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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. Three rookie minicamps over the weekend leaves us with more local links than a person has the right to expect on the second Monday in May. In this post, I've tried to pick out the highlights. Many of them don't relate to rookies, but be aware I'll have a second post up soon that addresses some of the questions we had Friday about these camps.

• New Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice wants players to "play fast" in his scheme, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. Tice: "We don’t want to be out on the field and have the kids think[ing] too much. We don't want to make it hard for the kids. We want to make sure the kids know exactly what we’re gonna do, when we're gonna call it and why we’re gonna call it. That's our job as coaches. We have some great athletes on offense. We have to put them in a position to show us and show the fans, and show the people that love the Bears, their athleticism and explosiveness. We want to be explosive."
• Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub downplayed any possibility other than Devin Hester being his top punt and kickoff returner in 2012. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times checks in with former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, whose wife died unexpectedly three months ago.
• New Bears quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will have starter Jay Cutler rolling more often than he did under Mike Martz, according to Dan Pompei of the Tribune.
• Detroit Lions defensive end/linebacker Ronnell Lewis is "nicknamed the Hammer for a reason," writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
• Receiver Ryan Broyles was an "impatient observer" at the Lions' rookie minicamp, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com offers five observations from the Lions' camp, including: "Linebacker Travis Lewis looked very comfortable in the defensive scheme, playing both outside and middle linebacker."
• Green Bay Packers tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) isn't expected to be cleared to practice when training camp begins, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette takes a look at the Packers' current in-house options as a developmental center. He also notes the Packers have three assistant coaches who played center in the NFL.
• The Packers might not give much training camp work to defensive linemen Mike Neal and Anthony Hargrove, both of whom are suspended during the early part of the season. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will formally sign the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill on Monday, according to the Associated Press via 1500ESPN.com.
• Richard Meryhew of the Star Tribune looks at the challenges of designing, planning and building the team's new stadium in a four-year timeline.
• New Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson on his recent 15-day jail sentence, via Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "It was terrible. It sucked. Any kids out there, that's a place you don't want to be. Somebody tells you when to wake up, when to make your bed, when to take a shower, when you can have a snack. That's an obstacle you don't want to face. I want all kids to learn not to go down that path and to learn from me."

Thanks to everyone who responded to the mailbag request this week. Keep in mind that the best mailbag questions, at least in the mind of the person choosing said questions for publication, have cross-division appeal and usually range in scope beyond simple fact-finding. (Boooring!) Remember, we also tend to have impromptu Q&As on Twitter (@espn_nfcnblog) and on our ranging Facebook page (Kevin Seifert Espn), complete with an awesomely new cover photograph.

Onward…

In his usual diplomatic style, Ben of Denver notes our post on the Minnesota Vikings' plans for the No. 3 overall pick and writes: So I just want to be sure, you would rather have Christian Ponder over Robert Griffin III? (Andrew Luck is going to Indy). The guy who was the best pick in the draft simply because he was a QB taken in the first round, that's the guy you would rather have? Your blind love and endless defense of Ponder since that absurd proclamation entered your mind has been truly funny over the past nearly a full year now, but it has to end. Please.

Kevin Seifert: Shortly after the 2011 draft, I did in fact nominate Ponder as the best pick an NFC North team made. I thought at the time that the Vikings had no choice but to begin the process of finding their next quarterback, and I didn't agree with the idea that they should have waited for a future draft to take a higher-rated prospect. When you're talking about the quarterback position, you throw out conventional draft wisdom if you think you can get someone who can be a consistent starter.

I still think the Vikings made the right decision, but I also have written that Ponder's rookie season was the most disappointing in the division. He'll have an entire offseason to get himself straight and demonstrate why the Vikings went the route they did.

Whether I would pick Griffin this season wasn't the point of the post Ben referred to. All I've said so far is that the Vikings have offered no real indication that they'll consider Griffin, assuming Luck goes No. 1 overall. I haven't made my mind up on whether it would be wise for the Vikings to double up on quarterbacks at this moment. But I promise you, we'll get to that topic over the next few months.

