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Dozens of reporters descended Wednesday on the Chicago Bears' practice field for the first open organized team activity (OTA) of the 2012 offseason. Quarterback Jay Cutler was among those who spoke afterwards, and I thought I would run through a number of newsbits and offer some pithy but insightful comments to go with it.

Item: Receiver Johnny Knox, watching from the sidelines, revealed he lost 30 pounds during his recovery from spinal fusion surgery and remains 20 pounds below his playing weight.
Comment: Knox couldn't say whether he would play in 2012, but it's easy to see him sitting out the year. Everyone knows he suffered a serious injury, but given his gaunt appearance Wednesday, few us probably know the full extent. In February, don't forget, Knox said people wouldn't "be able to sleep" if they knew how close he was to never walking again.

Item: Cutler said the Bears' offensive situation is "a breath of fresh air" with longtime confidant Jeremy Bates serving as quarterbacks coach and Mike Tice now the offensive coordinator.
Comment: Cutler seemed to be referring to a healthy exchange of ideas between players and coaches on what will work in this offense and what won't. He has a decent track record in that regard, as we discussed last season, the Tice-Bates regime is clearly doing everything possible to meet Cutler's vision for the offense.

Item: The Bears' first-team offensive line included Chris Spencer at left guard, Lance Louis at right guard and a rotation of J'Marcus Webb and Chris Williams at left tackle. Presumed right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) wasn't practicing.
Comment: There's noting scarier than a left tackle competition between a player who was moved away from the position two years ago (Williams) and one who probably shouldn't have been there in the first place (Webb). The reality is the Bears have only one position locked down: Roberto Garza at center.

Item: Cutler said that receiver Devin Hester "is having the best camp of all the receivers" and disagreed with suggestions that Hester's playing time should be limited.
Comment: I have to assume there is some kind of "get-Hester-confident" conspiracy going on at Halas Hall. Receiver Brandon Marshall has expressed similar sentiments. Unless, of course, the receiver light has suddenly turned on for Hester.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher confirmed Tuesday night that he isn't likely to participate in organized team activities (OTAs) -- and probably not veteran minicamp, either -- as he rehabilitates a sprained knee suffered in a Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Urlacher told reporters that he expects to be ready to start training camp, a completely reasonable schedule that nevertheless highlights one of the few holes on the team's roster.

Namely: Who would play for Urlacher if he was injured during the regular season?

According to ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson, second-year linebacker Dom DeCicco -- an undrafted free agent in 2011 -- will take the majority of snaps during the offseason. If nothing else, the Bears should know at the end of the spring whether DeCicco is capable of filling in for Urlacher in a regular-season environment, or whether they would need to look elsewhere. Finding a long-term replacement for Urlacher, 33, remains one of the most important challenges facing this franchise.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Urlacher, via Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune: "It's getting better. I'm on schedule, so I feel good. At this stage, I know the defense pretty well. I'm not worried about being out there and not knowing what I'm doing.''
• Bears receiver Brandon Marshall on his reunion with quarterback Jay Cutler and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "That just doesn't happen in sports. You don’t have a Pro Bowl receiver and a Pro Bowl quarterback and one of the most talented minds in football in Jeremy Bates back together. It just doesn't."
• Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com thinks the Detroit Lions can contend for the Super Bowl -- "[b]ut only if this team can harness what is an amazing lack of self-control. The Lions remain one of the least disciplined teams in football."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "Dumb stuff happens in football, as in life. But the Lions have too much at stake now to be dealing with it, way too much to gain and way too much to lose. The spate of player incidents -- mostly minor -- is not a sign of a rambunctious team losing its way. But it's a pointed reminder that young talent is unpredictable, and a warning that the Lions' rough edges still need work."
• Lions cornerback Chris Houston isn't ready to be anyone's mentor, writes the News' Chris McCosky.
• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covered the MACC Fund charity event in Milwaukee headlined by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy on his 2012 team, via Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "This is clearly the most experienced football team in conjunction with the most talent that I've had a chance to coach."
• Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal: "The Green Bay Packers’ all-defense, all-the-time draft has already achieved one of its goals. The six rookie defenders have supplied a jolt of energy for a defense -- and a team -- that might have grown a little complacent after following up its victory in Super Bowl XLV with a 15-1 regular season in 2011."
• Packers linebacker Clay Matthews on moving to the right side, with rookie Nick Perry taking over on the left side, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "The misnomer about the position is that we're stuck to one side. On paper, it's going to say 'left outside linebacker' or 'right outside linebacker.' Really, those positions are interchangeable, so the faster we can get [Perry] up to speed, the faster we can have some fun moving him around, flying around and making some plays together."
• Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove didn't have much to add about his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty story after Tuesday's OTA, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers' defensive additions in the draft were "expected" and "necessary," according to linebacker Desmond Bishop via Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette.
• Dave Campbell of the Associated Press looks ahead at the Minnesota Vikings' three-week stay for training camp.
• The Vikings have signed a total of seven of their draft picks, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. Three rookie minicamps over the weekend leaves us with more local links than a person has the right to expect on the second Monday in May. In this post, I've tried to pick out the highlights. Many of them don't relate to rookies, but be aware I'll have a second post up soon that addresses some of the questions we had Friday about these camps.

