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For the purposes of Hall of Fame discussions, Kevin Greene isn't really "ours." Greene played outside linebacker for four teams in his 15-year career, but none of them were in the NFC North or former NFC Central. But his current position as the Green Bay Packers' outside linebackers coach makes his Hall of Fame candidacy (or lack thereof) a topical offseason point.

Saturday's election of Chris Doleman sharpened the focus on Greene's largely ignored candidacy. Dolman's career total of 150.5 sacks ranks below Greene on the NFL's all-time list, but he became the sixth pass-rusher in the past five years to win election.

The chart shows the top 12 pass-rushers in NFL history, at least based on career sack totals. Eight of them are in the Hall of Fame and two, Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor, aren't eligible yet. That leaves Green and Leslie O'Neal (132.5 sacks) as the only players in this 12-man group to be sitting on the outside.

Greene's 160 career sacks stand out starkly on the chart. If the 44-member voting committee values sacks as much as it appears to, why has Greene remained on the periphery of the conversation? On Saturday, I threw out via Twitter an opportunity to provide a devil's advocate argument to explain a statistical anomaly.

Besides the standard jokes about bias against long hair, most of you suggested the committee considers Greene a specialist. Wrote @kgilly75: "Because all he could do is rush the passer...not good in coverage or run support.."

Again, we in the NFC North aren't really in position to advocate or argue against Greene's candidacy. But given the respect that pass-rushers have received in recent elections, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to place an "all he could do" in front of "rush the passer." Do you? Just curious.

We spent plenty of time in recent days discussing the tough road for wide receivers making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the process, we ignored where the selection committee has turned its attention: pass-rushers.

Not one receiver made the last cut to five modern-day finalists in Saturday's balloting in Indianapolis. But former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman became the third consecutive NFC North pass-rusher to earn enshrinement, following Richard Dent in 2011 and John Randle in 2010. Former Minnesota Vikings receiver Cris Carter again failed to make the cut, a victim of the perceived value between pass-rushers and wide receivers.

At least one pass-rusher has won election in each of the past five years. Bruce Smith and Derrick Thomas were part of the 2009 class, and Fred Dean was in the class of 2008.

Doleman's 150.5 career sacks rank third in NFL history, behind Smith (200), Reggie White (198) and Kevin Greene (160). Smith and White are both in Canton, and as of Saturday, five of the top eight players with the highest career sack totals have or will be enshrined. Greene, Michael Strahan (eligible in 2013) and the recently retired Jason Taylor (139.5) are the only players who have been left out.

(More on Greene, who didn't even make the cut from 15 finalists to 10, in the coming days.)

I don't want to take anything away from Doleman, who was a pass-rushing force for an extended period in the NFL. His two best seasons -- 21 sacks in 1989 and 15 sacks in 1998 -- came nine years apart. Doleman was part of four teams that finished the season with the NFL's top-ranked defense, recovered the seventh-most fumbles (24) in league history and was an eight-time Pro Bowler.

But with the exception of Greene, it's clear that sack totals are among the most reliable tickets to the Hall of Fame. Minutes after Doleman's election was announced, longtime Twin Cities sports analyst Patrick Reusse (also a colleague of mine at ESPN 1500) tweeted: "Apparently, it's all about sacks, since in his absolute prime, Doleman was 2nd best D-lineman on his team, behind Keith Millard."

To me, the definition of a Hall of Fame player is that he was one of the best of his era. Doleman was named to the NFL's 1990's All-Decade team, along with three other defensive ends. Was he one of the best players of that generation? He was if you accept that pass-rushing is as important as the voting committee considers it.

But enough of that. I'm not going to diminish Doleman's big day by questioning his credentials. There is little doubt he was a great player for a long time in this league.

Yes, the beauty of the annual Hall of Fame announcement is that it produces as much debate afterward as it did beforehand. Doleman is a Hall of Fame player because the voting committee places premium value on his particular skill set. (Again, Greene appears to be the lone exception to that rule.)

Carter isn't in the Hall of Fame because the voting committee doesn't value his position and corresponding statistics nearly as much. There are still only 21 receivers in Canton, the lowest total of any position other than tight end and kicking specialist. That's the deal -- no more and no less.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 1994, Cris Carter set an NFL record with 122 receptions over the course of a 16-game season. Shortly thereafter, the Pro Football Hall of Fame received and put up for display his full uniform, commemorating an achievement that figured to stand for some time.

