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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Detroit Lions in 2012.

Dream scenario (12-4): The team moves past its string of silly/immature problems, tightening up not only its off-field behavior but also its discipline on the field during games. Mikel Leshoure and Jahvid Best give the Lions a power/speed dimension in the backfield they lacked for most of last season. Rookie receiver Ryan Broyles' knee heals quickly enough to provide a legitimate fourth option among receivers and further spread out opposing defenses. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley realizes his playmaking potential and teams up with Ndamukong Suh to provide consistent and dominant interior play. Fairley, Suh, Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch protect an undermanned secondary, and the Lions make big defensive plays against opponents that feel pressure to keep up with Detroit's offense.

Nightmare scenario (7-9): Best and Leshoure don't provide the balance the Lions hope for, either because of injuries or skill deterioration. Broyles takes longer than expected to return, Titus Young has a sophomore slump, and opponents flock to receiver Calvin Johnson. Left tackle Jeff Backus can't hold up for another season. Despite the formidable defensive line, the Lions can't cover for their secondary and give up too many big plays.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Detroit Lions had a busy news day Monday. We noted both the charity of quarterback Matthew Stafford and the poor behavior of receiver Titus Young, but that left out plenty of other tidbits.

Running backs Jahvid Best (concussion) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) were both on the field, participating in a limited portion of the Lions' opening organized team activity (OTA) of the offseason. So was rookie receiver Ryan Broyles, who is six months removed from major knee surgery.

Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, meanwhile, didn't practice because of knee tendinitis and might not be back on the field until training camp. That's a bit of a disconcerting turn of events for a player so critical to the Lions' 2011 improvement, but keep in mind that Tulloch hasn't missed a game in his six-year career.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Broyles didn't participate in all of the drills Monday but got a personal side session with Stafford and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley showed off a new physique at Monday's OTA, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The 2012 season will be "very important" for Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Former Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe is headed to the CFL, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• At some point, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bears will have to decide whether to give running back Matt Forte a "shut-up-and-play" deal.
• We discussed the possibility of the Bears acquiring tight end Kellen Winslow, but he ultimately was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, notes the Associated Press.
• Kendra Meinert of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has a review of Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver's turn Monday night on "Dancing with the Stars."
• The Packers termed it "simply speculation" that team president/CEO Mark Murphy has interest in the Stanford athletic director job, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Murphy once had interest in the job, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com, but not now.
• The Minnesota Vikings will soon have discussions with Minnesota State, Mankato, to create a long-term contract on training camp, according to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Martiga Lohn of the Associated Press examines the state funding mechanism for the Vikings' new stadium.
• Final passage of the bill by the Minneapolis City Council this week appears inevitable, writes Eric Roper of the Star Tribune.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Detroit Lions and why.

Mikel Leshoure has one week of NFL practice to his name. He hasn't played in a single preseason game, let alone in the regular season, and is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in August.

But if the Lions are to achieve more offensive balance in 2012, Leshoure will have to play a primary role. That's why he was drafted in 2011, to serve as a big between-the-tackles runner, and it's what the Lions sorely lacked after his injury.

The presumed recovery of fellow running back Jahvid Best (concussion) is really a parallel issue. Best gives the Lions a playmaker in the passing game but is best suited for a modest role as a runner. Leshoure's full-strength return would allow the Lions to use Best the way he should be while imposing a new power threat on defenses as well.

We noted last week that free agent running back Ryan Grant had an offer on the table from the Detroit Lions, and subsequent reports suggested Grant would visit the Lions as early as Monday. So I wanted to pass along that ESPN's John Clayton confirmed that Grant did not visit Monday and has no visits scheduled.

Running backs have had an especially difficult time gaining traction in this free agent market, considering the continuing shift toward the passing game. If the Green Bay Packers have interest in re-signing Grant, it appears to be minimal.

Grant has said he would prefer to remain with the Packers, and the Lions have three other running backs in Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith with whom to compete.

Part of our offseason dialogue has revolved around the relative lack of urgency around the NFC North to bolster what in some cases are some and/or unreliable offensive backfields. It appears at least one of our teams is now taking a post-draft look at shoring up that issue -- at the expense of another of our teams.

Free-agent running back Ryan Grant, who spent the past five seasons playing for the Green Bay Packers, has an offer from the Detroit Lions, according to agent Alan Herman via ESPNMilwaukee.com second cousin Jason Wilde. It's also believed that the Packers have an offer on the table to Grant, who has also visited the New England Patriots but obviously hasn't been blown away by anything he's heard so far.

