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We're Black and Blue All Over:

We had some fun Wednesday afternoon when the #FreeStanton hashtag started on Twitter. As you recall, former Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton spent only a few days as the New York Jets' No. 2 before the acquisition of Tim Tebow via trade.

It's a harsh business, and Stanton might just have to deal with the turn of events. But the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported Wednesday night that he wouldn't be surprised if Stanton asks for a trade or a release.

Stanton "was promised team not looking at" adding additional quarterbacks this offseason, according to La Canfora.

Best of luck to Drew on that one.

#FreeStanton.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• This offseason has been "classic" Martin Mayhew for the Lions, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' deal with left tackle Jeff Backus is worth about $6 million over two years, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The contract signed by Green Bay Packers special-teams captain Jarrett Bush is worth an average of $1.75 million per season, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit five times and sacked twice in the 2011 game in which the New Orleans Saints placed a bounty on him, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Minnesota Vikings gave nose tackle Remi Ayodele a signing bonus of more than $3.5 million in 2011, notes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune. Ayodele was released Wednesday.
• Minnesota state legislators are waiting word on whether the Minneapolis City Council will support the Minnesota Vikings stadium plan before moving forward on it, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It's "absurd" to think that the Chicago Bears would replace Devin Hester, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune: "I think the Bears' perception of their offensive line is not the same as the public's perception of their offensive line."
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has a breakdown of the Bears' recent contract signings.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've lumped the Green Bay Packers into TebowWatch primarily because of some positive comments made two years ago by coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson. But citing a source, Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports the Packers truly have legitimate interest in acquiring Tebow and are doing their due diligence on him and the potential trade market.

As Wilde points out, Thompson tends to be methodical and might not be willing to move quickly if other teams approach the Denver Broncos to pull off a trade soon. But it apparently is not something that has been written off inside the Packers' offices.

There is no reason not to at least discuss Tebow for a backup position, considering the Packers' tenuous situation behind starter Aaron Rodgers. Matt Flynn's departure leaves former No. 3 quarterback Graham Harrell as the presumed No. 2, but it's fair to consider all options before making that promotion. A backup quarterback is expected to find a way to win games if pressed into duty, and if nothing else, Tebow has shown he can do that.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Newly re-signed Jarrett Bush said he only wanted to leave the Packers if he were offered a starting job elsewhere, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Free-agent center Jeff Saturday, who visited the Packers earlier this week, is scheduled to visit the Broncos, notes AFC West colleague Bill Williamson.
• The Packers have some interest in free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com looks at the Broncos' acquisition of Peyton Manning through the lens of the Minnesota Vikings' 2009 pursuit of Brett Favre.
• The Vikings signed fullback Jerome Felton, a former Detroit Lions draft pick whom they tried to claim on waivers last season. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.
• Receiver/return man Ted Ginn Jr. is the latest free agent to visit the Vikings' facility. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press traces the team's recent history with free-agent receivers.
• The Lions re-signed linebacker Ashlee Palmer, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Richardson also notes the Lions are trying to re-sign running back Kevin Smith.
• Lions defensive lineman Andre Fluellen has re-signed, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "Rather than chase big-name additions or marginal talent upgrades, general manager Martin Mayhew spent the last week ensuring the core of last year's wild-card team would remain intact."
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall, via ESPNChicago.com: "The only thing I worry about is him getting suspended. The NFL is pretty harsh on stuff like that. That's one thing I worry about, is him missing time."
• Bears coach Lovie Smith was at the Texas pro day to work out linebacker Keenan Robinson, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

A few odds and ends to clean up on a busy Tuesday here in the NFC North:

Item: The Green Bay Packers signed special teams captain/defensive back Jarrett Bush to a three-year deal, according to multiple reports.
Comment: Bush had every right to find out if another team would consider him more of a full-time defensive back. That he returned to the Packers tells you all you need to know.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings hosted receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr. on a visit Tuesday, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Comment: Presumably, the Vikings see Ginn as a full-time returner who would lessen their compulsion to use receiver Percy Harvin on special teams.

Item: The Detroit Lions will host defensive end Everette Brown and safety O.J. Atogwe on visits Tuesday and Wednesday, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Comment: The Lions don't have a lot of cap space remaining, and they're now very much into the secondary free agent market.

Item: In his ESPN 1000 interview Tuesday, Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said his only concern with the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall is the possibility the NFL could suspend him as discipline for an incident two weeks ago in New York City.
Comment: Marshall's attorney has said Marshall did nothing wrong. If that's the case, Urlacher has nothing to worry about.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We haven't heard too much about the Detroit Lions' attempts to re-sign middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, but you wonder if his status will shake loose one way or the other this week.

