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Another in a series of posts circling back on the 2012 season and some of our preseason themes:

A minor hubbub ignited last summer in the Minnesota Vikings' training camp when new defensive coordinator Alan Williams suggested that it might help to reduce the snaps of defensive end Jared Allen, who was the only defensive end in the NFL to play more than 1,000 snaps in 2011.

I was on board with the suggestion, as long as the Vikings could find a suitable No. 3 defensive end to credibly give both Allen and fellow starter Brian Robison more breathers. Allen told reporters that he wanted to maintain his regular pace, and in the end, he did. In fact, as the chart shows, he played at an almost identical rate in 2012 and once again had the highest playing time percentage of any defensive end in the league.

Playing through several injuries, including a torn labrum that required postseason surgery, Allen actually played more snaps (1,035) than he did in 2011. His percentage was down slightly, from 94.3 to 92.6, because the Vikings had more team defensive snaps.

The only noticeable change came in the uptick in playing time for backup Everson Griffen, due in part to a shoulder injury that cost Robison one game. Griffen played on more than half of the Vikings' snaps as either a tackle or end, and he actually played more frequently than starting nose tackle Letroy Guion.

As we noted Monday, the Vikings were in their nickel defense more than all but six NFL teams. But Griffen's late season emergence -- he had five sacks over the final five games, including the playoffs -- gives us pause as we look ahead to 2013.

Allen turns 31 in April and admittedly had more injuries last season than in any year of his career. Perhaps 2013 will be the year the Vikings get Allen under 1,000 snaps -- for his own good. Griffen's presence and production makes that a more reasonable task than ever before.

Let's get inside the NFC North's Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion) practiced Friday for the second consecutive day but is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, mostly because he must be cleared Saturday by an independent neurologist. Coach Lovie Smith has been optimistic all week about Cutler's chances to be cleared, so the guess is Cutler will start. Receiver Alshon Jeffery won't play because of a knee injury, and the only other player who might not be available is tight end Kellen Davis (ankle).

Green Bay Packers: The Packers ruled out linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), who did not practice at all this week, for Sunday night's game against the New York Giants. Linebacker Terrell Manning (shoulder), defensive back Charles Woodson (collarbone), cornerback Sam Shields (shin) are also out. Receiver Greg Jennings (hamstring) was elevated to questionable, but the guess is that he'll need one more week before returning to action. Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee), who is questionable, is the only other player who might not be available.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Percy Harvin tried to give it a go in practice Friday but his ankle is still sore. He is listed as doubtful and almost certainly won't play Sunday against the Bears. Guard Charlie Johnson (toe) returned to practice Friday and should be ready for the game. Nose tackle Letroy Guion (foot) is questionable.

Let's get inside the NFC North's Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand) returned to practice Friday but is doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Houston Texans. It is highly, highly unlikely that Jeffery will play but could be ready for next Monday night's game at the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (calf) is also doubtful. All other players will be available.

Detroit Lions: As expected, the Lions won't have safeties Louis Delmas (knee) and Amari Spievey (concussion) for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Nose tackle Corey Williams (knee) did not practice all week and is questionable. Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) practiced Friday and is listed as questionable but will play. Cornerback Chris Houston (illness) returned to practice Friday as well and is probable.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Percy Harvin (ankle) didn't practice Friday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. Coach Leslie Frazier wouldn't rule out the possibility of Harvin working out before the game to see if he can contribute, but that scenario remains unlikely. As we've been discussing for most of the week, it sure appears the Vikings will have to play without the NFL's leading receiver (62 receptions). Among other domino effects, Harvin's absence probably means rookie Jarius Wright will be active for the first time this season. Nose tackle Letroy Guion (toe) was also listed as doubtful.

The psycho babblers call it "inductive reasoning." I consider it a chance to write about ducks on a football blog. We'll call it the Duck Test, and here goes: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

Are the Minnesota Vikings the duck in our little analogy here? They have the record (4-1) of playoff contenders. They have a quarterback who has played with top-10 efficiency, thanks to some help from a receiver who is a legitimate MVP candidate. Their defense is tough against the run and hasn't been burned by the pass. Their special teams have directly impacted two victories and their schedule suggests the real possibility of seven victories by their Week 11 bye.

