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We're Black and Blue All Over:

How seriously are the Green Bay Packers taking the Super Bowl talk surrounding them? According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, linebacker Nick Barnett is selling a T-shirt with this slogan: Super Bowl or die.

Barnett: "I don't know if we're the favorites or anything like that. But I definitely think we have the talent to do it. That's what we say, 'Super Bowl or die.' It doesn't make any sense why we can't. We're dead serious about it. You never know how many chances you'll get in your life."

I agree with Barnett and am looking forward to my arrival in Green Bay later this week. I have one day remaining with the Chicago Bears, and then I'm scheduled to make a three-day stop in Detroit to see the Lions before continuing on to Lambeau Field.

Hope you're enjoying the camp ride so far. Let's catch up around the division on this Sunday morning:

• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette felt the Packers' excitement as well: "For the first time in at least three years, the only dark clouds looming over the Packers entering the start of camp were weather related. There was no quarterback controversy, no contract holdouts and no distractions. That's exactly the way the Packers want it, with all their focus on football. 'It's the best I have seen in a long time,' receiver Donald Driver said of the team's mindset.'
• A few players weren't happy to be practicing in wet conditions Saturday, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Lions received a standing ovation from fans after their first practice, according to the Detroit Free Press.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Lions' negotiations with unsigned defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh: "If Suh arrives in the next day or so, and that's certainly possible, no major harm. But if someone is digging in ---[agent Eugene] Parker has a history of protracted negotiations -- and trying to make a statement, stop it."
• The Minnesota Vikings' quarterbacks are caught in limbo as they await Brett Favre's return, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin returned to practice Saturday night after tweaking his ankle Saturday morning, reports Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Eight NFL players were pardoned after testing positive for bumetanide, the substance the league ultimately suspended Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for. Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has the story.
• Former NFL receiver Isaac Bruce is scheduled to arrive at Bears training camp later this week to work with the receiver group, according to the team's web site.
• Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders why the Bears aren't tackling in camp if they are looking to be more aggressive.
• Defensive end Julius Peppers should lessen the Bears' need to blitz, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- If anyone had asked me before this weekend which Chicago Bears receiver was the best fit for their new offense, I probably would have named Devin Hester. After all, Hester is one of the NFL's best open-field runners, and gaining yards after the catch is a primary building block of Mike Martz's scheme.

But then, two things happened. First, I tracked almost all of the first-team passes during the Bears' opening practice Friday. Quarterback Jay Cutler threw more often to receiver Johnny Knox, by far, than any other receiver.

Second, I jumped on ESPN 1000 Friday night with my friend Jeff Dickerson and ex-Bears quarterback Brett Basanez. We started discussing the Bears' receivers, and Basanez suggested that Knox's ability to "control" his elite speed makes him an ideal fit for this offense. In other words, Knox can get to top speed without losing his ability to run precise routes.

So will Knox be the Bears' No. 1 receiver this season? We should be careful about drawing conclusions after the first couple days of practice, but I think it's a possibility we should all consider.

I caught up with Knox after Saturday morning's light practice, and ahead of the Bears' scheduled full-pads practice Saturday night. He said he has been excited about this season from the moment Martz was hired.

"Just from watching him when he was with the Rams," Knox said. "I used to watch the Greatest Show on Turf. Getting him here, hopefully we can make this the Greatest Show on Grass now."

How do you like that one, Bears fans? The Greatest Show on Grass. Has a Bear-like ring, does it not?

Anyway, Knox was 13 years old when Martz's offense helped the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title in 1999. While I'm not comparing him to Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt, I do think Knox has the physical skills that will give him a chance to be highly productive in this offense.

"Just watching Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt, they were guys around my size with the same speed," Knox said. "That's one thing that excels in this offense -- if you have speed and quickness."

As for Hester, I'm going to take a closer look at him during Saturday evening's practice and report back what I find. There is a line of thinking that Hester will need to refine his underdeveloped receiving skills in order to make this offense work for him, but I'm keeping an open mind.

One note: Bears safety Chris Harris left the morning practice soon after it started. Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports Harris has a back strain.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

Devin Hester has been leaning on former Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce for advice on playing in Mike Martz's offense.

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka was in attendance at a fundraiser at a local high school Sunday.

Detroit Lions

General manager Martin Mayhew says he has seen a difference in Matthew Stafford now that he's had a full offseason as the Lions' starting quarterback.

Tom Kowalski breaks down the positives and negatives when it comes to center Dominic Raiola.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are one of 13 NFL teams to use the Sani Sport machine to sanitize equipment and help prevent staph infections.

Minnesota Vikings

Running back Adrian Peterson denies that contract issues were the reason he missed a minicamp in June.

