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MINNEAPOLIS -- Just returned from my third and final trip to the field at TCF Bank Stadium. A few observations:

• Quarterback Brett Favre took the field shortly after 6 p.m. ET to begin lightly throwing and testing the sprained SC joint near his right shoulder. Favre threw at intervals of 10 and 15 yards, throwing harder than he did 10 days ago in his last practice appearance but not nearly as hard as he would need to for a game. Athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers were all in attendance. If Favre plays Monday night, it won’t be based on the throwing session I watched.
• There are absolutely some icy parts of the field. As I watched Favre, several members of the grounds crew were using sledgehammers to try to break up a patch of ice about five yards away from the sideline.
• The field itself is not frozen but is definitely hard. I’m not sure what this means, but snowplows are kicking up the rubber portions of the Field Turf that are in place to soften the material. The snow piles surrounding the perimeter of the field have turned gray because they have so many rubber bits embedded in them.
• The Vikings will have to declare Favre’s status around 7 p.m. ET.
• Entrance of fans into the stadium has been orderly. From what I can see, the bleacher seats have several inches of snow piled on them.

We had a blast during Tuesday afternoon's SportsNation chat -- talking up our post-LOST television habits, remembering there are Bears in California as well as Chicago and wondering if free-agent quarterback JaMarcus Russell could end up in the NFC North.

(On the latter point: I regard the Russell question the same way as I did Tim Tebow earlier this spring. Russell could do a lot worse than end up with one of the elite quarterback teachers we have in this division, from Kevin Rogers in Minnesota to Mike McCarthy/Tom Clements in Green Bay to Scott Linehan in Detroit.)

Andy of Green Bay offered up a question that might provide some grist to chew on. Here was the exchange:

Andy (GB)

which non-first round NFCN draft picks do you think have the best chance of either starting or making some immediate impact?

Kevin Seifert (2:38 PM)

Morgan Burnett in Green Bay. Toby Gerhart in Minnesota. Amari Spievey in Detroit. Major Wright in Chicago.

As always in our chats, those answers represented my fast-twitch gut answers. Stranger things have happened, but by the end of the season, I could see Burnett, Spievey and Wright in full-time starting roles. We've discussed Burnett's looming competition with incumbent Atari Bigby. Spievey will get consideration by process of elimination on the Lions' thin depth chart, and the Bears are so eager to elevate at safety that it will take an absolute flop for Wright not to get on the field.

On first blush, the Donovan McNabb trade has at least two significant NFC North implications. It ends the long-held speculative connection between McNabb and the Minnesota Vikings, and it also will incrementally decrease Detroit's chances of trading down from the No. 2 overall pick.

First things first.

If the Vikings expressed any interest in McNabb, it hasn't made its way to a public forum. That apparent lack of interest suggests more strongly than ever that they are confident in the 2010 return of quarterback Brett Favre. There are too many reasons why McNabb would have fit in Minnesota to draw any other conclusion.

As we discussed last month, he has a previous relationship with coach Brad Childress and quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers. He also would have made a seamless transition to the Vikings' scheme. While McNabb has his detractors, you can't convince me the Vikings would choose Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels over him, in the short term or long term.

It's true the Vikings didn't have a high second-round draft pick to offer the Eagles, but there would have been ways to accommodate the Eagles if they wanted to make this deal. Childress told KSTP-AM radio Sunday morning that he doesn't know whether Favre will play in 2010, but he must feel pretty good about it to sit out a sweepstakes that ultimately brought the Washington Redskins a Pro Bowl quarterback at a reasonable price.

With the Redskins now set at quarterback, it's hard to imagine they will maintain their purported interest in Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Assuming that's the case, you can remove one team from the list of possibilities to acquire the Lions' top pick at No. 2 overall. As we discussed Saturday, Detroit's best chance for trading down is cultivating a bidding war between Clausen's suitors.

I'm sure we'll have another post or two on this trade as the week progresses -- like, for example, how a Pro Bowl quarterback got traded within the same division. How novel! For now, have a pleasant evening.