Our job is to determine at what point to apply the Duck Test. The Vikings are tied for the NFL's second-best record after five weeks. Are we ready to call them legitimate playoff contenders? Or do we need to see more from a team universally projected to finish last in the NFC North this season?

It's not an easy question to answer, and I'm not sure we'll get there in this post. Some of the team's most established veterans are pleasantly surprised by this start, after all, and everyone recognizes the perils of invoking deep truths in the second week of October.

"Looking at it in the offseason," defensive end Jared Allen said, "I couldn't have told you we were going to do this. I thought it was really going to be a year where each game was going to mean something. There were no expectations. I had no expectations. I mean, you always say you want to win the division and all that, but ... "

Indeed, preseason pessimism was based mostly on how many key positions were manned by unproven personnel. Entering the season, coach Leslie Frazier's career record was 6-16. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave had never been in charge of an NFL offense that ranked higher than No. 19 in points scored. Defensively, Alan Williams had just been hired for his first coordinator job.

Quarterback Christian Ponder had 10 career starts, and the Vikings were using rookies or first-time starters at seven positions: left tackle (Matt Kalil), right guard (Brandon Fusco), tight end (Kyle Rudolph), nose tackle (Letroy Guion), middle linebacker (Jasper Brinkley), free safety (Harrison Smith) and place-kicker (Blair Walsh).

Frazier, however, suggested that a full offseason of chemistry-building and scheme implementation smoothed over many of those rough edges. "I feel like we're about where we should be," he said.

Added Ponder: "We knew we had a good team going into this thing. I know everyone else is surprised that we're 4-1. What stinks is we should be 5-0. We had that close game against Indianapolis [a 23-20 loss in Week 2]. We've always had a good team."

Or, more precisely, the potential to be one. The big question is whether the Vikings are on a sustainable path. Is it possible for Ponder to continue completing 69 percent of his passes, while throwing an average of one interception per 79 attempts? Can Percy Harvin maintain his NFL-best average of 8.4 yards gained after each catch, via Pro Football Focus?

Do we think the run defense will keep limiting opponents to 3.2 yards per carry, tied for the second-best mark in the NFL? Can the pass defense knock away passes at its current rate of more than nine per game? And is Walsh good for 12 out of every 13 field goal attempts, along with an average of more than three touchbacks on kickoffs per game?

What you just read is a two-paragraph summation of why the Vikings are 4-1. And it fits neatly into what Frazier recently espoused as a sustainable vision for winning.

"I believe being able to play good defense, being able to stop the run and not give up big plays in the passing game, gives you a chance at being successful every week," he said. "If your special teams can do a great job in that area as well, where you can win that special-teams battle, along with being able to run the football, and not turn the ball over, and when you get people playing eight- or nine-man fronts, being able to have a quarterback who can execute in those situations, I think that's a winning formula. I've seen it as a player and I've always believed it as a coach as well.

"I know there are some teams who buck that a little bit by putting up a lot of points and a lot of yards. But I just think in the long term, to be good in our league for a long period, and that's what we're hoping to be able to do, not just a one-year wonder or two- or three-game wonder; we want to be a football team that's going to be good for a long period of time. You need to be able to play good defense and we're doing that right now. The results are, we're on the upside from a win-loss standpoint."

Based on those standards, my sense is the Vikings' offense is positioned for continued efficiency with Ponder, Harvin and tailback Adrian Peterson. It is fair, however, to question whether it can play effectively from behind.

There is no reason to think the Vikings can't sustain their run defense, long a hallmark of Frazier's defenses when he was the Vikings' coordinator. But will teams eventually find holes in their pass defense? That's a reasonable possibility when you realize there are two rookies -- Smith and cornerback Josh Robinson -- among their top-five players.

The most encouraging development for the Vikings is that they are playing better than they did at the start of the season, which began with a shaky overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and the loss to the Colts. Sunday's 30-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans was probably their most complete victory in three seasons.

That's when they first looked to me like ducks. Eventually, it won't matter how they're managing to look, swim and quack like them. Their record will say they're a duck and that's what they'll be. That point could be coming soon. I'm not ready to say they will make the playoffs, but we have at least seen evidence of how they could.

