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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good Monday morning to everyone. It doesn't get a whole lot bigger than the first week of organized team activities, or OTAs as we call them in the business, and that's exactly the point we've reached in the NFL offseason.

The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers have scheduled their first OTAs of the spring for Monday, and the Chicago Bears will have one Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings will open OTAs a week from Tuesday. Over on our NFL Nation blog, we have a comprehensive schedule of all 32 team's OTA schedules.

For newcomers, OTAs are on-field practices without pads or (presumably) contact. Some are open to the media, so expect to see some coverage in the coming days of how your favorite players are performing in jerseys and shorts.

Before we move on to our morning roundup, I want to thank everyone for their feedback to Friday's post on our blog operations. If you missed the post and/or want to share further thoughts about what you like and don't like, by all means hit up the mailbag.

OK, now, continuing around the NFC North:

• Here's a smart analysis of the Bears' negotiations with tailback Matt Forte from Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. Pompei suggests a fair deal could include about $20 million in guaranteed money.
• In this ESPNChicago.com video, ESPN's Cris Carter says that the ability to "catch the ball and separate" is what makes Bears receiver Brandon Marshall so good.
• Bears linebacker Lance Briggs isn't concerned about Marshall's off-field behavior, writes Vaughn McClure of the Tribune.
• The running back position is one of the storylines for the Lions' first OTA, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Running back Kevin Smith thinks the Lions will have a better running game in 2012, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press takes a look at some of the young cornerbacks the Lions added this offseason.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at the three young Packers receivers who will vie for roster spots this summer: Diondre Borel, Shaky Smithson and Tori Gurley.
• Keeping receiver Donald Driver on the roster goes "against everything the Packers regime believes in," writes Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "[I] t can be argued [Packers coach Mike] McCarthy is underpaid compared to some of his coaching brethren residing in the exclusive $7 million club."
• The Vikings signed former Bears offensive lineman Levi Horn, notes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The Vikings were 3-13 last season. Zygi and Mark Wilf and the entire Wilf family had a lot to do with that because for more than a year no one was in charge at Winter Park. In fact, the coach and personnel director often were at odds. It wasn't until after the season that [Rick] Spielman was given control after a leaguewide search netted, well, Spielman."

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Because none of you have gotten your fill yet on the Minnesota Vikings' stadium story, I made a rare daytime appearance outside of NFC North blog headquarters for a visit with team owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.

I reported to the ESPN.com news desk that Mark Wilf hopes to begin the Super Bowl bidding for Super Bowl LI, which will be played about six months after the new facility opens for the 2016 season. The Wilfs made clear the team will play at least two more seasons, 2012 and 2013, in the Metrodome but that their 2014 plans could take a year to develop. (They will play the 2015 season at TCF Bank Stadium.)

But to me the most intriguing takeaway was what seems like a preference to outfit the stadium with a retractable roof.

The final stadium bill allows for that possibility if the Vikings pay for the upgrade, which could cost an additional $25 million to $100 million. It would enhance the Wilfs' hopes to draw a Major League Soccer team to the facility, but it would also mesh with Zygi Wilf's long-stated desire to capitalize on what he thinks would be the competitive advantage of outdoor games during the Minnesota fall and winter.

(I have no opinion on it as long as the press box is enclosed.)

Neither Wilf would commit to a retractable roof but here's what Mark Wilf said about it: "We're going to try to get the maximum number of features within the budgets that we can make this a facility that is going to be exciting to the fans. We know it's a competitive landscape to attract our fans to the facility and we're going to want to make it something special. To the extent that retractability can get there, we're going to try to do it."

It's worth noting that the Vikings' original plan for the suburban Arden Hills site included a retractable roof, one that would allow for the outdoor experience the Vikings once had at Metropolitan Stadium but also provide the flexibility to host games and events that require a roof, whether it is the Super Bowl or a Final Four or Grave Digger's next performance.

After I noted the possibility on Twitter earlier Friday, many of you asked about the rule at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Field that requires the roof to be closed when outside temperatures are lower than 40 degrees. All I can tell you is that the NFL's official rules on operating retractable roofs have no such requirements, at least not the set the league office forwarded to me Friday. The rules do, however, give the game-day referee the option to close the roof pregame because of precipitation or weather that is otherwise deemed hazardous.

