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Chicago Bears

Key additions: Running back Michael Bush, linebacker/special teams Blake Costanzo, quarterback Jason Campbell, receiver Brandon Marshall (trade), receiver Devin Thomas, receiver/returner Eric Weems.

Key losses: Running back Marion Barber (retired), cornerback Zack Bowman, cornerback Corey Graham.

Come on back: Lost in the shuffle of the Marshall trade were the return of three free agents who should play key roles in 2012. Tight end Kellen Davis figures to get an expanded role in offensive coordinator Mike Tice's scheme, especially as a receiver. Cornerback Tim Jennings should retain his starting role opposite Charles Tillman, with D.J. Moore in the nickel. And safety Craig Steltz will provide reliable depth at safety and will be one of the Bears' special teams leaders after the departure of Graham and Bowman.

What's next: There is no urgency yet, but the Bears will need to make peace with tailback Matt Forte at some point before the summer. Forte isn't happy that he's been made the Bears' franchise player and briefly lost his public composure when Bush signed a deal that guaranteed him about the same amount of money as the franchise tag will pay Forte. It's not a big deal if Forte skips the Bears' offseason program or even misses a few days of training camp, but the Bears will want to find a way to eliminate this issue by early August. Meanwhile, it wouldn't be surprising if the Bears address their offensive line during the draft.

Detroit Lions

Key additions: Defensive end Everette Brown, cornerback Jacob Lacey.

Key losses: Cornerback Eric Wright.

All in the family: With the exception of Wright, the Lions were able to retain the core of their 10-6 team. Among those who re-signed: Tackle Jeff Backus, safety Erik Coleman, defensive end Andre Fluellen, quarterback Shaun Hill and linebacker Stephen Tulloch. And don't forget that receiver Calvin Johnson is locked up for perhaps the rest of his career. He signed a new eight-year contract worth $132 million.

What's next: The Lions appear interested in adding competition at safety, having hosted free agent O.J. Atogwe earlier this month. Adding a safety remains a possibility, if not through free agency, then probably through the draft. And while Backus is re-signed for two years, it wouldn't be surprising if the Lions look for a long-term replacement in the draft.

Green Bay Packers

Key additions: Defensive lineman Daniel Muir, center Jeff Saturday, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Key losses: Quarterback Matt Flynn, center Scott Wells.

Shocker: The Packers usually do whatever it takes to keep their own players and avoid having to search the free-agent market for other the castoffs of other teams. They started off that way by re-signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract, but when they were unable to sign center Scott Wells, they quickly targeted veteran Jeff Saturday and made him their first starting-caliber free-agent signee in five years. General manager Ted Thompson also authorized the acquisition of Hargrove and the pursuit of Dave Tollefson.

What's next: It's not out of the question that the Packers will add a veteran pass-rusher, whether at defensive end or linebacker. Then they'll get back into their comfort zone and start preparing for the draft, where it's reasonable to think they'll use at least one of their 12 picks on a center while also continuing to pursue pass-rushers.

Minnesota Vikings

Key additions: Cornerback Zack Bowman, tight end John Carlson, running back Jerome Felton and offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz.

Key losses: Nose tackle Remi Ayodele (release), guards Anthony Herrera (release) and Steve Hutchinson (release), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (retire), running back Jerome Felton.

Methodical methodology: The Vikings made one big-money signing, bringing in Carlson as a new weapon for quarterback Christian Ponder, and otherwise have spent their offseason getting younger and signing complementary players. General manager Rick Spielman wants to end a cycle of seeking blue-chip players via free agency and instead count on the drafts for his difference-makers.

What's next: One way or the other, the Vikings need to find a deep threat for Ponder. The draft would seem the most likely place for that will happen. They are also midway through a rebuild of the secondary that could use at least one more cornerback and perhaps two safeties.

Previewing some of the big decisions facing NFC North teams early in the 2012 offseason:

Minutes after he was named the Minnesota Vikings' head coach in 2002, Mike Tice announced his first decision: Jim Kleinsasser would be moved from fullback to tight end. Some coaches discuss the quarterback while others focus on the defensive scheme. Stocking the tight end position ranked atop Tice's list of priorities, a revealing nugget about the kind of offense he planned to install.

Times and circumstances have changed, but 10 years later, there is every reason to presume a continued focus on the tight end now that Tice has taken over as the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator. The Bears once boasted a strong tandem in Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, but they discarded both players when their offense veered away from the position under former offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

A tight end himself for 14 years in the NFL, Tice likes to use them extensively in the passing game as well as run blockers. In four seasons with the Vikings, tight ends caught a total of 308 passes. So the first order of business this offseason will be to determine whether the Bears' incumbent starter, Kellen Davis, is capable of blossoming in that role.

Davis is a pending free agent but his career total of 28 catches might not spur mass interest on the free-agent market. He did score touchdowns on five of his 18 receptions last season, however, and his 6-foot-7 build makes him a potential downfield mismatch for linebackers.