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Mike of Atlanta writes: Here's a scenario I haven't really heard anyone talk about: Devin Hester is starting to get up there in years (30 this November). It seems to me that speed is one of those things that drops off faster for players than other attributes that make a player successful in the NFL. The Bears tied up Dave Toub for at least the immediate future, virtually guaranteeing a competitive special teams corps. Wouldn't now be the best time for the Bears to leverage Hester -- who has always underperformed at receiver, which is a position they need to grow at -- to a team that needs a return man, in return for a tight end or a draft pick that could bolster other positions, and use one of their mid-to-late round picks to pick up another speedster?

Kevin Seifert: You're right, Mike. No one has really mentioned that. I have to say I double-checked Hester's birthday to make sure that he will in fact turn 30 during the season. He will. His career has moved quickly.

I think what football people would tell you is that speed is only part of Hester's success. His open-field running skills, his instincts and his innate knowledge of how to set up blocks have all contributed. That's why it's reasonable to believe he'll be really effective for years to come, even if he loses the top end of his speed.

Brian Mitchell, whose return records Hester has broken, was never a speedster. He played until he was 35 years old.

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Robin of Chanhassen, Minn., writes: Any possibility the Green Bay Packers surprise us all and go after Cliff Avril?

Kevin Seifert: Any discussion on Avril presumes the Lions decide against using their franchise tag on him and aren't able to get him signed to a long-term deal before free agency opens March 13. And anything connecting the Packers to another team's veteran free agent suggests a reversal of general manager Ted Thompson's recent player acquisition habits.

With those two major caveats, Avril is an intriguing prospect because his size (260 pounds) and athletic ability suggest he could make a successful transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. It probably makes more sense to consider him a linebacker in the Packers' scheme than thinking he might bulk up to become a true 3-4 defensive end.

NFL teams rarely allow bona fide pass rushers to reach the open market, and if Avril is available, perhaps that would be enough for Thompson to get involved. The Packers have limited salary cap space this offseason, and they already have significant money tied up in linebackers Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk, not to mention the looming extension they'll need to give Clay Matthews in the next year or two.

But Thompson would be well advised to give it careful thought, if nothing else, if he has the opportunity to team Matthews with a pass-rusher of Avril's accomplishments and weaken a division rival at the same time.

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John of San Diego writes: Avril: "A lot of teams don't think the Lions will let me hit free agency. But a few teams have called." Did the new CBA do away with tampering?

Kevin Seifert: John accurately pulled that quote from a Detroit Free Press story. Tampering is still against NFL rules. I guess the best way to put it is that we would all be naïve to think it doesn't occur at some level. And usually, what goes around comes around. Avril later clarified his comments to the Free Press, saying other players have heard their coaches say they would like to have a player like him.

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Dave of Ithaca, New York, writes: How much cap room do you think the Lions can realistically make in order to try and keep Avril and Stephen Tulloch around? Can they keep them both? Do you foresee any surprise cuts for guys like Corey Williams or Stephen Peterman in order to make it happen?

Kevin Seifert: At last check, the Lions were pretty close to the NFL's projected limit of $120 million for 2012. I have to admit that I don't see how the math works for them to re-sign both Avril and Stephen Tulloch, even if they are able to extend the contract of receiver Calvin Johnson and reduce his cap number for 2012. There will also have to be some combination of roster cuts/restructuring and salary cap tricks, including borrowing from future years.

Williams' name surfaces often as a possible cap casualty, mostly because he's scheduled to earn $5 million in 2012 but also because the Lions drafted a defensive tackle (Nick Fairley) in the first round last year. Williams seems a more likely candidate than Peterman.

We can cross off one of the many swirling coaching situations in the NFC North now that the Chicago Bears have re-signed special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

Toub's contract had expired and he recently interviewed for the head-coaching position with the Miami Dolphins. It appears the Dolphins have moved on to a new batch of candidates, and the Bears jumped at the opportunity to bring back one of the game's top special-teams gurus before he began soliciting offers from other teams.

