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We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill ended Wednesday in a more productive place than it started, which began with a rare verbal harangue from mild-mannered Gov. Mark Dayton against legislative leaders who have proposed significant last-minute changes in the bill.

After a closed-door meeting, Dayton said he was willing to "look at" a proposal that would pay the state's portion through bonding rather than gambling revenues. The new proposal would put a roof on the stadium, as necessary, but there are still many unanswered questions as the legislative session continues past its scheduled adjournment.

Dayton on the Republicans' new proposal: "They're in the majority -- they control the floor, they control the agenda. They have the majority of the votes. I want to see a stadium that's structurally sound and financially sound, that puts thousands of people to work and keeps the Minnesota Vikings here. If it means continuing to work, and looking at another possibility, we're willing to do that."

As the world turns ...

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings will not increase their contribution in the new proposal, a team spokesman told the Star Tribune. That contribution is set at $427 million.
• New Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson is ready to get to work, writes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder was pleased to see the team draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Green Bay Packers had no comment on the eight-game suspension the NFL handed defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "The Packers couldn't have been thrilled with Goodell's verdict, but there's no harm in keeping Hargrove. Suspended without pay, he won't count against Green Bay's 53-man roster. He is allowed to participate in offseason activities and the preseason and will begin the 2012 season on the 'suspended' list."
• Longtime Packers scout Shaun Herock is leaving to be the Oakland Raiders' director of college scouting, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• The Detroit Free Press looks back at the Detroit Lions' decision to draft linebacker Jimmy Williams 30 years ago.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com takes a second look at the Lions' decision to draft receiver Ryan Broyles.
• Former Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer on the death of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, via ESPNChicago.com: "For me, this tragedy of Seau, the bounty program, it’s all part of the same issue. That there’s an identity crisis going on in the NFL right now. Thus far, in my opinion, the league office has been very reactionary in the way that they have handled it. And this is generations of culture built up here around the way we practice, the way we teach, the way we’re instructed to play the game whether you're hurt, injured. As long as you can put one foot in front of the other you just go out and play."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune speaks with former Bears safety Shaun Gayle, who also played with Seau late in his career. Gayle discussed the similarities between Seau's death and that of former Bears safety Dave Duerson.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

In the spring, we discussed the case of retired Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who was unable to continue playing after recovering from leukemia. Udeze was denied coverage under the NFL's disability insurance because he didn't qualify under one of three criteria: "line-of-duty ailments, 'football degenerative' ailments and 'total and permanent' incapacity."

So it was with great interest that I read Brad Biggs' report in the Chicago Tribune detailing the league's denial of a $900,000 injury protection benefit from former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who retired because of repeated concussions. The Hillenmeyer and Udeze issues are not identical, but both reflect the cold reality of NFL player retirements. And according to Hillenmeyer, there is an added layer in his case: The NFL is protecting itself against a mass legal conclusion that playing football leads to long-term health issues.

Hillenmeyer: "The fact that a case as black and white as mine can't even get resolved is indicative of a much, much deeper truth. Owners know what the game is doing to players, but once they fully acknowledge it, the gig is up."

Scary stuff, and worth a read.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Mike Mulligan of theTribune questions how much authority new Bears general manager Phil Emery will have.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times offers a quick profile of Emery, who isn't much for a self-promoter.
• Dan Pompei of the Tribune refers to Emery as "one of the NFL's best evaluators of talent."
• The Green Bay Packers won't host their annual Fan Fest event, according to the team via the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers general manager Ted Thompson deserves some blame for the team's poor pass rush in 2011, writes Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.
• Kevin Duchschere of the Star Tribune looks closer at the Minnesota Vikings' possible three-year shift to TCF Bank Stadium.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com offers a brief rundown of the Vikings' performance in the Pro Bowl.
• A Michigan man has admitted to calling in bomb threats to the Superdome during the Detroit Lions' playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. Paul Rioux of the Times-Picayune has more.
• The Lions need to add some weapons to their offense, especially in the backfield, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• Dave Birkett of the Free Press speaks to former Lions guard Dick Stanfel, a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Thanks for your patience Tuesday as ESPN.com worked through some technical issues that left me unable to post to the blog for most of the afternoon and early evening. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The outage forced me to cancel our SportsNation chat, but we did hold an impromptu 30-minute "chat" over on Facebook. That's where all the cool cats hang out, anyway.