The Lions' top three running backs all have had health issues that make it difficult to count on them as a primary back. Jahvid Best was lost for the part of the 2011 season because of multiple concussions. Mikel Leshoure is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and Kevin Smith has historically had trouble staying on the field.

Grant missed 15 games in 2010 because of an ankle injury but otherwise has been durable in his career. It's fair to assume he would return to the Packers if all things are relatively equal, and he should be close to knowing if that's the case.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

News that Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best will be cleared for football activities in June was not unexpected but still odd for its timing.

Best has been recovering from two concussions suffered last season. The Lions have maintained optimism about his return while noting it is impossible to project a timetable on his recovery. So general manager Martin Mayhew's announcement means one of two things:

Either Best has already passed the medical tests required for full participation and the Lions are simply waiting until next month to put him on the field. Or, the timing of his progress suggests his recovery will be complete next month. The latter is not quite as definitive.

Ultimately, though, the big-picture news is that it continues to appear likely that Best will be ready when the Lions begin their serious on-field preparations for the 2012 season.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Lions signed veteran receiver Lance Long, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Lions running back Mikel Leshoure has a preliminary exam hearing on May 11 in connection with two marijuana-related legal entanglements, according to Eric Lacy of the Detroit News.
• The Minnesota Vikings released running back Caleb King, who was arrested over the weekend in connection with an alleged assault. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has more on the story of a running back who spent most of last season on the Vikings' practice squad.
• The Star Tribune has the latest on an unexpected twist to the Vikings' stadium bill, including the fact that the bill's authors were not looped in on a new idea for a roofless, bonded stadium.
• The Green Bay Packers are likely to shuffle their front office now that the draft is complete, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The selection of linebacker Nick Perry is a risk, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers' NFC North rivals spent the draft trying to fortify themselves to beat Green Bay, writes Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Troy offensive lineman James Brown could be a sleeper for the Chicago Bears, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bears receiver Earl Bennett told a 670-AM, via the Chicago Tribune, that quarterback Jay Cutler and his fiancé, Kristin Cavallari, are expecting a boy.

From a Detroit Lions perspective, I got lucky in our ESPN.com blogger mock earlier this week. Cornerback and safety are probably the Lions' two top needs, and for reasons I did not anticipate, Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was still available at No. 23 and the obvious pick for me/Lions.

But what if Thursday night's draft plays out a different way? Can the Lions really be assured that a cornerback, be it Kirkpatrick or South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, will fall to No. 23? And based on recent speculation, there appears to be no chance that Alabama safety Mark Barron will fall into the second half of the round, let alone No. 23.

That makes the Lions a likely candidate to move up in the first round, and ESPN's John Clayton reported Thursday afternoon that they were among a handful of teams inquiring about the feasibility of moving up perhaps 10-12 spots to grab a defensive back, most likely Barron but possibly Gilmore.

General manager Martin Mayhew is no stranger to moving up, having done it in 2010 to select tailback Jahvid Best and tailback Mikel Leshoure in 2011, among other instances.

A playmaking safety alongside Louis Delmas would significantly change the look of the Lions' defense. So would a second reliable cornerback next to Chris Houston.

So we have at least two of the necessary ingredients here. The Lions have a need and a decision-maker who is unafraid to invest significant resources to secure a particular player. Now the Lions need to find a willing trade partner at the right price. That's all. Stay tuned.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, although I'm guessing it was a bit stressful knowing that ESPN.com would roll out its blogger mock Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. I understand. The good thing is the time is near.

Shortly before 1 p.m. ET, we'll direct you to a live chat module we'll call "Blogger Mock Draft Live." All eight divisional bloggers will gather at that time and roll our first-round selections. You'll have the opportunity to jump into the chat to interact with us, or you can tweet into it using the hashtag #espnbloggermock.

We're trying something different here and hoping it will be fun. Hopefully it will add a bit to your draft week, which I just realized, HAS BEGUN!

