ESPN NFL

A committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton, Matt Williamson -- assembled this offseason to create a unique version of our traditional Power Rankings.

Naturally, NFC North teams are featured prominently in what amounts to a three-year projection of Power Rankings for the 2015 season . The Green Bay Packers received the top spot as the team best equipped to compete three years from now, while the Detroit Lions were not far behind at No. 6.

The file requires an Insider subscription to read in full, but I can pass along where our four teams ranked and also a glimpse at the methodology used. Here is how the committee evaluated each team and the degree of impact each category had:

• Roster (32.5 percent of total score): Players under 30 emphasized
• Coaching (20 percent): Capability and stability of current staff
• Quarterback (17.5 percent): Where quarterback play would be in three years
• Draft (15 percent): Based on team's 2012 class and how many picks available in next three years.
• Front office (15 percent): Ability to manage roster and market's attraction to free agents.

Now on to the NFC North rankings with comments from me:

1. Green Bay Packers
Seifert comment: The presence of a 28-year-old MVP quarterback and one of the NFL's top general manager-coach combinations puts the Packers on an ideal long-term path.

6. Detroit Lions
Seifert comment: Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a 5,000-yard season before his 24th birthday. That's a nice start. General manager Martin Mayhew has elevated the team's talent level every season of his tenure and most of the Lions' key players -- Stafford, receiver Calvin Johnson, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Louis Delmas and linebacker Stephen Tulloch -- are under 30.

17. Chicago Bears
Seifert comment: Jay Cutler is a legitimate franchise quarterback, but the best players on the Bears' defense are all over 30. That list includes defensive end Julius Peppers, linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, and cornerback Charles Tillman.

31. Minnesota Vikings
Seifert comment: Questions about quarterback Christian Ponder's long-term prospects made it difficult for the committee to project future success. There are also concerns about a lack of young impact players on defense. Defensive end Jared Allen is 30 and linebacker Chad Greenway is 29.

We pointed out earlier Friday that Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton rejected a political deal that likely would have netted him votes for the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill if he would sign a tax bill he previously opposed. So it's only fair to note that those who supported the tax bill are already suggesting that Dayton's veto will have consequences on Monday's stadium vote.

Senator Julie Ortman, who is the Deputy Majority leader and the chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, said to reporters: "Why should we help [Dayton] with his priorities if he won't help with our priorities?" And in a written statement, she added: "The Governor has burned what may be the last bridge to working with legislators at the Capitol this year."

We've often leaned on Rep. John Kriesel to provide a rational pulse of the current political atmosphere on this issue. Kriesel is a stadium supporter but also a member of the Republican party whose larger support for the bill is uncertain. Here's what Kriesel tweeted Friday afternoon:

"My prediction is that Gov Dayton's swift veto of the tax bill will severely harm the stadium bills chance of passing. Not good…. I obviously will be voting yes on Monday. There are many legislators that are on the fence that will be furious about the veto. Not good. …The fact is that there are not many legislators that want a stadium but they want tax reforms. Right or wrong, its part of the give and take. … Politics are kind of like a marriage. You want to go out for beers with the guys, you better mow the lawn first. Compromise, you know? I'm not saying that I agree with what's going on or how it's being handled. I'm just trying to give you all a play-by-play."

It's no surprise to hear the rhetoric rising as this issue builds to a climax, and I don't think anyone should draw any conclusions with a full weekend's worth of arm-twisting to come.

Dayton and the Vikings are pushing on with a massive public blitz over the weekend. Dayton has been making the radio rounds Friday, and a rally featuring Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has been scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Mall of America.

As of now, there remains a vote scheduled in the state House of Representatives on Monday. If the bill passes, it would move on to the Senate floor. Stay tuned.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Free agent receiver Jerome Simpson was released from jail last Friday after serving a 15-day sentence in connection with a felony drug conviction. By mid-day Saturday, Simpson was in the Twin Cities, visiting with Minnesota Vikings officials and having lunch with several officials. By Tuesday, Simpson and the Vikings had agreed to a one-year contract, according to multiple reports.

Speaking Tuesday at a news conference to discuss this week's NFL draft, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman refused to confirm the deal, because the contract has not yet been signed. But Spielman made clear his pursuit of Simpson was not a whirlwind affair, but instead dated back four years, when the Vikings targeted him as a high priority in the 2008 draft, and said the organization did exhaustive research on Simpson before bringing him in for last weekend's visit.