The Bears will probably be on the lookout for downfield threats in the passing game, but Tice's affinity for tight ends means that Davis could prove a crucial part of their offensive plan for 2012.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 17:

Lambeau Field rematch: The season's first game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions was a tense, physical and emotionally-charged Thanksgiving Day affair that included two ejections and eventually ended in a 27-15 Packers victory. The rematch figures to be less intense. The Packers are hoping to become the sixth team in NFL history to win 15 games in the regular season, but they aren't likely to sacrifice their health to do it. It's likely that coach Mike McCarthy will empty his bench at some point, even if most of his regular players start the game. Historically, the Packers have been strong finishers regardless of the circumstances. They have won their final regular-season game for eight consecutive years, the best active streak in the NFL, and are 16-1 in regular-season finales since 1994.

Lions positioning: The stakes are simple for the Lions. A victory would be their first in the state of Wisconsin in 20 years, ending the longest streak of consecutive road losses to one opponent in NFL history at 19. It would give them their first 11-victory season since 1991, and would also clinch them the NFC's fifth seed in the playoffs and a first-round matchup at the winner of Sunday night's game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Even if they lose, the Lions would still be the fifth seed if the Atlanta Falcons lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Otherwise, they will be the No. 6 seed and face a trip to play either the New Orleans Saints or the San Francisco 49ers.

Unleash Flynn: McCarthy hasn't said much about his personnel plans for Sunday's game, but he apparently told former NFL quarterback and current broadcaster Rich Gannon that backup Matt Flynn will get at least some action. Starter Aaron Rodgers has suggested that Flynn is ready to compete for another team's starting job, and Flynn could sign elsewhere this offseason as a free agent. But there is a limited amount of regular-season tape to evaluate Flynn on, and none of it is from this season. So that makes whatever time he gets in Sunday's game particularly valuable to his future.

Quarterback issues: The Chicago Bears will start 32-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh McCown at the Metrodome on Sunday, which I suppose is merited after his better-than-expected performance Sunday night against the Packers. But I strongly agree with Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, who wrote this week that the Bears would be ignoring the central flaw of their season by not giving rookie Nathan Enderle extensive playing time. Backup quarterback Caleb Hanie flopped after taking over for injured starter Jay Cutler, sparking what is now a five-game losing streak. Part of developing backup quarterbacks is getting them regular-season playing time. If you can't squeeze a rookie quarterback into a Week 17 game after you've been eliminated from the playoffs, when can you? If Enderle is so ill-prepared that the Bears deem him unfit for even that assignment, they might as well cut their losses with him now.

Vikings stakes: I wonder if Vikings fans are rooting for a victory or loss Sunday against the Bears. A win would allow them to avoid tying the franchise record for most losses in a season (13). They would also circumvent their first winless division record in team history. On the other hand, a loss would give the Vikings a top-three pick in the 2012 draft. A victory could drop them as far as No. 6. One thing is for sure: Everyone will be rooting for the Vikings to get into a goal-line situation. Coach Leslie Frazier has already said he'll give the ball to tight end/H-back Jim Kleinsasser, who will be playing in his final career game.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson convinced Dr. James Andrews to perform a quicker-than-normal surgery on his injured left knee because he has been in "severe" pain, according to Tim Yotter of Viking Update, and wanted to get the rehabilitation process started as soon as possible.

Peterson will have surgery Friday, six days after tearing two ligaments and suffering other damage in the knee. Typically, doctors prefer patients to wait until swelling has reduced, but that was not the case in this instance.

The Vikings have set a goal of getting Peterson back for the start of the 2012 season, a timetable that probably represents a best-case scenario.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings need a victory Sunday to avoid going winless in the NFC North, a sign of how much work they have ahead of them, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings are investigating a number of stadium sites in downtown Minneapolis, according to Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune.
• Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press profiles retiring tight end Jim Kleinsasser.
• Sunday could be a chance to change the career of Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "It looks like Chad Clifton will get every chance in the next week and a half to move back into the Green Bay Packers’ starting job at left tackle for the playoffs after missing the last 2½ months because of hamstring and back injuries."
• The Packers are still rotating players at right outside linebacker, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford knows he will be judged by how he plays in the playoffs. Mike O'Hara of the Detroit News explains.
• Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has resurrected his career over the past few years, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Pro Bowl special-teams ace Corey Graham wants to play defense for the Chicago Bears, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune thinks the Bears are making a mistake if they don't use rookie quarterback Nathan Enderle extensively Sunday against the Vikings. Pompei: "You can't shove a young quarterback in the back of a freezer until you need him and then expect him to be microwave ready at a moment's notice. Getting a young quarterback ready to play is a process that should be deliberate and calculated."
• Bears linebacker Lance Briggs didn't bite on a question about his request for a new contract, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Health, Chicago Bears: The Bears led a charmed life on the way to their 2010 NFC North title, losing only a handful of starts because of injury all season. But their four-game dive in 2011 has coincided with injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte. Receiver Johnny Knox has been lost for the season, and receiver/kick returner Devin Hester clearly has been limited by an ankle injury. Two members of their Week 1 offensive line, left guard Chris Williams and right tackle Gabe Carimi, are also on injured reserve. I've always considered it silly to say that injuries come in bunches, but that has been the case this season for the Bears and provides a ready-made excuse for why they are likely to miss the playoffs in 2011.