You could have an interesting debate about the better home-field advantage: really cold weather with the roof open or presumably louder crowd noise with it shut. I don't know where the Vikings will land on that, and I'm not entirely convinced the Wilfs are prepared to kick in additional money for retractability after increasing their initial contribution to $477 million in the final negotiations this week. Just know it's very much on the table moving forward.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Apparently, our next stop in sniffing out the Minnesota Vikings' true intentions this offseason is to make the dangerous connection between a stadium drive and football expenditures.

John of Belleview, Ill., is worried that the Vikings could become the "Kansas City Royals of football" for one of two reasons: Either owner Zygi Wilf will bring down his player payroll to limit further losses, or state legislators will require the team to pay so much toward construction that debt service will render moot the increased revenue of a new stadium.

Here's what I can tell you: Wilf has done nothing if not spend liberally on players during his first seven years as the team's majority owner. If my count is right, he has made five capital calls to his investment partners to cover the difference between revenues and his player payroll. In total, Wilf and his partners have pumped about nearly $100 million into the franchise on top of the $600-million purchase price.

And I feel confident in suggesting Wilf wouldn't have agreed to the current terms of his stadium proposal if it would have shortchanged his projected revenues.

There is no denying the Vikings have made but one significant free-agent expenditure, signing tight end John Carlson to a five-year contract worth $25 million. And I understand why Vikings fans would be suspicious given the blatant financial scaleback they endured in the final years of previous owner Red McCombs' tenure.

But if the Vikings have made a shift, it's one of philosophy rather than finances, general manager Rick Spielman said here at the NFL owners meetings.

Spielman: "Our ownership has always been very supportive of what we need to do, getting players and things like that. I think that doesn't have any effect on whether we're going to sign or not sign a player."

Owner/president Mark Wilf echoed that sentiment: "It's a long-term process in terms of building through the draft, filling in through free agency, and that combination is something we wanted to structure the organization to have our best chance at long-term success. … We want to win right away, too, but the main thing is we want to be first-rate and first-class on a consistent basis."

I realize that no team official would admit to a financial scaleback, but in Wilf's case, we have seven years of free spending and one offseason of a longer-term view. It doesn't add up to anything sinister for me.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- While I was scurrying this way and that Monday at the NFL owners meetings, Chicago Bears president Ted Phillips was addressing the future of tailback Matt Forte with Chicago-area reporters. As you know, Forte did not react well to the signing of backup Michael Bush and apparently there have been low-level trade rumors as a result because he has not yet signed his franchise tender.

Coach Lovie Smith threw water on the fire Sunday in a conversation with ESPN's Rachel Nichols, and via Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, Phillips said: "Matt is going to be a Bear." Phillips added: "Our goal with Matt is to keep him a Bear as long as possible. We have made offers on long-term deals that we think reward him at a high level, the level he deserves. We haven't been able to reach common ground. The door is open to keep talking. If we get a deal done, we'll be happy. If we don't, then the deal we have is the franchise tag and we'll see what happens after this year."

The remaining piece of this puzzle is the value of the long-term deal Forte has turned down. As a result, we don't know if the dispute is based on a lowball offer from the Bears or an inflated value Forte has established for himself. But obviously the sides are nowhere close at the moment, and the question shifts to whether Forte will play under the terms of the $7.74 million franchise tag or if he will stay away from training camp when it opens in July.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears defensive lineman Amobi Okoye is scheduled to visit with the Cincinnati Bengals, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Detroit Lions are confident in their nucleus of players, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't know if there was a bounty placed on any Lions players before their wild-card playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explains.
• It seems unlikely that the Lions will sign defensive end Cliff Avril to a long-term contract anytime soon, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Don't underestimate the Green Bay Packers in free agency, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers general manager Ted Thompson on receiving four compensatory draft picks, via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "More is better."
• The Packers might do away with night practices in training camp, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Minnesota Vikings made a strong push to sign free-agent receiver Pierre Garcon, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Star Tribune examines the majority support of a Vikings stadium from the Minneapolis City Council.
• Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf on the team's offseason approach, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "We want to win right away, too. But the main thing is we want to be first-rate and first-class on a consistent basis."

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Minnesota Vikings need approval from two political entities to get approval for their $975 million stadium project. They cleared one Monday, and have now set their sights on the second.