The conclusion to the Toub story leaves us with these coaching storylines in the division:

1. The Bears still need to hire a quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator and an offensive line coach to replace Mike Tice, who was promoted to offensive coordinator.
2. The Minnesota Vikings' entire defensive staff remains in flux without a coordinator in place. Indianapolis Colts defensive backs Alan Williams is the latest candidate to get an interview for that job. Coordinator Fred Pagac and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar have both been fired.
3. Up to five Green Bay Packers assistants could be candidates for promotion elsewhere, some for the same job. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has interviewed for the head coaching job in Miami, has another interview scheduled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could generate interest from the Oakland Raiders. Assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss could be a candidate for the Raiders, as could Philbin, defensive coordinator Dom Capers and safeties coach Darren Perry. Finally, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements has an interview scheduled with the Buccaneers.

Jeff Fisher's decision to join the St. Louis Rams apparently leaves two NFC North assistants in play for the Miami Dolphins job. Fisher chose the Rams over the Dolphins earlier Friday.

The Dolphins have interviewed Bears special-teams coordinator Dave Toub and Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, among others. Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is another candidate.

It's impossible to know Philbin's situation relative to the Dolphins job given the tragedy his family suffered this week. The funeral for his son, Michael, was scheduled for Friday. Michael Philbin, 21, drowned Sunday in an icy Wisconsin river.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

With so much discussion recently about the future of Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, we've hardly noted that another prominent Bears assistant also has an expiring contract and is uncertain to return.

Highly regarded special teams coordinator Dave Toub is a coaching "free agent" and has aspirations to be a head coach. In a story first reported by the Chicago Tribune, Toub is a candidate for the Miami Dolphins' job and has been scheduled for an interview.

Toub would seem likely to return to Chicago if he doesn't get the Dolphins job, but as a free agent he would have the opportunity to field offers to fulfill the same job elsewhere. The Bears might have to match a big contract offer to retain him. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears coach Lovie Smith was pretty neutral on the future of Martz during a news conference, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Here's how Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com interpreted Smith's comments on Martz: "In Lovie-speak, that reads as much like Martz is not coming back as anything short of a press release announcing it."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune grades the Bears' offense.
• The Detroit Lions aren't just happy to be in the playoffs, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions haven't been great with their blitz, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' front seven deserves some of the blame for giving up 480 passing yards to Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• The Packers are considering making Brad Jones their starting right outside linebacker for the playoffs, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers are an awfully healthy team heading into the playoffs, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• After finishing last year with 15 players on injured reserve, the Packers have six at the moment, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings players are bracing for significant personnel changes in 2012, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings have nearly 20 free agents heading into the offseason, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com breaks down the tape of the Vikings' loss to the Bears, noting among other things that rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph got more snaps than veteran Visanthe Shiancoe for the third consecutive week.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

As it turns out, the Green Bay Packers' reserve offensive lineman who got stomped on Thanksgiving Day by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh likely will be in the starting lineup Sunday for the rematch between the two teams. But Suh and guard Evan Dietrich-Smith long ago made amends via phone, and the incident hasn't exactly been at the tip of either teams' lips this week.

"There's no hard feelings and that's pretty much it," Dietrich-Smith told reporters in Green Bay. He'll likely start at left guard Sunday, which would put him on the opposite side that Suh usually lines up on.

Said Suh, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: "My main focus is on the guy who is in front of me. If he's in front of me, then maybe I will chat with him, go against him, beat him and try to get some sacks."

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers coach Mike McCarthy seemed a bit miffed after learning just before practice Wednesday that tight end Jermichael Finley had a sore knee. More from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• If Packers players have been told how much they'll be on the field Sunday, they aren't saying. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Former Packers cornerback Al Harris is retiring, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Lions had their eyes on running back Joique Bell for a while before signing him this week, according to Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on not making the Pro Bowl, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "There's a lot of opinions that go into it, obviously, with all the fans, players and coaches. But I'm not too worried about that. I'm more worried about this game coming up and then our team future. Hopefully I'm busy that weekend, anyway."
• Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub's contract will expire after the season, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears signed guard Edwin Williams to a two-year contract extension, notes ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears quarterback Josh McCown isn't looking too far ahead, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press talks to Minnesota Vikings tailback Toby Gerhart.
• Vikings quarterback Joe Webb, who will go back to the bench for Sunday's season finale against the Bears, isn't one to make waves. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune explains.
• ESPN1500.com wonders whether Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson has played his last game in the NFL.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Minnesota Vikings' quest to smooth out quarterback Donovan McNabb's mechanics, as explained by Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, is a warning sign on several levels.