• New Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice wants players to "play fast" in his scheme, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. Tice: "We don’t want to be out on the field and have the kids think[ing] too much. We don't want to make it hard for the kids. We want to make sure the kids know exactly what we’re gonna do, when we're gonna call it and why we’re gonna call it. That's our job as coaches. We have some great athletes on offense. We have to put them in a position to show us and show the fans, and show the people that love the Bears, their athleticism and explosiveness. We want to be explosive."
• Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub downplayed any possibility other than Devin Hester being his top punt and kickoff returner in 2012. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times checks in with former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, whose wife died unexpectedly three months ago.
• New Bears quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will have starter Jay Cutler rolling more often than he did under Mike Martz, according to Dan Pompei of the Tribune.
• Detroit Lions defensive end/linebacker Ronnell Lewis is "nicknamed the Hammer for a reason," writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
• Receiver Ryan Broyles was an "impatient observer" at the Lions' rookie minicamp, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com offers five observations from the Lions' camp, including: "Linebacker Travis Lewis looked very comfortable in the defensive scheme, playing both outside and middle linebacker."
• Green Bay Packers tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) isn't expected to be cleared to practice when training camp begins, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette takes a look at the Packers' current in-house options as a developmental center. He also notes the Packers have three assistant coaches who played center in the NFL.
• The Packers might not give much training camp work to defensive linemen Mike Neal and Anthony Hargrove, both of whom are suspended during the early part of the season. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will formally sign the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill on Monday, according to the Associated Press via 1500ESPN.com.
• Richard Meryhew of the Star Tribune looks at the challenges of designing, planning and building the team's new stadium in a four-year timeline.
• New Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson on his recent 15-day jail sentence, via Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "It was terrible. It sucked. Any kids out there, that's a place you don't want to be. Somebody tells you when to wake up, when to make your bed, when to take a shower, when you can have a snack. That's an obstacle you don't want to face. I want all kids to learn not to go down that path and to learn from me."

Let's take a moment to review.

As the Chicago Bears' offense collapsed last season, then-injured quarterback Jay Cutler made a nuanced plea for schematic continuity without directly endorsing the return of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

A month later, the Bears replaced Martz and promoted offensive line coach Mike Tice into the role.

A few weeks after that, the Bears hired a quarterbacks coach whom Cutler once endorsed for Martz's job and is obviously a personal favorite. Jeremy Bates was one of the Denver Broncos' offensive assistants during Cutler's time there.