Rather than dump a bunch of posts late Tuesday night, I decided to roll them out Wednesday. We'll get to my reaction to what is likely our final offseason Power Rankings effort and also a radio interview with Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins that you might find interesting.

But first, let's take our morning tour around the NFC North:

• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent time Tuesday at a youth football camp at William & Mary College in Virginia. He told Jim McGrath of the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily that succeeding Brett Favre "forced me to improve as a football player, but also as a person. I knew that the opportunity was going to come and I was going to have to make the most of it. People were going to be watching, and I knew that the way I prepared for that situation would go a long way in the locker room with those guys."
• Packers receiver James Jones, a pending free agent, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "To be honest, I just approach it as, I'm just truly blessed that after the lockout, I'm going to be on somebody's team -- whether it's the Packers or any other team."
• Details of proposed tweaks in the Minnesota Vikings stadium proposal have proved elusive, according to the Star Tribune.
• It's possible that Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder will gather with teammates in the Twin Cities before training camp, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings defensive end Brian Robison on the status of teammate Ray Edwards, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "He deserves that payday, and at the same time, I feel like I deserve the right to start. I feel like I've fought every year for that right to start and haven't really got the shot that I deserve yet, and hopefully, now I'll get that shot and he'll go get his payday and we'll all be happy."
• Detroit Lions defensive end Lawrence Jackson participated Tuesday in a youth camp organized by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Mike Brundell of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Suh said he has talked to new teammate Nick Fairley on "numerous occasions," writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, whose season ended last year because of a concussion, is still weighing whether to play in 2011 or retire. Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com has more.

Now more than ever, it makes sense to identify the NFC North players who will be most involved in resolving the NFL's looming labor dispute. Below you'll see each team's union representatives, based on the most recent list published by the NFL Players Association.

Chicago Bears
Rep: Place-kicker Robbie Gould
Co-alternates: Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and receiver Rashied Davis
Comment: Hillenmeyer was released earlier this week and might retire, but he is expected to remain active in union activities regardless.

Detroit Lions
Rep: Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch
Co-alternates: Place-kicker Jason Hanson and linebacker Julian Peterson
Comment: Vanden Bosch took over this year for offensive lineman Jon Jansen, who was released. Peterson is expected to be released this spring.

Green Bay Packers
Rep: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Co-alternates: Cornerback Charles Woodson and receiver Donald Driver
Comment: Rodgers took over the lead role during the 2010 season. Woodson recently released a statement supporting Wisconsin public workers in their ongoing dispute with the state.

Minnesota Vikings
Rep: Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Co-alternates: Defensive end Jared Allen and linebacker Ben Leber
Comment: Hutchinson predicted last summer the NFL would lock out its players. Leber is unsigned for 2011.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

If you haven't already, you really should check out the extensive statement released Monday by former Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, especially in light of the recent suicide of ex-Bears safety Dave Duerson.

As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune points out, Hillenmeyer -- whom the Bears released Monday -- notes that he hasn't yet been cleared to play in 2011 because of a history of recurring concussions. He insisted that the Bears forced him to sit out most of the 2010 season and expressed gratitude for it.

Hillenmeyer, in part: "Barring some unforeseen turn of events, I don't think there was a set of circumstances where I would have been cleared to play next season anyway. The more we pull back the curtain on the long-term effects of head injury, the scarier it gets for players in my position, who have multiple diagnosed concussions and countless more 'dings' and headaches.

"On one hand, I feel lucky to have been relatively candid about my symptoms compared to some colleagues who do everything they can to conceal their struggles. I can only thank the Bears organization, from the trainers and the doctors up to Lovie [Smith] and Jerry [Angelo], for trying to be proactive in the way concussions are handled. On the other hand, any player who tells you they aren't affected by the tragic stories like Dave Duerson's, that seem to be popping up all too often, are lying."