The Lions are scheduled to host free agent linebacker David Hawthorne this week, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com. Hawthorne was a starter the past three seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and could be a backup plan to signing Tulloch. If nothing else, his visit could trigger a break in negotiations that haven't yet yielded a deal.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Richardson writes that the Lions' chances of agreeing to a long-term deal with defensive end Cliff Avril anytime soon are slim.
• Re-signing left tackle Jeff Backus was important, writes Terry Foster of the Detroit News.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explains the Lions' approach to free agency this season.
• The Chicago Bears have always had interest in new backup quarterback Jason Campbell, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald said that people should "get to know" new Bears receiver Brandon Marshall before judging him, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Vaughn McClure of the Tribune talks to friends about Marshall.
• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy helped convince Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider to sign free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, tweets ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel takes a detailed look at the compensatory draft pick system and how it will be affected by the Flynn signing.
• The Packers could lose free agent defensive back/special teams captain Jarrett Bush, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with running back Lex Hilliard, who spent the past three years with the Miami Dolphins, according to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Hilliard will have a chance to win the Vikings' No. 3 running back job, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings are still shopping for free agents, coach Leslie Frazier told Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

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.

The NFL's annual scouting combine opens Wednesday and will conclude next Tuesday. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Media interviews begin Thursday morning and continue through Sunday, and I'll be on hand for an access schedule that should net us time with the general manager and/or coach of every NFC North team over the next few days.

Although we don't have access to most of the workouts themselves, dozens of players should be available for interviews. I'll feed the blog with zeal, of course, but to help sharpen our focus, let's consider a few important NFC North storylines to follow. If you have other ideas, hit the mailbag.

The value of the No. 3 position: Historically, the combine has helped solidify the top of the draft. We don't always leave Indianapolis knowing the order of the top few picks, but we generally know which players will comprise that pool -- knowledge that should help the Minnesota Vikings determine who they'll have to choose from at No. 3 and how intense trade interest will be.

We should know, for example, if USC's Matt Kalil is unquestionably the draft's top left tackle, or if there are any lingering doubts about his status. Is Kalil good enough that the St. Louis Rams will consider him at No. 2 overall? We'll get a better idea of interest in Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Would the Rams trade out of No. 2 with a Griffin-infatuated team?

Finally, what other options would the Vikings have if they neither draft Kalil nor trade out of the spot? Is LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne a top-3 pick? What about Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson?

That Mega-contract: The Detroit Lions' tight salary cap situation has been one of our top offseason storylines, and presumed relief would begin with extending the contract of receiver Calvin Johnson. As it stands, Johnson is scheduled to have a cap number of around $22 million in 2012 and, if unaddressed, would be eligible for a franchise tag of around $26 million in 2013. The proximity of agents and team executives at the combine often fosters productive negotiations, and it's safe to assume that Lions president Tom Lewand will have some talks with Johnson's agent, Bus Cook.

The Lions aren't yet in crunch time with Johnson, but reducing his cap number by March 5 would make it easier for them to use the franchise tag on defensive end Cliff Avril, as they reportedly plan to do. Johnson has most of the leverage in this situation and figures to emerge, eventually, as the NFL's highest-paid receiver and possibly the best-paid non-quarterback in the league.

Second-tier pass rushers: The Green Bay Packers certainly will spend time negotiating with their free agents, from tight end Jermichael Finley to center Scott Wells to special teams ace Jarrett Bush. But it's also safe to assume they'll focus on prioritizing the pool of pass rushers who could be available to them at the bottom of the first round, or possibly in a trade to move up in the second round.

Elite pass rushers usually don't get past the top half of the first round, putting the Packers in a race to find the next Brooks Reed, the Houston Texans' second-round pick in 2011 who started 11 games and had six sacks as a rookie. Scouts Inc. currently has two defensive ends with grades that would give them value at the end of the first round: Syracuse's Chandler Jones and USC's Nick Perry.

Secondary help: To varying degrees, all four NFC North teams could use an influx of defensive backs. Given the league-wide passing explosion in recent years, it's fair to say there are plenty of other teams on that list as well. That means searching far and wide for talent, and to that end, Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl offers a list of 12 small-school defensive backs who should get attention.

You'll need an Insider subscription to see the entire list, but it's topped by former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who spent last season at North Alabama. It also includes Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Coastal Carolina cornerback Josh Norman.

WR depth: If new Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery takes to heart a suggestion from his quarterback, he'll have an interesting group of big receivers to evaluate this week. "Anyone really over 6-2 at this point is going to look good," Jay Cutler said this week on ESPN 1000.