2. Offensive line, Green Bay Packers: It's very possible that the Packers will have replacement starters at three of their five positions Sunday night against the Bears. Left tackle Marshall Newhouse will make his 10th start at left tackle after taking over for veteran Chad Clifton, who has been working through hamstring and back injuries. Left guard T.J. Lang could move to right tackle, replacing Bryan Bulaga (knee) and Derek Sherrod (broken leg). And that would mean Evan Dietrich-Smith would return to the starting lineup in Lang's spot. Dietrich-Smith made two starts earlier this season in place of right guard Josh Sitton (knee). That's hardly the kind of continuity you want heading into the playoffs, but the Packers have dealt with such issues before.

3. Sleep totals in Detroit: Lions coach Jim Schwartz admitted it Monday. "I'm just tired as hell," he said during a news conference less than 24 hours after his team pulled off a wild comeback victory in Oakland. In the interim, the Lions made the long flight back east and immediately began preparations for the biggest week in recent team history. Playing a day early because of the Christmas weekend, the Lions are hoping to clinch their first playoff berth since 1999 with a win Saturday over the San Diego Chargers. There won't be much time to sit by the fire or sip eggnog this week. Serious business is at hand.

RISING

1. Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions defensive end: I know we've been touting Avril regularly here on the blog, but something caught my eye late in Sunday's game that merits a mention. Moments after Calvin Johnson's go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, television cameras showed Avril pointing demonstratively at defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and then at defensive tackle Corey Williams. Poking both in the chest, Avril appeared to be saying something along the lines of: You make a play. As it turned out, Avril made one himself a few minutes later, sacking quarterback Carson Palmer and forcing the Raiders to use their final timeout. Suh went on to block the Raiders' attempt at a winning field goal. Avril now has 11 sacks this season, but it was also nice to see him recognize the moment and, as a leader, challenge his teammates in a positive way.

2. Questions about Jermichael Finley, Packers tight end: When the season began, there were those who thought Finley was the best young tight end in the NFL. The New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski (15 touchdown receptions) has captured that title, and Finley has regressed a bit in the past month with more drops than the Packers would like to see. He entered Sunday's game at Kansas City with five drops in 66 targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and probably had three more against the Chiefs, depending on how strict of a grader you are. Finley blamed no one but himself for the drops, and we should note that his 41-yard catch to set up the Packers' first touchdown required a high degree of skill and concentration. But through 15 weeks of the season, I'm not sure we can say Finley has broken through to the degree most thought he would. He'll need 10 catches over the next two weeks to match the career high of 55 he set in 2009 -- in 13 games.

3. Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings tight end: Multiple reports suggest Kleinsasser is prepared to retire at the end of his 13th season, marking the end of a career that is to be admired in many ways, even if it rarely was reflected in the box score. Few recall that Kleinsasser was emerging as a reliable receiving threat in the early 2000s before he tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2004 season. Since then, he has handled one of the NFL's most inglorious jobs with aplomb, serving as a blocking tight end/quasi-third tackle and earning the respect of three different coaching staffs along the way. His approach has been a model for anyone who wants to maximize an NFL career. For 13 years, Kleinsasser has hit people hard and kept his mouth shut.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've had several discussions already about the extent to which Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte should rush back to the field after suffering a second-degree sprain of the MCL in his left knee. While I'm sure Forte wants to return as soon as he can, it's clear he isn't going to be accelerated by the team's timetable.

An injury of this type typically sidelines a player from two to four weeks. Bears coach Lovie Smith wouldn't rule Forte out for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, but Forte took care of that himself.

Forte told reporters he is progressing but "not good enough to" play Sunday, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

This week wasn't really an issue from the start, but Sunday will be his second consecutive missed game. After that, we can truly begin the judgment of whether his expiring contract will impact the timing of his return to the field.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie hasn't been able to connect much with receiver Earl Bennett, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune explains.
• Teammates still have Hanie's back, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• It's far from a certainty that the Green Bay Packers will have right guard Josh Sitton for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• The Packers' offense shouldn't change much with receiver Greg Jennings sidelined, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Rookie D.J. Smith looks like a "starting-caliber" linebacker, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints have gone in different directions since the 2009 NFC Championship Game, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• The NFL's new G-4 stadium financing program could provide the Vikings up to $200 million for their new stadium project, according to Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It sounds like Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser, the team's longest-tenured player, is headed for retirement, notes 1500ESPN.com.
• Former Packers offensive lineman Matt Brock offered an interesting anecdote in a radio interview about what might have antagonized Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in the teams' Thanksgiving Day game. Justin Rogers of Mlive.com explains.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "Suh doesn't think he owes anyone further explanation, but he owes his teammates plenty. He owes them a hellacious effort the final three games, as the 8-5 Lions scrap to get into the playoffs. He owes them the professional obligation of determination without distraction. Suh's deep pride helped make him one of the NFL's premier defensive tackles. He needs to make sure he doesn't choke on that pride."
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "While Suh said it's important for players to be accountable for their actions, he said that doesn't necessarily include addressing them publicly."
• Lions cornerback Chris Houston (knee) said he would be on the field Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, according to the Free Press.

Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spent four seasons with the team as a defensive coordinator and has holdover assistants sprinkled throughout his coaching staff. It is now clear, however, that Frazier's promotion in no way ensured continuity within the Vikings roster.

Frazier released left tackle Bryant McKinnie at the start of training camp, and news is beginning to trickle out about the departures of some other stalwarts of the Brad Childress era. Linebacker/special teams ace Heath Farwell confirmed to multiple media outlets, including 1500ESPN.com, that he has been released. Meanwhile, agent Ralph Cindrich tweeted that tight end/fullback Jeff Dugan will be a free agent as of this evening, implying he will be released.

Dugan confirmed the move to Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.

Reserves throughout their careers, Dugan and Farwell were nevertheless among the Vikings' most tenured players. Dugan was a 7th-round draft choice in 2004 and Farwell joined the team as an undrafted rookie in 2005. Only two players, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and linebacker E.J. Henderson, have been with the Vikings longer than Dugan, and both he and Farwell were the kind of easy-going glue players that Childress and former coach Mike Tice wanted in the locker room.

That's not a knock on Frazier and his staff for moving on. It's difficult to develop young talent if you keep veterans as backups. Schemes change, players age and circumstances transform. Dugan and Farwell are dependable, of high character and unfortunately for them, they are replaceable.

If there was any question, it's now clear that Frazier will be blazing his own trail despite his relatively deep roots within the organization.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The pending prison release of former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress will no doubt generate substantial speculation about where he might seek to play in 2011. Already, players on several teams have made public pitches. And I'm sure that in an NFC North context, we'll hear plenty of Chicago Bears speculation.

Will it be merited?

Here's all we know so far: Bears coach Lovie Smith has said he wouldn't mind acquiring a bigger receiver to join the trio of Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester. Burress is 6-foot-5.

But would the Bears want the baggage Burress brings, not to mention the rust from two years of inactivity? Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune doesn't think so.

Pompei: "Burress has three things working against him. The first is he will be 34 when the season starts. The second is he has not played football, or even trained with a football team, for two full years. The third is he has a history of getting in trouble. I don't think the Bears are that desperate."

I tend to agree. We've spent plenty of time discussing receivers and the Bears, but I'm not sure Burress and the Bears will be a fit.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears rookie Gabe Carimi is making an impact on Chicago's Jewish community, writes Donald Liebenson of the Tribune.
• The Detroit Lions' unwillingness to participate in "Hard Knocks" indicates they aren't sure how good they will be in 2011, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson hopes he will have fresher legs during games after the team drafted rookie receiver Titus Young. Dave Birkett of the Free Press has more.
• Check out this Twitpic of Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in London's Trafalgar Square. Suh is participating in the Gumball 3000 road race.
• The Green Bay Packers have scheduled their annual shareholders meeting for July 28, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers linebacker Clay Matthews charmed the crowd at the Rochester Press-Radio Club's Day of Champions banquet. Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has more. Among Matthews' lines: "For all you guys out there, I'll be in each and every one of your showers," referring to his upcoming line of Suave shampoo.
• A group of Minnesota Vikings are working out in the Twin Cities at a local fitness club, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. The group includes: linebacker Heath Farwell, offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway, center John Sullivan and tight end Jim Kleinsasser.
• Receiver Hank Baskett and several Vikings teammates from 2010 participated in a charity event last weekend to benefit victims of child abuse, according to Lynn Hoppes of ESPN.com.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Be it the truth or a wives tale, there is an adage about assessing the injury history of NFL prospects: Players with a high frequency of injuries in college often mirror that rate at the professional level.

Put more bluntly: Injury-prone is injury-prone, no matter where you're playing.

Clearly, the Minnesota Vikings are hoping the top of their draft proves the exception. Thursday night, we discussed the impact of shoulder and arm injuries on Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. (ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, for one, is skeptical that Ponder will have any better luck in the NFL.)

In the second round Friday night, the Vikings drafted Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph -- a top prospect who missed portions of the past two seasons because of shoulder and hamstring injuries, respectively. Both injuries required surgery.

The Vikings, however, gave Rudolph a clean bill of health, have no concerns about his future and considered him a first-round talent worthy of selection despite a more-than-competent trio of incumbents at the position.

"We had no issues with him medically after he was cleared by our doctors," vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said. "When he fell to us, he was too good of a player for us to pass up. He has some unique skills as a tight end, and we're going to stay true to our board. Normally, if he hadn't had that hamstring injury, I don't think we have a shot to get him. We feel we got great value where we got Kyle."

Rudolph is a 6-foot-5, 266-pounder who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He caught 90 passes in 29 games over three seasons for Notre Dame. Typically a tight end with those measurables would be a surefire first-round pick. But Rudolph didn't just have a hamstring injury last season. It tore completely from the bone in October, three months after he originally pulled it. He missed the final seven games of last season and soon had surgery.

That episode was enough to drop Rudolph from the first round. Friday night, Rudolph insisted he's 100 percent healthy but admitted the injury was an issue for some teams.

"The hamstring checked out completely 100 percent," he said. "It was something that I got it fixed over six months ago. By the time my pro day came around, I was 100 percent. The MRI showed it is 100 percent healed. All the doctors dug and prodded on it and they couldn't find anything."