As unfortunate as the circumstances are, you would hope that players and teams will use the Bears' treatment of Hillenmeyer this season as a baseline for their approach to concussions moving forward. Hopefully Hillenmeyer's status as a reserve player didn't make it easier than if it had occurred with a star. And let's also hope that players follow Hillenmeyer's lead in refusing to hide his symptoms.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears defensive lineman Tommie Harris on his release, via Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times: "I'm not disappointed at all. I'm ready to start all over. But it's one of those bittersweet deals."
• Harris was "nuts, but in an endearing, harmless way," writes David Haugh of the Tribune.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "It's March 1 and the draft is two months and a lockout away, so don't believe anyone who claims he knows what the Lions will do with the 13th pick."
• UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, a possible target for the Lions at No. 13 overall, had a disappointing performance at the scouting combine, notes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com: "While the possibilities are seemingly endless, I firmly believe there is one thing the Lions will not do: Draft Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. Not with the 13th pick and not even if they trade back 10 or 12 spots."
• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy on backup quarterback Matt Flynn, via Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "I'm not letting him go."
• Former Packers running back Ahman Green has confirmed he will play for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL this season.
• The suburb of Arden Hills, Minn., has agreed to work with Ramsey County to investigate a possible stadium site for the Minnesota Vikings. Sarah Horner of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• The Vikings don't expect their defense to change much under new coordinator Fred Pagac, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

Labor uncertainty or not, it hasn't taken long for NFC North teams to begin the post-combine business of roster cleanup. The Chicago Bears started it off Monday afternoon, terminating the contracts of three veterans: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, and offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer.

Harris was by far the most newsworthy name, but his inclusion was not unexpected. As we discussed last week, Harris was due a $2.5 million roster bonus before training camp and a $2.312 million base salary in 2011. Because of several accounting moves, his salary-cap number would have been $11.115 million, an unmanageable figure assuming the NFL reverts to a cap system under its new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The cap issue suggests there is a chance Harris could re-sign with the Bears at some point. But it should be pretty clear to everyone that Harris, even at age 27, is a shell of the player that earned three consecutive Pro Bowl berths from 2005-07. If anything, the Bears were too patient in waiting for him to regain his form from a series of mid-decade injuries.

After recording a career-high eight sacks in 2007, Harris managed nine over the next three years combined. He lost his starting job early last season to Matt Toeaina, whose contract extension in December was among many clues that Harris' time in Chicago was nearing an end.

The No. 14 overall pick of the 2004 draft, Harris ultimately will be remembered as a dominant force during a four-year stretch and an enigma for the three years that followed. Although Toeaina is signed for 2011, it's safe to say that a playmaking defensive tackle should be high among the Bears' offseason priorities.

As for Hillenmeyer, it's unclear if he will continue playing. The Bears placed him on injured reserve last year because of concussion issues. He turns 31 in October.

The first of our two Minnesota-Wisconsin border battles is upon us. On Sunday night at Lambeau Field, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will square off mano a mano. Ali vs. Frazier. Ricky vs. Cal. Balboa vs. Drago...

Two worlds collide, rival nations.
It's a primitive clash
Venting years of frustrations.
Bravely we hope against all hope.
There is so much at stake,
Seems our freedom's up against the ropes.
Does the crowd understand?
Is it East versus West, or man against man?
Can any nation stand alone?

In the burning heart
Just about to burst.
There's a quest for answers, an unquenchable thirst.
In the darkest night, rising like a spire,
In the burning heart, the unmistakable fire.

In the warrior's code, there's no surrender.
Though his body says stop, his spirit cries -- never!
Deep in our soul, a quiet ember
Knows it's you against you,
It's the paradox that drives us on.
It's a battle of wills.
In the heat of attack,
It's the passion that kills.
The victory is yours alone.

(By the way, have you ever read the lyrics to what is usually an adrenaline-producing song and feel somewhat less, uh, adrenalized? I'm sorry. I'm not sure what the Survivor boys were trying to say.)

Complaints, suggestions, compliments and requests for dismissal can all be directed to the mailbag. Or Facebook. Or Twitter.

Onward....

Martin of Appleton, Wis., read Chicago Bears safety Chris Harris' thoughts on the NFL's decision to enforce its unnecessary roughness rules and wonders if players believe they have a right to illegal helmet-to helmet-hits if they "buy" them with a moderate fine after the game.

Kevin Seifert: Martin, your question had several other points, but I thought this was the most interesting.

