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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman kicked off the draft-day trade speculation season by hopping on the NFL Network during Senior Bowl practices and declaring: "It will be, I think, very busy on draft day. We're the third overall pick, so we'll be looking at all the options. If someone wants to come up and get our pick, we’re going to be more than willing to listen."

As we've discussed before, the presence of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III would make the Vikings an obvious trading partner for a quarterback-needy team at No. 3. In the past, Spielman has said there are a few players in each draft that he would never pass up an opportunity to select, regardless of the trade offer.

You wonder if USC offensive lineman Matt Kalil will be one of those players. The Vikings are in need of a left tackle and usually teams need to devote a high draft pick to get one. Three more months to go.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings are preaching steady improvement but not a revival in 2012, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune checks in with new Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams.
• The NFL doesn't consider Los Angeles a viable option for relocation in 2012, writes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers endorsed quarterbacks coach Tom Clements to replace Joe Philbin as the team's offensive coordinator, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Rodgers thinks there is a "strong possibility" that Philbin will bring Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn to the Miami Dolphins, notes Wilde.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune suggests that Phil Emery is likely the Bears' new general manager: "But given the stability Emery offers and the job requirements as [team president Ted] Phillips defines them, I will be surprised if the Bears hire anybody else."
• Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice has been communicating daily with quarterback Jay Cutler, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Former Bears offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer is working with draft prospects at the Senior Bowl, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune wonders if Alex Van Pelt will be the Bears' new quarterbacks coach/passing coordinator.
• Detroit Lions offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath paid a $412 fine after being charged Monday with possession of marijuana. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is happy that defensive backs coach Tim Walton will remain with the team, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.

Labor uncertainty or not, it hasn't taken long for NFC North teams to begin the post-combine business of roster cleanup. The Chicago Bears started it off Monday afternoon, terminating the contracts of three veterans: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, and offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer.

Harris was by far the most newsworthy name, but his inclusion was not unexpected. As we discussed last week, Harris was due a $2.5 million roster bonus before training camp and a $2.312 million base salary in 2011. Because of several accounting moves, his salary-cap number would have been $11.115 million, an unmanageable figure assuming the NFL reverts to a cap system under its new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The cap issue suggests there is a chance Harris could re-sign with the Bears at some point. But it should be pretty clear to everyone that Harris, even at age 27, is a shell of the player that earned three consecutive Pro Bowl berths from 2005-07. If anything, the Bears were too patient in waiting for him to regain his form from a series of mid-decade injuries.

After recording a career-high eight sacks in 2007, Harris managed nine over the next three years combined. He lost his starting job early last season to Matt Toeaina, whose contract extension in December was among many clues that Harris' time in Chicago was nearing an end.

The No. 14 overall pick of the 2004 draft, Harris ultimately will be remembered as a dominant force during a four-year stretch and an enigma for the three years that followed. Although Toeaina is signed for 2011, it's safe to say that a playmaking defensive tackle should be high among the Bears' offseason priorities.

As for Hillenmeyer, it's unclear if he will continue playing. The Bears placed him on injured reserve last year because of concussion issues. He turns 31 in October.