I don't doubt that to be the case, but when a player misses nine games over two seasons, it's fair to at least inspect his history further. The Vikings have done that and have no long-term questions.

Incumbents Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan are all under contract for 2011, but it's worth noting each is entering the final year of his deal. Rudolph could prove a fortunate turn of events for the Vikings, providing he can stay on the field.

"I know we'll sort it all out as we get there," Spielman said. "We just wanted to stay true to our board, and he was by far the highest player on our board at that time."

We're going to look forward and backward this week for Dirty Laundry. Let's look ahead first. Why? Because I feel like it.

It's interesting, at least to me, that the Minnesota Vikings will arrive at Soldier Field this weekend having committed 17 false start penalties in their first eight games. That total puts the Vikings alongside the Oakland Raiders atop the NFL rankings for such miscues.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Vikings couldn't be headed to a worse environment under those circumstances. You might be surprised to know that opponents have committed as many false start penalties this year at Soldier Field (12) than at any other stadium in the NFL. I'm sure part of that total can be attributed to fan volume, but I wonder if it isn't another tangential by-product of defensive end Julius Peppers' presence.

If you were an offensive tackle or tight end, wouldn't you be a bit more focused on Peppers -- and less on the snap count -- than other players?

In case you're looking for likely suspects Sunday, here is the breakdown of the Vikings' false start penalties this season:

• Right tackle Phil Loadholt (5)
• Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (4)
• Tight end Jim Kleinsasser (3)
• Wide receiver Percy Harvin (1)
• Left guard Steve Hutchinson (1)
• Wide receiver Greg Lewis (1)
• Left tackle Bryant McKinnie (1)
• Safety Jamarca Sanford (1)

Now, to look back. Many of you were outraged Sunday when referee Al Riveron's crew called Detroit Lions left guard Stephen Peterman for two chop blocks in the New York Jets' 23-20 victory.

First, let's get to the general definition of a chop block as stated in the NFL rule book: "A chop block is a foul by the offense in which one offense player (designated as A1 for purposes of this rule) blocks a defensive player in the area of the thigh or lower while another offensive player (A2) occupies that same defensive player."

Indeed, the widely-held understanding of a chop block is one offensive lineman cut-blocking a defensive lineman while another blocks him above the waist. It's a dangerous approach that can lead to the defensive lineman getting twisted unnaturally and injured.

On both occasions Sunday, Peterman (A1) cut-blocked Jets defensive lineman Shaun Ellis while a second Lions offensive lineman (A2) -- right tackle Gosder Cherilus on the first and center Dominic Raiola on the second -- stood nearby but did not engage.

Unfortunately for the Lions, that play falls under a secondary section of the chop block rule known as the "lure." (Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press pointed out the explanation earlier this week.) Here is how that scenario is worded: "On a forward pass play, A1 chops a defensive player while A2 confronts the defensive player in a pass-blocking posture but is not physically engaged with the defensive player (a 'lure')."

The NFL seemed to confirm this interpretation by finding Peterman $10,000. Had the league office found Riveron's call was wrong, no fine would have followed.

I can't say I understand what the purpose of the "lure" rule is, other than to prevent A2 from being a "decoy" while A1 (Peterman) does the dirty work. To me, it falls under the category we discussed earlier this season: Too many rules in the rule book make for a, pardon the pun, choppy game.

If I'm a Lions' fan, I'm more outraged that Riveron didn't call a face mask penalty against Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie at the end of the second chop-block play. Cromartie spun receiver Bryant Johnson to the ground by twisting his face mask. At best, there should have been off-setting penalties and a replay of third down.

Now, on to our updated challenge tracker:

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- When he heard the news, receiver Percy Harvin grabbed his phone and called his mother.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield refused to believe it, even after seeing "Minnesota Vikings acquire receiver Randy Moss" on the ESPN news ticker scroll a few dozen times. "I didn't think it was possible," Winfield said.

Tailback Adrian Peterson was speechless. "I feel like words can't even express right now," he said. "It's like Christmas over and over again."

Even tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser, a stoic 12-year stalwart who has lived through some of the wildest days in franchise history, was shocked.

"Every year I say I've seen it all," Kleinsasser said. "I've been saying it for the last 12 years here. I've seen it all. [But] this is it. I've seen it all now."

Grown men felt compelled to make emotional calls to their mothers. They rubbed their eyes in disbelief while staring at the television screen, rushed down the stairs at the crack of dawn and raised their expectations for what is truly possible. Internal reaction to the Vikings' acquisition of Moss this week offered a preview of what Vikings fans -- and much of the sporting nation -- will feel Monday night when Moss joins Peterson and quarterback Brett Favre to form arguably the most accomplished quarterback-receiver-running back trio in recent NFL history.

"The sky's the limit," said Moss, who will open his second tenure with the team Monday night against the New York Jets.

Yes, at some point early at the New Meadowlands Stadium, the quarterback who has thrown for more yards and touchdowns than anyone in NFL history will stride to the line of scrimmage. He'll have his option of throwing to the receiver who has caught the second-most touchdowns in league history, or handing off to the running back who holds the record for the single-highest rushing total in a game.