Let me first say I have never seen such unified and visceral public complaining from NFL players on any issue. Perhaps Twitter emboldened some of them to speak out, but I think it's pretty clear that many, many players were opposed to the NFL's actions this week. It ran the gamut from the most high-profile, such as Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, to special-teams players such as Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe.

Kluwe spent much of the week mocking the NFL's plans and its explanatory video. He even posted a hysterical photograph -- sorry, it's not safe for family viewing -- depicting punters left unprotected by the same rules.

I realize what you're saying, Martin, but I think the players in this case are justified in their outrage. For the NFL, this was a knee-jerk and arbitrary reaction to a systemic issue that goes to the core of the game itself. I like the way Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer put it in a column published by USA Today: "It's too easy to slap a fine on a player and ignore the fact that every other incentive in his football universe rewards that same aggression. The onus is not just on the players. The whole culture of football has to change to really make the game safer."

I'm in total agreement. Football isn't just a violent game. It's nasty hand-to-hand combat. Some helmet-to-helmet plays are dirty, and all of them are potentially dangerous. But there are other dirty parts of this game, and every play has the potential for danger. Why focus only on helmet-to-helmet hits at a time when punters are getting blindsided on returns, running backs are getting their ankles twisted at the bottom of piles and defensive linemen are getting their knees chopped?

How can you ask players to curb one element of an entire way of life?

That's why I think this whole episode feels like a public-relations ploy akin to the new concussion "policy" the league produced during the offseason. As it turns out, that policy is nothing more than a set of guidelines that ultimately leaves individual decisions on treatment of head injuries to the individual teams. In this most recent case, the NFL reacted after a weekend that included more helmet-to-helmet hits than usual, but certainly nothing we've never seen before. I'm all for protecting players, but this week addressed a small portion of the issue.

---

Don of Tucson, Ariz., writes: You pointed out that Detroit Lions receivers have dropped a lot of passes this year. Could you at least break down the numbers for those of us who don't have access to them?

Kevin Seifert: Fair enough, Don. The chart shows the teams with the 10-most drops in the NFL. The numbers, compiled by ESPN Stats & Information, are of course somewhat subjective. But the same standards were applied to each team. The Lions are atop the list with 19 in six games.

As far as individuals go, receiver Calvin Johnson and fullback Jerome Felton have three drops apiece. The rest are spread out among the rest of the Lions' offense.

---

Jay of Madison, Wis., -- who read our post on Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and close games -- writes: Game-saving drives? Could you clarify? I get that Rodgers is getting flak for losing close games and deservedly so. But can he really take full blame for all of those? No way.

In at least six of those close 11 losses, he has brought his team back to take the lead or tie the game late (under six minutes remaining). Jacksonville, Houston, Carolina, and Tennessee in 2008. Pittsburgh (and you may as well throw in Arizona) in 2009. Miami in 2010. The 2008 Packers defense was just horrific and we saw what happened in 2009 against great quarterbacks. In a few of those cases he still had a chance to lead his team to victory.

Kevin Seifert: First off, a game-saving/winning drive is defined as a victorious drive that wins a game when Favre's team was either trailing or tied at any point in the fourth quarter. Favre has 42 in his regular-season career and three more in the playoffs.

On the other hand, Rodgers' teams have lost 11 of 12 games decided by four points or less since the start of 2008.

To repeat what I noted in the original post: These statistics aren't an apples-to-apples comparison. But I do think they paint a general picture that we all would accept on an observational level. No matter who is at fault, the Rodgers-led Packers haven't had much success in winning the kids of games that Favre has made a career of.

You're right, Jay. Rodgers has had some amazing fourth quarters in his short career. But under his guidance, the team hasn't finished many of those jobs. Obviously, if Mason Crosby hits that 53-yard field goal against the Washington Redskins instead of nipping the left upright, we're telling a different story. But Rodgers' point during the conference call was that games don't always come down to what happens in the final frenetic minutes. Sometimes your best opportunity to win comes much earlier, and Rodgers pointed to a failed fourth-down pass on the goal line in the second quarter.

The quarterback gets more blame than any other individual player because he has the ball on every play and thus can impact the outcome of games to a greater extent. I don't think Rodgers necessarily did anything to lose those games, but the numbers say he hasn't done enough to win them, either.