Getting inside our first Wednesday practice report of the 2012 regular season:

Chicago Bears: Linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee) was a full participant. It's likely he'll take one of the next two days off from practice. Punter Adam Podlesh (hip flexor) was a limited participant and has a chance to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Safety Chris Conte (shoulder) was a limited participant as well. Running back Lorenzo Booker (head) did not practice.

Green Bay Packers: Nose tackle B.J. Raji (ankle) participated in a limited portion of practice and doesn't appear at risk for missing Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Tight end Tom Crabtree (shoulder) and cornerback Davon House (shoulder) were limited. Running back James Starks (toe) was ruled out, but coach Mike McCarthy said he has started running during rehabilitation workouts.

Detroit Lions: As we discussed earlier, cornerback Chris Houston (ankle) and safety Louis Delmas (knee) were the only players who missed practice. Delmas has missed five weeks' worth of practice, and it's hard to imagine him being rushed back Sunday against the St. Louis Rams with only two days of on-field preparation. And that's assuming he returns Thursday.

Minnesota Vikings: Safety Mistral Raymond (back) practiced and was not listed on the injury report, so it appears he is on track to start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tight end John Carlson (knee) and nose tackle Letroy Guion (knee) were full participants. Tailback Adrian Peterson (knee) was listed as a limited participant. Receiver Jarius Wright (ankle), linebacker Marvin Mitchell (ankle) and safety Andrew Sendejo (ankle) did not practice.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've discussed this issue before, but this part of concussion prevention in the NFL continues to blow me away: Alternate helmet designs exist that are believed to provide better concussion protection, but not all players use them.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers switched in 2010 to the design, which among other things brings the ear flaps further around the jaw line. And as Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com points out, Packers receiver Greg Jennings has switched as well after a concussion cost him two weeks of training camp.

"It's kind of like an old-school car versus a 2013 model," Jennings said. "There's obviously upgrades and safety and things that are going to allow you a more comfortable, safe ride. Same as the helmet. But old-school ones, if you pull them out, they look great, but you don't drive them as often, because if something were to happen, you might be in trouble."

Each player has to decide what helmet is best for him. Jennings said the alternate design isn't comfortable for every player, discouraging some from wearing it. But when they are issued equipment when they sign with a team, I wonder how many players even realize they have a choice.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers didn't place offensive lineman Derek Sherrod on the reserve physically unable to perform (PUP) list, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, a sign they hope he will be ready to return to practice soon.
• It appears that starters will play little, or not at all, in the Packers' final preseason game Thursday night, notes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Injuries to Detroit Lions cornerbacks Chris Houston (ankle) and Bill Bentley (shoulder), along with running back Kevin Smith (shoulder), are not long-term issues, coach Jim Schwartz said via Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• The Lions' decision to place running back Jahvid Best on the PUP list means he will miss more than a full year of football before he can be cleared to begin practicing, notes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was able to participate in Monday's practice despite an injured left hand, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Minnesota Vikings allowed tailback Adrian Peterson to absorb some upper-body contact Monday at practice, notes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings put quarterback Christian Ponder through drills this week designed to ensure he steps up in the pocket, according to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings are expecting big things from nose tackle Letroy Guion, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Chicago Bears defensive tackle Stephen Paea will need another week away before his ankle sprain heals, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Bears might blitz more this season, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Biggs: "The Bears are driven to improve their pass rush and the first move to shore up that area was drafting [Shea] McClellin in the first round. But the pass rush from the front four through three exhibitions hasn't been consistent. If the defense can't get home with four, the next step could be a more aggressive approach to play-calling."

In which we look ahead to the remainder of Week 3 in the NFC North's preseason schedule:

Chicago Bears
Opponent: New York Giants
Location: MetLife Stadium
Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: After an intense week of discussion about linebacker Brian Urlacher's future, there is more reason than ever to scrutinize Nick Roach's play at middle linebacker. Whereas we once considered it a lock that Urlacher will be ready to start the season, there now seems at least a chance that Roach will open the year at middle linebacker. It's not his best position. … Punter Adam Podlesh has a hip flexor, so rookie Ryan Quigley will handle all of the punting duties Friday night. His performance will determine whether the Bears need to consider other options if Podlesh isn't ready to start the season. … The game will be televised nationally on CBS.
Focal point: What else, if not for the Bears' offensive line? The Giants aren't expected to play All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul because of back spasms, but they should still give the Bears' line its best test yet. The Bears would like to make a final decision on their starting left tackle, where J'Marcus Webb is trying to hold off Chris Williams, as well as at left guard. Chris Spencer and Chilo Rachal are competing for that job.

Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: San Diego Chargers
Location: Metrodome
Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Tailback Adrian Peterson won't play but will participate fully in pregame warmups, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. … Cornerback Chris Cook (concussion) and nose tackle Letroy Guion (knee) aren't expected to play. … The Vikings will continue to search for possibilities to replace receiver Jerome Simpson during his three-game suspension. Look for second-year player Stephen Burton, along with veterans Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromashodu, to all get long looks. … Rookie cornerback Josh Robinson has impressed the Vikings in training camp and could get a chance to work with the first team Friday night. … Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst will start for the Chargers, who don't want to risk starter Philip Rivers behind an injury-riddled offensive line. Tight end Antonio Gates will also sit out.
Focal point: This might be middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley's final chance to secure the starting job. The Vikings haven't been thrilled with his tentative preseason performances, coming after a hip injury cost him the 2011 season. Another poor outing could put the team on a search for replacements.

Detroit Lions
Opponent: Oakland Raiders
Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Day/Time: Saturday/7 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Tailback Mikel Leshoure is expected to make his NFL debut, nearly 17 months after he was drafted and nearly 20 months from his last live game. Leshoure last played for Illinois on Dec. 29, 2010. He missed last season because of a ruptured Achilles and a portion of training camp this summer because of a hamstring strain. The Lions want to get him some preseason work because he'll has been suspended for the first two weeks of the regular season. ... New special teams ace Kassim Osgood isn't expected to play. ... Rookie Kellen Moore's chances of making the team increased with the release of R.J. Archer, but he still must earn a roster spot even though he is one of only three quarterbacks on the roster. The Lions could keep only two on their final 53-man roster.
Focal point: It would be nice to see defensive tackle Nick Fairley have a signature, breakout game to reinforce projections that he will be a significant factor this season. But in reality, a game with impact would suffice.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

One potentially significant injury that has fallen under the radar, at least on this blog, is the hip flexor suffered Saturday night by Chicago Bears punter Adam Podlesh. The injury is to Podlesh's left (non-kicking) hip, but generally, any lower-body injury has the potential to throw off a punter's or place-kicker's effectiveness.

The injury has not been advertised as long-term, but special-teams coordinator Dave Toub said Tuesday that he is "very concerned" and revealed Podlesh is visiting specialists to "figure out what we need to do."

Undrafted rookie Ryan Quigley will punt Friday for the Bears against the New York Giants, but the Bears must decide after that point whether Podlesh will be ready for the regular season or if they need to make other plans. They were scheduled to work out free agent Matt Dodge on Tuesday and could monitor the waiver wire during final cuts as well.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher sought alternative treatment for his troublesome left knee this spring, according to Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears safety Chris Conte is dealing with a right shoulder separation but is expected to return in time for the regular season, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press explains what the "Iron Pimp" once meant to Minnesota Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson.
• Vikings nose tackle Letroy Guion isn't ready to return from a sprained knee, according to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings' punt return job is still wide open, according to the Star Tribune.
• The Green Bay Packers are in no rush to settle their rotation in the defensive secondary, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "[I]s Cedric Benson a good guy, a good teammate? Those who coached for and played with Benson insist he is. Benson says he is. But he's also a soft-spoken, sincere individual. Benson dismisses the clichéd punk-to-pro narrative, that he evolved from self-entitled to selfless. Benson believes he has always been himself. The Packers will soon discover where this takes them."
• Packers running back Alex Green is hitting all of his markers in recovering from a knee injury, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Detroit Lions safety Erik Coleman is happy to be healthy and playing this summer, writes Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com lists five Lions players who need to step up now that training camp is over, beginning with rookie quarterback Kellen Moore.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press profiles Lions fullback James Bryant, a former professional boxer. Bryant once wore a Hannibal Lecter mask during a weigh-in for fun.