On Feb. 20, Cutler spoke openly during an ESPN 1000 interview about his desire for a big receiver and specifically acknowledged his continuing friendship with Brandon Marshall, who at the time was a member of the Miami Dolphins. Tuesday, less than an hour after the NFL's free agent and trading period opened, the Bears acquired Marshall for a pair of third-round picks.

What Jay wants, Jay gets.

Maybe he should have asked for Jake Long, Reggie Bush and a private plane as well.

In all seriousness, I know some of you will think that new general manager Phil Emery and coach Lovie Smith have gone out of their way to placate, suck up to and otherwise make their quarterback happy. But I wouldn't look at it quite that way.

What the Bears have done is take most every step available to maximize the huge investment they made in Cutler in their historic 2009 trade for him.

It's fair to expect an elite quarterback to raise the production of those around him, but the Bears hadn't given Cutler much to work with since his arrival. They traded away his best receiver, tight end Greg Olsen, and hoped he could make it work with former college teammate Earl Bennett, a kick returner trying to play receiver in Devin Hester and a raw speedster in Johnny Knox. Last year's signing of veteran Roy Williams proved a laughably inadequate response to their positional weakness.

It's also fair to expect a quarterback to find common ground with his coordinator, but Cutler has now bid farewell to two of them in his three-year Bears career. The hope now is that Cutler can resume his lockstep relationship with Bates, and get enough flexibility from Tice, to eliminate the red tape and bureaucracy that has stifled the team's offense at times in recent years.

There is no such thing as a perfect environment in the NFL, and it's worth noting that pass protection has probably been the single biggest issue the Bears offense has faced since Cutler arrived. Regardless, the Bears have surgically repaired much of the ruins around him.

Cutler has been reunited with his favorite coach and top receiver, and frankly it's on him to make it work. The Bears have reinforced their commitment to their franchise quarterback. The rest is up to him.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

To date, 50 percent of the NFC North has elevated ticket prices for 2012. The other 50 percent, to my knowledge, hasn't made its plans public.

The Green Bay Packers' prices will rise from $3 to $5 per ticket, depending on location, as Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com notes. Last week, the Detroit Lions announced a 7.9 percent hike in prices, their first since 2007.

I hope no one is surprised by either move, especially after NFL teams largely kept their prices steady during last season's lockout. The Packers have a season ticket waiting list of 90,000 people, giving them extraordinary leverage when it comes to setting prices. And the Lions had actually lowered some prices in recent years before selling out all of their home games during their breakthrough 2011 season.

It's simple economics, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings follow suit. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse remains an option if the team doesn't bring back left tackle Chad Clifton, notes Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• If all things are equal, the Chicago Bears should look to draft a defensive end in the first round, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• There remains some distance between the Bears and the NFC's top teams, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Writing for the Tribune, former NFL player Matt Bowen says the Bears scored a coup by hiring Jeremy Bates as their quarterbacks coach. Bowen: "[T]here are those rare cases in the NFL where a player builds an extraordinary relationship with his position coaches, a working relationship on the field and in the classroom when a veteran buys into everything his coach is selling."
• The national profile of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is changing, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions should consider drafting cornerback Janoris Jenkins, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Minneapolis leaders are not concerned about a shortfall in their financing plan for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, writes Frederick Melo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chris Doleman's life has turned upside down since he was elected Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune explains.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Chicago Bears' hiring of Jeremy Bates as their quarterbacks coach was met with approval from two of his former players, one of whom he will reunite with in Chicago.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, who played two years for Bates when both were with the Denver Broncos, told the Bears' website that "we got the right guy for the job." Cutler added: "He was very vital in my growth and my experience as a quarterback there. The last couple years he had full control of my development and our plays coming in. He's a grinder. He's a guy that's going to work extremely hard to find weaknesses in defenses and he's going to be able to present it to us in a way that we understand and will be able to make plays where we can take advantage of those weaknesses."