After the Chicago Bears' 17-3 loss Sunday at the New York Giants, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Chicago Bears take their turn in the examination room after their loss to the Giants.
1. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz doesn't speak to reporters after games, so we can't speak with certainty about his game-planning or play-calling. But from the outside, however, it was completely perplexing and ultimately inexcusable to allow quarterback Jay Cutler to continue dropping back as the first-half sack totals piled up. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora told NBC after the game that he felt comfortable focusing on the passing game because the Bears appeared to have given up on the run. The Bears played the first half like they were trailing 30-0 rather than 3-0, passing on 20 of their 27 first-half plays. Either Martz stubbornly failed to make adjustments or Cutler stubbornly failed to execute them. Regardless, the Bears' 110 offensive yards was their lowest total in four years.
2. On occasion, it's necessary to rotate offensive linemen during a game to determine the best candidate for a starting job. But it should never be a long-term answer. But even before they were beset with another round of injuries, the Bears were rotating Roberto Garza and Edwin Williams at left guard and Kevin Shaffer with J'Marcus Webb at right tackle. Ultimately, Williams had to replace injured right guard Lance Louis. It's awfully hard to judge offensive line play from the outside, but if you think the constant rotation wasn't involved in some Giants rushers coming free, you're fooling yourself.
3. It's amazing to see the role defensive end Julius Peppers has had on helping the Bears defense regain its swagger. Sunday night, he caused one turnover by knocking the ball out of quarterback Eli Manning's hands and helped create a frenzy on the line of scrimmage for most of the game. No matter what combination they tried, the Giants couldn't block him. His aggressiveness has spread throughout the defense, most notably to cornerback Zack Bowman on Sunday night. Bowman returned from a Week 3 benching to post three tackles and force a stunning fumble on Ahmad Bradshaw's breakaway run in the fourth quarter. The defense wasn't perfect, but after four weeks it's clear that Peppers has the Bears defense playing at an ambitious level.

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

Will this game prove an aberration, or will it fulfill a trend that some would suggest has been building all season? There are many ways to win in the NFL, and the Bears won once this season when an opposing player had a potential game-winning touchdown taken off the scoreboard with 25 seconds left to play. They won another game when their opponents lost a touchdown and two turnovers as part of an 18-penalty mess. There are no asterisks on NFL records, and the Bears are 3-1. But did you watch Sunday night's game and think it was just a bad matchup? Or were the Bears exposed?

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

FALLING

1. Discipline: There were a total of 43 penalties in the two NFC North intradivision matchups in Week 3. The Green Bay Packers set a team record with 18 in their 20-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Minnesota Vikings had 12 in their 24-10 victory over the Detroit Lions, who had eight. Only the Bears (five penalties) contained themselves. As a result, the Packers, Vikings and Lions all rank among the NFL’s 10 most-penalized teams. One word describes our second-ever NFC North four-fecta: Sloppy.

2. Deep thinking: Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Bears coach Lovie Smith each missed an opportunity to take an unconventional approach to the final two minutes of Monday night’s game. McCarthy elected not to allow the Bears to score a quick touchdown, thus giving his offense a better opportunity to score a game-tying touchdown. And Smith decided against kneeling on the ball to guard against that possibility. I still don’t think either coach should be criticized for his approach, but the alternatives would also have been defensible. Historically, teams who have been in the situation the Packers would have been in have still lost 90 percent of the time.

3. Patience in Detroit: The Lions didn't necessarily plan on going 16-0 this season, but it's clear that frustration is mounting after their 0-3 start. "It's just getting old," center Dominic Raiola said. "I mean, just the whole losing around here, it needs to change. Right away." I'm guessing that had something to do with a number of second-half scuffles between Lions and Vikings players, culminating with quarterback Shaun Hill charging after Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. Hill said afterwards that the Lions' wouldn't be anyone's "punks."

RISING

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings tailback: He’s off to the best three-game start in his career after a 160-yard performance Sunday against the Lions. A career-long 80-yard touchdown run demonstrated two interesting components of his game: a newfound patience and the return of his breakaway speed. Last season, Peterson scored on a bruising 64-yard touchdown run in Week 1 but wasn’t much of a long threat thereafter. Meanwhile, he followed his teammates' advice to lull the Lions defense by staying with the original call for as long as possible before cutting back to the right sideline.

2. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears tight end: New coordinator Mike Martz’s offense has no room for a pass-catching tight end. That’s obvious. Just look at his history. And we all know Martz is too inflexible and not smart enough to figure out how to incorporate a tight end. I mean, look at Olsen. He caught a team-high five passes Monday night and now has 10 receptions and two touchdowns in three games. That means Olsen is well on his way to setting new records for tight end receptions and touchdowns in Martz offense. The current high marks are 38 and six, respectively. Olsen is on pace for 53 and 10. What a waste.

