who started 15 games last season, is a free agent, so it's possible the Lions will bring Houston back. Or they could seek an outside upgrade, be it Nnamdi Asomugha or Ike Taylor or Johnathan Joseph. Lions Fever would spike if they can land Asomugha, but they would have to use most of their salary-cap space to do it. For several reasons, the odds are against it.
2. Sort out the linebacker position: DeAndre Levy is the only linebacker assured a 2011 starting job, but even Levy can't be totally sure if he will play outside or in the middle. That answer will come only after the Lions sift through the available free agents. They could pursue one with a background in the middle, perhaps Stephen Tulloch. Or they could seek an outside linebacker to replace the released Julian Peterson. One of their outside positions is likely to be decided by a training camp competition among incumbents.
3. Evaluate right tackles: Early indications have been that Gosder Cherilus has made progress from microfracture surgery on his knee. If there is any question, however, the Lions might want to bolster their depth. Corey Hilliard did a decent job as Cherilus' replacement late last season. But keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy is at a premium this season. Do the Lions want to face the possibility of opening the year with a backup plan at right tackle?

Top five free agents: Linebacker Bobby Carpenter, cornerback Chris Houston, linebacker Landon Johnson, quarterback Drew Stanton, safety John Wendling.

Green Bay Packers

1. Stay the course: It's been well-documented that general manager Ted Thompson hasn't participated much in free agency over the past few years, and it's hard to imagine his changing tack dramatically this summer. Thompson's most important decisions will be deciding which of his pending free agents to re-sign and which ones he should allow to depart.
2. Re-sign place-kicker Mason Crosby: Thompson gave Crosby a second-round tender in February in the event Crosby wound up as a restricted free agent. That move suggested Crosby is in the Packers' future plans and makes re-signing him one of the first orders of business now that he is an unrestricted free agent. Crosby has had some difficulties over the years, but kicking in Green Bay is difficult given the weather and he has made some important adjustments. Concerns about his kickoffs should be minimized by the NFL's decision to move them up 5 yards.
3. Think twice: The Packers appear set to let defensive end Cullen Jenkins depart. They can do so knowing they have a number of intriguing young players to compete for that job, from Mike Neal to C.J. Wilson to Jarius Wynn. But another player the Packers might lose, Daryn Colledge, doesn't have an obvious replacement. Would the Packers shift T.J. Lang from backup tackle to guard? Would first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod, their projected left tackle of the future, get a crash course on step down? It's something to think about and, given the lack of an offseason, might spur further discussion about re-signing Colledge.

Top five free agents: Guard Daryn Colledge, place-kicker Mason Crosby, defensive end Cullen Jenkins, receiver James Jones, running backs John Kuhn/Brandon Jackson.

Minnesota Vikings

1. Address receivers: Are the Vikings about to bid farewell to receiver Sidney Rice, a 24-year-old who is one year removed from an 83-catch Pro Bowl season? There is nothing they can do to stop it at this point, and Rice seems intent on at least testing his value on the open market. The Vikings spent most of last season searching for a suitable replacement when Rice was injured, and that job will intensify this summer. They have added an additional pass-catching threat in rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph. But if they lose Rice, the Vikings must either sign or trade for an established veteran to join Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian (if he makes the team).
2. Find a kicker: The Vikings made no known effort before the lockout to re-sign veteran Ryan Longwell, who has converted 43 of 46 kicks over the past two seasons. It's possible they'll make their move now. But they did not draft a kicker, and if Longwell signs elsewhere, the Vikings will have to scour the always-murky free-agent market. I'm guessing they already have a plan on this issue, but we haven't smoked it out yet.
3. Establish QB depth: We all know that rookie Christian Ponder eventually will assume the starting job. But are the Vikings comfortable with Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar as their only alternatives if Ponder needs some development time? I'm not sure about that. I also wonder if making Webb the No. 2 quarterback would limit his opportunities to contribute in other ways, perhaps as a receiver or a kick returner. For that reason, it would make sense for the Vikings to seek a quarterback with more experience to pair with Ponder.

Top five free agents: Defensive end Ray Edwards, linebacker Ben Leber, place-kicker Ryan Longwell, receiver Sidney Rice, nose tackle Pat Williams.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: Players felt confident enough to avoid any known group workouts during the lockout. Several players suggested they wouldn't go public with any grand plans even if they had them, but all indications are that most Packers worked out on their own this offseason. Coach Mike McCarthy supported that decision, saying conditioning and avoiding mishaps should be players' highest offseason priorities. It makes sense. The Packers are entering their sixth season in McCarthy's offense and their third in Dom Capers' defense.