Meanwhile, former Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler -- now with the Detroit Lions -- tweeted: "Don't like seeing Jeremy Bates in the NFC North..... #greatcoach"

To the extent that they could have, the Bears have given Cutler a soft landing as he prepares to play for his fourth different offensive coaching staff in the past five seasons.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bates didn't work in 2011, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears still need to hire an offensive line coach, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke out last week about the quality of play in the Pro Bowl, comments that eventually were echoed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Rodgers, via ESPN 540 in Milwaukee: "I haven’t backed down from it, still wouldn't back down from it. I wasn't surprised by the commissioner's comments that not only are they thinking about changing the format but eliminating it completely."
• Rodgers also told ESPN 540 that he hopes to have a quarterbacks coach with experience in the role in 2012.
• The Packers are hoping to raze two homes near Lambeau Field to make room for satellite truck parking, according to Richard Ryman of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Vikings re-signed offensive lineman Patrick Brown to a one-year deal, confirms Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Site organizers for the Vikings' stadium proposal in Arden Hills, Minn., are continuing to work on their plan, according to Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune.
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has a better chance to win the Super Bowl than play in the Pro Bowl, according to Terry Foster of the Detroit News. Interesting point, considering the presence of Rodgers, the New York Giants' Eli Manning and the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees in the NFC.

On the same day they promoted Mike Tice to offensive coordinator, the Chicago Bears announced plans to hire a quarterbacks coach who would have elevated authority over the passing game. Upon hearing that description, many of us thought immediately of Jeremy Bates, the former offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks who was quarterback Jay Cutler's position coach in 2007 and 2008 with the Denver Broncos.

Almost a month later, that's exactly where the Bears landed. Bates wasn't the first candidate the Bears spoke with, but ultimately he accepted their offer this week. The team announced him as their quarterbacks coach Tuesday, and it's clear his arrival will further minimize the transition that usually occurs when an offensive coordinator is replaced.

As we've discussed, Tice's preferred scheme shares the roots of the one the Bears played for the past two seasons under former coordinator Mike Martz. And Bates is clearly a favorite of Cutler, who reportedly lobbied for him to be hired as offensive coordinator in 2010 and continued to advocate for him on Twitter last month, calling him a "[g]reat guy and a great coach."

It remains to be seen whether Bates has a role beyond that of the traditional quarterbacks coach. Neither the press release announcing his arrival nor a story on the team's web site mentioned the anticipated dual title of "passing game coordinator," but Bates was the Broncos' primary play-caller in 2008 and performed the same role for the Seahawks in 2010.

Tice was expected to call plays regardless in 2012, but the original plan was to give the quarterbacks coach additional responsibilities in organizing the passing game while Tice focused on the offensive line and the running game. To be frank, I'm not sure how that arrangement would have worked and I wondered if the title was intended to attract a more experienced pool of candidates by making the job appear to be a quasi-coordinator role.

In the end, this will be Tice's offense, Cutler will be coached by an old friend and the Bears have succeeded in limiting the upheaval associated with employing their third new offensive coordinator in four years.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Mel Tucker's decision late Thursday night to return to the Jacksonville Jaguars as their defensive coordinator leaves the Minnesota Vikings without either of the two outsiders they're known to have interviewed for a job that Fred Pagac apparently will soon vacate. (Raheem Morris, who joined the Washington Redskins as a defensive backs coach, is the other.)

Assistant head coach/linebackers Mike Singletary remains an internal candidate, but Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reports there are serious internal concerns about his aptitude for the job and suggests coach Leslie Frazier might turn to Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo if he leaves his job, as reported.