First, McNabb is in his 13th season and will be 35 in November. You don't typically see NFL teams tinkering with the mechanics of a veteran and presumably established quarterback at that point in his career, especially during the season.

Second, the Vikings have reacted to McNabb missing some open receivers and having some accuracy issues. Quite frankly, McNabb is performing at about his career level in that area. He is completing 58.0 percent of his passes this season. His career completion percentage is 58.9. McNabb has been many things during his career, but the NFL's most accurate passer isn't one of them.

When asked if he needed to change anything Wednesday, McNabb said: "No."

I don't blame him. After 13 years in the NFL, usually you're best off going with what got you here.

Obviously, the Vikings have the right to identify flaws and should attempt to coach any player toward a direction that could makes him better. But when it's the accuracy of your veteran quarterback at issue, there won't be any easy fixes.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• At a hearing about a referendum on the Vikings' stadium plans, opponents "overwhelmingly" outnumbered those who want to see the stadium built, according to Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings will induct defensive end Chris Doleman into their Ring of Honor next month, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Chicago Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice won't get involved in play calling, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears special teams coach Dave Toub on the penalty that nullified the Bears' trick play last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times: "I'm not sure what he saw, to be honest with you. I think maybe the official thought [Corey Graham] was trying to prevent [Jarrett Bush] from going to Devin [Hester], which is where we wanted him to go. He was just kind of pushing him that way."
• Hester said he needs to get more separation from defenders, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sunday's game at the Dallas Cowboys will be a homecoming for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz on the status of defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), via Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News: "He's on a good program and he's making improvements and we'll get him back on the field as soon as we can. That's a difficult thing to come back from. I think we're on a good program and we're in a position where we don't have to rush it and put ourselves in a position that's not good for either us or the player."
• The Lions will face Cowboys pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware after consecutive weeks of facing Jared Allen and Tamba Hali, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Packers safety Morgan Burnett is quickly making a name for himself, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers center Scott Wells should be in line for a contract extension, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers tailback Ryan Grant on the bruised kidney that could keep him out of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "I feel fine. That's the problem, I guess -- that I feel fine. I guess that doesn't mean anything."

CHICAGO -- Technically, it will go down as a 35-yard punt, followed by a nine-yard return and backed up by a 10-yard penalty.

But it will go down in history, said Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as "the most incredible play I've ever seen." Packers receiver Greg Jennings, who like Rodgers is typically understated when it comes to superlatives, added: "I've been watching the NFL for a long time. That was the best play I've ever seen. Hands down. Best play I've ever seen."

Even as they stood in the winning locker room Sunday afternoon, Packers players were stunned and admittedly awed by the play the Chicago Bears conceived and nearly pulled off at the end of a 27-17 victory. You've probably seen it by now, but in essence the Bears bamboozled the Packers on the kind of trick play you rarely see at the NFL level. (Video of the play from NFL.com here.)

To recap, with context gleaned from postgame interviews:

With 1 minute, nine seconds remaining in the game, the Packers called for Tim Masthay to punt toward the left sideline on a fourth-down play at the Bears' 46-yard line. According to receiver/returner Johnny Knox, the Bears "knew he was going to kick it that way because their scheme and what hash they were on."

As a result, Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub called for a return the team had practiced but obviously not run in a game. Knox, lined up as a "jammer" against Packers "gunner" Jarrett Bush, turned and sprinted down the left sideline at the snap. At the same time, Packers punt returner Devin Hester sprinted toward the right sideline, along with eight Bears blockers.

And so did the entire Packers cover team, even though they knew the call was for a punt in the opposite direction.