Biggest challenge: The Packers are in pretty good shape. Their biggest challenge is the same whether or not they had a full offseason: Putting their Super Bowl victory in the proverbial rearview mirror and dedicating themselves to the kind of long-term success they appear built for. Players and coaches had every right to enjoy a celebratory offseason. Now it's time to flip the switch.

A true backfield rotation? When Ryan Grant has been healthy, McCarthy has strongly preferred a one-back system as opposed to rotating multiple runners into the game. Grant's season-ending ankle injury has healed, but is McCarthy planning to break the mold this summer? The Packers have a number of viable options to use either alongside or in place of Grant if and when they want, including 2010 postseason star James Starks. This Packers backfield arrangement will be one of the more closely watched areas of their training camp, especially by fantasy football players.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Guard Daryn Colledge, place-kicker Mason Crosby, running back Brandon Jackson, running back John Kuhn, defensive end Cullen Jenkins, receiver James Jones.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Dhani Jones is a journeyman NFL linebacker who is promoting a book. Why so many people are worked up about his opinion on the best players at his position is beyond me.

As you know by now, Jones did not include Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher among his top 10 and, in an interview with the NFL Network, asked when Urlacher had last gotten off a block. There is no doubt that Urlacher's best days are behind him, and that taking on offensive linemen isn't his strong suit, but I think anyone who watched the Bears last season know he played at a high level.

Jones' comments spurred a Hot Button debate from our friends at ESPNChicago.com. Jon Greenberg put Urlacher at No. 12 on his list. For what it's worth, ESPN.com ranked Urlacher No. 8 in its offseason positional Power Rankings.

Ultimately, I'm on board with Jeff Dickerson's take: "Here's the easiest way to sum up Brian Urlacher's importance at the linebacker position for the Chicago Bears: When he doesn't play, they lose. The Bears went 0-7 without Urlacher running the defense in 2004, and 7-9 in 2009 when a wrist injury sidelined the middle linebacker for roughly the entire season. The following seasons after those injuries, the Bears won the division (2005, '10), due in large part to the play of a healthy Urlacher."

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Former Bears running back Garrett Wolfe won't face felony charges as part of an arrest in Miami last month, according to Dickerson.
• With the rules of free agency becoming more evident, Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com thinks it is very unlikely that left guard Daryn Colledge will return to the Green Bay Packers. Wilde takes a look at the Packers' free-agent class in the context of the expected rules.
• Former Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey is still popular among older Packers fans, writes Jon Gast of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "Barring a surprise change, 17 players who finished last season on the Minnesota Vikings' 53-man roster or injured reserve would become unrestricted whenever the league year begins, with [Sidney] Rice and [Ray] Edwards the highest-profile."
• The franchise tag that the Vikings put on linebacker Chad Greenway is expected to translate into the new agreement, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Re-signed cornerback Chris Houston, who will be an unrestricted free agent, remains one of the Detroit Lions' top priorities. Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has more.
• Lions players believe they have a tight locker room, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.

Some of you might have seen Adam Schefter's report on the expected state of NFL free agency when a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is reached, presumably next month. In short, it will return the games to pre-2010 rules that made players unrestricted free agents after four accrued seasons.

Most NFL players with expiring contracts already knew whether they would be unrestricted or restricted free agents whenever the 2011 market opened. But this nugget is important to a handful of young NFC North players who have at least four seasons but were concerned that a future agreement could permanently raise the bar for unrestricted free agency to six years.

So if the CBA is written as expected, the players below would join the unrestricted ranks and be eligible to sign with any team for no compensation.

Chicago Bears

• Cornerback Corey Graham
• Safety Danieal Manning
• Linebacker Nick Roach

Detroit Lions

• Cornerback Chris Houston
• Quarterback Drew Stanton

Green Bay Packers

• Guard Daryn Colledge
• Place-kicker Mason Crosby
• Receiver James Jones
• Running back John Kuhn

Minnesota Vikings

• Defensive end Ray Edwards
• Receiver Sidney Rice

Had any of these players been restricted free agents, their movement would have required the new team to compensate their old team. Most would have had no choice but to return to their old teams. But players like Jones, Edwards and Rice would now have a much, much better chance of cashing in with a new team.

As you no doubt have heard by now, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson has ordered an end to the NFL's owner-imposed lockout. The league has planned an immediate appeal, with a request for a stay until the appeal is decided.