Frazier and Castillo worked together on the Eagles staff from 1990-2002. Castillo was a longtime offensive line coach whom the Eagles turned to last winter in a surprise move to replace the fired Sean McDermott. Reports have suggested that the Eagles plan to bring back former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in that role. Stay tuned on that one.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will make a recommendation on a site for a new Vikings stadium next week, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• There is a significant split among Minnesota political leaders about whether the speed of the stadium issue is sustainable, according to the Star Tribune.
• With a healthy team, the biggest playoff decision Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has is whom to deactivate on game day. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains.
• Packers cornerback Charles Woodson would like to establish a rare legacy, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press Gazette. Woodson: "That's why I play like I play. Because when people watch me play, I want them to say, 'Now that’s how you play football.' Every time I step on the field, every time I strap 'em up, I'm going out there to make an impression on people about how I play football and my passion for it. And how much I love the game and how much I'm willing to sacrifice out there for my teammates and our coaches and this team. I think about it all the time."
• Packers left tackle Chad Clifton has drawn a tough playoff assignment: New York Giants All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette has more.
• Rookie kick returner Randall Cobb could be the Packers' X factor in the playoffs, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew on the team's rebuilding effort, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "I think we’re on schedule. We've gotten to the point where I think we're certainly a better-than-average football team."
• The Lions need to address receiver Calvin Johnson's contract situation, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The Lions will soon address the contract of coach Jim Schwartz, which expires after the 2012 season, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The Chicago Bears won't consider Jeremy Bates for their quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator job, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• ESPNChicago.com staff members debate whether Tim Ruskell is a legitimate candidate for the Bears' general manager job.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. With three quarters of the NFC North now officially into their offseason, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone of our priorities here on the NFC North blog. (Not that I don't expect and welcome your usual stream of suggestions, of course.)

We'll spend more time on playoff games than anything else. That means the percentages will shift a bit toward the Green Bay Packers until their season ends, whenever that may be. A good part of this week, then, will be about the Packers' upcoming divisional game against the New York Giants. Some of you might not be interested, but hang in there.

Our second priority is reacting to front office and coaching news. That means we'll keep a regular eye on the Chicago Bears' general manager search, the state of the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coaching staff and any changes that might occur for the Detroit Lions. The Vikings' stadium push will also be on our front burner.

Finally, when we have a chance, we'll circle back on some of our preseason themes to evaluate how they worked out.

For now, of course, let's take a morning spin around local coverage in the division:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "The 2011 Packers don't have many reasons to dwell on the NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants four years ago, but they won't be able to avoid the growing sentiment that their upcoming divisional playoff game against the Giants is headed in the same direction."
• The Packers knew they would face an opponent they had already played in the regular season. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at whether that's an advantage.
• Packers receiver Greg Jennings, appearing on ESPN 1050 in New York, chose his current quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) over his previous one (Brett Favre).
• Minnesota lawmakers are increasingly telling the Vikings that their plan to build a stadium in suburban Arden Hills won't work, according to Baird Helgeson of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said that "nothing" is off the table in rebuilding the team, according to 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier will coach the North team at the Senior Bowl.
• The Bears are considering two former coaches of quarterback Jay Cutler for their quarterbacks coach/passing coordinator job, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. They are Jeremy Bates and Jedd Fisch.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders whether Giants college scouting director Marc Ross could emerge as a candidate for the Bears' general manager job.
• It's possible the Bears will go with Jerry Angelo protégé Tim Ruskell for the job, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• The New Orleans Saints had success Saturday night running at Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, notes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• The Lions need to assess some of their shortcomings this offseason, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "For the Lions, this season's success -- a 10-win campaign capped by the franchise's first playoff spot since 1999 -- can't be viewed as anything more than a first step. Not if they want to get where they're going."

We've had two rapid-fire news developments pop up Friday concerning the Chicago Bears:

1. Baltimore Ravens executive Eric DeCosta, who might have been the Bears' top candidate to succeed general manager Jerry Angelo, announced he will remain with the Ravens and won't interview for any outside jobs. The Bears had requested permission to interview DeCosta, who likely is the heir to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
2. The search for an offensive coordinator to replace Mike Martz, meanwhile, has reached its expected conclusion. As first reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, offensive line coach Mike Tice has been promoted to the job.