"We all went with Hester," Bush said. "You have to kind of respect it because Hester is the dynamic returner that he is. Everybody went that way. I knew the ball was supposed to go a different way. But I couldn't find it."

As Hester called for a mock fair catch on the right sideline, Knox fielded the punt on the other side and began sprinting upfield. *Update: Upon a second look at the replay, there is no evidence Hester called for a fair catch. The only player that saw it happen was Masthay, and the one blocker the Bears kept with Knox -- Winston Venable -- shielded Knox down the sideline for the most unique touchdown play I've ever seen. Rarely, if ever, will you see 10 NFL players get fooled the way the Packers were in this case.

The score would have closed the deficit to 27-24, putting the Bears in position for an onside kick and a possible possession to tie or win the game. But officials called Bears special teams ace Corey Graham for holding on the right sideline, nullifying the score.

"I actually told some of their players, 'That was a nice play you guys came up with,'" Bush said. "We didn't even expect that at all. Unfortunately, Corey Graham got the holding call. That's that. It was a long play. It happened."

What's next? The fumblerooski?

As the Chicago Bears returned to training camp Monday, several reporters caught up with special teams coordinator Dave Toub in hopes of understanding more about why the Bears kicked off twice from the 30-yard line in Saturday night's preseason opener.

I realize this isn't exactly the scandal of the century, but it is topical considering the emphasis the NFL has placed on player safety and its insistence that kickoffs from the 35-yard line are safer. Here's what Toub said, via ESPNChicago.com:

"We talked to the NFL beforehand during the offseason and they said it was going to be OK [to kick from the 30]. That's why we did it. I guess [the instruction to kick from the 35] came down from New York. They got word we can't kick from the 30, and we just went back to the 35 after that."

I don't have any reason to doubt the authenticity of what Toub said. He's a pretty straight shooter based on my experience. But it's clear that something got lost in the translation in that conversation with the NFL, which wouldn't seem likely to permit an intentional circumvention of rules designed to protect players.

In fact, an NFL spokesman had this response when I asked if the Bears were given permission to kick off from the 30:

"No."

Where does this leave us? Where we always thought we were: Heading into the season with kickoffs set to be placed at the 35-yard line. We know now that there is no alternative.

We've discussed the Chicago Bears' looming decision on the future of tailback Matt Forte. Left unspoken, for the most part, has been a similar dilemma they face with tight end Greg Olsen -- who is also entering the final year of his contract.

But unlike Forte, Olsen plays in an offense that doesn't maximize his skills or position. So in what qualifies as one of the surprises of Scramble'11, it appears the Bears are prepared to move on and at least seek compensation for his departure rather than let him walk as an unrestricted free agent next year.

That's the upshot of a report from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, who viewed an email sent to all 32 teams from Olsen's agent, Drew Rosenhaus. According to the report, Rosenhaus wrote that the Bears had authorized him to seek trade offers. Rosenhaus later sent a second email asking that the first be disregarded, but it's pretty clear that something is brewing.

We discussed this issue on numerous occasions after offensive coordinator Mike Martz's arrival in 2010. Martz had typically devalued the tight end in his passing game, and before last season no tight end had caught more than 38 passes or six touchdowns in a full season under Martz. In the end, I thought Martz was too smart to under-utilize a player with Olsen's unique size and skills.

Olsen finished the season with 41 receptions, a Martz-scheme record, but on a personal level it was his lowest total in three years. If Olsen wants a market-level contract extension for a tight end -- which, by the way, he deserves -- then he's not likely to get it from a team that prioritizes blocking rather than receiving from its tight end.

That's not to say there isn't blame here. Generally speaking, good coaching is about adjusting schemes to fit the skills of your players, not the other way around. And what if Martz leaves at some point in the next five seasons, which is certainly a possibility? I'm betting the next offensive coordinator would like a 6-foot-5 tight end who can outrun linebackers and outmuscle defensive backs in the end zone.

It's always possible the Bears will decide to play out the season with Olsen if they don't get an offer they like. But at the very least, it seems they are not jumping at the opportunity to lock him up long term.

