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As we continue to look back on our preseason NFC North themes, let's examine how one of our most vigorous discussions turned out.

The Bears denied initial concerns that tight end Greg Olsen would be minimized in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme, which had traditionally used tight ends more as an extra lineman than a receiver. As we noted many times, no tight end had caught more than 38 passes or scored more than six touchdowns in a season under Martz. Similar numbers in 2010 would have qualified as poor use of resources, and I suggested that Martz would find a way to get Olsen more involved than that.

In the end, Olsen exceeded that high mark by three receptions. On the other hand, Olsen's 41 catches were his lowest total since his rookie season. He scored five touchdowns, one off the high in a Martz offense and tied for the second-most in his career. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Olsen was targeted for 67 passes, tied for the 16th-most among NFL tight ends.

Keep in mind that Martz pulled back significantly on the passing game at midseason, and Bears quarterbacks combined for a total of 466 attempts. For context, consider that in his final full season with Martz in St. Louis, Kurt Warner threw 546 passes. Marc Bulger threw 532 passes in 15 games in 2003, and Jon Kitna threw 596 and 561, respectively, while with the Detroit Lions in 2006 and 2007.

In the end, Olsen wasn't as productive as he had been in previous seasons. But given the system foisted on him, and the midseason adjustments made beyond that, I would consider a 41-catch season a success. You?

We're Black and Blue All Over:

I suggest we all cut, paste and remember this quote from Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who has spent most of this offseason lavishing sweet nothings on offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Courtesy Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com:

"He makes you want to come to work every day. He's so creative, he's doing fun stuff. He's finding ways to win. That's all you can ask for as a player, to have a coach that loves football and is going to do everything possible to be successful. I think that's what the great coaches are able to do and what Mike's done in the past."

Based on what we've seen of Cutler's personality, I'm going to take a leap and suggest he's not the type to fake such rosy assessments. So I think it's fair to say that as the Bears concluded organized team activities this week, Cutler was sold on Martz's system. Will it remain that way throughout the season? The answer to that question will be a key to the Bears' 2010 season.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• New Bears safety Chris Harris has been a spectator for a number of OTAs but said his health is not an issue, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Hmmmmm.
• The Bears closed OTAs a confident group, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears center Olin Kreutz, who had ankle surgery over the winter, finally got back to practice this week, according to Dickerson.
• The Bears lost one possibility for a veteran backup quarterback Wednesday when Marc Bulger signed with the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• Detroit Lions players raved about rookie running back Jahvid Best on the first day of mandatory minicamp, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The Lions are inching injured running back Kevin Smith back into football activities, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Lions safety Louis Delmas isn't participating in minicamp because of a minor injury, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, who missed last year's rookie symposium because of an illness, will not be required to attend this year. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune has more.
• There was another Williams Wall ruling Wednesday that continued to suggest no end in sight to the legal proceedings. Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune reports it is almost inevitable that Minnesota Vikings tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams will be eligible to play all 16 games this season.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson had an impressive offseason, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum discusses the team's punting competition and other issues in a media Q&A published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There should no longer be any doubt about the Chicago Bears' desire for a veteran backup quarterback. Retired NFL quarterback Trent Green, who last played in 2008, confirmed a report Thursday that the Bears approached him to gauge his interest in the job.

Green, who turns 40 in July, told ESPN 1000 in Chicago that there is no possibility he will sign with the Bears. He admitted he "chewed on it for a couple weeks" but ultimately decided to keep his family rooted in Kansas City.

Green played for Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz when the two were with St. Louis. It's been widely assumed that Martz would prefer a backup who is familiar with his scheme. Currently, Caleb Hanie and rookie Dan LeFevour are the backups to starter Jay Cutler.

We've discussed Marc Bulger and Josh McCown as likely candidates if the Bears move in that direction. Both are free agents and played for Martz at some point during their careers. I guess stranger things have happened, but it's probably a safe bet to assume the Bears will bring in at least one more quarterback at some point this summer.

In the midst of rehabilitating torn anterior cruciate ligaments, two key Detroit players made appearances Thursday at an organized team activity. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew and tailback Kevin Smith only participated in individual drills, but both expressed confidence they will be fully recovered by the start of the season -- if not when training camp begins in late July.

According to Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News, Smith was asked if he would be ready in time for camp. His response: "Is my name Kevin Smith? There's your answer."