There's not much more we can say about DeCosta's decision. It's easy to say the Bears' job has limited attraction for a big-time general manager candidate, considering he will be required to inherit coach Lovie Smith. Most general managers prefer to hire their own people, including the coach. But DeCosta also turned down opportunities to interview for jobs where he would hire the head coach. One name to keep in mind for the Bears continues to be Atlanta Falcons executive Les Snead.

Tice's ascension makes sense for the reasons we've been discussing for weeks. Mostly, it means the Bears won't start completely from scratch after hitting their offensive stride midway through the season. Tice shares some of Martz's terminology and root concepts, and has had two years to build a relationship with quarterback Jay Cutler. That puts the Bears ahead of where they would have been had they hired from the outside.

Tice, of course, is a much bigger proponent of the power running game than Martz was, and that puts him on a closer wavelength with Smith. It will also lead to a unique arrangement that presumably covers for some of the downsides this move would otherwise present.

Tice will call the plays for the first time in his career, according to the Bears' web site. But he will have a running-game focus, while a yet-to-be-hired quarterbacks coach will concentrate on the passing game.

The upside of that arrangement is that Tice will spend more time with the offensive line during the week, even though a new line coach will be hired. And it will also make the new quarterbacks coach more significant in the Bears' hierarchy than he otherwise would have been. (My first thought went to Jeremy Bates, Cutler's former quarterbacks coach when both were in the Denver Broncos. Just a guess, though.)

On the other hand, it will require a special degree of communication and cooperation for this to work.

There is a prevalent line of thought in the NFL that the play-caller and quarterback must be in lock-step and spend maximum time with each other during the practice week. Is that possible if Tice is focusing on the running game, and a quarterbacks coach who isn't the play-caller is spending more time with Cutler?

We'll find out. If the Bears truly become a run-oriented team under Tice, maybe it'll make more sense to have him work with the offensive line. Regardless, as we've discussed many times, there was no perfect solution awaiting the Bears on this issue. Starting over with a brand new coordinator and scheme, which would have been the fourth such change for Cutler in the past five years, wasn't appealing in the short-term. At this point, the Bears' best option was to find a way to make it work with Tice.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The NFL's powerful competition committee plans to review the rule that cost the Detroit Lions a potential game-winning touchdown at Soldier Field last month, according to co-chairman Rich McKay. I'm not sure what to make of that news.

Other seemingly legal catches have been overturned under the same rule in recent years, and as a result, the committee has discussed possible changes. No amendment proposals have been produced, much less put up for a vote among league owners.

Is the Calvin Johnson play enough motivation to follow through this year? Or is this announcement an attempt to placate those who were outraged by the call? I'm not sure yet, and given the labor situation and other issues facing the league right now, I have a hard time thinking this one will merit a high priority.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on his post-interception dance last Sunday at Ford Field, via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press: "I didn't have mine planned. It's more spur of the moment. Maybe next time I'll do an Urkel."
• Rookie Amari Spievey on the Lions' decision to move him from cornerback to safety, via Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News: "I really wish I would have moved to safety a lot earlier in my career. I just love the fact that you can see the whole field from back there. You can see everything developing in front of you. I like the fact that I can step up and be physical, which is my game."
• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' concussion has drawn all the attention this week, but a hamstring injury to linebacker Clay Matthews is no less significant, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Packers are wasting receiver Greg Jennings' talents this year, writes Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.
• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at the Packers' fourth-quarter offense.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com goes behind the scenes with Packers receiver Jordy Nelson.
• Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was upset when Jeremy Bates, his former position coach in Denver, chose to join the Seattle Seahawks instead of the Bears during the offseason, writes Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bears left tackle Chris Williams (hamstring) is on track to return this week. Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com considers the possible ramifications.
• The Bears have designated Chester Taylor as their short-yardage back, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on the Minnesota Vikings' 1-3 record: "This season is salvageable because this team is loaded with talent and capable of putting together a long winning streak."
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune examines the Vikings' struggling offense.
• Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian got 13 snaps in Monday night's 29-20 loss to the New York Jets, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

Chicago fans, forget our Hue Jackson discussion from this morning. ESPN’s Michael Smith reports Jackson won’t interview for the Bears’ offensive coordinator job because he will accept a similar position with Oakland.