Reviewing Friday's action at Candlestick Park:

San Francisco 49ers 17, Minnesota Vikings 6

Preseason record: 0-1
Of interest: Quarterback Christian Ponder had a solid preseason debut, completing a 52-yard deep post to receiver Stephen Burton -- who started for an inactive Percy Harvin -- and moving the team in position for two field goals. Ponder completed 4-of-9 passes overall, but two clearly qualified as drops by Burton and receiver Jerome Simpson. His chemistry with tight end Kyle Rudolph was clear. … The defense played without defensive end Jared Allen, defensive tackle Kevin Williams and cornerback Antoine Winfield, all of whom were healthy scratches, and was gashed in the running game, giving up nearly 200 yards in the first half alone. Brandon Jacobs hit them for a 23-yard gain, Rock Cartwright had a 19-yarder and backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran 78 yards for a touchdown. Safety Mistral Raymond took a poor angle on Jacobs' run, and cornerback Chris Cook couldn't tackle Kaepernick near the end of his run. … Rookie placekicker Blair Walsh drilled attempts from 39 and 26 yards and also had two touchbacks. … Nose tackle Letroy Guion suffered a knee injury that likely will sideline him for a few weeks. … The scattered performance of backup quarterback Joe Webb was concerning. The Vikings have limited him to quarterback this summer, electing against using him at other positions, but thus far he appears to have taken a step back if anything.

Local coverage: The Vikings need to elevate rookie safety Harrison Smith to the first team, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. … Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The Vikings left Webb in for nearly half the game, likely hoping he'd end on a high note. But his last two possessions ended in incompletions on third down." … Ponder, via Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune: "I thought it was a pretty good start. Obviously we’d rather come out with touchdowns rather than two field goals. But I thought we moved the ball pretty well against a good defense. A lot of positives. It also gives us a lot of film to look at come Sunday." … It's possible that tailback Adrian Peterson could be activated to the roster as early as Sunday, notes Pelissero.

Up next: Friday, Aug. 17 against the Buffalo Bills

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- If the nose tackle and middle linebacker represent the gut of a defense, then it's safe to say the Minnesota Vikings have signed themselves up for plastic surgery this season.

(Too much? I liked it. Come on. Lighten up.)

The takeaway from my time with Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on Wednesday morning was that he will have a new starting nose tackle in 2012 and is close to deciding on his next middle linebacker. Fifth-year player Letroy Guion will replace the released Remi Ayodele at nose tackle, while Frazier indicated that Jasper Brinkley is his top choice to start at middle linebacker.

Both players are longtime backups and draft choices of newly promoted general manager Rick Spielman, and their anticipated ascension is a reasonable illustration of how Spielman hopes to run the franchise.

Guion was a fifth-round pick in 2008 and has started three games over four seasons since then. His newly-prominent role became clear when the Vikings signed him to a three-year contract earlier this month that will pay him $2.5 million. Ayodele was subsequently released.

"We want him to be the starting nose tackle," Frazier said.

Brinkley, meanwhile, was a fifth-round pick a year after the Vikings selected Guion. He was the backup to starter E.J. Henderson in 2009 and 2010, starting six games after Henderson's broken leg in 2009, but missed all of 2011 because of a hip injury.

"We believe he is healthy now," Frazier said. "And he has started for us when E.J. was injured in the past. We think he is capable of doing it. We just haven't had him do it for 16 weeks. But we think he's about ready to take that role. We'll determine that in the weeks and months to come."

Doctors have cleared Brinkley for all football activities, and if there was any hesitation in Frazier's response, it should be attributed to the universal NFL caveat at this time of year. The Vikings have 10 draft picks, including seven of the top 138, and a starting-caliber middle linebacker could be a target.

Absent that event, however, the chances seem high that Brinkley will team with Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway to form the Vikings' 2012 trio of linebackers. During that 2009 stretch, Brinkley proved to be a physical run-stopper who is most likely not going to be on the field in nickel situations.

Again, everything could change after the draft. But regardless of the ingredients, it seems likely the Vikings will have a new defensive gut in 2012.

As usual, I don't know if I'm done for the day or if we're just starting. But for now, let's run through some NFC North tidbits from the second day of NFL free agency.