News that a majority of the Minneapolis City Council supports the plan might qualify as the best news in the team's decade-long pursuit of a new facility. It establishes political support from a previously divided group and shifts the focus squarely on the Minnesota state legislature, whose leaders were awaiting city approval before considering the bill on a state level.

Stopping for a moment here at the NFL owners meetings, Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf said: "The city support was critical in advancing this at the legislature." I know we've seen plenty of fits and starts in this process, but I agreed with Vikings vice president of stadium development Lester Bagley when he said: "This was a critical component to move forward. It was very significant."

The 2012 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn next month, but Wilf said the team remains confident there is enough time to address the stadium proposal. If nothing, skittish state legislators will have one less excuse for delaying an extended hearing on the issue.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Oakland Raiders' apparent decision to hire Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as their head coach will result in some stability among the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff.

Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss and defensive coordinator Dom Capers were both candidates in the Raiders' job search, which was run by former Packers executive Reggie McKenzie, now the Raiders' general manager. Moss had been considered by many media members to be a favorite for the job, but McKenzie conducted a wide search.

To this point, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is the only assistant to depart the staff. Philbin is the Miami Dolphins' new head coach. Coach Mike McCarthy hasn't announced a replacement yet. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements remains a candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head-coaching job.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "It might be a little premature to declare Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy out of the woods completely, but any predictions about his staff being ravaged by outsiders seem to be overblown."
• Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren doesn't wonder what might have happened if he had stayed with the team rather than bolt for the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will meet Wednesday with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf to discuss the Metrodome stadium site. Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune details the political infighting currently in play on that site.
• Vikings general manager Rick Spielman allowed four reporters to sit in on an interview with Auburn long-snapper Josh Harris at the Senior Bowl. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• The Vikings plan to find more work for running back Toby Gerhart, regardless of Adrian Peterson's health, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Detroit Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. spoke positively in rare public comments about the team. Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is sitting out the Pro Bowl because of an Achilles injury, but he is still heading to Hawaii this week and is bringing the Lions' entire receiving corps, notes Dave Birkett of the Free Press.
• Two Lions assistant coaches, Tim Walton (secondary) and Shawn Jefferson (receivers) are close to signing new contracts to stay with the team, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• ESPNChicago.com has a rundown of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's comments on using the pain-killer Toradol.
• Urlacher expanded on those comments with Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli endorsed his director of college scouting, Phil Emery, for the Bears' general manager job. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times explains.
• The Bears' new general manager will have the flexibility to change as much of the scouting staff as he wants. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the team's six college scouts and three pro scouts all have expiring contracts.

A letter the Minnesota Vikings sent to Minneapolis leaders Tuesday is, of course, open to interpretation. Here's mine: The Vikings are moving closer to accepting not only that their new stadium will be in downtown Minneapolis, but also that it will be located on the current Metrodome site.

Otherwise, I'm not sure they would have taken such pains to spell out the costs associated with relocating to TCF Bank Stadium for three years while the new stadium is under construction. The letter, released by the Vikings through their website, suggests the relocation will cost $48 million and also points out that the new stadium will need $19 million in parking enhancements to meet NFL standards.

The letter still refers to the suburban Arden Hills site as "ideal," but it's grown increasingly evident that state leaders are skeptical of its financial viability. Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak favors the Metrodome site because of existing infrastructure, and the Vikings are no doubt reacting to the obvious wind shift.

In many ways, the letter represents an effort to get the best deal at the Metrodome site. It projects the Vikings will lose $37 million in revenues by playing in a smaller stadium, implying that deficit should be folded into the new stadium's financing. It also notes that someone will have to pay $11 million for improvements in the state-owned TCF Bank Stadium, including underground heaters to prevent the field from freezing at the end of the NFL season.

The letter, signed by Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf, acknowledges that the Metrodome site is "workable" but requires the relocation and parking issues to be addressed before the proposal could be complete. That's a long way from the days when the Vikings considered Arden Hills their only viable option.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It's understandable if, in yesterday's flurry of news, you missed Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' always-interesting weekly radio show on 540 ESPN in Milwaukee. As always, you can listen to the podcast, where among other things you can hear a discussion about the very issue we hit on Monday.

Namely: Would the events of Week 17 in any way impact MVP voting? As you know, Rodgers sat out the Packers' 45-41 victory over the Detroit Lions, during which backup Matt Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees played almost all of a 45-17 blowout of the Carolina Panthers, adding another 389 yards and five touchdowns to his totals.