Spielman also cited previous decisions to bring in players with "character issues," from defensive end Jared Allen to receiver Percy Harvin, that have been "very productive, not only on the field but as citizens."

Spielman added: "We do our due diligence. I've talked to a lot of people. [Coach] Leslie Frazier has talked to a lot of people. We've had a lot of people in this organization reach out to a lot of different avenues besides inside the NFL, things that are outside the NFL, and that's why we brought him in. If we didn't feel comfortable enough with all the information that we have gathered, we probably wouldn't have had him in on a visit.

"But we felt comfortable enough ... that we brought him on a visit. [We had] very direct conversations and felt very strongly [about] Jerome Simpson. ... Did he make a mistake? No one is going to say he didn’t make a mistake, but [we] also think he has a chance to be one of those success stories as well."

There are three important points to be made here.

First, there is no use getting caught up in why the Vikings were willing to sign a player whose crime included having more than two pounds of marijuana delivered to his house. The reality is good players routinely get second and sometimes third chances in the NFL, and Simpson is most definitely a good player who probably qualifies as the Vikings' second-best receiver after Harvin.

Second, the Vikings have made little commitment here from a financial standpoint. Simpson has been suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season, and he isn't in position to make many demands. So the Vikings got a starting-caliber receiver at a bargain price with little financial repercussions if it doesn't work out. You could argue that their reputation would take a hit if Simpson runs into more trouble, but if public perception was this organization's top priority, it would have released cornerback Chris Cook long before he went to trial this winter on a domestic charge. (Cook was eventually acquitted of all charges.)

Third, I don't think signing Simpson should impact your thoughts about who the Vikings will draft at either No. 3 overall, or even in the second or third round. Although Spielman continued to insist that Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon is one of three possible picks at No. 3, I don't believe him. The Vikings don't seem likely to draft Blackmon with or without Simpson, and it's difficult to believe anyone would alter their draft board based on the arrival of a receiver who is probably one incident away from a year-long NFL suspension.

In the end, there is minimal risk here, and a potentially decent reward. Time will tell.

Even a quiet week by NFC North standards leaves us with some loose ends to tie up over the weekend. I see many of your blog comments and Facebook responses, all of your mailbag submissions and every one of your @replies on Twitter. Proceed accordingly.

Several readers think Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier had more to do with this "unfortunate timing" than I debited him for in Tuesday's post about his future. Randal of Cambridge wrote: He is mostly to blame for the 2011 lost year. They could have been one or two steps further into rebuilding. He pushed for the Donovan McNabb trade but even more damaging was when the season was lost in late October; Frazier did not see what he had in his young players. It was inexcusable to play Jared Allen and Brian Robison as much as they did. He should have given the following players more playing time: DE D'Aundre Reed, DE Everson Griffen, G Brandon Fusco and T DeMarcus Love. And signing Benny Sapp was a mistake. There must have been some practice squad CB from another team who could have been given a chance.

Kevin Seifert: I'm torn on how much blame Frazier should get in that regard. If given the choice, few if any coaches are going to take the long-term road. The Vikings made it to the NFC Championship Game in 2009 and were torn apart by internal strife in 2010. Frazier thought they could be competitive in 2011 with a decrease in tension, especially if he could find a veteran quarterback to replace Brett Favre.

In truth, the Vikings would have had a much better record in 2011 if McNabb fit the bill, but his shortcomings have been well-discussed. What Frazier really needed last season was a general manager to tell him that a quick fix lasts only as long as the next one. Frazier needed a general manager to reassure him that he would be evaluated based on what he did with the tools he was given, rather than allowing him to influence the choice of tools themselves.

Rick Spielman's promotion has created that type of structure, and we now see the Vikings taking the longer-term approach that Frazier understandably eschewed when given a choice in 2011.

As far as playing untested youngsters to evaluate them for future years, I've always considered that idea on a case-by-case basis. Only players that have demonstrated in practice that they're ready for such a chance should play. It's reasonable to wish Griffen would have gotten a few more snaps from Robison, but I'm not going to hold it against Frazier for limiting his rookie offensive linemen last season. The Vikings' top priority at the time was to develop quarterback Christian Ponder, and Frazier was obligated to use the best offensive linemen he had -- regardless of their futures -- to facilitate that.