The very next year, Herman Moore caught 123 passes for the Detroit Lions. Since then, the NFL has seen a 143-catch season (Marvin Harrison for the Indianapolis Colts in 2002) and another 123-catch campaign (Wes Welker for the New England Patriots in 2009). Welker also caught 122 passes this season. In fact, since Carter's 122-catch season, NFL wide receivers have produced 13 seasons that would have broken the record of 112 catches that Carter eclipsed in that 1994 season.

Carter was without question one of the best wide receivers of his era, but if I had to make an educated guess about why he has not yet been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, I would blame his timing. He produced his best seasons at the start of an NFL passing frenzy that has inflated statistics and left Hall voters reluctant to reward them.

There are 21 wide receivers in the Hall, fewer than any position except tight end, place-kicker or punter. And as the first chart shows, only four receivers whose careers began in the past 35 years have been elected. One of them, Art Monk, was enshrined 13 years after his retirement. A second, James Lofton, waited 10 years.

Hall voters might not agree, but the numbers suggest they haven't prioritized receivers as much as some other positions. And those who value the position have no doubt been torn in recent years by the presence of three quality candidates: Carter, Andre Reed and Tim Brown.

The second chart shows the receiving statistics of that trio over a relatively similar career span. Carter was a finalist in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Brown, who was also an elite kick returner, was a finalist in 2010. But Reed has been a finalist every year since 2007, and Carter's absence in 2011 suggests that Reed might have been pushed to the front of the line whenever a receiver (or two) is elected.

When he retired in 2002, Carter ranked second in NFL history in receptions and touchdown catches. He was No. 3 in total yards and total touchdowns. The NFL's offensive explosion has pushed him down in every category, and you hope he doesn't get permanently caught in the subsequent backlash. Catching 244 passes in two seasons, as Carter did in 1994 and 1995, was much more notable at the time than it is now.

While he will always be overshadowed by Jerry Rice, whose career more or less overlapped his, Carter also deserves some big-picture credit for sharpening the science of sideline footwork and warding off opponents with his arm. He was also as durable a receiver as this game as known, missing only four games in 14 seasons between 1988-2002.

I couldn't begin to tell you what might happen Saturday when voters convene to elect the class of 2012. Once again, Carter has joined Brown and Reed on the list of 15 semifinalists. Only five recently retired players, along with up to two nominees from the seniors committee, can make it.

I'll leave you with what the late Detroit Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski a said in a post-vote discussion last year. (He also tweeted it, so it's not as if I'm giving away a privileged conversation.) Kowalski, a member of the voting committee, looked at the projected ballots for 2012, 2013 and 2014 and predicted that the "snubs" of 2011 would be rectified over the next three years. If that's the case, it's just a matter of "when" for Cris Carter.

Note: Carter is one of several former players with NFC North ties among the 15 semifinalists. That list also includes former Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman, current Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene and former Lions guard Dick Stanfel.

Four men with NFC North ties were among the 15 finalists announced Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2012. Final voting will take place Feb. 4. Here is a quick look:

Cris Carter
NFC North tie-in: Played for Minnesota Vikings 1990-2001.
Comment: One of three receivers on the ballot, along with Tim Brown and Andre Reed.

Chris Doleman
NFC North tie-in: Played for Minnesota Vikings 1985-93, 1999.
Comment: Has 150.5 career sacks, fourth-highest in NFL history.

Kevin Greene
NFC North tie-in: Current Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach
Comment: Has the most career sacks (160) of any player not in the Hall of Fame.

Dick Stanfel
NFC North tie-in: Played for Detroit Lions 1952-55.
Comment: Nominated by Seniors Committee

Related: Our offseason discussion on the Hall of Fame prospects of Greene and Doleman.

Chicago Bears kick returner/receiver Devin Hester is 29. So it's reasonable to assume the actual debate on his candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is at least 10 years -- and probably a few more touchdown returns -- away. Already, however, Hester's unique status has conjured discussion about his place in history and whether he'll ultimately be recognized as one of the best players of this era.