It's safe to assume that Blackmon won't be available when the Bears draft at No. 19 overall. The rest of ESPN anlayst Mel Kiper's list top five receivers looks like this: Baylor's Kendall Wright, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, LSU's Rueben Randle and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery. Wright is a 5-10 speedster, so if the Bears truly focus on big receivers, our combine focus will be on Floyd (6-3), Randle (6-4) and Jeffery (6-4).

Related: For those interested, here is a comprehensive schedule for the players invited to Indianapolis, beginning with medical testing for three position groups who will arrive Wednesday.

After the Detroit Lions' 45-41 loss to the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertThe Detroit Lions take their turn in the examination room after losing to the Packers.
   Professional athletes and coaches often take great pleasure in pointing out the "critics" who "didn't think we had a chance" to win a given game, league or championship. So I predict the Lions will have an absolute field day Saturday night if they beat the New Orleans Saints. There appear to be very few people, critics or otherwise, who are giving the Lions a realistic chance in this game. For one, they're the biggest underdogs of wild-card weekend, according to the early lines. Meanwhile, our friends at AccuScore ran 10,000 of their patented digital simulations. The Saints won nearly 80 percent of those games by an average score of 36.9-25.6. And finally, the Lions' own Twitter feed suggested a hashtag of #shocktheworld. You get the picture. It's a ready-made, no-assembly-required motivational tool for coach Jim Schwartz.
2. There are scores of moments we could discuss out of Sunday's wild game. I'll share one that caught my eye, along with a bit of a follow-up. Receiver Calvin Johnson uncharacteristically went bonkers after Kevin Smith's five-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Johnson is the gentlest giant you will ever meet, but he ran directly toward Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush and demonstrably got in his face. What set him off? When you watch the replay, you see Bush deliver a tough shoulder-to-helmet hit on Smith after he crossed the goal line. The hit was hard enough that it cracked Smith's helmet, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions' web site, who posted a photograph of it on Twitter. If the Lions and Packers somehow meet in the playoffs, I'm guessing Johnson will remember the episode.
3. It was fair for Schwartz to point out the officiating calls and the replay issues that went against the Lions because he never, to my knowledge, blamed the loss on them. The Lions lost because their previously stingy pass defense allowed a historic day to their opponents' backup quarterback Schwartz continued that mantra Monday, noting that the Lions' secondary was "poor." With that said, I thought Schwartz brought up an important side effect of the new rule this season that requires a review of every scoring play. Officials have seemed more likely to rule a touchdown when encountering a potential scoring play, knowing they can always rescind it via replay. If they rule the play anything other than a touchdown, it is not automatically reviewed. At the very least, you would have thought that to be the case with Titus Young's apparent score in the second quarter. The "its-a-touchdown-if-it's-close" trend didn't extend to the Lions on that play, and that was unfortunate.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

A number of you lit me up Sunday and Monday for not paying the proper respects to quarterback Matthew Stafford's historic 520-yard day, one that made him one of four NFL quarterbacks ever to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season. I'll admit the milestone caught me off-guard. When a quarterback enters Week 17 with 4,518 yards, as Stafford did, I'm generally not charting his push to 5,000. On the other hand, I'm not sure what else you want me to say about him. I know there is some frustration among fans that Stafford didn't make the Pro Bowl. But in training camp, we agreed that he was ready to break out as a top-tier quarterback. In December, we noted that he was on the brink of breaking most of the Lions' franchise passing records. And a few weeks ago, we broke down Stafford's calm in pressure situations. I think Stafford's breakout season has been appropriately covered around here but appreciate the feedback nonetheless.

As promised, I have a quick follow-up to a question from Tuesday's SportsNation chat. Brendan Q of Ireland asked if the Green Bay Packers have set an NFL record by having 19 different players score a touchdown this season. Before I got a chance to research it, Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel posted the answer in a story Wednesday morning.

The record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is 21. It's been done several times, most recently in 2007 by the New England Patriots.

The Packers still have three games to tie or break the record, but the "problem" is that most of their skill players on offense already have at least one touchdown. All five wide receivers, three of their tight ends, their top two running backs and even their top two quarterbacks have all scored. The remaining candidates on offense are tight end D.J. Williams, who has one catch in 10 games this season, and rookie running back Brandon Saine.

Defensively, the Packers already have touchdowns from both starting cornerbacks and both starting outside linebackers. Safety Charlie Peprah and defensive lineman B.J. Raji (via offense) have also scored. Among those left: cornerback Sam Shields, cornerback/safety Jarrett Bush and safety Morgan Burnett.