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Wil of Minneapolis wonders if Spielman and owner Zygi Wilf will evaluate Frazier on a curve as a result of the roster overhaul: Do you think that Rick, Zygi, and Frazier had a goal and expectations meeting about the 2012 season? Although no one wants to tell the public we expect a 6-10 or 4-12 record, this youth movement and historical records from other teams would probably indicate that. I think it's only fair to have reasonable expectations of Frazier and the football product. After all, the Vikings can easily go 0-6 in the NFC North alone!!!

Kevin Seifert: That's the unfortunate part of the timing, in my view. It's reasonable to have non-tangible expectations and goals in the first year of a coach's tenure, but generally teams want to see progress in the second year.

The Vikings finished 3-13 last season and are competing in a division that features two 2011 playoff teams along with a much-improved Chicago Bears team. Say the Vikings finish 4-12 or 5-11. That would give Frazier a 10-28 or 11-27 record in two-plus seasons. Most coaches deserve three years to make an impact, but at the very least, it wouldn't be an easy decision to bring back a coach with that kind of record.

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Rick of Moorhead, Minn., notes the list of players invited to the NFL draft and writes: Shea McClellin invited to NYC for the draft? Doesn't that indicate he will go the first night? I thought he was more like mid second round. Green Bay might be the team to take a shot, but it seems like a reach at 28.

Kevin Seifert: McClellin is a Boise State defensive end who would probably project as a linebacker in the Packers' 3-4 scheme. He has been a so-called quick riser in the draft, but whether he is a first-round pick remains to be seen.

Regardless, the NFL invites a cross-section of players so they can have at least some live interviews on site during the first two nights of the draft, which includes the first three rounds. Don't forget that receiver Randall Cobb was in New York when the Packers made him the final pick of the second round last season.

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Facebook friend Steve asked if the new deal Lance Briggs received from the Chicago Bears has a "no more whining about contracts" clause.

Kevin Seifert: Ouch. At the very least, it bought the Bears two more years of relative peace. At that point, Briggs will be approaching his 34th birthday and, like most players at that age and his position, will probably be thrilled to have a job.

As several reports have noted, Briggs will earn $6.25 million this season and $5.75 million in 2013. He'll also be in position to earn $5.275 million in 2014.

In the end, Briggs got less than $2 million in "new money" with this renegotiation. But it just shows that teams don't always have to break the bank to make a player happy. They just need to show a gesture of love, and in this case that's all it took for Briggs.

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It's time for our semiannual reminder about "balance." Mitch of Green Bay writes: At the rate you are discussing the Packers, it'll take you all of next season to "even things out" after how much Bears talk is going on the past few days. Anonymously, another reader added: Five of the last six blog posts have Bear headlines. There are three other teams in the NFC North. You should be a little more balanced in your reporting.

Kevin Seifert: I realize that readers filter in and out of the blog network, so it bears repeating: News doesn't occur in neat and equal 25 percent increments between our four teams. I have no interest in manufacturing posts to maintain daily balance when experience shows that everyone will get their turn over time. If you're taking a three-day, three-week or even a three-month snapshot, you'll almost certainly find an unequal proportion of posts relative to our four teams.

There were interesting things to write about the Bears this week, including the Briggs extension, and that's where I focused my time. Where will we look next week? Only The Shadow knows what evil lurks in the heart of all men.

It's getting serious, folks.

In results we learned a short time ago, two NFC North players are among the final eight candidates for the cover of "Madden 13." Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson have each advanced to the third round of voting. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen lost handily in the second round to New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Rodgers now faces Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for a chance to reach the semifinals. Johnson will take on Gronkowski in voting that will take conclude April 11. We'll then spend a week on the semifinals and another week on the finals before we learn the winner on or around April 25. Time to get out your voodoo dolls.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- We've been all wrapped up in the NFL owners meetings this week, but don't think for a second that I lost sight of what's really important.

Yes, Wednesday marked the end of the first round of ESPN.com's "Madden 13" cover vote. Three of our four NFC North candidates have advanced, I'm happy to report. Only Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte has been eliminated. So here are the matchups you can vote on if you want to see your favorite player move through the second round of the bracket:

• Aaron Rodgers (1) vs. Marshawn Lynch (8)
• Calvin Johnson (6) vs. Arian Foster (3)
• Jared Allen (7) vs. Rob Gronkowski (2)

Second-round voting continues through April 4.