Here are the facts:

• Less than six years into his career, Hester has obliterated the NFL record for career kick returns for touchdowns. He has 17 in his 85-game career, most recently an 82-yard punt return last Sunday against the Detroit Lions, plus one more in the playoffs. It took Brian Mitchell 223 games to finish with 13, the previous record.
• When you add in his return of a missed field goal in 2006, Hester is one return away from tying Deion Sanders' NFL record of 19 touchdown returns of any kind. Sanders played in 188 games before retiring.
• The Hall of Fame has never inducted a player based on his impact as a returner. In fact, there is only one "pure" special-teams player in the Hall: Place-kicker Jan Stenerud.

Hester's record-breaking production, not to mention his pace, has spurred passionate discussion among his supporters. Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher provided a particularly direct assessment this week during an interview with ESPN 1000.

"He's the greatest of all time at what he does," Urlacher said. "And in my opinion, when you're the greatest of all time at your position, you should be in the Hall of Fame. He is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion. He's going to have 30-something touchdown returns if people keep kicking to him. It's a no-brainer for me. I just don't see how people can not agree with that."

From my amateur vantage point, the best way to consider Hester as a potential Hall of Fame candidate is to expand the analysis of his impact. It's going to be difficult for voters to elect a player based solely on "30-something" touchdown returns over the course of a decade, if that's indeed what Hester finishes his career with.

The reality is that punt and kickoff returns make up less than 10 percent of the total plays in an average game; the figures were about 12 of 138 plays in 2010. That's essentially the definition of a specialist who is hard-pressed to make a broad-based impact on games when he is typically exposed to so few opportunities. That's probably why neither Mitchell nor Dante Hall (12 return touchdowns) nor Eric Metcalf (12) have received serious consideration as a Hall of Fame candidate.

But Urlacher made an important point this week: "He changes every football game he's in."

How? By impacting the Bears' field position. Take a look at the chart accompanying this post, which we present after some dutiful research by Mike Corbo of the Bears' communications office.

The Bears have had the NFL's best field position, based on the start of their average drive, in three of Hester's five full seasons. They ranked No. 3 in the other two.

Multiple factors contributed to that success, including their Bears' strong defense of this era. And it's worth noting that they had top-10 field position in four of the five seasons preceding Hester's arrival. But it would be foolish to ignore the role of Hester's returns and also of kicks intentionally shortened or otherwise diverted by opponents to keep the ball away of him.

There are all kinds of politics, waiting games and backlogs involved in election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Given the difficulty that players like Kevin Greene (160 career sacks) and Cris Carter (1,101 receptions) have had getting attention, it's hard to imagine that a couple-dozen touchdown returns alone would put Hester on track for induction.

But when you consider him a player that impacts field position all game long, as Hester appears to have done for large portions of his career, then you're moving the conversation away from a specialist and towards the kind of criteria voters are looking for. If you're a proponent of Hester's burgeoning candidacy, that's the direction you need to head.

SportsNation asked you/me/us to pick the most deserving Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate from a group of five former players who finished their careers with more than 100 sacks.

The results were clear: At week's end, two-thirds of nearly 14,000 votes went to Kevin Greene. A few comments suggested the disparity could be a reflection of our current readership levels -- Greene is currently the Green Bay Packers' outside linebackers coach -- but never, ever, ever, never would I believe Packers fans would stuff the ballot on that connection alone.

Greene's resume speaks for itself. His 160 career sacks are the third-highest total since the NFL began tracking them in 1982. Both players above him, and six players below him on the NFL's top 100 sack leaders, are enshrined.

A few of you made impassioned arguments for longtime Minnesota Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman, whose 150.5 career sacks places him No. 4 on the NFL's all-time list. I'll pass two of them along for consideration on the floor:

Opabina wrote that Doleman was more deserving than a player who will be inducted this summer, former Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent:

Greene should get in, but I voted for Doleman because he is much more deserving than Richard Dent, who got in this year. Doleman and Dent played the same number of seasons (15, all but two overlapping) and in the same division, so the caliber of their opponents was essentially the same, but Doleman has 13 more career sacks and 243 more career tackles than Dent. Dent was Super Bowl MVP, but any number of players on the Bears defense were equally deserving of the award, and Doleman held the NFC single-season sack record for 12 years before Strahan broke it. People also forget that Doleman played LB his first two seasons and had just 3 1/2 sacks during those years, so he would probably have ~160-165 career sacks if he spent his entire career at DE (and maybe 190+ if he played as long as Smith). He has been criticized for supposedly ignoring the run, but if that's true, then how come he averaged more tackles per season than Bruce Smith and just 9 fewer per season than Reggie White, who played on the left side, where defending the run is more important? And anyone who downgrades Doleman's performance because he played with John Randle has to acknowledge that Dent played with Dan Hampton.