Thanks again to everyone for taking part in the chat.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Minnesota Vikings appear to have avoided one obstacle to their suburban stadium proposal. The Ramsey County Charter Commission voted Tuesday night against using a voter referendum to decide whether to use $350 million in county taxes to help pay for the stadium in Arden Hills, Minn.

The commission must still vote to approve the tax, and citizens could petition for a referendum later. But the Vikings said that a referendum approved Tuesday night would have caused a delay that added $100 million to the total cost of a $1.057 billion project.

The Vikings didn't have much time to celebrate, however. A report commissioned by Gov. Mark Dayton suggests that Ramsey County could be left ill-equipped to deal with other county business if it devotes so much taxpayer money to the stadium. It also said the timetable to open in 2015 might be too "aggressive."

Dayton is prepared to call a special session of the legislature this fall if all stadium matters are agreed upon, but that does not appear imminent.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, possibly referring to Dayton's stadium report, cast doubt on whether the Vikings stadium will end up in Ramsey County, according to Bill Salisbury of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Pawlenty: "I'm not sure in the end it will end up in Ramsey County. I think you'll see some more data coming forward about sites and options ... as this unfolds."
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune reflects on one of the better games of Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson's career.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has two delicate matters to deal with in quarterback Donovan McNabb and receiver Bernard Berrian, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel profiles Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette offers a scouting report on the Packers' next opponent, the St. Louis Rams.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com goes behind the scenes with Packers special-teams ace Jarrett Bush.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press offers this nugget on the Detroit Lions' playoff chances: "Since 1990, when the NFL went to its current playoff format, 32 of the 36 teams that started 5-0 have made the playoffs, according to STATS LLC."
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News examines the Lions' nine-man wave of defensive linemen.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz has put his players on an even keel, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• The Chicago Bears' offensive line had way too many breakdowns Monday night, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com on Bears general manager Jerry Angelo: "Under Angelo's watch, the 2011 Bears have the worst offensive line (tight ends included) and the worst group of safeties in the NFL, and maybe the CFL, and arguably a bottom-five group of receivers -- though aside from a drop or two, you can't pin the Lions loss on them."
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune: "Dane Sanzenbacher is the ultimate everyman, which is a polite way of saying anybody could be the leading wide receiver for the Bears."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continuing around the NFC North:

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

We had our usual assortment of debatable officiating calls in Week 3, and we'll hit two of them in this edition of Dirty Laundry. The first nullified one of the most unusual and innovative plays you'll ever see at the NFL level.

As you know by now, Chicago Bears cornerback/special teams ace Corey Graham was called for holding during Johnny Knox's 89-yard punt return for a touchdown. Television replays obviously were limited because, like the Green Bay Packers' cover team, the cameras focused on Devin Hester's decoy attempt to field the ball. When you see Graham at that point, he isn't within 20 yards of a Packers player.

But as Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has already pointed out, the penalty came long before then. Graham was lined up alongside Knox as a "jammer" across from Packers "gunner" Jarrett Bush. When you watch the replay of FOX's original live broadcast, you see Knox take off downfield to grab the punt while Graham chases Bush downfield.

About 15 yards past the line of scrimmage, Graham clearly reaches out with his right hand and grabs Bush's shoulder, twisting him slightly. It wasn't the most aggressive hold I've ever seen, but you see it called pretty routinely in the NFL.

You might wonder why Graham felt compelled to reach out at all when it was clear that Bush had already taken the bait of Hester's fake. Bush was running away from the point where Knox was setting up to field the ball, apparently believing Hester was set to catch it. My guess is that part of the decoy called for the Bears' punt-team blockers to "sell" the Hester return, much like offensive linemen have to sell a run on play-action passes.

If Graham had simply let Bush run past him without an attempt to block, in theory he could have tipped off Bush that something was amiss. I understand why Graham did it, but I hope no one thinks this was a so-called "phantom call."

A few hours earlier in Minnesota, referee Ron Winter's crew had whistled Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway for a horse-collar tackle against Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, a 15-yard penalty that put the Lions in position for a late field goal. I haven't seen the full replay because of a glitch in the NFL's Game Rewind feed, but many of you have reported that FOX analyst John Lynch adamantly disagreed with the call.

The horse collar is one of the trickier rules in the NFL rule book. Let's review how it's worded.

Rule 12, Section 2, Article 1 (d): "All players are prohibited from: grabbing the inside collar of the back of the shoulder pads or jersey, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling down the runner. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket. Note: It is not necessary for a player to pull the runner completely to the ground in order for the act to be illegal. If his knees are buckled by the action, it is a foul, even if the runner is not pulled completely to the ground."