Asked about the MVP impact, Rodgers said: "I don't really see how that comes into play when you're talking about a most valuable player vote. I think the way that we've gone about it and the games that we've won, I don't think you can say in any way that we've tried to get late points or late yards or late touchdowns. Look at the film. I'm not sure if that's the case for every team in the league."

In addition to playing most of Week 17, Brees also remained in the Saints' Week 16 blowout of the Atlanta Falcons as he pursued the NFL's single-season record for passing yards. All told, Brees threw 155 more passes than Rodgers this season.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers a thoughtful and reasoned argument for why he chose Rodgers over Brees on his MVP ballot.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette delves into the 2012 possibilities for Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn.
• Rodgers on the possibility of Flynn returning to the Packers next season, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "Not going to happen, I don't think."
• The Chicago Bears are inviting trouble by forcing coach Lovie Smith on the new general manager they hire, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Smith emerged as the "most powerful man in the building" after the Bears fired general manager Jerry Angelo, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.
• Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com wonders if longtime NFL executive Bill Polian, fired this week by the Indianapolis Colts, could be a fit with the Bears.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com on the Minnesota Vikings' decision to promote Rick Spielman to general manager: "The authority the Vikings handed Spielman on Monday -- control over all football matters and final say on the 53-man roster -- doesn't ensure success. The overhaul ahead is too arduous and Spielman's track record too limited to draw strong conclusions. What's certain is Spielman will get to execute his vision now, for better or worse, without interruption or exception, and assume all the pressure that goes with being the most powerful football man in the building."
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: "Other than the fact we now know exactly who to blame or praise for all personnel decisions, essentially nothing has changed because, right or wrong, the decision-makers are the same and no changes are planned for the scouting departments."
• Brutal take on the proceedings from Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Coming off a disastrous season and facing an increasingly disillusioned fan base, Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf needed to make a bold statement. And on Tuesday, they did: 'We are idiots.'"
• The Wilfs met with a select group of reporters to discuss this move. Here's a transcript from 1500ESPN.com.
• The Detroit Lions aren't bothering to play the "disrespect card" this week, notes Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on the possibility of a high-scoring game Saturday night at the Superdome, via John Niyo of the Detroit News. "Yeah, I don't plan on anybody shooting our defense out."
• Suh is clearly excited about playing in this game, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — A few comments after sitting in on the Minnesota Vikings' news conference to announce Rick Spielman's promotion to general manager:

[+] Enlarge
Jim Mone/AP PhotoRick Spielman addresses the media after he was named general manager of the Vikings on Tuesday.
• By all accounts, Spielman has acquired extensive authority — and not just a fancy title — with this move. Owner/president Mark Wilf said Spielman "will oversee all football-related activities and operations" and "all roster and personnel decisions" will be "in Rick's hands." That means Spielman will have final say over the draft, all player transactions and the composition of the 80- and 53-man rosters.
• The one check on Spielman's power is supervision of the coaching staff. He will make roster and player decisions once reserved for the head coach in the old structure, but coach Leslie Frazier will continue to report directly to owners Zygi and Mark Wilf. "Ownership will make that determination on the head coach," Spielman said. From everything I can tell, however, that's an issue of semantics. The Wilfs would be circumventing their apparent intent if they didn't listen to the advice of the man they've placed in charge of "all football-related activities." If Spielman wants to fire the head coach and/or hire a new one, I imagine the Wilfs will consent.
• Most of you aren't going to care about the new process the Vikings have for making football decisions. But here's what will interest you: Spielman emotionally and unequivocally accepted complete accountability for the successes and failures of the team going forward. "I will be held accountable for those decisions," he said. At one point, Spielman paused to collect himself before saying: "3-13 is not acceptable for our fans of the Minnesota Vikings. It's not acceptable for our ownership. It's not acceptable for this organization." For better or worse, there is no doubt about who is in charge at the team's Winter Park facility.