Vikings.com's Mike Wobschall addresses concerns about John Sullivan at center.

We've spent plenty of time debating the Chicago Bears' receiving corps, but it's time we heard from a third party with some true football expertise. In this Insider piece, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. comes down squarely on the side of the receivers, writing: "I honestly feel the Bears are fine at wide receiver."

In particular, Williamson thinks Devin Hester and Johnny Knox will be the stars of offensive coordinator Mike Martz's passing game:

But the big plays will come from Hester and Knox. They are exactly what Martz looks for in his fast-paced "Greatest Show on Turf" offense. Both are fluid and explosive with tremendous speed. Hester in particular is exceptional after the catch, but Knox is the one whom I expect to rise to the head of the class. Remember, as impressive as Knox was in his rookie season, he was adapting to the NFL from a tiny college football program, Abilene Christian. Expect Knox's numbers to increase dramatically in Year 2.

My point all along is that the Bears don't have the No. 1-type receiver who consistently demands double teams. Defenses will have more options against Hester and Knox than they would if, say, a mid-decade Isaac Bruce were also among the group. But as they say, that's why they play the games.

It's raining and 48 degrees at NFC North headquarters as I write this during the SECOND WEEK OF MAY. A quick check shows 44 degrees in Green Bay, 50 in Detroit and a balmy 57 in Chicago. The calendar shows the 2010 NFL season is more than fourth months away.

Ugh. All I can hear is Carole King in my head, and it's a straight-up curse:

So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know that you're just time away.

While we navigate a cold end to spring and a long wait to the upcoming season, we can at least commiserate together via the mailbag, Facebook or Twitter. Not like we can go outside or anything. So let's dive into the weekend mailbag for some comfort food:

Jeff of Bloomington, Ind., writes: It's all well and good to pick the Packers to win the division, but I think at least one of your reasons is quite faulty. How exactly has Green Bay improved the "yin-and-yang" passing tree you talked about while the Vikings haven't? Sure, Jermichael Finley might have improved, but even if you're willing to predict Donald Driver won't regress a bit (a concession I disagree with), you certainly can't expect him to improve.

Meanwhile, Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin are probably going to improve in a second season with Favre guiding the offense, and Visanthe Shiancoe is at least comparable to Finley. Also, I don't see Bernard Berrian falling off any more than Driver. I just don't see how the Packers have improved while the Vikings haven't.

Kevin Seifert: Some fair points, Jeff, and they beg further explanation from me. We'll take it point-by-point.

First, my point on the Packers' "yin-and-yang" is based on where it stood during the first half of last season, when the Vikings swept the Packers, relative to the end. Let's republish the chart we first introduced in January. As you can see, Finley caught more passes than Driver or Greg Jennings over the Packers' final eight games. The Packers have a much more layered passing game now than they had while creating an early hole for themselves in 2009.


Second, it's fair to question Driver's sustainability at 35. But let's face it, the Packers have been transitioning toward Jennings for at least two years, and Driver's reception total has dropped in each of his past four years. He doesn't need to be a 70-catch player for the Packers' offense to run at a high level.

Third, one of the neat things we can do in this blog is compare the four teams relative to each other. I don't see the relevance in comparing the Packers' offense to the Vikings' offense. They don't compete against each other. My point was to compare the Packers' skill players in the passing game to the Vikings' defense, which as we noted, is in transition at multiple positions. And that was before Thursday's Hennepin County court ruling that made the suspensions of defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams more likely than ever.

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David of New Haven, Ind., writes: What is your obsession with downgrading the Bears wide outs? Sure they are young and inexperienced but they also played under the worst offensive coordinator ever in Ron Turner. How are they going to get experience if the Bears sign a veteran? Were Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce stars before they played in Mike Martz offense? He knows what he is talking about so give them a chance before writing them off.

Kevin Seifert: David is referring to our discussion about some comments Gale Sayers recently made about the Bears. Quoting Sayers, one of them was: "They need a couple wide receivers." I noted the Bears have consistently expressed confidence in the current group, and their actions have indicated they mean it. I also suggested that their confidence is based on projections, not previously-demonstrated competence.

To me, there is a difference between healthy skepticism and your basic hatin'. When I look at the Bears' receivers, I see a slot man in Devin Hester and a possession guy in Earl Bennett. In Devin Aromashodu, I see a player who caught fire for the final four games of his fourth NFL season. And in Johnny Knox, I see a speedster who might have more potential than any of his teammates.

It could be a deep group, and the Bears should have some options. But here's where my skepticism clicks in: To this point, there are no hints of a legitimate No. 1 receiver emerging from it. Who among those players do you think will require double teams this season? That's the type of receiver most offenses need to succeed at a high level. All three NFC North teams have one: Jennings in Green Bay, Calvin Johnson in Detroit and either Bernard Berrian or Sidney Rice, depending on matchups, in Minnesota.