Smith certainly has motivation to accelerate his recovery after the Lions drafted tailback Jahvid Best in the first round last month. The Lions also have added reinforcements to Pettigrew's position by trading for tight end Tony Scheffler.

I'm not sure what Smith's future with the team will be, but Pettigrew will resume his role as a central building block whenever he returns.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• New Lions receiver Nate Burleson believes the Lions can compete with any team in the division, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• An NFL spokesman wouldn't address whether the league would consider staggering potential four-game suspensions for Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, according to Tom Pelissero of ESPN1500.com. Such a move would generate considerable angst.
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Pat Williams and Kevin Williams deserve four-game suspensions if for no other reason than being naïve enough to think they could out-litigate the NFL."
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune takes a look at the four opponents the Vikings might have to face without the Williams Wall.
• Chicago might end up keeping four tight ends on its active roster, writes Michael Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune: "If the Bears can convince Marc Bulger to sign a one-year deal on the cheap, having a veteran backup quarterback is a grand idea. Otherwise, going to camp with Caleb Hanie, Brett Basanez and Dan LeFevour may be their best option."
• Dave Heller of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks with rookie Green Bay receiver Shawn Gore, a native of Canada who signed after a tryout during rookie minicamp.

Free agent quarterback Josh McCown's name has been circulating as one of a handful of candidates for Chicago to sign if offensive coordinator Mike Martz is serious about his desire for a veteran backup, as it appeared Sunday during rookie minicamp. (Another name is former St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger, who like McCown has a history with Martz.)

McCown told ESPNChicago.com that he would feel "comfortable" coming to Chicago and backing up starter Jay Cutler.

McCown: "I understand right now there's not anybody beating down my door to be a starter. So understanding that, where do you go to be in a great situation where you are a backup? For me, in Mike Martz's offense and where I'm at in my career, I feel comfortable with [coming to Chicago]. The fact that Jay is there doesn't affect me at all, and probably gets me more excited because you get to work with a guy that talented, and hopefully help the coaches get the best out of him."

Generally I consider backup quarterback one of the top positions on a team. But it's probably a rung below in Chicago, which has a rock-solid starter in Cutler who hasn't missed a start in three years as a full-time NFL player.

My sense is that NFL teams aren't beating down McCown's door, and therefore the only urgency the Bears have to act is if they want him involved in early spring practices. You wonder if Martz will wait until after the Bears' full veteran minicamp (May 21-23) before making any final determinations.

We've discussed the possibility of Chicago adding a veteran backup quarterback behind Jay Cutler and floated the name of free agent Marc Bulger, who has extensive experience playing under new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports the Bears are likely also to have interest in veteran Josh McCown, who spent last season on injured reserve with Carolina.

(Not to be confused with Cade McNown, of course.)

McCown worked under Martz in 2006 when both were with Detroit. He didn't throw a pass that season, however, after Jon Kitna won the starting job. His primary attribute would be experience, something current backup Caleb Hanie can't boast of.

Continuing around the NFC North with the NFL's 2010 schedule announcement about 12 hours away:

• Is Minnesota tempted to draft Florida quarterback Tim Tebow? Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune considers the possibilities.
• The NFL and the University of Connecticut have partnered with the widow of former Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer to open the Korey Stringer Institute at UConn's Neag School of Education, according to Barry Wilner of The Associated Press.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "[I]t's safe to say [Clay] Matthews made perhaps the biggest immediate impact of any Packers' first-round draft pick in the last two decades."
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Projecting players to a new position long has been the bane of National Football League personnel people, but for those employed by the 14 teams using the 3-4 defense it has become a way of life."
• That task is easier for Texas' Sergio Kindle, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com, as Kindle played both defensive end and linebacker in college.
• Speaking to fans chanting for Detroit to draft Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said: "There are a lot of different ways we can go, but you won't be disappointed." Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has more.
• Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham appears to have supreme confidence in second-year player Zack Follett as a potential replacement for the traded Ernie Sims, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions claimed guard Trevor Canfield off waivers Monday, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.

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

Several important clues have appeared to help us discern the top of the NFL draft. As the smoke clears, can there be any way that Detroit won't end up with Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh?

Draft intentions are difficult to interpret, especially those of tight-lipped Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. But as much as these things can be predicted, a Suh-Lions marriage seems awfully likely.

Although this scenario has been the likeliest for some time, several variables no longer exist.