Podcast: Rick Spielman

Vikings GM Rick Spielman discusses the first order of business in his new position, Christian Ponder's future, Adrian Peterson's injury and more. Listen

• Spielman acknowledged his mixed record as a personnel executive with the Miami Dolphins, a tenure that ended after his promotion to general manager in 2004. He departed after the Dolphins finished 4-12 that season. "You look back through all of your experiences," Spielman said. "I'm a very big historian on seeing what happened, and the only way to me that you get better is by experiencing some of the setbacks. When you experience some of the setbacks, you really analyze why it was like that, or what did you do, or what would you do differently? So when similar situations occur going forward, you'll know how to handle them better."
• Perhaps the most tangible bi-product of the traditional structure is that it empowers the general manager to make long-term decisions. The Vikings entered the 2011 draft in desperation mode at quarterback because no one had the authority to plan for the end of Brett Favre's tenure. It would be inexcusable for a traditional general manager to act with so little regard for the future. Spielman: "It's also my responsibility as we move forward in making decisions not only to look for the short-term success on the football field, but also looking out for our long-term goals so that we can be successful year in and year out."
• I know many of you were hoping for more dramatic changes after 23 losses in the past 32 games. You see Spielman as part of the problem, not someone who deserves to be empowered with finding the solution. I understand where you're coming from. But the official approach of this blog will be to give Spielman a clean slate from this moment. It's impossible to know what he is or isn't responsible for during this tailspin. For the first time in decades, however, we have no gray area for accountability and evaluation moving forward. The clock on the Rick Spielman Era starts today.

An online petition fraught with political considerations is asking the government in Minnesota to require the Minnesota Vikings to build a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul, rather than in suburban Arden Hills, and that the team and its stadium users cover the project's full cost.

The petition, which had more than 1,100 signatures at the time of this writing, is standard fare in the well-worn public-private fights over taxpayer-financed stadiums. But the text of the petition, written by Shoreview city council member Blake Huffman, makes what I think is at least one fair point: At what point, if at all, will state legislators, not to mention regular Joe citizens, have an opportunity to weigh the full proposal and make their opinions known via public hearings?

Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune has reported that Gov. Mark Dayton will meet Thursday with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf as the sides try to formalize the proposal while also figuring out how to pay for $131 million in roads. The hope is to finalize the bill and have it in place for a vote during a presumed special session of the state legislature next week.

But the timing is starting to get interesting.

The state's current budget will expire one week from Thursday. To avoid a government shutdown, Dayton will need to call a special session before that point. Would there be enough time to finalize the stadium bill, at least nominally hold a few hearings, enter the special session and then vote on it over the next seven days?

A shutdown might actually give the Vikings and Dayton more time to vet the proposal. But if anything is going to get sacrificed to expedite this process, I hope it isn't public hearings. I don't want to get into a big democracy vs. republic debate, because I realize we elect public officials to govern us without seeking issue-by-issue approval. But I personally think it's fair for people living in Ramsey County -- who would have to pay a 0.5 percent sales tax increase, a $20 car sales excise tax and other fees to help fund construction -- should be given a reasonable time frame to absorb and debate that responsibility.

To be sure, this wouldn't be the first time in history that a major stadium project was shoved down taxpayer throats at the last moment. The last-second scramble might be the most politically expedient way of affirming a stadium, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've spent a good portion of the offseason discussing the Chicago Bears' personnel options along the offensive line, most recently suggesting that rookie Gabe Carimi as the best option at left tackle. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune makes an important point along those lines: The NFL's lost offseason, and what could be a shortened training camp, could ultimately make the decision simpler for the Bears.

Carimi played left tackle at Wisconsin. Another candidate for the position, J'Marcus Webb, played right tackle last season. It would be easier for both players to make the transition after a full offseason of work. With less training time, it might make more sense to keep major changes to a minimum.

Biggs: "A case could be made for leaving Carimi at left tackle because there have been no offseason workouts and minicamps. He played there four years at Wisconsin. Let him go with what he's most accustomed to doing and see if he can excel. Meanwhile, Webb could remain where he made 12 starts last season. 'You're going to feel more confident in the stance that you have been playing your career at,' Carimi said last week from Madison, Wis., where he is wrapping up an eight-week training program he began after the draft. 'It doesn't matter to me as long as I can make an impact on the team that it needs.'"

Makes perfect sense to me.