The photograph accompanying this post confirms that at one point, Greenway had his right hand inside the collar over Pettigrew's right shoulder. That satisfies the first part of the rule. Did Greenway "immediately pull down the runner?" By all accounts, he did. Was it with the kind of violence the NFL had in mind when it implemented this rule? Perhaps not. But Winter's crew has the latitude to make a judgment call there, and most NFL officials are going to err on the side of safety.

The horse collar isn't a perfect rule, but it's been around long enough for us to expect this call to be made. In general, defenders would be wise to keep their hands out of any part of an opponent's collar unless it's the only way to save a touchdown.

On to our updated penalty tracker...

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

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

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

To recap, with context gleaned from postgame interviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What's next? The fumblerooski?

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've discussed on several occasions already the Green Bay Packers' challenge in keeping a slew of offensive skill players involved and contributing to the offense. Receiver James Jones' case was of particular interest this week after he had only one pass thrown his way in the Packers' 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking to Wisconsin reporters Wednesday, Jones said he had no issue with quarterback Aaron Rodgers' selection of targets. But Jones made clear he wasn't thrilled that he played 19 snaps, of which six were in a running formation.

Jones: "I don't care about the ball at all, but I truly, truly want to be in the game plan. Everybody plays this game because they want to play. I'm not selfish; I understand we've got a lot of weapons, so I'm not saying I want the ball every play. But I think I deserve to be on the field more than I was."

Jones isn't asking for the ball, but what he is requesting -- more playing time -- falls in the same realm of this issue. The Packers have plenty of deserving candidates to get on the field, something he knew when he re-signed with the team this summer. I'm guessing the Packers will involve him more in at least some weeks, but when you share the No. 3 receiver role on a talented and healthy offense, you're probably not going to play as much as you would like.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wonders if defensive end Mike Neal, who had knee surgery Tuesday, "will hold up well enough physically to be a core player for the next few years."
• If Packers cornerback Tramon Williams (shoulder) can't play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Jarrett Bush would be the Packers' nickelback and Pat Lee would play in the dime, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Sam Shields would start.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on the death of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's mother: "From coaches to teammates, everybody at Halas Hall empathized with Urlacher. Even Sunday's opponent, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, whose mother died unexpectedly two years ago during training camp, sincerely expressed sympathy in a conference call. But nobody dared rule Urlacher out of Sunday's game because they know the Bears captain too well. Expect Urlacher to start at middle linebacker like usual even if the game will pose the most unusual of circumstances for him."
• Although Bears right guard Lance Louis isn't expected to play Sunday against the Saints, he is expected to retain his starting job when he returns from an ankle injury, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bears safety Chris Harris' hamstring injury could open the door for newcomer Brandon Meriweather, notes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson on his ankle injury, via the Detroit Free Press: "Get the swelling out, and I'll be ready [for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.] I'm walking fine, it's just you've got to get the swelling out before you can do anything. If you don't get that out, it'll just blow back up. Then I'll be down for even longer."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "The Lions' evolution continues, and this week's shocking revelation is, we actually have to ask if they might take an opponent lightly."
• The Lions thought they had a long touchdown set up for rookie Titus Young last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Justin Rogers of Mlive.com explains.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com thinks the Minnesota Vikings need a legitimate deep threat in the passing game.
• The Vikings could end up on the hook for about $500 million to build their new stadium, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said, according to the Star Tribune.
• Two public hearings have been set by the Ramsey County Charter Commission to discuss whether to hold a county referendum on the stadium tax in November 2012, according to Frederick Melo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

As you know, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has alleviated the worst of concerns regarding cornerback Tramon Williams' right shoulder injury last week. But does that mean Williams will play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers? I wouldn't necessarily assume so.

Coach Mike McCarthy was pretty tight-lipped about Williams' condition during a news conference Monday, saying he would address the situation Wednesday. That might mean nothing, considering the Packers aren't required to divulge any injury information Monday. But it's also likely McCarthy would prefer to keep the Carolina Panthers guessing for as long as possible after quarterback Cam Newton threw for 422 yards in his debut Sunday.

The Packers have a pretty good nickel back in Sam Shields who would presumably step into Williams' role, but that would move up everyone else on their depth chart as well. Either Jarrett Bush and/or Pat Lee would play a prominent role in the Packers' nickel defense. We'll have more for you on Wednesday.

Related: ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski covered Newton's debut Sunday, writing it was a "revelation."