If someone of that nature emerges in Chicago, I'll be the first to acknowledge it. I'm absolutely willing to give this group a chance, but that doesn't mean anyone has to guzzle the Kool-Aid.

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Mrs. Seifert of St. Paul, Minn., writes: Please quite ESPN. You are the worst blogger.

Kevin Seifert: There goes your Mother's Day present. And your spelling-bee trophy.

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Via Facebook, Hans writes: What do you guys think of [Brandon] Pettigrew? I'm hoping he turns out to be like Vernon Davis, a really great blocker and an above-average pass catcher, although Davis drastically improved last season so maybe that's too high of a comparison.

Kevin Seifert: I'll chime in on this one. Davis caught 78 passes and 13 touchdowns last year. That's way above average. In fact, those numbers ranked No. 5 and No. 1 among all NFL tight ends in 2009. If Pettigrew emerges as that type of tight end, I think the Lions would be ecstatic. If he's as good of a blocker as the Lions have suggested, consistent 50-catch seasons would be acceptable.

But I think you're right to put Pettigrew's career arc on a high pedestal. He was a first-round pick last year, a relatively rare scenario for tight ends. He'll need to establish two-way production over an extended period of time to justify his draft position.

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Alexdane436 of Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: What is your gut feel about the Vikings staying in Minnesota. Basically, stay or gone?

Kevin Seifert: In the end, I think they'll stay -- but not before an ugly confrontation with the state's political leaders.

The people I trust in this situation have long believed the Vikings' stadium situation won't be addressed until it reaches a crisis. That's what state leadership around the country has devolved to: crisis management. And in reality, this issue won't be a crisis until the Vikings have a legitimate option to move elsewhere.

That's simply not the case this year, and it's why their current bill has been gutted and largely dismissed by the state legislature. That option might not exist next winter, either -- especially if the NFL is focused on negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement rather than moving a troubled team (or teams) to Los Angeles.

The Vikings' lease expires in February 2012. If Los Angeles is a legitimate possibility at that point, then I think Minnesota state leaders will respond to that potential crisis. Perhaps the state's next governor, to be elected this fall, will take a different approach than incumbent Tim Pawlenty. But barring a game-changer like that, I think we're headed for a crisis that will be painful, ugly and expensive -- but will ultimately lead to a new stadium in Minnesota.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando and Kevin Seifert

The Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks combined for six victories last season. That included two Seahawks victories over the Rams.

The draft won't fix these wayward teams overnight -- unless, of course, they follow the advice of NFC West blogger Mike Sando and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert.

Kevin Seifert: Well, Mike, first off I'd like to thank the Seahawks and Lions for making our jobs a bit easier for the next six weeks. Before last weekend's trade that sent defensive tackle Cory Redding to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson, we were weighing the candidacies of too many players for the No. 1 overall pick in the April 25-26 draft.

	AP Photo/Darron Cummings
	Baylor tackle Jason Smith would help solidify the Lions' offensive line.

Would the Lions take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford? Would they capitalize on the strong tackle class and swoop up Baylor's Jason Smith? Or would they make a compromise selection and take the player considered the safest pick in the draft, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry?

Seems to me this trade has eliminated Curry from the Lions' mix. Don't you agree? I mean, would you draft Curry after giving up a promising defensive tackle (and also a fifth-round pick) for someone who plays the same position? I don't think I would. They say Curry could project as a middle linebacker in the NFL, but it would be awfully hard to justify drafting a middle linebacker with the No. 1 overall pick.

So that pretty much settles it, right? Wouldn't you agree that Curry is much more likely to wind up with one of your NFC West teams, whether it's St. Louis at No. 2 or Seattle at No. 4? If it were up to me, the Lions would take the best left tackle in the draft, and that would be Smith.

Mike Sando: I tend to see Curry landing with Kansas City in that third slot. The Rams could use him, sure, but they pretty much have to emerge from this draft with a starting offensive tackle. Can they find one after the first round? Probably, but 'probably' might not be good enough for a team that has invested so much in Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson. Upgrading the offensive line was the No. 1 priority this offseason. Signing Jason Brown solved the problem at center, but Alex Barron is the starting left tackle now that Orlando Pace is out. They're talking about having Jacob Bell move from left guard to right tackle. That doesn't sound promising.

As much as Steve Spagnuolo wants to build that defense, I'm not sure the Rams can resist taking a tackle. Once Curry makes it past the Rams, the Chiefs would seemingly be a good fit -- which would put Seattle in an interesting position. They've got Matt Hasselbeck, but should they consider Stafford under our scenario?

(Read full post)