It's my duty as your NFC North blogger to administer this urgent alert: The play-in round of the "Madden 13" cover contest is over, and now it's time to get this bracket started.

We'll move through one round a week, culminating with the final matchup during the week of April 21. If you're a fan of an NFC North team, I highly encourage you to vote for your representative's opponent …. er, your representative. There's nothing to the Madden cover jinx. Nothing. Really, I mean it.

Here are the first-round matchups for our players. Seeds are in parentheses:

• Aaron Rodgers (1) vs. Joe Haden (16)
• Calvin Johnson (6) vs. Dwayne Bowe (11)
• Jared Allen (7) vs. DeMarcus Ware (10)
• Matt Forte (6) vs. Patrick Willis (11)

Follow this link to the bracket, where you can vote quickly and anonymously. Nothing less than the future of the free world is at stake.

There have been plenty of moves to keep us busy here in the past two weeks. So I was surprised to see so many questions in Tuesday's SportsNation chat about something that hasn't occurred -- and hasn't been rumored to be under consideration, either.

But given the Minnesota Vikings' careful approach to free agency, one that has confirmed a long-term approach to rebuilding their roster, many of their fans are wondering if they should maximize their assets. Namely: Should the Vikings trade defensive end Jared Allen, their best player in 2011 and an elite pass-rusher in a league that craves them?

My initial reaction was no, but as the exchange below indicates, I began to see here people were coming from.

Jared Allen (Trading Block???)

Kevin: The Vikings cannot be considering trading me, can they??

Kevin Seifert (2:34 PM)

I have not heard that, no.

Emmitt (Hill Valley, CA)

SHOULDN'T the Vikings trade Jared Allen? I can't really think of a more obvious move for a team with so many needs.

Kevin Seifert (2:40 PM)

It's not a terrible argument to make, no. There would be plenty of interested parties if he were available. Would it net enough draft picks to make it worthwhile? I'm not sure about that.

Aaron, Jay and Matt (The North)

We all agree the Vikings should trade Jared.

Kevin Seifert (2:47 PM)

Yeah, that's the thing. There are some big-time passing offenses in this division. It's hard to justify trading a pass-rusher in that context, even if your team has other holes. It could be another generation before you get another 10-sack guy on your team, let alone a guy that usually gets at least 14.

rob (Las Vegas)

Playing Devil's advocate here -- as one who follows the Vikings, you know they're trying to figure out how to maximize Everson Griffen's potential on the field, but don't really have an open spot for him. Could that factor in to a Jared Allen trade decision?

Kevin Seifert (2:54 PM)

You don't trade Jared Allen to make room for Everson Griffen or anyone else. You only do it if you get a huge, franchise-changing jackpot in return.

Chris (London) am i right to assume chat wraps about allen?

Kevin Seifert (2:56 PM)

Ha. Not a bad idea. You are a close reader indeed.

Allen has two years remaining on his contract and will turn 30 next month. He came within one sack of setting the single-season record in 2011, and he has missed only three games -- two of which were for an NFL suspension in 2007 -- in his eight-year career.

Any argument for a trade would note the Vikings had one of the worst pass defenses in NFL history last season despite Allen's 22 sacks. They just promoted a general manager who presumably has the job security to build the team through the draft, and Allen's tenure with the team could pass by during the process.

On the other hand, Allen is a hardworking superstar who could serve as a model for the young players the Vikings bring in. And there is no reason the Vikings couldn't re-sign him, or use their franchise tag to keep him, after his contract expires in 2014. At 32, it's reasonable to think Allen would still be an effective pass-rusher for a team that will have multiple years of rebuilding behind it.

I'm not sure what the Vikings could get for Allen, but for this to even be a conversation, the bidding would have to start with a relatively high first-round draft choice plus other picks. Your thoughts?

We in the NFC North narrowly avoided disaster, I mean victory, in the 2011 vote to determine the cover of "Madden NFL 12." A vigorous voting campaign allowed Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis to defeat Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, clearing the way for Rodgers to win the league's MVP and Hillis to fade into injury oblivion.