Item: Minnesota Vikings tight end John Carlson said the surgically-repaired torn labrum in his left shoulder has healed, and that a scary concussion he suffered in the 2010 playoffs "looked worse than it was."
Comment: There is no doubt Carlson is an above-average pass-catcher as a tight end. You hate to commit significant money to a player who has suffered two significant injuries in the past year, but the Vikings' medical staff gave him full clearance to resume all football activities after a physical Wednesday.

Item: Vikings general manager Rick Spielman asked for patience from rabid fans who wanted their team more involved in the opening round of free agency.
Comment: I agreed with the way Spielman put it in a conference call Wednesday. Spielman: "I don't think we're a player or two way to go out and spend the money that's being spent on all the players who got the contracts early. I think what we're trying to do is find players who can help us win ball games and be able to continue to build with the draft and keep our roster intact."

Item: The Chicago Bears hosted running back Michael Bush on a visit Wednesday.
Comment: Bush has always been a good backup for the Oakland Raiders, and he doesn't have the mileage that current backup Marion Barber has on him. It's probably safe to assume that Barber won't be with the Bears in 2012.

Item: The three-year contract the Vikings gave defensive tackle Letroy Guion is worth $9 million and includes $2.5 million in guarantees, according to Adam Caplan.
Comment: That's not an insignificant amount of money. I can only assume the Vikings plan for Guion to have an expanded role in 2012.

Item: The numbers are in on former Detroit Lions cornerback Eric Wright's contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal is worth $37.5 million over five years, including $15.5 million in guarantees.
Comment: I don't blame the Lions one bit for passing on Wright if that was going to be the price tag.

Item: The Vikings' stadium bill got its first committee hearing Wednesday at the Minnesota State legislature, but questions about the project prevented a vote.
Comment: The bill has been held for further discussion, which is better than outright rejection, right?

While we have a moment, let's post another edition of, uh, quick-hitting Quick Hits. I'm not sure if this will be our last post of the evening, but it will catch us up on some secondary news items that arose during the initial frenzy of the NFL's 2012 free agent and trade period.

Item: Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis is visiting the Dallas Cowboys, according to Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network.
Comment: Bears coach Lovie Smith has spoken highly of Davis, and it's been assumed he would return. But there was no deal when the free-agent period began, so it was off to the races.

Item: Brad Biggs' analysis of receiver Brandon Marshall's contract for the Chicago Tribune suggests there is no guaranteed money remaining in the deal.
Comment: That gives the Bears exceptional flexibility given Marshall's checkered history off-the-field.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with reserve defensive tackle Letroy Guion, accoring to Tim Yotter of Scout.com.
Comment: Who says the Vikings weren't doing anything Tuesday? The deal suggests the Vikings might give Guion an opportunity to compete with starting nose tackle Remi Ayodele, who had a disappointing first season with the Vikings in 2011.

Item: Detroit Lions cornerback Eric Wright has received interest from the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Comment: The Lions shaved more than $15 million in cap space just to comply with the NFL's cap limit of $120.6 million. I'm not sure if they have the space to complete a significant contract with Wright if a market develops around him.

Item: The Lions have a visit set for Friday with free agent offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Comment: Schwartz was a full-time starter for the Carolina Panthers in 2010, but a hip injury forced him to miss 2011. Regardless, he wouldn't be in line for a big contract given the Lions' cap situation.

Item: Already flush with about $25 million in cap space, the Vikings have deferred the $1.6 million in extra space the NFL disseminated after taking it from the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, according to Schefter.
Comment: The Vikings will get that $1.6 million credit in 2013. The Lions, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers all took it this year.

Item: Former Packers quarterback Matt Flynn has been contacted by the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, according to Omar Kelly of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.
Comment: From this point, the Flynn story matters to us only in the sense that his contract value will impact the compensatory draft pick the Packers receive for his departure.

Item: Lions quarterback Drew Stanton has drawn interest from the New York Jets, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
Comment: It would make sense for Stanton to seek opportunities to be a No. 2 quarterback, given he is likely to be the Lions' No. 3 quarterback if he returns.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

How will the Green Bay Packers split carries between what amounts to their co-starting running backs? As equally as possible, according to Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Here's what running backs coach Jerry Fontenot said: "They're both going to take pretty much all situations in the game. Evenly dispersed? I can't guarantee it. But I'm certainly going try to get each one of those guys an equal amount of opportunities to carry the football, to hold onto the football and to control the clock for us."