Continuing around the NFC North as we begin another quiet week in June:

• The Bears will have some new plays in their offense this year that are "unreal," according to receiver Earl Bennett via Biggs of the Tribune.
• Interviews with Bears cornerback Charles Tillman and defensive tackle Anthony Adams are available via podcast on ESPNChicago.com.
• Place-kicker Dave Rayner has approached the offseason as if he'll be with the Detroit Lions this fall, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions hired Joe Kelleher as their BLESTO scout, notes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Former Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown is continuing his campaign to get Jeff Backus moved from left tackle to guard. More from Birkett in the Free Press.
• Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a photograph of the racing helmet presented to Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who as the grand marshal of the Milwaukee 225.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette offers a Packers preview of free agency, suggesting that re-signing place-kicker Mason Crosby will be the team's highest priority.
• Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune writes that Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will meet with Minnesota Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf on Thursday to continue negotiations on a workable stadium bill.
• Agent Drew Rosenhaus on the status of Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, a looming free agent, via Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The Vikings have been good to him. There's just so many factors that will take place once the lockout is lifted."
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin is speaking positively about his treatment for migraine headaches, but Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com notes we have heard similar hope before.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

A few weeks ago, we broke down one version of why the Chicago Bears beat out the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North title. Among the reasons were the Bears' nearly perfect health in comparison to the Packers' relative slew of injuries.

I haven't figured out the Packers' final tally, but Monday, Packers coach Mike McCarthy let slip the final total: 206. When it's all said and done, that's how many starts Packers players missed this season due to injury, according to team records.

"I didn't realize it was that high," McCarthy said.

Long after the 2010 playoffs are complete, that number will be a calling card for the Packers' season. Did injuries scuttle the Packers' chances to make a Super Bowl run? Or will they symbolize the finest hour for McCarthy and his remaining players?

For what it's worth, the Packers had no new injuries out of their 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears. They also haven't ruled out the return of two defensive starters: Defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf) and linebacker Frank Zombo (knee).

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers know the playoffs can be unpredictable, writes Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers are counting on their defense to lead them in the playoffs, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "Mike McCarthy did not spend much time pondering the existential question Monday. He may have an offensive background, but when it comes to winning championships, the Green Bay Packers coach firmly believes that having a great defense is more important than having an elite quarterback or explosive offense."
• The Chicago Bears' playoff push began during their bye week, writes ESPNChicago.com's Michael C. Wright.
• Offensive coordinator Mike Martz made big changes during that bye, notes Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bears coach Lovie Smith is now tied for second place in seniority in the NFC, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Detroit Lions' talk of making the playoffs in 2011 has credibility, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Having a healthy Matthew Stafford is the "golden ticket" for the Lions, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz reiterated that great things are ahead for this team, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Minnesota Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf told a small group of reporters they plan no changes to the team's front office, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian believes he will return to Minnesota next season, notes the Star Tribune.
• The Wilfs determined that former coach Brad Childress had too much power within the organization, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

We have arrived in a vortex of circumstances that will thrill some, annoy others and frighten a few. Monday night, there will be an outdoor NFL game in Minnesota for the first time in 29 years. The conditions will be right out of NFL Films archives.

A weather front has already moved in to the Twin Cities area, and new accumulations of up to five inches are expected by the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. The game-time temperature will be 25 degrees, with wind chills dipping into the single digits by the end of the night.

We've discussed most aspects of this scene over the past eight days, beginning with the Dec. 11 collapse of the Metrodome roof. ESPN.com's blog editors have created a handy filter for those posts. So as we await Monday night's kickoff, here are a few random thoughts I've had:

• There has been a surge of old-school mindset from former players who routinely worked in wintry weather and on frozen fields. The general message to the players who will take the field Monday night: Suck it up. I don't doubt that a game can be played in these conditions. I just question whether it's necessary, especially on short notice. I equate frozen fields with a house that has no air conditioning. You can certainly survive it. But what's the point? Quality of life is better in A/C, and the quality of the game is better on a heated field. Snow and ice might be an initial draw for television purposes, but I doubt for many of the participants.
• Vikings punter Chris Kluwe walked the plank Sunday by insisting the field at TCF Bank Stadium is unplayable. None of his teammates, and no one from the organization, has backed his claims. Kluwe can be a bit flaky at times, but I can't fathom a motivation he would have for fabricating his observations. The field was frozen as of early this week, and never has it been thawed in the manner vaguely outlined by University of Minnesota officials. At the very least, the Vikings and NFL took a substantial leap of faith in expressing confidence that it be thawed and safe throughout the game.
• There is no doubt that some of the players' public complaints arose from a perceived hypocrisy within the NFL, which has fined players up to six figures this season for illegal hits in the name of player safety. I think we can agree that a hard field isn't a friend of concussion prevention. And let's not forget that the violence of impact in the NFL is substantially higher now than it was 29 years ago. Just as the NFL believes players have a choice in avoiding illegal hits, the league and the Vikings had a choice in deciding to play this game outdoors. A number of domed stadiums around the country were available and willing to accommodate the game.
• The process for de-icing the field has been kept pretty well under wraps. But has anyone else noticed that the use of an unnamed chemical to start the process suddenly disappeared from the daily updates? When it's all said and done, it will be interesting to find out whether it was actually used.
• It's been funny to listen to Vikings officials speak of preserving their home-field advantage by playing at TCF Bank Stadium. It's true they lost their advantage over the Giants last Monday night at Ford Field, but they should probably check their recent history before considering a game in these conditions to be a sure-fire advantage. The last time the Vikings won an outdoor game in December or January in a cold-weather environment was a January 2005 playoff victory at Lambeau Field. The time before that? December 1999 at Giants Stadium. Over an extended period, and for good reason, the Vikings are at their best in a dome.
• Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has campaigned for an open-air stadium to replace the Metrodome, but most observers considered it a strategy to compel the state of Minnesota to pay for a roof. Regardless, Wilf and his brother Mark plan to sit in the stands Monday night, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. I'll be interested to see if the experience enhances or changes Wilf's mind on the issue.
• TCF Bank has been the big winner this week. The local institution is paying a relatively modest $35 million over 25 years for naming rights to the stadium. According to Bloomberg News, the bank has already reaped $7.5 million worth of exposure from this episode -- and that's not counting the numerous mentions it will get during ESPN's national broadcast.

It's time for the spotlight to shift in Minnesota. During the highly scrutinized past few weeks, we've confirmed all we need to know about Vikings coach Brad Childress -- for better and for worse. (And yes, there are factors on both sides.) Further examination would only repeat the previous points.

So as Childress' tenure continues, it's fair to ask what owner Zygi Wilf is thinking and what it says about his stewardship of the franchise. After all, the window seems shut on firing Childress with an eye toward salvaging the 2010 season. It's not happening this week, and if it's prompted by a loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers, the next coach would be saddled with a near-hopeless 3-7 record.

To be sure, the Vikings' disappointing season doesn't necessarily mandate the dismissal of a coach who has won consecutive NFC North titles. But Wilf's resistance to change, even amid a nationally watched soap opera, reinforces what I would call his aggressive approach to continuity since purchasing the team in June 2005.

Those hoping or believing Wilf would fire Childress after the bungled acquisition of receiver Randy Moss are ignoring history. For the most part, Wilf has worked hard to retain his organizational leaders and seems determined to avoid quick-trigger decisions that often define professional sports. (His 2006 dismissal of former personnel chief Fran Foley after three months of work has proved an aberration and was prompted by other members of the organization.)

Vice presidents Rick Spielman and Rob Brzezinski have received at least two new contracts apiece in the past five years, and Childress re-signed through 2013 during last season's 12-4 campaign. The Vikings' current vice presidents of finance, marketing, public affairs and operations all date to Wilf's first days of ownership or before.

Wilf doesn't often speak publicly and rarely offers deep insight into his operation. But as Childress begins another week of game preparation, let's take some guesses at what Wilf is thinking and where he might be going with the football side of his franchise.

Wilf has a unique business background, having assumed control of a real estate company founded by his father and uncle. His principal partners are his brother, Mark Wilf, and cousin, Leonard Wilf. The loyalty and management style derived from a family business are instructive when analyzing the Vikings' coaching situation.

When disagreement arises between family members with relatively equal stake in a company, dismissal or departure aren't options. Issues are worked through, and I believe that is what Wilf thinks he is doing now. Childress was Wilf's hand-picked coach in 2006, and he is hoping the coach can navigate the franchise through a rough patch.

In the big picture, Wilf views Childress as a coach who accomplished one of his biggest goals: Cleaning up off-field player behavior that culminated in the 2005 Love Boat cruise. On the field, Childress improved his record in every season from 2006-09, earning the extension. I don't think Wilf is willing to abandon the results of those first four years based solely on a stumble in the fifth.

Many people have noted the $12-plus million Wilf would owe Childress if he fired him. Based on how he has thrown around money during his ownership, I don't think that figure is anywhere near the top of the list of why Childress remains employed. Much more important, at least to Wilf, is the symbolic commitment Wilf made in executing the deal.