It appears we'll soon reach a moment of truth in the long-standing speculative connection between Donovan McNabb and Minnesota.

First, the facts:

1. Reporters who attended Philadelphia coach Andy Reid's interview session this week left believing McNabb is available via trade.
2. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Eagles have lowered their asking price to a second-round draft pick.
3. McNabb's first NFL quarterbacks coach was current Vikings coach Brad Childress, who has never hid his admiration for McNabb's development into a perennial Pro Bowl player.
4. McNabb's position coach at Syracuse, Kevin Rogers, is the Vikings' quarterbacks coach.
5. Although many of us expect Brett Favre to return to the Vikings this season, he has made no formal commitment. At age 40, Favre's status is always year-to-year.

There are some members of the Vikings organization who consider McNabb a natural successor to Favre, especially on a veteran team ready to challenge for the Super Bowl. So the Vikings have a decision to make, if they haven't already made it: Do they sit tight and assume Favre will return? Or do they eliminate the risk by trading for McNabb, in the process solidifying the position for more than one year?

To this point, there is no evidence the Vikings have inquired formally about a trade. Childress and Reid are close friends, so it's possible they have kept any conversations about the topic to themselves.

We know from past experience that Favre doesn't react well when pressed for offseason answers on his future. If the Vikings go to him now and say they will trade for McNabb unless he commits to playing, history tells us he will announce his retirement. If (and when) he reconsiders, it will be too late for the Vikings.

There are no obvious answers here. What say you?

MIAMI -- Now that Chicago has hired Mike Martz as its offensive coordinator, the next question becomes whom it will hire as defensive coordinator.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo admitted during a conference call with reporters that filling both positions at the same time proved overly complicated, so the offensive job was prioritized. Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald has more on that.

To anyone’s knowledge, the only candidate interviewed for the job has been Perry Fewell, who ultimately took a similar position with the New York Giants. Coach Lovie Smith said he has ruled out no candidates, raising speculation he could promote defensive line coach Rod Marinelli or defensive backs coach Jon Hoke.

But based on the way the Bears conducted their search for Martz, it seems likely there will be other interviews. Stay tuned.

For now, let’s take a spin around the division:

• Newly retired quarterback Kurt Warner said “it’s going to take some time” for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler to adapt to the way Martz runs an offense. But “in the long run, the stuff he teaches makes a quarterback better,” Warner said, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Although the tight end hasn’t always been a big part of Martz’s passing games, Bears incumbent Greg Olsen will have a big role, according to Vaughn McClure and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Behind-the-scenes drama is always a possibility with Martz, writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPN Chicago.
• Green Bay might not be among the teams asking assistant coaches to take a wage reduction in the event of a 2011 lockout, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press wonders if the Lions could draft Idaho guard Mike Iupati with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2010 draft.
• Martz’s arrival in Chicago means Minnesota will retain quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, notes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• A special master denied the NFL’s attempt to eliminate its secondary revenue sharing program, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The league will appeal, but for now, that means Minnesota won’t lose a revenue stream that can top $10 million.

MIAMI -- During our NFL Nation Live chat Sunday night, colleague John Clayton reported Chicago officials were huddling to decide between Mike Martz and Kevin Rogers as their next offensive coordinator. Unless both candidates are eliminated, an unlikely scenario, we should be nearing resolution on this issue.

Martz traveled to Nashville, Tenn., Saturday to meet with quarterback Jay Cutler. David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune termed that trip “ridiculously awkward” because it suggested Cutler was in position to pass judgment on Martz rather than the other way around. In some ways, however, Martz needs to demonstrate his willingness to be a team player as much as Cutler does.

Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times reports there could be some disagreement in the Bears' hierarchy over this job. Ultimately, however, coach Lovie Smith should get the final decision. It’s his coaching staff, and the on-field product is his responsibility.