Let's do this … right after our morning tour around the division:

• The Chicago Bears need to start drafting difference-makers on defense, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. Pompei: "What the Bears really could use in this draft is another Brian Urlacher and another Lance Briggs. That's all."
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com examines the Bears' needs at defensive tackle.
• Character still weighs heavily for the Bears, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Detroit Lions tailback Jahvid Best has been participating in the team's offseason workouts, notes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. Football drills don't take place during the first two weeks of the program, however.
• Dave Birkett's mock draft in the Detroit Free Press gives defensive end Whitney Mercilus to the Lions in the first round.
• Quarterback and receiver are low on the Lions' priority list, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com takes a look at Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at the developmental quarterbacks the Green Bay Packers might draft.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel rates the draft's running back class, knowing the Packers are thin in the backfield.
• Receiver Jerome Simpson left a visit with the Minnesota Vikings without a contract, but the possibility remains he could sign with them, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• What if USC left tackle Matt Kalil isn't the Vikings' pick at No. 3? Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press considers that question.
• The St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial page endorses the Vikings' stadium bill.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Long before he led a team of investors in purchasing the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, Zygi Wilf's family owned a real estate company that had significant investments in Southern California. His frequent visits have often provided convenient fodder for the rumor mill, mostly because his private plane has an unmistakable Vikings logo painted on its tail and the team has always been rumored to be a candidate to relocate there.

So when the Los Angeles Daily News reported Thursday that Wilf's plane was spotted at a Southern California airport, in the same week when his stadium bill in Minnesota was quashed, the news spread quickly.

As we've discussed, we are now in a phase of increased pressure and dramatic rhetoric as the franchise's future is sorted out. Whether the plane's arrival in Southern California was coincidental, an expensive message or an indication that Wilf is in negotiations to sell the team to a Los Angeles investor, the overlying point hasn't changed: The Vikings will eventually leave Minnesota if they don't secure a stadium deal.

Are they already angling to leave with 10 days remaining in the state's legislative session? I can't answer that. Just consider it another reminder of a potential future reality.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Regardless of the plane's purpose in California, the NFL is sending commissioner Roger Goodell and other executives to Minnesota for meetings Friday on the stadium, notes the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings have met two league requirements for a relocation, notes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings' contingency plan at running back is incomplete, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• It's safe to assume the Green Bay Packers will select an outside linebacker relatively high in the draft, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Offensive lineman Chad Clifton has been working out in the Packers' offseason program, a good sign that he will get a chance to return in 2012. More from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers general manager Ted Thompson said he is "fine with" having Graham Harrell and Nick Hill as the backups to starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best (concussion) has been working out in the team's offseason program, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Lions general manager Martin Mayhew's draft philosophy can be boiled down to "the best player for us." More from the Detroit News.
• The Lions haven't changed how they evaluate prospects after having three of their 2011 draft class members have legal entanglements related to marijuana, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com takes a look at the Chicago Bears' prospects for drafting a receiver.
• Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery's approach is rooted largely in the "Patriot Way," writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Never has the NFC North's transition been more visible than on the final day of the 2011 regular season. On a snowy day at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions combined for 103 passing attempts and 1,000 passing yards.

By the time the Packers secured a 45-41 victory, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had exceeded 5,000 yards passing for the season and Packers backup Matt Flynn had convinced the league he was a starting-caliber quarterback. Where once we could have expected the teams to grind out a classic Black and Blue game, they instead combined for a total of 37 carries. No running back made it to the modest total of 50 yards.

We've spent some time this offseason noting what we could politely call a tilt toward the passing game in both Detroit and Green Bay. We've discussed the Chicago Bears' seeming ambivalence about signing tailback Matt Forte to a long-term extension, and we've pointed out the Minnesota Vikings' uncertainty as tailback Adrian Peterson rehabilitates his shredded knee.

If you looked at this division through a traditional lens, you could consider running back a significant draft need for at least half of the division, if not all of it. But the NFC North's frenzied quarterback acquisitions over the past few years have brought us to a precipice. Are we ready to jump off, once and for all, into the world of Air and Space? Or will our teams step away from that ledge and rebalance their personnel, if not their scheme, to double back on the running game?

As the NFL continues its push toward passing supremacy, it's hard to imagine any NFC North team making anything other than subtle changes. Why take the ball out of the hands Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler or Stafford? And why not give Christian Ponder every chance to take the next step in his development?

This offseason, we've heard the Vikings speak often about seeking more playmakers for Ponder. We've watched the Bears sign Michael Bush as insurance against Forte's possible absence, but otherwise the Bears have worked to fortify their passing game with the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall and private meetings with many of the draft's top receivers, from Michael Floyd to Stephen Hill to Alshon Jeffery.