Supavike1, in fact, thought Doleman's career was more balanced than Greene's:

[H]ere is the bigger picture, which supports Doleman before Greene when you consider more than sacks.

Greene:

160 sacks, 669 total tackles, 23 forced fumbles, 5 INT, 1 TD

Doleman:

150.5 sacks, 914 total tackles, 44 forced fumbles, 8 INT, 2 TDs

I think 240 more tackles and double the number of FFs makes up for 9.5 fewer sacks.

Y'all have a great holiday weekend. I'll be taking some family time next week and will be back with you July 11.

On Monday, we published our latest "Calling Canton" post on the Hall of Fame prospects of defensive ends Julius Peppers (Chicago Bears) and Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings). On Tuesday, our friends at SportsNation put together a nice interactive page of polls to tie in.

You can weigh in on whether you think Peppers and/or Allen will (or should) make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, name the best defensive lineman in the NFC North or help determine whether 100-plus sacks should make a player a near-lock for enshrinement.

For the purposes of moving our conversation forward, I've pulled one of the polls directly into this post. (Actually, ESPN.com blog editor Brett Longdin did the heavy lifting.) We want to know which of five retired players are most deserving of a call to Canton.

Among the group are two players with NFC North ties: Current Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene and former Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman. Greene and Doleman rank No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on the NFL's all-time list for sacks. The two players above them, Bruce Smith and Reggie White, are both enshrined.

I'll track progress of the poll and circle back on the results later this week in modified "Have at It" form.

Another in a series on NFC North players whose career trajectories put them on a path to consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL teams value pass-rushing more than any skill outside of quarterbacking, and here in the NFC North we have two of the best of this generation. Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (89 career sacks) and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (83) have outright dominated many games during their careers. But is either on track for future enshrinement in Canton, Ohio?

My short answer: It could go either way.

Sacks didn't become an official statistic until 1982. In reviewing how Hall of Fame voters have judged pass-rushers since then, a few tenets seem clear:

Hall Of Famers (Careers During Sack Era)

Rank	Player	Sacks
1	Bruce Smith	200
2	Reggie White	198
3	Richard Dent	137.5
3	John Randle	137.5
5	Lawrence Taylor	132.5
6	Ricky Jackson	128
7	Derrick Thomas	126.5
8	Andre Tippett	100
9	Howie Long	84
* Sacks became official in 1982 season.

1. Sack totals alone, no matter how high, don't guarantee enshrinement. Otherwise, linebacker Kevin Greene (currently a Green Bay Packers assistant coach) and defensive end Chris Doleman would have been elected a long time ago. Greene has 160 career sacks, the third-most in NFL history. Doleman's 150.5 rank No. 5. They are two of 25 players with 100 or more career sacks, and eight of those 25 are in the Hall of Fame.
2. The first chart is a list of the eight Hall of Fame defensive linemen and linebackers whose careers took place during the sack era. I included Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Howie Long and New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, whose careers began in 1981, and eliminated Bears linebacker Mike Singletary because pass-rushing wasn't much of a factor in his enshrinement. All but Long had at least 100 sacks. So although 100-plus sacks doesn't guarantee enshrinement, it's almost always a prerequisite. There is every reason to believe that Peppers, who is 31, and Allen, 29, can and will pass that milestone.
3. Voters clearly perform a subjective judgment to determine which players with high sack totals deserve enshrinement. Generally speaking, players who seem classified as "pure" pass-rushers, including Greene and Doleman, face a higher bar than those who were more generally regarded as "havoc-wreakers." Examples: Long, Andre Tippett, Taylor, Rickey Jackson and John Randle.

Given their career arcs, both Peppers and Allen might have to justify a "havoc-wreaker" enshrinement. They've got good chances to break the 100-sack barrier, but how much further will they go? Peppers could reach Randle-Taylor-Richard Dent territory by averaging 10 sacks a year for the next five seasons. I would say that 50 sacks between the ages of 31 and 36 represents the high end of what Peppers might achieve.