Continuing around the NFC North as we ramp up Super Bowl hype week:

• Minnesota special teams star Heath Farwell played extensively at linebacker Sunday night in the Pro Bowl, notes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie offered a conciliatory statement Saturday night about his dismissal from the Pro Bowl, but he was defiant Sunday night -- and Monday morning -- on his Twitter page. McKinnie wrote: “What I realize is ppl like negative that's what sells @ the end of the day!” Also: “HATERS MAKE ME STRONGER SO THANX 4 THE FAVOR! I DON'T BREAK SUCKAS!”
• Detroit general manger Martin Mayhew is excited about the class of more than 50 juniors who declared themselves eligible for the draft, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has learned to deal with the Brett Favre questions, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

MIAMI -- As we await word on the conclusion of Chicago’s search for an offensive coordinator -- Mike Martz? Kevin Rogers? -- Brandon of Huntington Beach, Calif., brings up an interesting point.

Would you compare the Bears’ potential hiring of Mike Martz to the Packers search last year that lead to the hiring of Dom Capers? Both seem to be/have been controversial, big-name hires. If the Bears pull the trigger on Martz, do you think he can have similar, immediate results?

My short answer, Brandon, is that I think Martz is the best candidate the Bears have interviewed to produce immediate results. And there are some similarities between the way the Packers decided on Capers and the way the Bears have meandered to Martz.

The Packers interviewed at least three other candidates -- Mike Nolan, Gregg Williams and Jim Haslett -- before hiring Capers. The Bears interviewed Rogers, Ken Zampese and Rob Chudzinski before giving Martz his interview.

Capers’ defense is based on being unpredictable and coming at the quarterback from all angles, making big plays through forced turnovers and lost yardage. It was flexible enough to cover for some personnel mismatches in his 3-4 scheme.

The same is true for Martz’s offense. Martz is by no means perfect, and there is a reason his services are available. But of all the candidates the Bears have interviewed, I think Martz has the best chance to effect a quick turnaround.

That’s my take from the baseball press box here at Sun Life Stadium. Don’t believe I’m actually at the Pro Bowl? Take a look at the byline on the picture above.

ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson has more information on the Olin Kreutz story we referenced earlier Thursday. According to agent Mark Bartelstein, Kreutz had a bone spur removed on Tuesday to relieve discomfort in one of his Achilles tendons.

Bartelstein made clear there was no damage to the tendon itself. The important fact is that there will have to be serious and unexpected complications for Kreutz not to be fully ready for training camp in July.

Meanwhile, the Bears were scheduled to interview Minnesota quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers for their offensive coordinator position Thursday. I’ll let you know if we get confirmation of his visit.

Update: The team announced Rogers is in fact at Halas Hall.

Chicago center Olin Kreutz will have surgery on an ailing Achilles tendon but is expected to be ready to play once training camp begins in July, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Kreutz has been dealing with the injury for two years and sought the opinions of at least two specialists. The procedure is expected to require four to six months of rehabilitation. At this point, there’s no reason to believe the Bears plan anything other than to bring the veteran back for the 2010 season.

In the meantime, it’s possible the Bears will use Josh Beekman at center during spring drills.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Bears plan to re-sign linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa for 2010, according to Biggs.
• Chicago coach Lovie Smith is feeling some urgency to wrap up his search for an offensive coordinator, writes Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times. Next up is Minnesota quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, who will interview Thursday.
• Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will see a foot specialist in the next two weeks to check on the progress of his recovery, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. Winfield fractured his foot Oct. 18.
• Detroit assistant defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who could soon be promoted to defensive line coach, is known for his intensity. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press watched Kocurek during Senior Bowl drills.
• Kocurek is only 31, notes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Green Bay president/CEO Mark Murphy won’t give a news conference at the Super Bowl after all, writes Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• New Cleveland president Mike Holmgren hired Green Bay executive Mark Schiefelbein to be his vice president of football operations. Here’s some background from the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Chicago’s efforts to fill two coordinator positions is now the biggest story in the NFC North. Here’s where the situation stands now, based on local and national reporting:

The Bears have sought permission to interview Minnesota quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Vikings have given permission. If the interview occurs, Rogers would be the Bears’ third interview and the sixth publicly-identified candidate for the job.