3. Chicago Bears offensive line: How many sacks did Packers linebacker Clay Matthews add to his season total Monday night? That’s right. None. With Frank Omiyale making his first career start at left tackle, and a right tackle rotation of Kevin Shaffer and rookie J’Marcus Webb, the Bears more than held their own against the Packers’ pass rush. Quarterback Jay Cutler wasn’t sacked after the first series of the second quarter, and the Bears' offense managed 18 first downs and 276 yards despite getting off only 48 plays and holding the ball for 24 minutes, 11 seconds.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Let's consider one final angle of Monday night's game at Soldier Field before moving on to Week 4. Several times Tuesday, we discussed whether Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy should have allowed the Chicago Bears to score a touchdown with just under two minutes to play, conserving a timeout and enough time to mount a game-tying drive.

That question brings up another question, one posed by Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times, among others. Anticipating that possibility, should the Bears have simply taken a knee at the Packers' 9-yard line to prevent the potential implementation of that strategy? Or should they have told tailback Matt Forte to kneel if he thought he was about to cross the goal line?

I don't think too many people would have complained had that happened. But more than anything, I think you had two traditional and conventionally minded coaches running the game. It would have been surprising to see McCarthy or Bears coach Lovie Smith use unorthodox game-management strategies.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers-Bears I was the highest-rated cable television broadcast of 2010.
• Bears right tackle Kevin Shaffer did an excellent job against Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, according to film study by Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "Something has clicked, and the appeal of the NFL lies in the weekly surprises proud teams such as the Bears provide when they put it all together. In that respect, this team resembles the 2001 version nobody expected to go 13-3. But the style of winning is closer to 2006 -- and we all remember where that season ended."
• The NFL is reviewing Packers safety Nick Collins' postgame confrontation with a fan.
• McCarthy is going to stay the course after Monday night's loss, writes Jason Wilde of ESPMilwaukee.com.
• McCarthy wasn't unhappy with the performance of his running game, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and still believes John Kuhn and Brandon Jackson are all the tailbacks he needs. McCarthy: "You have to look at what's the definition of the run game. I looked at this particular game, and I felt that our running backs were productive. I thought Brandon and John played well with the opportunities that they were given with the ball in their hands and what was put in front of them. I thought the running back production was a positive in the game."
• Packers tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are showing their age, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew is off to a nice start this season but is disappointed about several drops, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• The Lions have scored only 15 points in the second half this season, notes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com points out two officiating mistakes in the Lions' 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
• Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson worked on speed training in the offseason, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and is considering running the 200 in next year's Texas Relays.
• The Vikings entered their bye week feeling good about their pass defense, according to the Star Tribune.

After the Chicago Bears' 20-17 victory Monday night over the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Chicago Bears take their turn in the examination room after beating Dallas.
1. We've noted the Bears shuffled their lineup at defensive line and cornerback, but it's worth noting they also rotated Kevin Shaffer and rookie J'Marcus Webb at right tackle while Frank Omiyale continued to hold down the left tackle position. Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked three times in the Bears' first three possessions, but overall I thought he had enough time on most of his throws. He is exceptionally accurate when throwing off his back foot, a nice skill to have when your offensive line is in flux. But you have to credit offensive line coach Mike Tice for patching things together for a second consecutive week. Cutler wasn't sacked over the Bears' five final possessions.
2. I thought it was interesting to see tailbacks Matt Forte and Chester Taylor both in the starting lineup. Longtime blog readers will recall I routinely banged that drum when Taylor was in Minnesota, wondering why he couldn't be paired with Adrian Peterson in an effort to get the team's best players on the field. Neither Taylor nor Forte got much going in the running game Monday night, totaling 38 yards on 14 carries, and Cutler was actually the Bears' most productive ground-gainer. But over time, I like the possibilities presented by having two multi-talented tailbacks on the field together.
3. I thought Julius Peppers had a dramatic impact on the game even though he officially finished with two solo tackles and one quarterback hit. He mauled Packers guard Josh Sitton to block a 37-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter and drew a huge holding penalty on right tackle Mark Tauscher, wiping out Jermichael Finley's 15-yard touchdown reception. Based on watching Peppers for a good part of the night, I can honestly say the Packers could have been called for at least a half-dozen holds against him. I can't believe that his presence wasn't at least partially related to the 18 penalties the Packers took, 10 of which were by offensive players.