Allen is 2 years younger, and a similar 50-sack run over the next five years could put him in the same territory by 34. That's a reasonable projection, but I wonder whether voters will discard Allen into the "pure pass-rusher" category that currently houses Greene, Doleman, Leslie O'Neal (137.5 career sacks), Simeon Rice (122) and Clyde Simmons (121.5).

One gauge to consider is ESPN.com's positional power rankings, although I recognize that it simply represents the thoughts of eight slappy bloggers. (But remember, Hall of Fame election is determined by 44 other slappy writers and broadcasters.) Allen was rated as the No. 4 pass-rusher but didn't receive a single vote for best defensive player.

For what it's worth, Peppers ranked No. 8 on the overall defensive player list. And I found it interesting last week that when asked to name the NFL's best player at the moment, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher quickly responded: "Peppers."

In an admittedly subjective question, I ask: If Peppers and Allen finish their careers with similar sack totals, who is more likely to be elected to the Hall of Fame? I'm going to guess Peppers, barring a dramatic career arc adjustment for either player.

Comparing current players to Hall of Famers is only part of the discussion, however. As we noted in our post on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, candidates also must be compared to their contemporaries. In theory, only those who dominated their respective eras should be enshrined.

Our next two charts address that topic.

Since he entered the league in 2002, Peppers ranks third in sacks. Allen, meanwhile, has more sacks than any other NFL player since he was drafted in 2004.

So let's say Peppers and Allen finish their careers in the 130-140 sack range. Both will have been among the most productive pass-rushers of their time, but they'll also be "competing" against a number of contemporaries with similar credentials. We of course hope that all deserving players eventually get in, but the definition of "deserving" can be relative.

To that end, it should be noted that defensive end Michael Strahan (141.5 sacks) would seem relatively assured of enshrinement. End/linebacker Jason Taylor (132.5) and Dwight Freeney (94) also will be considered.

Both Peppers and Allen have potential career spans long enough to settle this debate definitively on their own. But as it stands now, with Peppers entering his 10th season and Allen his eighth, we can say they've done enough to enter the Hall of Fame conversation. Both have more work to do, and it needs to be at the same standard they've set thus far.

Earlier: Rodgers has put himself in on the path toward Canton.

DALLAS -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame voting committee will gather here Saturday morning to determine the class of 2011. Three players with significant NFC North ties are finalists: Receiver Cris Carter, defensive end Richard Dent and defensive end Chris Doleman.

Handicapping their chances for enshrinement requires the acknowledgment that two other finalists, cornerback Deion Sanders and running back Marshall Faulk, are widely considered to be locks for election. That leaves 13 men competing for three spots, and a tremendous campaign is under way to push NFL Films founder Ed Sabol into one of those positions.

Regardless of the politics involved, let's stay in our lane (for now) and consider our neck of the woods. The announcement is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

Cris Carter
Key qualification: When he retired after the 2002 season, he ranked second on the NFL's all-time list of receptions (1,101) and touchdowns (130).
Working against him: Receivers historically have a tougher time than at other positions. There are currently 21 receivers in the Hall of Fame, fewer than running backs (27), quarterbacks (23), offensive linemen (35) and defensive linemen (28). I refuse to believe that Carter's at-times caustic personality has impacted anyone's view of his on-field performance. But you never know for sure. Carter also will be competing with fellow receiver Tim Brown on this ballot.

Richard Dent
Key qualification: When he retired after the 1995 season, his 137.5 sacks ranked third all-time in the NFL, thanks in part to a run of five consecutive seasons with 10 or more sacks.
Working against him: There is nothing from a statistical standpoint to argue for Dent's continued exclusion. But for whatever reason, he has been passed over by other 100-sack players like Fred Dean, Bruce Smith and John Randle in recent years. This year, he is competing against two others in Doleman and Charles Haley. Sometimes players get lost in the maze. In the end, you hope that voters decide Dent has waited long enough.

Chris Doleman
Key qualification: You might not realize it, but Doleman's 150 career sacks rank fourth all-time in the NFL. Only Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene had more.
Working against him: He's competing with two other high-sack players in Dent and Haley who have more ballot tenure. Also, Greene's exclusion demonstrates that voters don't always reward sack totals in a vacuum.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It's been a few weeks since the Minnesota Vikings were in the headlines, and so defensive end Everson Griffen has provided the latest grist: In a story first reported by the Daily Trojan, Griffen was arrested Monday in Los Angeles and booked for investigation of felony battery.