UPDATE: Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune reports Rogers will interview Thursday.

Sean Jensen of the Sun-Times suggests the Bears pursue Jim Zorn. Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago offers this suggestion: Norm Chow.

Meanwhile, there have been no reports that the Bears have interviewed anyone other than Perry Fewell for their defensive coordinator job. Fewell accepted a similar offer from the New York Giants. Bears assistant head coach/defensive line Rod Marinelli told the Chicago Tribune that he is open to any job coach Lovie Smith needs him to do, including defensive coordinator.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Minnesota might have to open the 2010 season without starting cornerback Cedric Griffin, who will soon undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune has more.
• Vikings coach Brad Childress took ultimate blame for having 12 men on the field at the end of regulation in the NFC Championship Game. John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press covers the issue.
• Detroit offensive coordinator Scott Linehan likes what he sees from Idaho guard Mike Iupati during Senior Bowl practices, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• Indeed, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com, it’s time for the Lions to stop their rotation at left guard.
• It would be a “long shot” for Green Bay to hire anyone to replace departed personnel adviser John Schneider, according to Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy will play a key role in collective bargaining agreement discussions during Super Bowl week, writes Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel.

	Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
	There will be plenty of similarities on display when Brad Childress' Vikings and Andy Reid's Eagles square off Sunday.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

When it came time to make his first big decision as Minnesota's new owner, Zygi Wilf looked east and hatched a plan. He would figure out a way to spell "Vikings" using "E-A-G-L-E-S."

In January 2006, Wilf made plans to hire Philadelphia's offensive coordinator as the Vikings' head coach and its linebackers coach as his new defensive coordinator. He wanted the Eagles' top personnel man as his general manager, and he was sold on the personnel and schematic approach -- draft a young quarterback to run the West Coast offense, upgrade the offensive line and blitz the bejeezus out of opponents -- that has made the Eagles a playoff team in seven of the past nine seasons.

"What we wanted was to be a first-class organization," Wilf said. "We wanted an organization that was patient and did things the right way with a goal of being a consistent winner that could challenge first for the division championship, and then for the Super Bowl, every season. We still have improvements to make, but that's always been what we have strived for."

As it turned out, Wilf hired Brad Childress as his head coach but couldn't lure talent evaluator Tom Heckert to be his general manager. The Eagles blocked Childress from hiring Steve Spagnuolo as his defensive coordinator, but a year later Childress tapped another former Philadelphia assistant -- Leslie Frazier -- for the job.

And in building the team that will host the Eagles on Sunday at the Metrodome, Childress has emulated his former employers on a number of levels. Among them:

• Signing a prominent free agent offensive lineman to a mega-deal with hopes he would add a level of nastiness to the offense. The Eagles did it in 2000 with right tackle Jon Runyan. The Vikings followed in 2006 by acquiring left guard Steve Hutchinson.
• Drafting a quarterback early in his tenure and put him on the developmental fast track. The Eagles had Donovan McNabb in the starting lineup by Week 10 of his rookie season. Tarvaris Jackson started the final two games as a rookie in 2006.
• Hiring all of his athletic trainers as well as his strength and conditioning staff from Philadelphia. Eagles coach Andy Reid blocked Childress from taking any position coaches to Minnesota, but several Vikings assistants nevertheless have Eagles ties. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy played for them in 1999, Childress' first year as an assistant in Philadelphia. The Vikings' current quarterbacks coach, Kevin Rogers, was McNabb's position coach at Syracuse. And tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson was once an Eagles intern.
• Authorizing Frazier to mix creative blitz packages into the Vikings' cover-2 base defense. Frazier played in Chicago's "46" defense of the 1980s, but he learned the fundamentals of blitz schemes from Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson while serving as Philadelphia's defensive backs coach from 1999-02.
• Calling his own plays during the 2006 season, as Reid always did in Philadelphia. And coincidence or otherwise, Childress handed those duties to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell not long after Reid gave that role to Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

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