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

What suddenly emboldened the Bears to bench defensive tackle Tommie Harris? His production dipped noticeably two years ago and he has never rebounded. The Bears had blamed the drop on knee injuries, but this year Harris has been noticeably absent from the injury report and has still been almost invisible in games. Was that the tipping point for the Bears? Did something else happen behind the scenes? Is coach Lovie Smith finally loosening his loyalty to some veteran mainstays? Or was this just a one-game warning shot? I'm not sure.

The Chicago Bears definitely won't have their starting left tackle Monday night. The Green Bay Packers aren't sure yet.

That's the upshot of the final injury report of the practice week for both teams. The Bears ruled out left tackle Chris Williams because of a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the entire week of practice. Right tackle Frank Omiyale will make his first career start at left tackle Monday night against the Packers, and it's expected that Kevin Shaffer will start at right tackle.

Normally I'd express grave concern about this turn of events, given Omiyale's failed experiment as a left guard last season and his brief run as a right tackle this season. But for reasons that haven't been fully comprehended, Omiyale held his own at left tackle after Williams' injury last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. So we'll give him a full night's work before we make any judgments about this arrangement.

The Packers, meanwhile, declared left tackle Chad Clifton (knee) probable for the game, as they did for left guard Daryn Colledge (knee). The NFL defines "probable" as a "virtual certainty" that the player will be available for a game, but whether the Packers decide to start Clifton or rookie Bryan Bulaga remains to be seen.

"Chad Clifton is our starting left tackle," coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday, "and if Chad is ready to go, he'll play there and our rotation will be the same as it's been. It's a medical decision. He's in the stage of his career that his particular knee situation is a little bit unpredictable, so we'll see how he is Monday."

There had been some concern that Colledge's injury would force the Packers' hand. He sat out practice Friday, forcing Bulaga to shift to left guard, but was back Saturday morning. McCarthy said: "I think he's going to be OK."

So, as we've been discussing all week, it will come down to whether the Packers prefer starting a veteran left tackle who is battling chronic knee soreness, or if they turn to a rookie first-round draft choice to make his first NFL start on Monday Night Football. Stay tuned.

Let's catch up on some injury developments around the NFC North:

• The Chicago Bears practiced without linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), left tackle Chris Williams (hamstring) and safety Major Wright (hamstring). Wright is expected to miss up to a month's worth of games. If Williams can't play Monday night against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears will start Frank Omiyale at left tackle and Kevin Shaffer at right tackle. Briggs is expected to play.
• The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, are expected to get middle linebacker DeAndre Levy back for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Levy (groin) has made it through two days of practice without incident. Guard Stephen Peterman (foot), receiver Nate Burleson (ankle) and linebacker Zack Follett (concussion) sat out practice.
• In Green Bay, left tackle Chad Clifton (knee) participated in a limited portion of practice. Coach Mike McCarthy said the team won't announce whether Clifton or rookie Bryan Bulaga will start Monday night, but said: "Chad Clifton is the starting tackle. If he is medically unable to go, then we'll see what happens."
• Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin returned to practice one day after suffering a migraine episode. Harvin has typically needed a week or more to recover, but he said: "I went home, got a good night's rest and I woke up energized and ready to work today." Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Chris Cook (knee) participated fully for the second consecutive practice and should be available to make his NFL debut Sunday.