According to the Los Angeles police department, Griffen allegedly assaulted a police officer during a traffic stop. Griffen had spent the earlier part of the day visiting former teammates and coaches at USC. He reportedly tried to run from the officer, who eventually used a Taser to subdue him.

Griffen, a fourth-round draft pick in 2010, had 11 tackles in 11 games for the Vikings this past season. His role could elevate in 2011 depending on what the Vikings do with potential free agents Ray Edwards and Brian Robison.

Continuing around the NFC North as we prepare for Super Bowl media day on a snowy and icy morning here in North Texas:

• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is the latest of agent Bob LaMonte's success stories, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Green Bay Packers are on a mission, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called winning the Super Bowl "the optimum measuring stick for a quarterback, be it fair or not," according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Rodgers added: "Dan Marino, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, did not win a Super Bowl. I think he's still in the discussion for the greatest quarterback of all time. But as far as playing in Green Bay, you have to win Super Bowls."
• Before learning he would finish second in the NFL's defensive player of the year voting, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said: "Whichever way it goes, win or lose, I still get to play on Sunday." Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• Ross Tucker of ESPN.com credits the Packers' two linebackers coaches, Winston Moss and Kevin Greene, for holding together the group during a spate of injuries this season.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press spoke with the high school coach of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who played at nearby Highland Park High School. Coach Randy Allen: "He's a really tough kid. He was never hurt. I mean, he never missed a game for us, and he was very physical. Anytime we ran a reverse play he was a blocker, and he'd roll over people. He was just so physical. He was the one always delivering the blow and never even got up slow after a game. He never missed a practice that I know of."
• Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte on his contract situation, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com: "It would be nice [to get the contract done]. It's always nice to have something like that happen. It's really up to my agent [Adisa Bakari] and the Bears to negotiate it. I just want to stay informed with what they're talking about. Hopefully it's all good things. I love playing for the Bears, and I think it's a great organization and I just want to continue to succeed and play well for them."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: "Now, the best and only way Cutler really can repair his reputation will come on the field -- not into a microphone or on the Internet."
• The Philadelphia Eagles have interviewed Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke for their defensive coordinator job, notes Brad Biggs of the Tribune.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We're halfway through our Week 3 four-fecta, with Part II scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at Soldier Field. (Or, on ESPN, if you're not one of the 61,500 or so planning to squeeze into the stadium.) Here on the blog, we'll spend the morning reviewing the Minnesota Vikings' 24-10 victory over the Detroit Lions before flipping the switch to the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers matchup this afternoon.

For now, let's see what's being written locally about our four teams:

• Bears coach Lovie Smith on his experienced coaching staff, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "There are four coaches here with head-coaching experience. But there's only one head coach."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "With most Bears fans marking time this fall according to the Lovie Smith watch, get ready to synchronize your clocks, Chicago. Believe it or not, we could be mere hours away from restoring order in the best sports city in America. If the Bears beat the championship-caliber Packers on Monday night at Soldier Field to become 3-0, football instantly becomes more credible and relevant around here than at any point since Super Bowl XLI. Only three times in the past 20 years have the Bears started 3-0 -- 1990, 1991 and 2006. Those seasons ended in the playoffs."
• Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz places big emphasis on having early success, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have made their marks on the Bears' 2-0 start, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com doesn't think anyone should be surprised that the Lions are 0-3: "Help me out with something here. Didn't just about everybody on the planet predict the Lions would lose more games this season than they would win? And a lot of folks, like me, had them going around 4-12. So, how is it that people are now shocked that the Lions are losing games? Anybody with a lick of sense knew this back seven, and particularly the secondary, was going to struggle throughout the season. We've been talking about this for, oh, six months now."
• I think you've heard this one before from Lions center Dominic Raiola, via John Niyo of the Detroit News: "It's just getting old. I mean, just the whole losing around here, it needs to change. Right away."
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press: "The Lions were determined not to beat themselves. And what happened? They beat themselves. There is a reason Jim Schwartz looked as if his cheeks might catch fire at the start of his weekly postgame autopsy."
• The Packers' Clay Matthews is working hard to be an all-around linebacker and not a pure pass-rusher, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene on Matthews, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "He's a lot more gifted than I was. He is a unique combination. He weighs [255] pounds, and he moves like a big strong safety. And he rushes like a big defensive end. He's a physical kid versus the run. He does all the phases of an outside 'backer in a 3-4, equally good. He's a special outside 'backer."
• This has hardly seemed like a typically bitter Bears-Packers week, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Vikings quarterback Brett Favre got hit early and often Sunday by the Lions, resulting in a shoulder stinger among other nicks. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune has more.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "Take away [Adrian] Peterson's game-breaking gallop, though, and the Vikings were much the same offensively as they were in losses to New Orleans and Miami. They committed costly turnovers, including Favre's intercepted screen pass that led to a three-play, 12-yard touchdown drive and gave Detroit an early 7-0 lead. They took advantage of a fluky turnover -- Stefan Logan's muffed punt that Chad Greenway recovered -- and a blown coverage to knot the score on a 24-yard touchdown to wide open Percy Harvin that Favre nearly overthrew. They put together only one protracted touchdown drive, capped by Peterson's 6-yard scoring run with 4:48 left in the second quarter. And they had costly breakdowns in protection, highlighted by Cliff Avril's speed move past right tackle Phil Loadholt that led to a batted-arm interception and a Jason Hanson field goal -- cutting the Vikings' lead to 14-10 at halftime."
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press thought Greenway's recovery of Logan's fumble was the turning point of the game.