The "Madden Curse" is what you make it, of course, and that's why we're going to follow closely the cover vote for "Madden NFL 13." ESPN's SportsNation started the vote this week on its Facebook page, which after some time I realized you need to "like" in order to vote. A play-in round began between two players of each team, and the current 64 will be whittled to a 32-player field after March 21.

Here are the NFC North pairings. Remember, your team needs you.

• Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler vs. Matt Forte
• Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford vs. Calvin Johnson
• Green Bay Packers: Clay Matthews vs. Aaron Rodgers
• Minnesota Vikings: Jared Allen vs. Percy Harvin

We've used 2011 playing-time statistics to identify a number of trends and important points, from the perfect attendance of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the reliability of Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew to the curious limitations placed upon Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin. Now let's sift though some other figures that don't demand dramatic conclusions but are of interest nonetheless.

1. We noted that Briggs played every defensive snap for the Bears last season. Five other players, all offensive linemen, also never missed a play. That list includes Chicago Bears center Roberto Garza and left tackle J'Marcus Webb, Detroit Lions guards Stephen Peterman and Rob Sims, and Green Bay Packers guard/tackle T.J. Lang.
2. Minnesota Vikings left tackle Charlie Johnson missed a grand total of eight plays in 2011. Lions center Dominic Raiola missed nine plays and Packers center Scott Wells missed 29. Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt played all but 33 snaps.
3. Depth issues at defensive end surfaced for several teams. The Vikings' Jared Allen led all NFL players at his position by playing on 94.3 percent of his team's snaps, and teammate Brian Robison ranked 11th among defensive ends by playing 84.4 percent. Meanwhile, the Bears' Israel Idonije was on the field for 84.6 percent of his team's snaps, with Julius Peppers close behind at 82.1. Obviously that foursome is a good group of players, but it's also clear that their teams didn't have backups they felt comfortable rolling in.
4. Consider that conclusion in the context of how the well-stocked Lions rotated their defensive ends. Cliff Avril played on 72 percent of their snaps and Kyle Vanden Bosch was on the field for 67.9 percent. Lawrence Jackson played on 30.1 percent of the Lions' snaps despite injuries that limited him to 11 games, while backup Willie Young saw action 22.7 percent of plays over 14 games.
5. The NFC North had two workhorse middle linebackers. The Bears' Brian Urlacher missed only 14 plays, most of which came after a knee injury in the season finale. The Lions' Stephen Tulloch, meanwhile, missed only 19 of 1,098 defensive snaps.
6. Bears running back Matt Forte was on the field for the 10th-most plays (564) among running backs despite missing four-plus games because of a knee injury.

As you helped me assemble a list of possible candidates for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award, one name stood out as a chief competitor for Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs not only produced the best season of his already-notable career in 2011, but he also elevated his play to coincide with what could have been a devastating injury to middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

The Ravens won all four games Lewis missed due to a toe injury on the way to an AFC North crown and a 12-4 record. Suggs totaled seven of his 14 sacks in those games. So in all honesty, I would have been sorely tempted to vote for Suggs if I had a vote.

And yes, I haven't forgotten that Allen finished the season with 22 sacks, one short of an NFL record. It was an incredible season, especially when you consider how poorly his teammates played in a 3-13 season.

But fair or not, voters at least take into account the context of a players' performance. Given his impact on the Ravens' playoff run, Suggs got 21 of a possible 50 votes for this award from the Associated Press. Allen was next with 14 votes. That's how it goes sometimes.

Saturday should be busy and rewarding for those of us in the NFC North.

At 5:30 p.m. ET, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce its class of 2012. Former Minnesota Vikings Cris Carter and Chris Doleman are among those on the ballot. So is Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene and former Detroit Lions guard Dick Stanfel, a nomination from the Seniors Committee.

I'll plan to weigh in on the blog shortly after the announcement, whether we have good news or bad news. We focused our attention Friday on Carter, but don't rule out the candidacies of Doleman, Greene and Stanfel.

Then, we'll turn our attention to the new "NFL Honors" award show that will, in the span of a few hours, reveal all of the league's individual awards. It kicks off at 9 p.m. ET, so it'll be a late night.

I'm thinking the NFC North has a reasonable chance to dominate the evening, considering Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the likely MVP and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen could win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford should be in the running for the Comeback Player of the Year Award. I made a case earlier this season for Packers coach Mike McCarthy as the NFL's coach of the year, but most everyone expects San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh to win it.