Recent Bears posts: Adam Podlesh is the Bears' new punter. The team is working offensive line targets. Former punter Brad Maynard voiced surprising animosity toward well-respected special-teams coordinator Dave Toub. The Bears have a tough decision on a contract extension for tailback Matt Forte.

Chicago Bears fans understandably are pining for an infusion of free agent offensive linemen. I think that will come in the next day or so. In the meantime, the Bears took care of the roster hole created when they decided to move on from veteran punter Brad Maynard.

Free agent Adam Podlesh, who spent the past four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has agreed to terms on a five-year contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. There had been heavy speculation that the Bears would pursue the New York Jets' Steve Weatherford, but ultimately Podlesh proved to be their man.

The Jaguars' fourth-round draft pick in 2007, Podlesh was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as acinic cell carcinoma in 2009. He returned in 2010 to have the best season of his career, earning Pro Bowl alternate status after averaging 43.8 yards per punt and dropping 26 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line.

Most important to the Bears, Podlesh is 11 years younger than Maynard and presumably will provide stability at the position for years to come.

Recent Bears posts: The team is working offensive line targets. Maynard voiced surprising animosity toward well-respected special-teams coordinator Dave Toub. The Bears have a tough decision on a contract extension for tailback Matt Forte.

The departure of longtime Chicago Bears punter Brad Maynard has revealed some previously unknown (at least to me) animosity behind the team's special teams juggernaut and led to a surprising public rebuke of highly-regarded special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

In a series of interviews, most recently with "Waddle & Silvy" on ESPN 1000, Maynard said he and Toub haven't been on the same page for years. The feud apparently began late in the 2009 season, when Toub stripped Maynard's option to determine kick direction. From his ESPN 1000 interview:

"[Toub] always used to let me call the direction of every kick. I'd come up to him on the sidelines and say, 'Hey, let's go left here.' And he would just relay the message to all the guys standing around. Late in the '09 season I ran up there and said, 'Let's go left,' and it was 'No, I'm calling it from now on. We're going right.' It just kind of took me aback a little bit.

"I talked to [long snapper Patrick Mannelly] and [place-kicker] Robbie [Gould] about this from that point on over the next couple years. ... There were times when I literally would say left and he would say right and I would say I can't go right. The wind is blowing right to left, we need to go left. If I hit it right down the middle it's going to carry down the left sideline, and he wouldn't let me do it.

"I've had some teammates say you call the direction and we'll cover it. Just let us know. But I can't do that. I'm not that type of player. I'm not selfish. I'm going to do what my coach asks me to do."

There are obviously two sides to every story, and we haven't yet heard from Toub. Bears coaches aren't scheduled to speak with reporters until Friday.

Gould, for one, seemed to support Maynard's position while talking with Chicago-area reporters Tuesday. This line in particular caught my eye: "He's helped Dave Toub's career tremendously by the fact of having a punter that can do what he did."

I don't think Toub's reputation around the league will be tarnished by this issue, especially if the Bears follow through with their reported plan to sign New York Jets punter Steve Weatherford. Sometimes a coach has to assert himself for the betterment of the team, even if it creates an awkward situation with an individual player. It's just rare that you see dirty laundry of this level aired out in public, and it's been duly noted.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It's already clear that NFL team executives will need their heads on a swivel during this unprecedented transition from the lockout. Here's an example:

Monday afternoon, the NFL announced that teams would be eligible to begin negotiating and signing undrafted rookies on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. But late Monday afternoon, Minnesota Vikings vice president Rick Spielman received a surprise email while waiting his turn at a quick media availability: The instructions had changed. Negotiations with those undrafted rookies were now allowed immediately.

Moments later, ESPN's John Clayton confirmed the news. After answering questions from reporters, Spielman hustled up to a meeting room where personnel staffers had set up a make-shift phone bank to begin the recruiting process.

I'm guessing there will be a few more curveballs along the way. But barring any immediate changes, NFL teams can formally sign those undrafted rookies starting at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday and can also begin negotiations with draft picks, their free agents and undrafted free agents. Be prepared for a wild few days of news.