First, St. Louis released starting quarterback Marc Bulger on Monday. The move was the strongest indication yet that the Rams will draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford -- and not Suh -- with the No. 1 overall pick.

Second, Washington acquired quarterback Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia for two draft picks, including its second-round pick this year. With their quarterback position filled, and a critical draft position shipped out, it's hard to imagine the Redskins as a major trade-up contender for the Lions' No. 2 overall pick.

Before the McNabb deal, there was some thought the Redskins might have enough interest in Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen to swing a deal. That seems unlikely now, dramatically lessening the possibility of a Clausen-generated bidding war at No. 2.

Third, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove signed his restricted free-agent tender with New Orleans. The Lions had hosted Hargrove for a visit and might have considered another position at No. 2 had they acquired him through an offer sheet.

Now, the only obstacle to figuring out the Lions is knowing whether their talent evaluators agree that Suh is a better prospect than Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy. That evaluation is far from a certainty. From a media analyst's perspective, at least, opinions are mixed. ESPN's Mel Kiper has Suh ranked ahead of McCoy, while Scouts Inc. lists them in reverse order. McCoy also heads the list over at NFL.com, where Mike Mayock is the primary draft analyst.

Speaking last month at the NFL owners meetings, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said there is not as much difference between the two players "as people think" and that they were asked to play different styles at their respective schools.

"They're very similar in their skill set," Schwartz said. "If you took Suh to Oklahoma and you took McCoy to Nebraska, I think they'd both excel in the other person's defense. When you're drafting at the top of the draft, you're looking for guys who aren't just a creation of the scheme and you're looking for guys who have multidimensional skills that can do a lot of different things. Both guys are big, they're fast, have high character and both are productive at a high level of competition. There's a lot to like with both of them."

We've discussed the possibility of the Lions drafting Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung for financial reasons. But if you trust the team's pledge to take the best available player with each pick, regardless of position, you can narrow the choices down to Suh and McCoy. And although it's impossible to know with certainty what the Lions are thinking, Suh at No. 2 seems more likely than ever with the draft 17 days away.

I had an unavoidable conflict Monday but am back and ready for a full day of blogging and chatting Tuesday. Thanks for your understanding.

We discussed a potential union of Chicago and quarterback Marc Bulger last week when noting Bears coach Lovie Smith's -- or offensive coordinator Mike Martz's -- preference for a veteran backup quarterback. The next step toward that possibility occurred Monday when St. Louis released Bulger.

Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune considers Bulger an ideal candidate to be the Bears' backup but wonders if he would accept such a secondary role:

Bulger likely will have better opportunities elsewhere. It's even possible a team like the Raiders, Panthers or Bills will give him a chance to compete for a starting job. But it does make sense for the Bears to at least place a phone call to Bulger's agent Tom Condon.

Bulger played for Martz in St. Louis, but ultimately the Bears can't offer him much in the way of playing time with starter Jay Cutler in place. For that reason, Bulger might be more interested in Arizona or Pittsburgh, reports Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Green Bay center/guard Jason Spitz, a restricted free agent, signed his tender Monday and will report to the Packers' offseason program Tuesday. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Minnesota quarterback Sage Rosenfels said he has been given no indication that his future with the Vikings has changed, writes Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Said Rosenfels: "I haven't had one conversation with anybody in that building about what will happen."
• New Detroit left guard Rob Sims will be the 15th player to start alongside left tackle Jeff Backus over the past nine years, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• After giving up a fifth-round pick in the Sims trade, it's hard to imagine the Lions giving up another pick for defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, who signed his offer sheet with New Orleans on Monday.

Chicago coach Lovie Smith made news last week discussing the configuration of both lines as well as the future contribution of receiver Devin Hester. But while speaking to reporters at the NFC owners meeting, Smith also made a personnel revelation that is likely connected to his new offensive coordinator: The Bears have discussed adding a veteran backup quarterback after using untested Caleb Hanie in that role last season.

New coordinator Mike Martz runs a complicated offensive system that can take a while to learn. For that reason, Martz has occasionally in his career shown a preference for players he's previously coached. (See J.T. O'Sullivan).

So while no deal appears imminent, Smith sounded more than open to the possibility last week.

"It's something we discussed," Smith said. "Last year was the first year we went with two quarterbacks. It wouldn't be a bad thing if we end up with a veteran this year. That has nothing to do with Caleb Hanie. We think he is a heck of a quarterback. But when you go with two quarterbacks, it is a little scary each week.