---

Danius of Seattle writes: You endorsed the Bears' hiring of Mike Martz. I had my doubts. Here's why: Martz is brilliant -- when he has the personnel to execute his schemes. But when he doesn't -- like during his stint with the Lions -- he shows that he is not capable of adapting his offense to the players and situation. Isn't this the problem with Martz and the Bears in a nutshell? You may disagree, but this would make a good discussion point for your blog.

Kevin Seifert: Fair points all around, although I do think it should be noted that Martz has bent his "rules" in at least one instance. Tight end Greg Olsen is the Bears' second-most targeted receiver (28 passes) in a scheme that historically has ignored the position in the passing game.

Otherwise, I think we're all waiting to see if Martz will really keep throwing the ball at his current rate and style, or whether he'll adjust based on the Bears' sack totals. He has two good running backs in Matt Forte and Chester Taylor, and a quarterback in Jay Cutler who in the past has been at his best when allowed to leave the pocket.

None of that is happening with any regularity to this point. It's difficult to watch the same thing happen over and over again.

---

Travis of Hartley, Iowa, writes: With the Vikings playing the Packers this weekend and being thin at cornerback, do you think it would be wise for them to keep Antoine Winfield on the outside on third downs instead of inside? The Packers' run game isn't very effective this year and if Chris Cook can start that would make it a lot tougher for the Pack to convert on third down. I know Asher Allen isn't close to the type of player Antoine is but I know he's a physical guy and could still be effective as the nickel back.

Kevin Seifert: It's an interesting point. Winfield plays inside in the nickel because the Vikings think he is best-suited to cover slot receivers and/or tight ends, but the loss of Jermichael Finley makes the Packers less explosive in that area. I don't think Cook is going to be healthy enough to start, but the Packers run enough three-receiver sets that both he and Allen will be on the field for much of the game.

Ultimately, you want to see Winfield on an opponent's best receiver -- in this case, Greg Jennings -- no matter where he is lined up.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

MINNEAPOLIS -- Greetings from the Metrodome, where we're on hand for Sunday afternoon's contest between the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. I'll pass along any pregame news that comes my way, but for now let's take a quick spin around the NFC North:

• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com sees a 14-point Vikings victory: "It's hard to imagine the Vikings' passing game being any worse than it was in New Orleans, especially considering the Saints boast one of the NFL's top cornerback pairings and the Dolphins may have one of the worst."
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune profiles Vikings safety Husain Abdullah.
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press profiles Vikings coach Brad Childress. An excerpt: "By Childress' orders during the summer, each Vikings player wrote five values on an index card that best describe that player's way of life."
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com predicts a 21-point victory for the Green Bay Packers over the Buffalo Bills.
• It's time for Packers tailback Brandon Jackson to step up, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers tight end Jermichael Finley won't surprise anyone this season, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Detroit Lions need to earn the right to complain about last week's touchdown-turned-incompletion, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions left tackle Jeff Backus shouldn't be trusted to protect Matthew Stafford's blind side, according to Brian VanOchten of Mlive.com.
• Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub will have to work hard to replace the injured Hunter Hillenmeyer, a key special-teams contributor, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Irony is when the firehouse burns down. But Marc Colombo returning from an injury to play against the Bears is pretty close."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune on Bears coach Lovie Smith: "It seems every decision Smith makes is going to be condemned. Not debated, or even criticized, mind you. But condemned. Whatever he does is going to be wrong."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Although the NFL has made no formal announcement, Detroit-area media outlets are reporting that Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand has been reinstated from a 30-day suspension nine days early and will be back on the job Wednesday.

The NFL originally suspended Lewand and fined him $100,000 after he pleaded guilty this summer to driving while impaired. He was sentenced to six months' probation and paid $870 in court fees and costs. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also laid out an extensive set of requirements for seeking outpatient help, all of which Lewand reportedly complied with and apparently had a role in his early return.