In other words, it's not clear if the NFL's offseason will begin imminently or if we are still several court decisions away from real action. I'm guessing the latter, but in the event of the former, it's worth re-visiting last month's post on the potential for a court-ordered offseason.

If the owners don't receive a stay and/or lose the appeal, the expectation has been they will revert to 2010 offseason rules to determine player movement in the absence of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). If that's the case, some players who would have been unrestricted free agents under a presumptive new CBA would instead be restricted free agents in 2011, making them far more likely to remain with their original teams.

Here is a partial list of the key players who fall in this category and thus are anxiously awaiting word on the stay request. We'll have more as news warrants.

Chicago Bears

• Cornerback Corey Graham
• Safety Danieal Manning
• Linebacker Nick Roach

Detroit Lions

• Cornerback Chris Houston
• Quarterback Drew Stanton

Green Bay Packers

• Guard Daryn Colledge
• Place-kicker Mason Crosby
• Receiver James Jones
• Running back John Kuhn

Minnesota Vikings

• Defensive end Ray Edwards
• Receiver Sidney Rice

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. recently ranked the NFC North's four offensive lines in the order listed below. You'll need an Insider subscription to read the entire "Scouts Eye" piece, but I've provided a snippet for each team along with my own thoughts:

Green Bay Packers
Williamson snippet: "The strongest portion of this line is at center and right guard. Scott Wells is a vastly underrated center, and Josh Sitton might just be the best guard in the league. Sitton is far and away the best offensive lineman in the NFC North."
Seifert comment: I've heard good things about Sitton, but Williamson is offering the best compliment I've heard yet. The Packers have a likely transition upcoming at left guard if Daryn Colledge doesn't return, and they are hoping to squeeze another year out of left tackle Chad Clifton. Otherwise, however, this was a group that finished last season without an obvious gap. No one else in this division could say the same.

Detroit Lions
Williamson snippet: "This is an average at best line in blocking for the run, but it's quite good in the passing game."
Seifert comment: Left tackle Jeff Backus made our 2010 All-NFC North team, and his steady play can be partially attributed to the acquisition of left guard Rob Sims. Right tackle remains an issue for as long as Gosder Cherilus needs to recover from microfracture surgery on his knee.

Minnesota Vikings
Williamson snippet: "For a big, heavy-footed group, its pass protection was surprisingly superior to its run blocking, which was terrible. But fixing the Vikings' line could be problematic -- there is no easy solution."
Seifert comment: The biggest problem: Do the Vikings have an anchor to build around? I'm not sure about that. Left guard Steve Hutchinson is 33 and is no longer playing at an elite level. Tackles Bryant McKinnie and Phil Loadholt aren't always reliable. Right guard Anthony Herrera has fought through a number of injuries, and center John Sullivan never recovered his stride last season after a preseason calf strain.

Chicago Bears
Williamson snippet: "In 2010, the Bears' run blocking was terrible. But the pass protection was horrendous. ... Even though the coaching staff did a great job masking these insufficiencies, there will be changes. It is amazing that the Bears got as far as they did in the postseason with that group of linemen."
Seifert comment: Here's all you need to know: As of today, the Bears couldn't definitively match a single starter with their 2011 position. That's how much is in the air.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tweeted last week that his surgically-repaired right shoulder was approaching 100 percent recovery. To that end, it's worth noting (via Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News) that Stafford is scheduled to participate in a quarterback challenge at halftime of the University of Georgia's spring game Saturday.

The competition against other former Georgia quarterbacks will include throwing passes to contestants on the field. While I doubt any of those passes will be 60-yard rockets, it's fair to say Stafford wouldn't put himself in that situation if there were any doubt about the progress of his recovery.

All along, the Lions have maintained Stafford will be ready to take the first snap of training camp, which in most years starts at the end of July.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• If he were running the Lions, NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly said he would take Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara over defensive ends Da'Quan Bowers, Aldon Smith or Cam Jordan. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• The Minnesota Vikings will work out Colorado tackle Nate Solder on Friday, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on the Vikings stadium proposal, via Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune: "I'm optimistic. Where there's a will, there's a way." Few share in that optimism right now.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't want to see a Week 1 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
• The Packers are probably going to have to fill the left guard spot manned most recently by Daryn Colledge, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Chicago Bears could get by without addressing their offensive tackle position in the draft, but that doesn't mean they should, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune thinks there is a chance the Bears will pursue a free-agent wide receiver.