Wilf grew up and remains a huge football fan, and he proudly applies those sensibilities to his management of the Vikings. But there are different categories of fans, and Wilf clearly resides under the eternally hopeful category much more often than the knee-jerk reaction group. The most recent example was Wilf's ecstatic response to the Vikings' 27-24 comeback victory Nov. 7 over the Arizona Cardinals.

Afterward, his face flush, Wilf stood at the door of the Vikings' locker room and greeted each player and coach with a version of the phrase "great heart!" His conviction of the Vikings' potential that day was obvious, overshadowing all of the well-chronicled issues Childress has encountered with players, game management and his offensive scheme.

That's my read on Wilf's mentality over the past few weeks. If you want to be more cynical -- and I'm always up for a good conspiracy theory -- you could suggest that Wilf already knows he will replace Childress after the season and that he doesn't want presumptive interim coach Leslie Frazier to succeed him. For all we know, Wilf could already be studying the available candidates -- Super Bowl winners Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Brian Billick are all in hibernation -- with an intention to pounce after the season.

If he fires Childress now and Frazier executes a miracle turnaround, Wilf might feel compelled to hire him permanently even while casting his gaze elsewhere. I have no idea if that's actually the case, but we shouldn't rule out the possibility that Wilf has a larger plan already in place.

Why? Because in November 2005, about two months before he fired coach Mike Tice, Wilf dispatched several team officials to a clandestine meeting with agent Bob LaMonte. At the time, LaMonte represented Childress and then-Philadelphia Eagles personnel executive Tom Heckert.

The day after they fired Tice, the Vikings flew Childress to Minnesota for an interview and worked feverishly to do the same with Heckert, who ultimately re-signed with the Eagles and is now the Cleveland Browns' general manager.

Again, I have no evidence that a similar contingency plan is under way now. But if you want to know why Childress remains employed, you should know it fits with Wilf's larger management style. Wilf is patient, but he is far from passive. I don't think he'll stand for long-term underperformance, but to this point it's clear he doesn't classify Childress in that way.

Minnesota's state legislature will adjourn Monday after a marathon budget session that predictably ended with no further attention on the Vikings' stadium proposal. So unless Gov. Tim Pawlenty calls a special session for the specific purpose of voting on a stadium bill -- a highly unlikely scenario -- the issue won't be picked up again in a substantive way until February 2011 at the earliest.

As you know, the team's Metrodome lease expires in February 2012.

When we last discussed the stadium bill, it had been torn apart and left unrecognizable less than 24 hours after its introduction. An optimist would suggest the Vikings pushed the conversation forward by getting a formal bill in writing; a pessimist would note the bill provided few, if any, building points for future efforts.

Barring an unexpected development, we can close the door on this issue for 2010. This moment offers an opportunity to catch up on where we are and where we're going -- or not, as the case may be. In no particular order:

• Don't allow anyone to tell you this bill's advancement was scuttled by a Minnesota State Supreme Court ruling that essentially invalidated the state's 2009 budget, throwing the 2010 legislative session into chaos. That ruling came only after one committee rejected the stadium proposal and two others stripped it of its financing mechanisms. In the end, there were no breakthroughs on how to come up with some $525 million in public money -- and that was clear before the court ruling. Until someone hatches a financing idea that works for everyone, no stadium will be built.
• Only a small group of state leaders considered this so much as a mildly urgent issue. For now, the rest of them -- including Pawlenty -- seem convinced the Vikings have no other options but to continue playing in the Metrodome beyond the expiration of their lease. As of today, that's probably a safe bet. Los Angeles is nowhere close to luring a team, and the NFL's primary focus is on solving its labor dispute. Los Angeles might enter the picture some day, but to this point it has not.
• The November gubernatorial election could be a game-changing event prior to the presumed 2011 debate. Throughout his two terms, Pawlenty made clear he wouldn't approve general state taxes for a new stadium. Will the next governor follow the same pattern or take a different approach?
• The Vikings have hoped that a significant elected official would emerge as a state-wide leader on this issue. That hasn't been the case, leaving the effort without the political clout or public profile it needs to succeed. I understand why it would be better for a governor or prominent mayor to be the point person rather than a team official, but in the end I think owner Zygi Wilf -- or his brother, Mark -- will have to take a much more public role in order to get something done. After all, their bottom line is the central issue in building a new stadium. There's no sense running from that reality.