After the Chicago Bears' 27-20 victory Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Chicago Bears take their turn in the examination room after beating Dallas.
1. Quarterback Jay Cutler hardly flinched at a sluggish start that suggested he might leave Dallas pelted with bruises. Anthony Spencer sacked him on his first dropback. DeMarcus Ware delivered a post-throw wallop on his second. Left tackle Chris Williams departed with a hamstring injury after the second series, and Cutler was hit seven times in the Bears' first three possessions. But Cutler hung in and produced what must be considered a signature game within the Mike Martz offense. He made big plays, finding tight end Greg Olsen for a 39-yard touchdown. He threw beautiful passes -- most notably a 59-yarder to Johnny Knox and a 9-yard touchdown to Devin Hester -- that only a handful of NFL quarterbacks could throw. Those passes more than compensated for the Bears' ungainly 1-for-15 conversion rate on third down. All in all, Cutler completed 77.8 percent of his passes, didn't commit a turnover and wasn't sacked after that first play. That'll get 'er done.
2. For the second consecutive week, the Bears handled an opposing offense with a limited number of blitzes. According to ESPN's Stats & Information, the Bears blitzed on only nine of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's 51 attempts. On 42 attempts against the Bears' four-man rush, Romo threw two interceptions and had a 71.7 passer rating. The Bears didn't have a sack, and they gave up 410 yards along with 23 receptions. But they created three turnovers and should be more than satisfied after holding the Cowboys to 20 points. This trend bodes well for the Bears' immediate defensive future. They blitzed 30 percent of the time in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, and 17.6 percent Sunday. If they can maintain those low numbers over time, allowing them to show a balanced front to opponents, it will give them a huge advantage.
3. As you might recall, I wasn't a big fan of the Bears' chest-beating after their 19-14 victory against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. But from what I can tell, they were much more humble in Sunday's victorious locker room. "It's one game," said middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Center Olin Kreutz said he was worried only about "being 2-0 and playing Green Bay next." As much fun as it can be for the media and fans, the good teams let their play speak for themselves. It appears the Bears made a sensible shift in that direction.

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

How in the world did Cutler and the Bears survive with Frank Omiyale (!) playing most of the game at left tackle? Omiyale was a bust as a left guard last season and hasn't exactly proved himself at right tackle this year. But when Williams was injured, the Bears eventually decided their best option was to move Omiyale over and insert Kevin Shaffer at right tackle. Credit goes across the board for making this work, starting with Omiyale and Shaffer. Martz adjusted his play-calling to include shorter dropbacks, and offensive line coach Mike Tice patched it together from there. I guess. I mean, really. If someone had told you last month that Frank Omiyale would play left tackle for the Bears in a victory at Dallas, what would you have said?

Based on offensive coordinator Mike Martz's weekly meeting with reporters, there is some good news and bad news happening with the Chicago Bears' offensive line. Because we're always wholesome and positive on this blog, we'll start with the good news.

Martz said he expects Roberto Garza to remain at left guard and Lance Louis to man the right guard position throughout the preseason and possibly beyond. That arrangement is preferable to me if the other option is to rotate a bunch of candidates at both positions over the next few weeks. The Bears have picked out their best two guards and will give them every opportunity to lock down their jobs while developing chemistry with their teammates throughout the next four weeks.

The plan could backfire if either Garza or Louis can't hold down the job and Martz is forced to make a last-minute change before the regular season begins. But based on the available options, I like the idea here.

Now, the bad news.

Martz said right tackle Frank Omiyale is "not where he needs to be," although he expressed confidence Omiyale would get there before the season starts. My response: He better. Right now, Omiyale's backup is rookie J'Marcus Webb. I would imagine Kevin Shaffer could slide back to right tackle if needed, but he's probably best suited as a multi-position backup at this point.

Omiyale struggled last season at left guard, and the assumption has been that he was a more natural right tackle. If not, Omiyale will qualify as one of the biggest free agent busts in recent NFC North history.

» NFC North Weaknesses: Bears (7/6) | Lions (7/7) | Packers (7/8) | Vikings (7/9)

The Bears’ O-line was a nightmare last season, but it did get better late in the year and there is reason for hope for an improved unit overall in 2010. But new offensive coordinator Mike Martz is known for putting a lot of stress on his big men.