Unless that changes, of course.

Here's a quick roundup of news and notes from around the NFC North:

• The Chicago Bears are moving Chris Harris back to his more natural strong safety position, opening up the free safety spot for Major Wright. Danieal Manning, a free agent, isn't expected to return. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has an early look at the undrafted rookies the Bears are pursuing.
• Dan Pompei of the Tribune considers possible veteran free agents for the Bears, including Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl of the Atlanta Falcons.
• Former Bears punter Brad Maynard, speaking to Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times after learning he would not return to the team, implied that he did not get along with special teams coordinator Dave Toub. Maynard: "I'm not surprised at all. There was one person there, and he and I didn't see eye to eye. I did the best I could with what I was asked to do. There were times I was asked to do things where I told myself, 'There's no way I can do this,' but I kept my mouth shut and did the best I could."
• Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "We've got a plan that we have laid out for quite some time now about how we want to build this team, and that was a philosophy that we communicated to you guys back a couple years ago. That philosophy is shared by [general manager Martin Mayhew] and [coach Jim Schwartz] and myself, and we're going to stick to that philosophy about how you build the nucleus of this team and how we have built the nucleus of the team."
• John Niyo of the Detroit News expects the Lions to be active in the trade market.
• The Lions will have meetings and a conditioning test for players Thursday, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Most of the Green Bay Packers' training camp practices will be scheduled during the evening, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette wonders if the Packers will move Bryan Bulaga to left guard.
• The Packers are hoping to visit the White House to meet President Barack Obama sometime this month, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers running back John Kuhn plans to test the free-agent market, writes Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press wants the Vikings to sign veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
• It hadn't been rumored to be an issue, but Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said tailback Adrian Peterson will report to training camp on time, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. Peterson is in the final year of his contract.
• The Vikings will add about 30 players over the next week, notes the Star Tribune.

This week's edition of ESPN.com's offseason Power Rankings was one of my favorites, and not just because I wrote it. As opposed to ranking the best of this moment, our goal was to look ahead and project some of the people we might include in future Power Rankings.

If we're right, this week's list represents the core members of the next wave of NFL head-coaching candidates. We didn't include college coaches, and we made the executive decision to eliminate anyone who has already been a head coach, allowing us to focus on up-and-coming assistants throughout the league.

Given how much projection was involved in this exercise, I felt most comfortable with the people I know most about. (So did the other bloggers, and 24 assistants ended up appearing on at least one ballot.) To that end, I voted for four NFC North coaches in the order below:

3. Green Bay Packers safeties coach Darren Perry
6. Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett
7. Chicago Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub
10. Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss

Moss (No. 6) and Perry (No. 10) made the top 10. My thoughts below:

• Perry has two important attributes going for him. First, he is a good coach and deserves credit not only for guiding the transition of Pro Bowl free safety Nick Collins into a new scheme but also patching together the strong safety spot last season between multiple starters. Second, and this is just as important to his future, he is a long-time disciple of defensive coordinator Dom Capers, having played and coached in his 3-4 scheme. Given the success of the Packers' defense last season, and the fact that both Super Bowl teams played that scheme last season, Perry has the schematic pedigree NFL teams will be looking for. Many people around the league believe it is a matter of when, not if, Perry makes the next step to defensive coordinator.
• Bennett presided over the rise of tailback Ryan Grant from obscurity in 2007 and has drawn particular praise for drills designed to limit fumbles. Grant deserves some credit as well, but the fact remains he lost five fumbles in three years under Bennett as the Packers' primary tailback. Last season, no one among the trio of Brandon Jackson, John Kuhn and James Starks lost a fumble on a running play. The Packers' decision to shift Bennett to receivers coach suggests he is being groomed for a bigger job -- either in Green Bay or elsewhere.
• I didn't really expect anyone else to vote for Toub, and I can't say for sure that an NFL owner would seriously consider hiring a special-teams coach from outside the organization for his own head-coaching job. But Toub has quite simply fielded the most competent and explosive special-teams group in the NFL since joining the Bears in 2004. (One obscure stat among many: The Bears have more blocked kicks during Toub's tenure than any other NFL team.) Toub also has the global mindset necessary to be a head coach, and in 2009, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said: "On your staff, the coach that's best prepared to be a head coach is your special-teams coach. They have to deal with everybody on the roster, plus [the media]. That's a tough thing to do. Dave Toub would be a great head coach down the road." Like current Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Toub might need to move to an offensive or defensive role for a time period to balance his résumé.
• Moss drew interest from both the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders two years ago for their respective head-coaching jobs. He is a strong leader, someone that players enjoy working for and deserves credit for transitioning A.J. Hawk into an inside linebacker and Desmond Bishop into a full-time starter. Moss has experience in a 3-4 and a 4-3 scheme, and there was talk of the Raiders hiring him as their defensive coordinator this winter. My thought in ranking him No. 10 is that NFL teams would pursue Perry before Moss because of Perry's connection with Capers, but that's just an educated guess.
• Remember, this was a ranking of up-and-coming assistants, not a list of the 10 best assistant coaches in the NFL. If it had been, my list would have looked dramatically different. Many of the NFC North's best assistants are former head coaches who might not get another chance at the top job. That list includes Capers, Chicago Bears assistants Rod Marinelli, Mike Martz and Mike Tice, and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.
• And finally, we put together a little video that you might have missed in the original post. Extra credit for anyone who identifies the photograph in the background of my segment.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We're entering the Wild West portion of our Lockout'11 offseason, the part when players of at least some teams plan to show up for work Tuesday morning after U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered the lockout lifted. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, players will be treated courteously if they show up but the NFL has instructed teams not to open their weight rooms or engage in any contract discussions.

Not every team will face that uncomfortable situation, however. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Lions player representative Kyle Vanden Bosch is advising teammates to "hold tight" and not report until the situation is more structured. As of early Tuesday morning, the league was still trying to come up with a plan for how to conduct business while its attorneys seek a stay to resume the lockout while they appeal Nelson's verdict. For players, showing up for work would trigger workout bonuses that can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.

ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson called Monday's ruling "a critical win for the players" and suggests they are well on their way to permanently overcoming the owners' lockout tactic. If that's the case, we could soon be headed toward the resumption of the NFL offseason under rules imposed by the owners.

As it turns out, the Minnesota Vikings had previously scheduled a news conference Tuesday afternoon with vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman and coach Leslie Frazier to discuss that little draft thing I hear is coming up. I'll be sure to head over there and give you a sense for what at least one NFL facility is like on this potential day of chaos.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions could draft a defensive lineman in the first round with an eye toward the future, writes Birkett.
• Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News: "Wide receivers not named Calvin Johnson or Nate Burleson combined for 21 receptions, 240 yards and zero touchdowns last season for the Lions."
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com would love to see the Lions select Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith.
• Linebacker is definitely a position of need for the Chicago Bears, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times: "The Bears might not be as interested in using a first-round pick to protect quarterback Jay Cutler as many assume. With Tommie Harris gone, it could be argued that defensive tackle is an even greater need, especially with the importance of the 'three-technique' tackle in coach Lovie Smith's cover-2 scheme."
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, like special teams coordinator Dave Toub, recently turned down a contract extension because it didn't include a raise.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wonders if the Green Bay Packers will have the opportunity to draft Alabama running back Mark Ingram.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com on the Packers' need for an outside linebacker: "While undrafted rookie free agent Frank Zombo and midseason pickup Erik Walden both did good things that encouraged the coaching staff after season-ending injuries to Brad Jones and Brady Poppinga, none of the four have shown enough to guarantee a starting job. If Packers GM Ted Thompson can land a true complementary rusher for Matthews, he will."
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, technically a free agent, told the Associated Press (via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com) that it makes sense for players to "let the dust settle" before making their next step.
• The market value for Vikings receiver Sidney Rice is unclear, writes Pelissero.
• Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder might be the third-best quarterback in the draft, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune looks at five players the Vikings could draft with their No. 12 overall pick.