We usually get things rolling pretty early here on the NFC North blog, but this morning, news was already waiting when I powered up the old Commodore 64. To no one’s surprise, not even NFC West blogger Mike Sando, Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin has been named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Harvin received 41 of the 50 votes after setting a Vikings record with 2,081 all-purpose yards in 15 games this season. That total left him with one of the best all-round rookie seasons in NFL history. (Oakland’s Tim Brown set the all-time record for all-purpose yards by a rookie with 2,317 in 1988.) Harvin was also quarterback Brett Favre’s favorite target on third down and ranked No. 7 among all NFL players in that category, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Harvin was a controversial draft pick after he tested positive for marijuana use at the February scouting combine. But as it turned out, the biggest problem he encountered was an intensification of migraine headaches that has plagued him for much of his life.

Migraines caused him to miss the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, the NFL’s rookie symposium and a game against Cincinnati last month.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The company pursuing NFL teams for the Los Angeles area won’t recruit any franchise, including the Vikings, while they are actively pursuing a local stadium deal. More on this later, but here is the Associated Press story.
• Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times on Chicago’s hour-long news conference Tuesday: “The effort at honesty led to some bizarrely contradictory moments. There was an insistence that the status quo wasn't good enough even as the three people who define that term all remained safely employed.”
• Rick Morrissey’s take in the Sun-Times: “The McCaskey family has handed power to people who don't know what they're doing. Worse, ownership doesn't seem to know what it would do without these same incompetent.”
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: “This wasn't a housecleaning at Halas Hall. This was light dusting.”
• Linebacker Clay Matthews was one of Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson’s most inspired draft picks, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said Matthews has “a set of skills that I didn’t have” as a player. Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee has more.
• Packers right guard Josh Sitton has turned into a solid starter, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Detroit’s rookie class was a bright spot this season, notes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• Here’s a link to the blog of Lions quarterback Drew Stanton, who insists he wants to remain in Detroit next season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Dane Looker is hoping to be the next Chad Ochocinco, at least in one regard. Looker, a receiver who spent the past seven seasons in St. Louis, worked as Detroit's placekicker Tuesday in practice. The event occurred less than a week after Ochocinco kicked an extra point and also kicked off in a preseason game for Cincinnati.

According to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press, Looker converted all four attempts -- including a 43-yarder into the wind. Lions coach Jim Schwartz threw Looker into the mix when kicker Swayze Waters reported a sore hamstring. Regular kicker Jason Hanson is recovering from what has been described as minor knee surgery.

During the regular season, punters often serve as the emergency placekicker. But Looker has been working on kicks in practice for most of his career and said he once converted a 56-yarder during pregame warm-ups.