If his fine was reduced, it hasn't been reported.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions placed rookie nickelback Aaron Berry on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. Veteran Nate Vasher has replaced him on the roster.
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "An emotional outburst from Jim Schwartz would have appeased the insecure looking for somebody in the Lions organization to articulate their outrage about what has now been called the Decompletion. But Schwartz looked more like a good NFL head coach in the aftermath of Sunday's controversial finish than at any point since his arrival last year."
• Chicago Bears receiver Devin Hester was a forgotten man last Sunday at Soldier Field, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Whether it's goal-line issues, a fumble, a tough time against Detroit's front or the controversial finish, [Matt] Forte's contribution was somehow overlooked or at least underappreciated."
• The Bears could be eyeing free-agent linebacker Rod Wilson to take Hunter Hillenmeyer's spot on the roster, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Ryan Grant wasn't one of the Green Bay Packers' six or seven best players, but he was one of their six or seven most important."
• Grant discussed having surgery on his injured ankle and returning late in the season, reports Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com, but the Packers decided against holding open his roster spot that long. He will still have surgery.
• The Packers viewed most of the available veteran free-agent running backs as poor fits for their scheme, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Instead, they signed rookie Dimitri Nance off the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.
• The Minnesota Vikings had four receivers in for workouts Tuesday but have yet to sign any of them, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• New Vikings receiver Greg Camarillo is still learning the team's offense, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings will prepare for the Miami Dolphins' Wildcat scheme this week, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

I applaud the Chicago Bears for being as open as they were on how, when and why a concussion has ended linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer's season. But I imagine that concussion-awareness advocates will still cringe when they read the time line. Here's how the Bears put it in a news release:

Hillenmeyer suffered the injury during the third preseason game versus the Arizona Cardinals and missed the preseason finale as a result. After passing all medical tests following the conclusion of the preseason schedule, he returned to practice prior to the season opener versus Detroit. Hillenmeyer was removed from last weekend's game at halftime after becoming ill during the contest.

In hindsight, of course, you wonder if playing last weekend was the right move for Hillenmeyer and the Bears. There is no mention of a second incident resulting in his illness Sunday, so we're left to presume it was related to the preseason concussion. In a statement released by the team, Hillenmeyer said he is "happy to see my team err on the side of caution." Presumably, he was referring to the decision to shut him down for the season.

There is no sense speculating on what happened here. We don't have enough details and may never. But we can say this: Hillenmeyer was one of three players removed from NFC North games last weekend because of concussions. The other two were Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley. Given the direction concussion research is going in, I think you're going to hear a lot more about this issue in the near future.

A potentially scary situation is developing for the Chicago Bears. The Chicago Tribune is reporting, and ESPNChicago.com has confirmed, that linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been placed on injured reserve. Hillenmeyer left Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions with what the team termed an "illness," but the Tribune reports the move is related to a concussion.

Hillenmeyer also missed the Bears' final preseason game, also because of an illness. There has been no official word from the team, but Hillenmeyer suffered a concussion in 2006 and last winter agreed to donate his brain for concussion research after his death.

Hillenmeyer is a classy guy and we're hoping the best for him.

On the field, the Bears will have to find someone else to fill the important role of backup to middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. That role went to Nick Roach last season, but Roach has been sidelined by injuries since the preseason.

If he's healthy, you would have to assume that newly re-signed linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa will have the first chance to win Chicago's starting strongside position. That's how the Bears began last season, and if they were completely confident in replacement Nick Roach, it's unlikely they would have brought back Tinoisamoa on Monday.

Speaking about the position at the NFL owners meeting last month, Bears coach Lovie Smith noted four candidates for the job: Roach, Jamar Williams, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Tinoisamoa. Smith, however, said he considers Hillenmeyer best suited to play middle linebacker and that Williams would be better off on the weak side.

Smith said Roach "will probably be the first guy there" but added that if Tinoisamoa re-signed, "we'll start reshuffling some things."

Tinoisamoa missed most of last season because of a knee injury. But if he can remain healthy, I'm guessing the Bears will want to see if he can provide a stronger and more experienced presence than Roach when training camp begins this summer.

MIAMI -- Chicago linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is among another group of active NFL players who have agreed to donate their brains to concussion research upon their deaths.

Here’s the full report from the Associated Press. Hillenmeyer has had a vested interested in concussions since suffering one in the season opener against Green Bay in 2006. At the time, he said: “I’ve got my mom and girlfriend sending me 50 articles off the Internet about all the long-term effects of concussions. But that’s not something that I’m thinking about. I know the doctors wouldn’t let me play if they thought there was any greater risk of me getting another one than with anybody else out there.”