"Whenever you can add another veteran to the group, especially a veteran quarterback because they are kind of like a second coach knowing the offense, that can be a good thing. Just having another voice to mentor all the situations is a good thing."

If you follow the trail of former Martz quarterbacks, you realize that Ryan Fitzpatrick could shake loose from Buffalo. Another intriguing possibility: St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger, whose career with the Rams could end if they draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford No. 1 overall next month.

I'm not sure how serious a possibility this is, and nothing that happens will change the fact that Jay Cutler is the starter. But it's worth keeping an eye on.

I imagine some Detroit fans who watched last Saturday’s Big 12 championship game wondered whether Ndamukong Suh could possibly fall to the Lions in the 2010 draft.

That’s right. The Lions would have the No. 4 overall pick if the season ended today. But after Suh’s dominating performance against Texas -- 4.5 sacks among his 12 tackles -- he is atop the boards of many draft prognosticators. It’s absurd to start projecting picks in December, but Suh is as much of a consensus No. 1 as you can have at this point.

Assuming they don’t have the No. 1 pick, could Suh still be available when the Lions do pick? Here’s what ESPN analyst Mel Kiper wrote this week about his December draft board:

"It'll be hard to drop Suh. His tape is stunningly strong evidence. That said, many players will rise and fall as the senior all-star games -- that'll be the first chance for many pro scouts to see guys like Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow under center -- bowl season, the combine, and pro days take place. Again, this isn't yet about draft position. That changes everything, because of need. This is a raw ranking of the top NFL prospects, with juniors not in the mix unless they are in the top 15 or 20."

Indeed, at this early date, the best the Lions can hope is that the teams above want to draft a franchise quarterback. That would elevate at least one player -- McCoy, Tebow, Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, Washington’s Jake Locker or Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford -- ahead of Suh.

You might blanch at the thought that one of those quarterbacks could be a No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick. But when it comes to quarterbacks, normal draft rules and practices are cast aside.

Below are the teams with the eight worst records in the NFL. Much is left to be decided, but I think it represents a good working list of the teams that will be around the Lions’ draft position this April.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11)
2. St. Louis Rams (1-11)
3. Cleveland Browns (1-11)
4. Detroit Lions (2-10)
5. Washington Redskins (3-9)
6. Kansas City Chiefs (3-9)
7. Oakland Raiders (4-8)
8. Buffalo Bills (4-8)

In addition to the Lions, I see two teams in that group that almost certainly won’t look to draft a quarterback high in the first round: Tampa Bay and Kansas City. The Browns have former first-rounder Brady Quinn on their roster, but uncertainty in their front office makes them hard to predict. The same goes for Washington, which seemingly is set with Jason Campbell.

This might be the best December scenario for the Lions to draft Suh: Getting the No. 2 overall pick behind St. Louis. The Rams could certainly use Suh, but Marc Bulger’s injury problems and their own home attendance woes might motivate them to consider a quarterback at No. 1 overall.

This is all funny talk until the draft season really begins with next month’s all-star games. But we’re allowed some fun, right?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

I’m starting to get regular requests from readers for Dirty Laundry. That’s a good thing, and I’ll do my best to expand this post as best I can. Please understand, however, that I probably won’t be able to get to every questionable/interesting call.

We’ll take a look at two calls this week, one of which is unfortunate while the other is a bit perplexing.

On the former: Some Detroit fans were upset with referee Ron Winter’s decision to penalize linebacker Julian Peterson for roughing the passer on a third down incompletion during the first quarter of last Sunday’s 17-10 loss to St. Louis.

As you might recall, the Rams were facing 3rd-and-9 at the Lions’ 27-yard line with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter. Peterson lined up as the Lions’ right defensive end and beat Rams left tackle Alex Barron around the corner. Just as quarterback Marc Bulger released the ball, Peterson reached out and hit Bugler on the top of the helmet with his right hand.

The hit wasn’t violent, but it was hard enough that Bulger’s head moved slightly. His pass fell incomplete, which would have forced placekicker Josh Brown to attempt a 46-yard field goal. But Winter immediately whistled Peterson for roughing the passer, giving the Rams a first down. Ultimately, Brown converted an easier 41-yard field goal.

Unfortunately, Peterson was just out of luck on this call. The NFL rule book warns that “referees will be particularly alert to fouls in which defenders impermissibly … use hands, arms, or other parts of the body to hit the passer in the head, neck or face.”