The Lions are the case study here, followed closely by the Packers. Injuries to Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Kevin Smith and the brain tumor of Jerome Harrison left them little choice but to rely on Stafford's arm last season. They finished 2011 with the second-fewest rushing attempts in the NFL, managed 71 rushing first downs (No. 29 in the league), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Stafford told reporters this week that "everybody on our team would like to be a little more balanced than we were last year." It's reasonable to think they will be if Best and/or Leshoure are available full-time. But a serious commitment to improve would almost certainly require a draft investment. Best (concussion) has not been cleared for football work, Leshoure (Achilles) is coming back from a serious injury for a running back, and Smith has had difficulty staying healthy throughout his career.

How much do the Lions value that balance? We should find out over draft weekend. Again, most of us would look at their roster and toss question marks all over their backfield. But in 2012, how important is it to have an established and traditional No. 1 running back?

"We want to score as many points as we can," coach Jim Schwartz said at the NFL scouting combine. "Whether you do it running or passing, it doesn't matter. I think you want to try to get the ball in playmakers' hands."

In the end, the Lions might be best-served by pursuing a more modest goal: Being in position to capitalize against imbalanced defenses. Dictating a game on the ground might well be an NFC North artifact.

"If teams take the approach of playing the pass first," Schwartz said, "we should be in the position of having running backs who can make them pay for that."

Yes, there is a more than reasonable argument to be made that you don't need an elite running back when you have elite quarterbacks and receivers. A competent running back who doesn't miss the obvious yards might well suffice.

I don't know if the Lions, or the Packers for that matter, will invest a high draft pick in a running back. None of us do. But is it necessary? Probably not, at least not in our new Air and Space division. Soon we'll know how far off the cliff we've fallen.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Hello there. I hope everyone had an outstanding weekend.

This week will provide ample evidence of how the NFL has earned year-around interest despite a four-month regular season. Monday marks the earliest possible day for NFC North teams to begin the first phase of their offseason workouts, and you can expect them to be covered deeply in most markets and discussed avidly by fans. Sometime soon we'll also celebrate a national holiday when the league announces its full 2012 schedule.

Over the next two weeks, as Mark Maske of the Washington Post points out, most NFL teams will be restricted to strength and conditioning work. Phase Two of the offseason (how official does that sound!) lasts three weeks and allows players to be on the field for drill work but no "team" 11-on-11 scrimmages. That is reserved for Phase Three, which will include up to 10 organized team activities (OTAs) and one mandatory minicamp. Phase Three lasts four weeks, for those of you scheduling out your next few months.

Hold on and get ready for the ride -- if you dare.

Let's take our morning spin around the division:

• ESPN's Adam Schefter notes that Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte won't report Monday to the start of workouts. Forte hasn't signed his franchise tender. Last we heard, Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, another franchise player, also wasn't planning to attend.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com takes a look at the Bears' prospects for drafting a tackle and/or guard.
• The Bears promoted Chris Hanks to head athletic trainer, replacing Tim Bream, notes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears safety Chris Conte (foot) has been cleared for all offseason activity, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Former Bears receiver David Terrell was arrested Friday in Chicago on a domestic battery charge. Here's The Associated Press story, via ESPNChicago.com.
• Lions running back Jahvid Best (concussion) will be in Detroit for the start of the Lions' program but hasn't been cleared for full football activity yet, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions offensive lineman Corey Hilliard, a restricted free agent, is expected to sign his contract tender and participate in the offseason program, according to Birkett.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at possible late-round quarterbacks the Green Bay Packers could consider drafting.
• The Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill is set for another committee hearing Monday night. Details for those interested from Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune. Supporters are hoping for a voice vote, rather than an official one, to keep the bill moving.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune profiles Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. Here's a quote from Spielman's brother, Chris: "When he was in school, there were endless piles of binders filled with notes. And he wrote so small. I'd ask him, 'Why do you write so small?' And he's say, 'Because I got a lot to write.'"

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Detroit Lions' contract agreement with Kevin Smith adds to the team's collection of running backs. But I would caution you against assuming that the Lions are done assembling their backfield.

When you look at it, Smith, Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure have all dealt with injuries of various types in the past few years. Smith struggled last season with an ankle injury, Best (concussion) is awaiting medical clearance to resume football activities and Leshoure ruptured his Achilles' tendon in training camp last summer.