The Vikings' offense has struggled to finish drives this season and entered Week 5 averaging 14.3 points per game, the third-worst mark in the NFL. Can Moss offer a universal remedy? It's hard to imagine one receiver making a 180-degree impact, but the Vikings hope that his presence will elevate their already-substantial cadre of weapons into an unstoppable team offense.

"He obviously brings a different dimension to any team," Favre said. "I've seen it so many years against him. You just shake your head. He doesn't have to catch the ball. ... It's what he does to defenses."

After watching their first practice together this week, the normally reserved Winfield was gushing.

"If you're a defense, it's 'pick your poison'," Winfield said. "You can stop [Moss] or stop Adrian Peterson. ... Brett wants to get the ball down the field and now he has the best [downfield] receiver in history to do it ... We have that dual threat now."

For years, defenses have been playing at least one safety close to the line of scrimmage to slow down Peterson. But if there were ever a player who could draw that safety away, it's Moss.

Peterson already is off to the best start of his career, averaging 130.7 yards per game this season, but this week he acknowledged the new opportunities in front of him.

"His presence out there is really going to shake things up and make guys play honest," he said. "It's really going to help this offense be more productive. ... I feel like a kid in a candy store."

Sometimes a cliché actually provides a precise description. In different ways, the Vikings' new offensive trio has always dreamed of playing together.

Peterson was 13 years old when Moss entered the NFL in 1998. "He was my favorite receiver to watch," he said, probably because Moss' freakish athletic abilities came to mirror his own.

Moss and Favre, meanwhile, have been engaged in a 13-year mating ritual that dates to Moss' first game against Favre's Green Bay Packers on Oct. 5, 1998. In that game, a Monday night affair at Lambeau Field, Moss caught five passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

"We played Cover 2 and you should never get beat in Cover 2 over the top," Favre said. "But it just happened over and over again. And we were not the only team that happened to. I've seen it way too many times."

Favre lobbied the Packers to acquire Moss in 2007 and 2008, and was deeply disappointed when they failed.

"How could you not want to play with a guy like that?" Favre said. "It can't do anything but make us better and make the guys around us better."

Favre was not the only fan in uniform during that 1998 game, however. Moss offered a similar recollection.

"They wanted all the offensive guys to come sit down," he said. "[Coaches said], 'Everybody come and sit down and rest your legs.' I said, 'No, I want to watch Brett Favre and see his magic.'"

Indeed, both Moss and Favre used the "M" word to describe their hopes for this union.

"I hope that there is still some magic left with me, with him, with this team," Favre said. "Absolutely."

So let us add another cliché to the mix. Christmas came early for the Vikings -- and they're hoping for an extended stay.

"Dirty Laundry" originated as a feature to follow how each NFC North coach uses in-game challenges. It expanded to include questionable officiating decisions across the board, and usually I try to address calls based on comments and complaints sent to the mailbag.

But every now and then, I still like to look at the challenge process because I think it provides rare insight into a coach's in-game mentality. In the past two weeks, we've seen the Minnesota Vikings' Brad Childress and the Green Bay Packers' Mike McCarthy challenge plays for reasons other than getting the call overturned.

First up: In the Sept. 9 season-opener at the New Orleans Saints, Childress challenged a third-down incompletion with 14:57 remaining in the game. Initial television replays confirmed what to me seemed evident from the high-altitude press box at the Superdome: Quarterback Brett Favre's pass bounced before landing in the arms of tight end Jim Kleinsasser.

Childress occasionally challenges plays as sort of an extended timeout, and in this case, it gave his defense a few extra minutes of rest after what would have been a three-and-out. Afterwards, Childress said he had an obscured view of Kleinsasser's hands during the play but admitted "it never hurts" to give the defense a break in that situation. In essence, Childress lost a timeout but gained more "rest time" than if he had simply called one instead of throwing the red flag. The cost was lowering his available challenges to one for the remainder of the game, a minimal risk considering the game was already in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, McCarthy challenged a first-quarter incompletion last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills even after replays clearly showed receiver James Jones' right foot coming down out of bounds. How could that happen? McCarthy, in his usual direct way this week, said: "It was a bad challenge."

The way McCarthy described it, his organized protocol worked. The assistant assigned to watch replays in the coaches booth told him Jones was out of bounds. But players and other people on the sidelines often lobby emotionally for a challenge, and the Lambeau Field crowd also seemed to be encouraging McCarthy -- who challenged more calls than any other NFC North coach last season -- to throw the red flag.

McCarthy did and immediately regretted it.

"I should have never challenged it," he said. "The clock was running down. I got some advice that I shouldn't have taken, especially when the guy in my ear was telling me that he was out of bounds. So it was a poor challenge, I shouldn't have challenged it. My intent was just to take the timeout. We were down to six seconds on the 40-second clock when I made the decision. I should have taken a timeout there."