To this point, that leaves the Bears 0-for-5 on candidates they are known to have either sought out or have interviewed for the job. A quick summary:

Jeremy Bates
Previous position: USC offensive coordinator
Decision: Canceled interview to become Seattle’s offensive coordinator

Tom Clements
Previous position: Green Bay quarterbacks coach
Decision: Packers denied permission to interview

Ken Zampese
Previous position: Cincinnati quarterbacks coach
Decision: Bengals closed hiring window

Rob Chudzinski
Previous position: San Diego assistant head coach/tight ends
Decision: Unclear, but apparently will remain with Chargers

Hue Jackson
Previous position: Baltimore quarterbacks coach
Decision: Will become Oakland’s offensive coordinator

Just making sure you’re aware of this report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who indicates Chicago is about to lose out on its top defensive coordinator candidate.

Former Buffalo assistant Perry Fewell has chosen the New York Giants over the Bears, according to Schefter. Assuming Fewell agrees on contract terms, the Bears would be back to the drawing board. If they’ve interviewed anyone besides Fewell for the job, it has gone unreported.

From the outside, the Bears don’t appear to be an attractive opportunity for quality assistant coaches. Team president Ted Phillips did nothing in a press conference last week to dissuade the notion that coach Lovie Smith’s job depends on a winning season in 2010.

While all coaches are expected to win, most of them don’t enter the season with such a stark mandate. Smith bristled at that notion last week, saying he expected “a lot of candidates” to be interested in his open defensive and offensive coordinator jobs. But Fewell would join new Seattle offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates as candidates who have chosen to go elsewhere.

According to the Bears’ Web site, Jacksonville assistant head coach/tight ends Mike Tice remained Thursday at Halas Hall to continue discussing an “offensive coaching position” with the Bears. There have been conflicting reports about whether Tice is a candidate for offensive coordinator or another job.

Chicago has struck out on its first two candidates for offensive coordinator.

The Bears spoke extensively with Southern California assistant Jeremy Bates, according to Brad Biggs and Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, and talks progressed long enough to discuss salary options. But Bates ultimately chose the security of Seattle’s new regime under Pete Carroll.

Next, the Bears were denied permission to speak with Green Bay quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, who is under contract through 2010. Even though a coordinator job would be a promotion, the Packers weren’t obligated to give Clements permission unless it was for a head coaching job. Here is that report from Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Bears are back to the drawing board, with Mike Martz one of the few other known candidates. They will reassess the situation Tuesday, according to the Tribune.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Are the Vikings a public underdog for their divisional playoff game against Dallas? Dave Campbell of the Associated Press asks that question.
• Vikings tackles Bryant McKinnie and Phil Loadholt better be ready for the Cowboys' pass rush, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Green Bay linebacker Aaron Kampman, who is rehabilitating a major knee injury and is a pending free agent, was non-committal Monday about his future. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• The Packers’ final play Sunday at Arizona is not subject to the tuck rule, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Former NFL official Bill Carollo said that officials should have called a face mask penalty on that play, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
• Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said his rehabilitation from minor surgery has gone well, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The Lions have more important things to do other than consider replacing place-kicker Jason Hanson, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.

Chicago is confirming on its Web site that former Buffalo interim coach Perry Fewell is interviewing Monday for the Bears’ defensive coordinator job at Halas Hall.

Fewell appears to be the front-runner for the job, assuming he does not get Buffalo’s permanent position. An announcement could come at any time, provided he prefers the Bears over the New York Giants, who interviewed him last week.

Here’s our friend Jeff Dickerson’s take on the Bears’ multi-pronged search for coordinators over on ESPN Chicago. With Jeremy Bates apparently no longer an option for offensive coordinator, Dickerson suggest Mike Martz and Green Bay quarterbacks coach Tom Clements as alternatives.