Even with Smith's return, it's worth noting the Lions have put some heavy early draft work into Oregon running back LaMichael James. Coach Jim Schwartz attended his pro day earlier this month, and James also visited the Lions' practice facility.

Could the Lions draft a running back in the top half of the draft for the third consecutive year? We don't know, of course, but their history suggests not to rule it out.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

After four years of quarterback transition here in the NFC North, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and a little left out Tuesday night as the Indianapolis Colts' divorce with Peyton Manning became official.

I thought back to Brett Favre's departure from Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers' ascension in 2008. I remembered how the Chicago Bears swooped in to trade for Jay Cutler in 2009. A month later, the Detroit Lions made Matthew Stafford the No. 1 pick in the draft. And after two years of Favredemonium, the Minnesota Vikings jump-started their long-term plan by drafting Christian Ponder in 2011.

Manning's departure is the talk of the NFL and will be debated for years in Indianapolis, presuming his neck heals and he resumes his career elsewhere. But as we in the NFC North know, quarterback transitions are often sudden and painful, and they don't always seem to be the obvious decision at the moment.

Oh well. We might be booked for the moment, but I'll set our next transition cycle to begin around, say, 2018. See you then!

I guess we'll just spend the next six years taking our morning stroll around the NFC North:

• The Bears have informed quarterback Caleb Hanie that he won't be re-signed, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Kyle Orton is a possible replacement to back up Cutler.
• A source close to Lions running back Jahvid Best would be shocked if he isn't cleared to participate in football activities by this summer, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Best is recovering from multiple concussions.
• Lions linebacker Justin Durant believes the team will have one of the NFL's best group of linebackers if Stephen Tulloch an DeAndre Levy re-sign. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• The Green Bay Packers want running back Ryan Grant back in 2012 but he is expected to hit free agency, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• It's not clear if the Packers plan to bring back special teams-ace Jarrett Bush, according to Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers receiver Donald Driver spoke with Mike Spofford of the team's website about his "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsals.
• Politicians writing the Vikings' stadium bill might have to consider the possibility that electronic pull-tabs won't cover the total $398 million state commitment to the project, according to the Associated Press.
• Minneapolis officials still are trying to get a renovation of the Target Center as part of the Vikings' stadium bill, according to the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings have made clear they want to retain free-agent linebacker Erin Henderson, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

Chicago Bears

Running back Kahlil Bell spent time Wednesday at UCLA working out with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune says the Bears are in the market for a tight end, but the options in this year's draft are minimal.

Detroit Lions

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the risk outweighs the reward when it comes to defensive back Janoris Jenkins.

Barry Sanders is looking forward to the idea of seeing Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure on the field together in 2012.

Green Bay Packers

Coach Mike McCarthy says he's still trying to figure out how his team lost to the Giants in the playoffs.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made an appearance and shagged some balls in the outfield at a Milwaukee Brewers spring training practice Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings

Details of a tentative stadium agreement are expected to be revealed at a news conference Thursday morning.

With USC left tackle Matt Kalil on the Vikings' radar in next month's draft, the Pioneer Press' Bob Sansevere lists the top left tackles in team history.

INDIANAPOLIS -- At various points in the offseason, we've wondered if the Detroit Lions should target tailback depth given the seeming uncertainty of their top two players at the position. The Lions have pulled some draft surprises in recent years, but Lions coach Jim Schwartz continued to express confidence Thursday morning that both Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) will be available for the 2012 season.

Speaking on the opening day of media availability at the NFL combine, Schwartz stopped short of saying Best has been cleared for football activities. But he did say: "All of those guys are progressing well and we would anticipate having all those guys back. The only caveat is Jahvid, which we've always talked about. Concussions aren't like torn ACLs, or torn Achilles or rotator cuffs or hamstrings or anything else. That's a timetable that we'll still take a wait-and-see approach with. But all signs are good. We're very optimistic that he'll be back and contributing the way he was before he got injured."

Best's situation is difficult to project and interpret. Doctors can't clear him until his concussion symptoms subside and are absent for a period of time. Progress might be moving in that direction, but Schwartz wouldn't comment when asked if Best had been cleared for all activities.

Of course, if the Lions were concerned about Best, and if they were planning to target running backs in the draft, you wouldn't expect Schwartz or anyone else to say so in February. But if I had to guess, I would say running back isn't high on the Lions' list of offseason priorities.