Obviously, the Packers aren't going to telegraph their game plan a few days before Thursday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. The truth is that Ryan Grant carried more in the preseason as the Packers tried to gauge his return from season-ending ankle surgery. But coach Mike McCarthy is clearly enamored with second-year back James Starks. I think the Packers will look for every opportunity to get Starks involved as often as possible, whether or not he is in the game on the first play as an official starter.

Continuing around the NFC North on back-to-school day for many of you:

• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "When Aaron Rodgers opens his garage door every morning, he sees a Ferrari and a Lamborghini; a Corvette and a Mustang; a BMW and a Porsche. His garage is his playbook. His Ferrari is Greg Jennings, and his Lamborghini is Jermichael Finley; his Corvette is Donald Driver, and his Mustang is James Jones; his BMW is Jordy Nelson, and his Porsche is Randall Cobb. His biggest problem is deciding which key chain to grab. It's the NFL's version of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.'"
• Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji isn't lobbying for a reprise role as a fullback, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Kudos to Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz for not obsessing over 87-degree weather forecasted for the team's season opener in Tampa Bay. Asked if he would try to simulate the heat by cranking the temperature in the team's indoor practice facility, Schwartz said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "That's foolishness. We don't pipe in crowd noise, and we don't open up the doors and make it cold, and we don't try to smoke the team out. It's just a bunch of foolishness."
• Schwartz told Lions players they have a chance to be the best team he has ever been involved with, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• New Lions running back Keiland Williams has some similarities with injured rookie Mikel Leshoure, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Running back Marion Barber (calf) is the main injury concern for the Chicago Bears this week, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears teammates aren't worried about the commitment of linebacker Lance Briggs, who has asked to be traded. Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune profiles Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Letroy Guion, the likely replacement for suspended defensive tackle Kevin Williams.
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks back at Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson's record of 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers in 2007. The Vikings open this season against the Chargers on Sunday.
• The Vikings re-signed tight end Allen Reisner to their practice squad, notes 1500ESPN.com.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams fought for 2 1/2 years to reverse an NFL suspension he considered unjust and his attorneys said was illegal. His endurance pushed the final discipline into a new and more nuanced era of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, but it ultimately cost Williams more money than if he had accepted the original (and longer) discipline.

So goes the upshot of Williams' two-game suspension to start the 2011 season, announced Friday by the league after Williams declined to continue pursuing his legal challenge. He was also fined an additional two game checks and will lose a total of $1.41 million as a result.

He will be eligible to return for the Vikings' Sept. 25 game against the Detroit Lions.

As you recall, Kevin Williams and former teammate Pat Williams were originally suspended four games during the 2008 season after they tested positive for a banned diuretic known as bumetanide. Both players insisted they ingested it unknowingly while using the now-defunct StarCaps diet supplement, but at the time, the league handed out the same discipline for diuretics -- which can be used as masking agents -- as it did for performance-enhancing drugs themselves.

The NFL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) calls for a two-tier discipline system that calls for two-game suspensions in cases of positive diuretic tests, accounting for the reduced duration of Williams' suspension. Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press first reported that change.

Presumably to make up for that reduction, the NFL tacked on the additional fine to bring Williams' total discipline equivalent to 4/17ths of his 2011 base salary. (League payroll is based on a 17-week season, including the bye.)

Had Williams served the four-game suspension in 2008 or 2009, when his base salary was $1 million, he would have lost $235,294. In 2010, when his base salary was $2.274 million, Williams would have lost $535,058.

The Vikings, of course, will benefit from the extra games even if Williams is playing them essentially for free. And, frankly, Williams could probably use the additional two weeks off to rest the plantar fasciitis condition that emerged this summer in his left foot. Letroy Guion figures as the Vikings' likely replacement starter. Rookie defensive tackle Christian Ballard had an impressive training camp and could see some time as well.

In the end, Williams essentially will have paid more than $1 million, plus legal fees, to get back two games of eligibility. I suppose you can partially credit him (and the NFL Players Association) for creating a better discipline system, but it came at a high personal price.