Continuing around the NFC North:
Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com looks at the potential contributions of the Lions' rookie class this season.Great headline on Bob McGinn's story about Green Bay linebacker Brady Poppinga and outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Loony Tune."Packers defensive lineman Justin Harrell, who thought he might have to retire last week, now believes he will play again, writes Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.Chicago re-signed special-teams ace Darrell McGlover for linebacker depth, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune notes six things we've learned about new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Among them: He has a great arm but will throw interceptions.It's still not clear if Minnesota receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) will play next Monday at Houston, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.The Vikings did get quarterback Sage Rosenfels (ankle) and defensive end Jared Allen (foot) back on the practice field Tuesday, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

	Getty Images/AP Images
	Kevin Greene, left, and Mike Trgovac have brought added intensity to practices.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- After a few days of Packers training camp, outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene had already lost his voice. Fear not, however. Greene compensated by threatening to head-butt his players as an alternate form of communication.

During the first week of training camp, one practice was halted early to cool off brawling players. A few others featured post-whistle fisticuffs when offensive players grew frustrated with the ultra-aggressive contact initiated by their defensive teammates.

The Packers' defensive scheme change has been documented for months, but moving from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 is only part of the team's plan to rejuvenate what had become a predictable and staid approach. During a three-day visit to camp last week, it was plainly evident that raising the energy level and instilling a fiercer attitude is just as important a priority.

"A big part of defensive football is attitude and tempo and guys flying around," new coordinator Dom Capers said. "It's a physical, aggressive, attacking approach. The more we can be aggressive and attack, then hopefully the more you have some offenses reacting to you instead of you reacting to the offense."

There's nothing revolutionary about a new coordinator and his staff bringing new energy and heightened urgency to a team. They wouldn't have been hired had the previous approach worked, and players realize their jobs and futures depend on impressing a new set of bosses. If all works according to plan, things probably will have calmed down a bit by next summer's camp.

In this case, however, the liveliness seems intentional rather than a bi-product. Coach Mike McCarthy hired Capers to replace the well-liked but humorless Bob Sanders. In turn, Capers and McCarthy brought aboard two non-stop balls of intensity in Greene and defensive line coach Mike Trgovac. In the understatement of the summer, McCarthy said: "If you want to break down the personality of the staff, I'd say this is a more outgoing group."

In his first full-time coaching job, Greene appears to have rekindled the passion he played with from 1985-99. He's in constant motion on the practice field, smacking helmets here and screaming until his red face appears to be a permanent affectation. (As does the sore larynx, which left him with a raspy whisper during a midweek interview.) Greene's individual drills are so physical, said linebacker Jeremy Thompson, that "they feel like playing a game."

"We're just hitting each other and hitting each other," Thompson said. "By the time we get to the team period, we've already been hitting so much that we're wound up and ready to go. Meetings are the same kind of intensity."

According to linebacker Brady Poppinga, Greene lost his temper several times during the first week of camp. At one point, Poppinga said Greene told them he was resisting the urge to head-butt them. Poppinga, a wild-eyed player in his own right, wisely talked him down.

"I just said, 'Kevin, I don't think you'd like that. You'd be on the wrong end of that deal,'" Poppinga said.

During a civil moment later, Greene hardly glossed over the intent of his approach.

"This defense has to have a relentless, in-your-face smashing attitude," Greene said. "I've never known a championship team with a passive defense. They've got to be proactive and, basically, get in people's grills.

"These guys are playing because ultimately they love this game. So as a coach you have to pull that love out of them and pull that passion out of them. And when you start playing with that kind of passion and that love, then you start talking about [having a championship defense.]"

Trgovac has been coaching with a similar style for decades, and he had no doubt what McCarthy and Capers were looking for when they hired him this winter.

"When you look at defensive line and the front seven," Trgovac said, "there are a lot of guys that make plays that don't take the proper step and didn't have the proper footwork. To me, [defense] is a lot more attitude than it is scheme. You've got to teach the scheme and teach the right fundamentals. I'm a stickler for that. But attitude can make up for a lot of mistakes that you can make. That's what we're really trying to preach to them, finishing plays and having the defensive attitude that Dom and Mike are looking for."

My lasting image of Trgovac last week was watching his face turn blue when he realized that several rookie defensive linemen didn't realize it was their turn to take the field during team drills. I can't come anywhere close to quoting him for a family Web site, and the sentence wouldn't make sense with all of the necessary "expletive deleteds." Suffice it to say, Trgovac displayed quite a range of volume and vocabulary while sprinting toward the players to shove them into the drill.

Ultimately, high volume and practice fights by themselves aren't going to make the Packers defense better this season. But neither will a one-man change in the number of lineman and linebackers on the field. It's all part of the total package. Head butts and all.