As we like to say, honesty is always the best policy. Now, on to our updated Challenge Tracker:

MANKATO, Minn. -- Let's get to some first-day impressions of the Minnesota Vikings, now that I've mopped off after a few hours on a steamy practice field where the heat index surpassed 100 degrees Monday afternoon:

• When team drills began during the morning practice, these players were part of the first-team offense: Receiver Greg Lewis, center Jon Cooper, guard Chris DeGeare, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. I wouldn't expect any of those five players to be in the starting lineup in the season-opening game Sept. 9 at New Orleans. Injuries, family death and indecision are all to blame.
• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Andy KingE.J. Henderson has made strides in his recovery from a fractured femur.
  Nose tackle Pat Williams, 37, and linebacker E.J. Henderson, who has a titanium rod in his leg, have each participated in more practices than receiver Sidney Rice, receiver Percy Harvin, center John Sullivan and quarterback Brett Favre combined. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has been added to the injury list with what coach Brad Childress called a strain, and he missed both of Monday's practices.
• I plan to write more about Henderson soon, but for now you should know that Monday was the best day yet in his recovery from a fractured femur. For the first time, Henderson participated in all of the defensive repetitions for his group in the morning practice (first team) and afternoon practice (second team). "It felt good," Henderson said. "No pain. No worries. Ready to keep it moving."
• DeGeare, a fifth-round draft pick in April, was filing in for injured right guard Anthony Herrera and appears on his way to winning a roster spot as a backup who can play both guard spots and perhaps tackle in a pinch. With DeGeare and Cooper on the roster, you wonder if the end is near for center/tackle Ryan Cook -- the player drafted in 2006 with the choice acquired from Miami in the Daunte Culpepper trade.
• I thought the Vikings looked pretty sharp defensively. The best play I saw was linebacker Chad Greenway's diving tip of a pass intended for Kleinsasser.
• Count me in agreement among those who have already observed that rookie quarterback Joe Webb is struggling. I counted three ducks on basic go routes and got the sense he has hit the rookie wall of training camp. Even offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell admitted that Webb's head is "swimming" with terminology and added: "There's been times out here where he's flashed some great plays, but there's been times where he's flashing that he's definitely a rookie."
• Here's an interesting wrinkle to the Harvin situation we discussed earlier: Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune reports that in addition to dealing with the death of his grandmother, Harvin might be suffering from the migraine headaches that plagued him for parts of last season. Childress reiterated Monday afternoon that he isn't certain when Harvin will rejoin the team. "I'm kind of flying in the dark a little bit," Childress said.
• The Vikings have a full-pads practice scheduled for Tuesday morning. It will include some live scrimmaging and probably be their last real contact until Saturday's preseason game at St. Louis.
• I made it almost a full day without addressing the elephant next door. Childress said he texted with Favre as recently as Monday morning but had no information on Favre's scheduled visit this week with Dr. James Andrews, who performed the routine surgery on Favre's ankle.

Verse No. 2 from a tune reflecting our pending shift from offseason to training camp mode -- and other looming transitions:

Six o'clock TV hour, don't get caught in foreign towers
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn
Locking in, uniforming, book-burning, blood-letting
Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate
Light a candle, light a votive, step down step down
Watch your heel, crush, crushed uh-oh this means
No fear cavalier, renegade, steer clear
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives
And I decline

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine

Some of us University of Virginia types would argue the transcription of line seven, but Michael Stipe couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Like the rest of you, he can hit the mailbag portal, Facebook or Twitter to contact me.

Onward...

Corey of Evans, Ga., wants us to revisit our 2009 discussion on the NFC North's skilled group of tight ends.

Kevin Seifert: Last year, we followed the progress of the four promising (and starting) tight ends in this division: Greg Olsen, Brandon Pettigrew, Jermichael Finley and Visanthe Shiancoe. Corey's question intrigues me because it helps illustrate how much depth NFC North teams have assembled behind those starters this offseason.

Check out the chart below.


The Bears signed Brandon Manumaleuna to a substantial free-agent contract. The Lions traded for Tony Scheffler to help them navigate Pettigrew's knee rehabilitation, while the Packers drafted talented pass-catcher Andrew Quarless from Penn State. The Vikings drafted Quarless' backup, Mickey Shuler, but at this point I don't think he ranks higher than No. 5 on the Vikings' depth chart.

It's going to be fun to watch this group's progress in 2010 and find out how the new additions will impact the incumbents. Olsen, for instance, has been dropped into an offense that traditionally hasn't made much use of pass-catching tight ends. Manumaleuna has played for Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz and is known for his blocking prowess, but he has disappointed some people with his slow recovery from offseason knee surgery.

In Detroit, it's not totally clear when Pettigrew will be cleared to return after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament last November. Even when he does play, Scheffler is too good of a receiver to leave on the bench. Finally, I'm wondering what Quarless' arrival will mean for veteran Donald Lee in Green Bay. Assuming Quarless is good enough to make the team, and that Spencer Havner's versatility remains valued, would Lee lose his roster spot? Do the Packers need four tight ends?

Those questions are among the issues we will be following this summer and fall.

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Yukonjack of Carrington, N.D., writes: With all the rumors flying around up here about Adrian [Peterson] not attending minicamp, do you think it could be as simple as the Vikings embarrassed him on the NFL Network with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy constantly getting after him in that film study? Adrian's answers kept getting shorter and by the end, he was not answering at all!! What's your take??