Other players who recently joined Hillenmeyer include Zach Thomas and Kyle Turley.

Chicago Bears: Receiver Devin Hester (calf) missed his second consecutive day of practice. Hunter Hillenmeyer (groin) was back in practice after sitting out Wednesday. Here is Jeff Dickerson’s Bears blog over on ESPN Chicago for more details on the Bears’ day.

Detroit Lions: Tight end Casey Fitzsimmons (concussion) sat out practice again and isn’t likely to play Sunday at Baltimore.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) missed his second consecutive day. There are still legitimate questions about whether any of the Packers' starting defensive linemen -- Pickett, along with ends Cullen Jenkins (hamstring) and Johnny Jolly (knee) -- will be ready for Sunday's game at Chicago.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Percy Harvin did not practice because of migraine headaches, according to the Star Tribune. Harvin dealt with a similar issue earlier this season but recovered in time to play Sept. 27 against San Francisco. Safety Tyrell Johnson (concussion) did not practice. Tailback Adrian Peterson (foot/ankle) and offensive lineman Phil Loadholt (shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Peterson got his chance. (And no, I’m not talking about a chance to explain why he was driving 109 miles per hour last Saturday in the Twin Cities, according to a suburban police report.)

I’m referring to the earnest and consistent explanation Peterson has offered since he became the NFL’s leading fumbler last season. He repeated it against Thursday:

“When I look at the fumbles,” Peterson said, “it comes every time I’m in a crowd, trying to fight for extra yards. Guys are not tackling me. They are really tackling the ball. [I just need to be] more aware of that and that’s what guys are trying to do. Trying to tackle the ball instead of actually tackling the player that’s running the ball.”

I call phooey.

That simply hasn’t been the case for all of Peterson’s six fumbles this season, an NFL high for running backs. It doesn’t describe each of his nine fumbles in 2008, also a league-high for running backs. Frankly, some of his fumbles are the result of careless ball security.

Let’s make one thing clear. I have much respect for Peterson as a player and more as a human being. But I think he’s doing himself a disservice by denying -- or at least minimizing -- the role of other factors in this string of turnovers.

Consider Peterson’s first-quarter fumble last Sunday at the Metrodome. When you watch the replay, you see him avoid Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs, take a step and then collide frontally with linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. The collision arches Peterson’s back. He tries to bounce away, but while doing so, Hillenmeyer pokes the ball out of Peterson’s right hand.

To his credit, Peterson acknowledged Thursday that he should have had the ball in his left hand because he was running toward the left sideline. But this wasn’t a case of multiple Bears defenders holding him up while another pokes at the ball. It wasn’t a bi-product of an exceptionally tough running back being difficult to tackle. This was one linebacker stopping his forward progress and then taking advantage of a ball Peterson shouldn’t have exposed.

Yet here’s what Peterson said when asked Thursday about the play:

“Actually, the first one against Chicago, it was pretty much the same thing I just got finished explaining as far as the guy having me. Actually, I had the ball in the wrong hand first of all. I’m running to the left and had it in my right. The guy was actually holding me. It was just him. I was trying to push him off. He wasn’t trying to tackle me. He was just trying to punch the ball out. It was basically the same scenario as far as the technique they tried to use. I’ve just go to be more aware. Hold on to the ball and take care of it or I’ll be sitting on the sideline.”

I don’t think there was any special technique here. Hillenmeyer would have punched at the ball against any running back in that situation. It’s up to Peterson to lower his shoulder, secure with two hands or do whatever else is necessary to protect the ball. Being difficult to tackle had very little to do with this turnover. There have been others like it.

Peterson’s fumbles haven’t hurt the Vikings yet this season, but the buzz among their fans is that an ill-timed mistake in a late-season or playoff game could ruin a dream season. After Peterson mentioned “sitting on the sideline,” I asked him if he seriously believed the Vikings would bench him if he continues to put the ball on the ground.

“Oh of course,” he said. “If I continue to fumble the ball, especially now in this stretch, I’m sure I’ll be sitting on the sideline. That’s something I definitely don’t want to do.”

I doubt it will come to that. But I just think Peterson would be wise to consider the entire spectrum of this issue. What do you think? I’m sure you’ll let me know.