Two moves that didn’t get enough publicity were the hiring of Mike Tice as the Bears’ offensive line coach and the signing of tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, who is as much offensive tackle as he is pass-catcher. Both of these acquisitions should help this weakness quite a bit.

The Bears found out at the end of last season that Chris Williams is better suited at left tackle rather than on the right side and that he was far better than Orlando Pace, who began the season protecting Jay Cutler's blind side. Williams could stand to get stronger and enhance his technique, but the latter will come with more playing time. Chicago has a lot riding on this former first-round selection, but he appears capable of holding down the left tackle spot for the foreseeable future. It also should be noted that Williams’ rookie season was of little value because of his back injury. So that has stunted his progress as well.

At center and right guard, Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza have done exactly what Chicago hopes to get from Williams at left tackle. They have been fixtures year after year. Both might be declining, but they are gritty and tough. For yet another season, the Bears should be fine at center and right guard, but these are not young players and Kreutz is recovering from offseason surgery to remove bone spurs.

The other two spots make me worry. Josh Beekman is the early favorite for the left guard spot and he should be adequate, while Frank Omiyale should start at right tackle. Omiyale should be OK. But with the stress that Martz’s play calling puts on his offensive line and pass protection as a whole, having two potential weak spots out of five could result in a lot of quarterback hits and pressures.

If this starting five holds up, Kevin Shaffer would be the first lineman off the bench, but he has been a liability. In the end, right tackle is probably the only spot that he can hold his own at, but even there, he isn’t what you want from the position. Ideally, the sixth lineman would be more versatile and overall, the depth up front isn’t very strong at all.

In the end, I see Chicago as a dark horse contender this season. The offensive line could be a liability -- as it was in 2009 -- but there is also promise here for improvement. Keep an eye on the Bears this year.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It appears the Chicago Bears' defense is continuing to outperform their offense during organized team activities. ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson's most recent OTA report notes a rash of interceptions and broken-up passes during a 7-on-7 red zone drill.

Dickerson also reports it was a "rough afternoon" for backup quarterback Caleb Hanie.

It's always difficult to keep score during non-contact practices, some of which coaches intentionally rig to favor one side. But frankly, the Bears' once-proud defense needed a confidence boost after last season. If some big plays during OTAs can boost spirits and unity this spring, the Bears will have taken an important step prior to the start of training camp.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• It appears the Bears have removed veteran Kevin Shaffer from the mix at left guard, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, and have left Lance Louis and Johan Asiata to battle for the position.
• Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald on Matt Forte's reaction to the acquisition of veteran Chester Taylor: "He is neither put off by the competition nor surprised that Taylor was brought in."
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Packers rookie safety Morgan Burnett: "Though he's still learning the Packers' version of the 3-4 defense, his instincts have already come through in his play. In all three of the OTA practices that have been open to the media, Burnett has made at least one big play."
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com provides the lowdown on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' burgeoning career as a media critic.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com on Detroit Lions backup quarterback Shaun Hill: "The only problem with Hill is that he's only got one year left on his contract so he'll likely be moving on in 2011. That means the Lions will be looking for another player just like him and that's going to be very difficult to find."
• The Lions are using a six-foot tire during OTAs. Find out why in this report from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon spoke with Minnesota Vikings rookies on Wednesday, according to Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com.
• Soccer is the first love of Vikings kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

Three of the four NFC North teams opened their organized team activities Wednesday. You've seen (and quite possibly skipped over) my reports from the Minnesota Vikings. Now let's catch up on the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers via media outlets that were in attendance.

Chicago Bears

Defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, a possible starter opposite Tommie Harris, revealed he lost more than 20 pounds during a recent week-long battle with tonsillitis. According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, Harrison was limited in Wednesday's practice.

"Before I got sick, the offseason was going great," Harrison said. "I just got to get back used to it. I've been out for a long time, so man, my body just has to get used to it. I lost a lot of weight and stuff, so I just have to get it back.