Kevin Seifert: Interesting point, Yuk. I don't think the video itself is what caused Peterson's absence, especially considering it didn't hit the airwaves until after minicamp. (If you haven't watched it yet, by all means do so.)

But I'm also not ready to brush aside the video as a non-issue, either. Bieniemy is always blunt and a straight shooter, but I'm wondering if Peterson knew he was going to be so harsh with the cameras rolling. I agree with your assessment. It got pretty uncomfortable watching Peterson's reaction, especially because you could tell he knew the cameras were seeking his reaction.

That's not to say Bieniemy's analysis was wrong or undeserved. But there is a big difference between delivering it in the private sanctity of an NFL film room and in front of NFL Network cameras. By the end, Peterson looked like he wanted it to be over. Not many players, superstar or otherwise, prefer to be dressed down by their coaches in front of a camera.

And I was especially interested to note that none of the (aired) conversation was about Peterson's fumbling issue. It was about Bieniemy's belief that Peterson left 200-300 yards on the field last season through fundamental lapses and impatience.

Keep in mind that this was one of the few (if only) film sessions Peterson had with a Vikings coach all offseason. I'm not sure how productive it was.

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Thatkuhlkid of Madison, Wis., writes: What will happen with the Packers if there is an owners lockout? They are a publicly-traded company and I can't imagine the stock holders/team president wanting to lock them out. Is there a scenario that the Packers would have the opportunity to take the field at all?

Kevin Seifert: I've gotten this question from more than a few people. It's true from a technical standpoint that some 112,000 shareholders own the franchise through voting stock. But the reality is the Packers don't operate their daily business in that regard. Their Executive Committee and CEO/president Mark Murphy are empowered to make the organization's decisions.

Given Murphy's role on the NFL's Management Council Executive Committee, which will negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement on behalf of owners, it's safe to assume he will involve the Packers in a lockout if one comes to pass. And if he didn't, who would the Packers play?

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Mike of Raleigh, N.C. writes: I've heard a lot about how Rob Sims should help anchor the Lions' line, now that we have a quality LG. I've repeated it myself to friends without really thinking too much about it. In unrelated articles however, I've read about how it's relatively easy for coaches to mask deficiencies in the interior of the line. If that is the case, how much improvement should we really see with Sims in there? Is it the case that he is so vastly superior, or is more wishful thinking from Lions fans?

Kevin Seifert: No, I think this is a big deal -- if for no other reason than having continuity at the position. A team might be able to compensate for a weaker offensive lineman, but there is no way to cover for constantly changing personnel. If Sims can lock down the position, developing some chemistry with left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola, then the Lions will have made a significant upgrade regardless of his skill level.

Some quick thoughts about Detroit's role in a three-way trade that sent linebacker Ernie Sims to Philadelphia and brought the Lions tight end Tony Scheffler from Denver.

1. Being a cynic, the first thing you wonder is if the Lions are more concerned about the health of Brandon Pettigrew than we thought. Pettigrew tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Thanksgiving Day, and the Lions have said he is on track to be ready to practice around the start of training camp. I'm not aware of any setback in that regard. But after the retirement of Casey Fitzsimmons, the Lions aren't exactly deep at the position. And offensive coordinator Scott Linehan loves using two tight ends; in Minnesota he made it work well with Jermaine Wiggins and Jim Kleinsasser. So I think this move was independent of Pettigrew's long-term status.
2. Scheffler is a pure playmaker at the position; he caught a combined 89 passes and eight touchdowns in 2007-08. Last year, however, he ran into two obstacles with the Broncos: Coach Josh McDaniels doesn't have a big need for a pass-catching tight end, and McDaniels wasn't always a fan of prominent players from the regime of former coach Mike Shanahan. A Michigan native who played at Western Michigan, I would imagine Scheffler will appreciate this fresh start.
3. This deal had a Martin Mayhew special buried in it. As reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Lions also got a seventh-round pick from the Broncos. Mayhew always scraps for extra assets.
4. Sims had been penciled in as the Lions' weakside starter, but I emphasize that projection was in pencil only. The Lions originally drafted him as a linebacker perfectly suited for the Tampa 2 defense. At 230 pounds, if that, Sims didn't seem to fit squarely into the scheme the Lions are using under coach Jim Schwartz, one that emphasizes size as much as speed. The trade marks the dangers of drafting purely for scheme, as well as the inability of most teams to flex their scheme to the strengths of diverse players.
5. It's going to take some time to sort out who will replace Sims. One thing I feel pretty confident about: It won't be DeAndre Levy. I asked Schwartz about Levy last month at the NFL owners meetings, specifically about whether he was locked in at middle linebacker. Schwartz obviously didn't know this trade was coming, but he couldn't have been more affirmative in saying Levy would remain in the middle. I don't think there's an obvious weakside answer on the roster, so it will probably be an open competition unless the Lions acquire a veteran in some other fashion. As of right now, I'm guessing Jordon Dizon, Zack Follett and perhaps free-agent signee Landon Johnson are all in the mix. The Lions could draft at least one additional participant later this week.