Now go out and enjoy your Saturday. We'll reconvene early this evening.

We spent probably too much time over the second half of the season debating the NFL's MVP award, which Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to win during a televised ceremony Saturday night. But what about arguably the NFL's second-most prestigious annual award? Will Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen win NFL Defensive Player of the Year?

We here in the NFC North are no strangers to the DPOY. Packers cornerback Charles Woodson won in 2009, beating down East Coast support for New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, and Packers linebacker Clay Matthews finished a close second last season to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

Allen led the NFL with 22 sacks this season, one shy of breaking Michael Strahan's single-season record. He said late in the season that the Vikings' poor season would probably eliminate him from DPOY consideration, but I'm not sure if that will be the case.

This season, at least, I wouldn't say there is an obvious or runaway winner for the award. We discussed maybe a half-dozen credible names Wednesday morning over on Twitter. Below are four of them, for which I've identified some pros and cons.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware
Pros: Wasn't far behind Allen in the sack department with 19.5, a number that would catch anyone's attention.
Cons: Could be viewed as a one-dimensional pass-rusher. Forced two fumbles and defended two passes as an outside linebacker.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs
Pros: Career-high 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Took over leadership role of a dominant defense when middle linebacker Ray Lewis was injured.
Cons: Perception, fair or otherwise, that Suggs is a secondary player to Lewis and safety Ed Reed on the Ravens' defense.

San Francisco defensive lineman Justin Smith
Pros: Tremendous production for a 3-4 defensive end with 7.5 sacks, and his intensity set a tone for one of the NFL's best defenses.
Cons: Smith might not be the best defensive player on his own team. Linebacker Patrick Willis is one of the NFL's top overall players, but he missed three games and was limited in others by injury

New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul
Pros: Recorded 16.5 sacks, anchoring one of the NFL's most disruptive defensive lines.
Cons: Is only in his second season, and critics could point out the Giants' defensive line is too talented for offensive lines to double-team Pierre-Paul often.

No, I didn't forget. The Pro Bowl will be played Sunday night, starting at 7 p.m. ET, in Honolulu. I can't say I plan to watch every down, but I know there are many who will.

By my count, 12 players from the NFC North will participate. Below is the full list of players from our division who were named, either originally or as injury/Super Bowl replacements, over the past few weeks.

Chicago Bears

• LB Lance Briggs+
• RB Matt Forte
• ST Corey Graham
• DE Julius Peppers
• CB Charles Tillman
• LB Brian Urlacher+

Detroit Lions

• WR Calvin Johnson+

Green Bay Packers

• WR Greg Jennings
• FB John Kuhn+
• LB Clay Matthews*
• NT B.J. Raji
• QB Aaron Rodgers*
• C Scott Wells
• CB Charles Woodson*

Minnesota Vikings

• DE Jared Allen*
• LB Chad Greenway#

(Footnotes: *Starter; +Won't play; #Alternate/replacement)

Jared Allen's eyes lit up last month upon learning that 20 Hall of Fame players had named him to ESPN.com's Any Era team, comprised of current players whose skills and mentality would have made them a success at any point in football history.

"Wow, that's great," Allen said. "That's why I play, to earn the respect of the guys before me."

Here's a sampling of what some of our panel said about Allen, whose 22 sacks in 2011 fell one shy of setting a league record:

MIKE SINGLETARY

"Jared Allen is going to will himself to get to the quarterback. I don't know how he does it. I can't even really explain it, but he lines up and the next thing you know, he's got the quarterback. The mentality and relentlessness that he approaches the game with is second to none."

WARREN MOON

"Jared Allen is just a tough, hard-nosed player. He's a defensive end who can get to the quarterback, but if he has to play in the trenches, he can. When he played at Kansas City, he played the run well. And in Minnesota, he is more of a pass-rusher. He is a throwback type of guy if you know him. He's like a big cowboy. He wears cowboy boots and tight jeans and he's a real throwback."

MIKE DITKA

"Jared Allen plays every down, hard and physical. He could've played in the '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s. He brings it on every play and gives all he's got."

In the video below, Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton applauds Allen for his performance as an emergency long-snapper during a Week 12 game against the Atlanta Falcons. "And he's covering punts, and he's running 100 miles an hour. That tells me right there: football player."