"I know [defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli] is going to pick it up and make sure I get back to where I need to be. I'm not really concerned about that. I want to get in there and do it. I need to get in there and do it. But coach Marinelli is going to have me ready."

Meanwhile, if you're keeping track of the Bears' search for a left guard: Dickerson reports the Bears were using Josh Beekman strictly at center. That means Kevin Shaffer, Lance Louis and Johan Asiata rotated at left guard.

Green Bay Packers

For those wondering how the Packers plan to stack their cornerback depth, especially considering the shift of Will Blackmon to safety, coach Mike McCarthy heaped effusive praise on second-year player Brandon Underwood.

"I think Brandon Underwood would definitely be a candidate for most improved player from year one to year two so far from what I've seen," McCarthy said. "I think he's really matured in the weight room. He looks very good right now. I know we're only practicing in shorts and helmets, but I think Brandon Underwood is off to an outstanding spring so far. I've been very pleased with what he has shown on film."

Other candidates to back up the initial starting duo of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams include Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush.

Veteran starter Al Harris, meanwhile, said he had shifted his knee rehabilitation from Florida to Green Bay. Harris wouldn't commit to a return date, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, but said his recovery is on schedule.

"I don't want to give any predictions or anything like that, but I'm going to do my part," Harris said. "So if it's up to me, and it's up to me working to get out there, then I'll be out there. But we've got to go with the protocol and do what's right for the team and what's right for me. I'm going to do my part as far as preparing and working to get better."

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

What NFC North assistant coach will make the biggest impact in 2010?

I started wondering about that question while reading about the career and death of longtime NFL assistant Bob Karmelowicz, who coached Detroit's defensive line last season and carried a well-deserved reputation for improving established players. A number of candidates come to mind, but I can't think of any who sits in the position of Chicago offensive line coach Mike Tice.

Tice has assumed responsibility for a group that admittedly underperformed in 2009 but will still return four of its starters. Center Olin Kreutz hopes that offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle will help him return to form. But for the most part, the Bears are counting on Tice to elevate this group based on technical adjustments and a new brand of motivation.

The arrival of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz has been heavily discussed. But for the Bears' offense to improve in 2010, Tice will have to find a way to make Frank Omiyale a productive player at right tackle. He'll have to develop a left guard, be it Josh Beekman or Lance Louis or even journeyman tackle Kevin Shaffer. And he'll have to do it in an offense that typically favors the passing game.

Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen remembered Karmelowicz as a coach who taught him how to use his natural abilities to play at an elite level. The Bears are hoping for a similar impact from Tice.

It’s all but official in Chicago: The Orlando Pace experiment is over.

Pace has returned to full health after rehabilitating a groin injury, but with three games left in a lost season, the Bears have no intention of reinserting him into the starting lineup. Instead, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears will leave second-year player Chris Williams at left tackle and veteran backup Kevin Shaffer at right tackle.

This makes perfect sense for a number of reasons, and give some credit to the Bears for not being blinded by the money they paid Pace during the offseason. Williams is their left tackle for the long term, and he needs to use these games to continue developing at the position. Pace, 34, had a sub-par year and isn’t likely to return next season.

For his work this year, Pace will receive about $6 million in compensation. It was an expensive gambit, but at least the Bears aren’t extending its life to save face.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner wasn’t surprised by comments attributed to receiver Devin Hester, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette profiles Packers coach Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native who will return home for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
• The Packers play a similar defense to the Steelers, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Minnesota linebacker Erin Henderson, suspended this week for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, says he did nothing wrong. But in an interview with Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Henderson doesn't totally spell out how it came to be that he tested positive and lost all appeals.
• In a sign of the current dysfunction in Minnesota stadium politics, the Vikings won’t be present and won’t endorse a new stadium design that will be proposed Thursday by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune explains.
• Detroit players know a roster turnover is coming, even if coach Jim Schwartz declined to start the process this week. Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Terry Foster of the Detroit News speaks with Theo Spight, who sings the Lions fight song during games at Ford Field.