Peterson intended no malice but, as we discussed last month when the Lions fell victim to another weak roughing penalty, the NFL long ago decided to protect quarterbacks at all costs. Even Lions coach Jim Schwartz couldn’t argue.

“He hit him in the head,” Schwartz said. “It was a glancing blow but the rule book states you can’t hit the quarterback in the head. … That’s the definition of the rule. It’s hard on defensive players. If you go low on the quarterback you’re going to get a penalty. We had one of those a couple of weeks ago. If you go high and you hit him in the head you get a penalty. If you try to hit him in the belly and he ducks his head and you hit him in the head, it’s a penalty. It’s difficult for those guys. They just have to go play and they need to let the officials officiate. We just need to play. You hit the quarterback in the head, it’s going to be a penalty. They’re going to throw it.”

On the latter call: I received a question during Tuesday’s SportsNation chat about Minnesota’s botched snap in the first quarter of last Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. (I didn’t address it because I wasn’t sure of the answer.) Specifically, the issue was whether Vikings quarterback Brett Favre should have been called for illegal motion because he was walking toward the line of scrimmage when center John Sullivan snapped the ball.

The NFL rulebook is pretty explicit on this issue. It reads, in part: “No player is ever permitted to be moving obliquely or directly forward toward his opponent’s goal line at the snap.”

There are no exceptions, from what I can gather. Technically, then, Tony Corrente’s crew should have called Favre for illegal motion.

We should make clear that this is nearly a moot point. Had illegal motion been called, the Packers would have declined because they recovered the ball at the Vikings’ 21-yard line. Had the Vikings recovered, the lost yardage probably would have been more than the 5 yards docked for illegal motion anyway.

Finally, here is our updated Challenge Tracker:

NFC North Challenge Tracker Team Coach Challenge Overturned Success rate Chicago Lovie Smith 7 2 28.6 Detroit Jim Schwartz 2 0 0.0 Green Bay Mike McCarthy 4 1 25.0 Minnesota Brad Childress 5 2 40.0 Source: NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

NEW ORLEANS -- Greetings from the Big Easy. Just watched a story on the local news about the importance of "Monday Night Football" to the New Orleans economy, and it's true: Everywhere you went Sunday night, most of the people were wearing Green Bay Packers jerseys.

Yes, it's a big one for both teams Monday night at the Superdome. The Packers, for one, need a victory just to keep up in the NFC North race after Chicago and Minnesota both won Sunday.

To do so, the Packers will need to make some adjustments in the noisy atmosphere of an indoor stadium, points out the Green Bay Press-Gazette. On the other hand, they want quarterback Aaron Rodgers to continue protecting the ball. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rodgers is on pace to have the lowest interception since Bart Starr in 1964.

Monday night games are big for building national reputations, and Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette wonders if Packers assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss will soon work his way on the hot list of head coaching candidates.

We'll bring you a steady stream of posts during the day and will invite the rest of the division into the discussion. We plan to be in place at the dome by late afternoon.

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

• Chicago's defensive line made a loud return to the headlines Sunday in St. Louis, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye and defensive tackle Tommie Harris each had two sacks, and Ogunleye had the hit that knocked Rams quarterback Marc Bulger out of the game.
• It didn't look like running back Matt Forte (132 yards) was hitting the rookie wall on Sunday, writes Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald.
• The Bears showed a new energy on defense, according to Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune.
• Minnesota coach Brad Childress had a busy day in Jacksonville. He benched tailback Adrian Peterson for being late to a team meeting and also upbraided quarterback Gus Frerotte for too much out-of-pocket activity. Childress said he had a "one-sided conversation" with Frerotte during the game, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune: "Childress' decision [to bench Peterson for the first two series] casts him as either despotic or brave. I favor the latter."
• Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell booted the longest field goal -- 54 yards -- in the history of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, according to the Star Tribune.
• Childress plans to use backup tailback Chester Taylor more down the stretch, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Detroit quarterback Daunte Culpepper had only eight completions and was replaced by backup Drew Stanton late Sunday against Tampa Bay. "The game of football, you always have ups and downs," he said, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. "Everybody knows that."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on 0-16: "The impossible is now practically inevitable."
• Mitch Albom of the Free Press on the Lions: "It's not football. I don't know what you call it, but it's not football. It's an exhibition. It's a circus. It's a running joke. But it's not football."