ESPN NFL

In retrospect, the Chicago Bears' 25-day search for a general manager played out exactly as they said it would. Team president Ted Phillips made clear he wasn't looking to turn the organization upside down after firing Jerry Angelo on Jan. 3. No, as we discussed at the time, the Bears wanted someone who could bring a better hit rate as a talent evaluator.

Kansas City Chiefs executive Phil Emery emerged as a favorite early in the process because of his unique qualifications under those criteria, and for that reason it was far from surprising to hear that the Bears hired him Saturday.

Emery spent seven years as a Bears scout from 1998-2004, making him relatively familiar with the inner workings of Halas Hall and unlikely to pursue a massive overhaul. He was part of a Bears scouting department that drafted eight future Pro Bowlers, from receiver Marty Booker to linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to safety Mike Brown and cornerback Charles Tillman. Later, he drafted receiver Roddy White and quarterback Matt Ryan, among others, as the Atlanta Falcons' director of college scouting.

Emery surely will bring his own tone and vision to the Bears' front office. But initially, at least, he'll do so by assimilating the existing infrastructure and minimizing the side effects of transition.

The Bears have missed the playoffs in four of the five seasons since their appearance in Super Bowl XLI. But whether you agree or not, Phillips said he thinks the team has suffered from inconsistent talent evaluation rather than larger-scale issues. So in essence, he has swapped one longtime scout-turned-general manager for another in hopes of getting better results.

Phillips said Jan. 3 that the Bears needed to close the "talent gap" that exists between the Bears and their two most competitive NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. In many ways, the decision to bring back Emery reflects the Packers' hiring of general manager Ted Thompson in 2005.

Thompson spent eight years with the Packers in various personnel roles between 1992 and ‘99 before returning as general manager in 2005. Emery brings a similar reputation as a blue-collar scout and workaholic who figures to spend a good portion of his years on the road personally scouting college players.

Thompson, of course, had the authority to remake the Packers franchise as he saw fit. Much of the front office remained intact, but he fired coach Mike Sherman after one season and hired Mike McCarthy in 2006. The Packers won Super Bowl XLV with a 53-man roster that included 49 players acquired after Thompson's arrival.

That's a tough ideal for Emery and the Bears to pursue, but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes up at some point during Monday's news conference to introduce him formally. The Bears wanted a low-key leader who would focus on talent evaluation and, like Thompson, stay below the radar. By all accounts, Emery fits that bill.

Some officiating calls are as direct and objective as they can be. A receiver steps out of bounds. A defender grabs a facemask. A running back's knee touches the ground.

Many, however, are subjective and require officials to match the action with a set of rules that doesn't address every specific instance. Officials must make a real-time decision about what they saw and how it applies to the general standards of the NFL, usually without the benefit of a possible replay challenge.

Roughing the passer falls squarely into the latter category, especially as the league has attempted deep regulation of the contact quarterbacks can receive. Every week of the NFL season includes some debatable roughing calls, or non-calls, and we had at least two in Week 7 here in the NFC North.

The first came in the second quarter of the Detroit Lions' 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Referee Bill Leavy called Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, resulting in a first down after an incomplete third-down pass.

Vanden Bosch vehemently protested, pointing at the replay as it was shown at Ford Field. A review of the play shows that Vanden Bosch might not have initiated much helmet-to-helmet contact. But he at least inadvertently hit Ryan's neck/chest area with the top of his helmet and facemask, which technically violates NFL rules.

Here is the applicable language straight out of the NFL's 2011 rule book: "A defensive player must not use his helmet against a passer who is in a defenseless posture for example, (a) forcibly hitting the passer's head or neck area with the helmet or facemask, regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the passer by encircling or grasping him, or (b) lowering the head and making forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/"hairline" parts of the helmet against any part of the passer's body."

In this case, it was up to Leavy to determine whether Vanden Bosch's hit qualified as "forcible contact." Given that both Vanden Bosch and Ryan fell to the ground as a result, I can see why Leavy decided it was.

The second play came in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at the Metrodome. Referee Peter Morelli called Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for roughing against Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder. A second look at the play, as well as the photograph accompanying this post, shows Matthews in a textbook tackling position with his helmet clearly to the side of Ponder's body just after the release.

Part of that form was to grab the back of Ponder's legs. In the course of leaning forward to complete the throw, Ponder left his feet. The force of contact with Matthews drove Ponder onto his back.

It might have looked like a standard football play to you and I and even Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who was broadcasting the game and objected to the call. But check out how the NFL rule book addresses such a situation:

"When tackling a passer who is in a defenseless posture (e.g., during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender's weight. Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up or cradle the passer with the defensive player's arms."

Remember: This part of rule enforcement is subjective. It was up to Morelli to decide whether Matthews "unnecessarily" or "violently" threw down Ponder and/or landed on top of him with most of his weight. Morelli also needed to judge if Matthews made an effort to "wrap up or cradle" Ponder to break his fall, as anti-football as that might seem.

Given the NFL's emphasis on quarterback safety, it's not surprising that Morelli leaned toward Ponder on that play. I don't think Matthews intended to drive Ponder to the ground, but that isn't the question. Did he drive Ponder to the ground? Morelli's judgment was that he did.

On to our Penalty Tracker:

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

FALLING

1. Patience of Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions defensive tackle: Suh forcefully and emotionally defended himself Monday against allegations of what would have been some sketchy trash talk by the Atlanta Falcons. Suh vehemently denied he called for the Falcons to bring out a medical cart when quarterback Matt Ryan injured his left ankle. Falcons receiver Roddy White stood by that allegation during an interview with the NFL Network on Monday night, so someone is not telling the truth. Crazy things get said and done on NFL fields all the time. But based on the passion of Suh's defense, you have to assume (and hope) he's not the one lying here.

2. Minnesota Vikings locker room: Coach Leslie Frazier has plenty on his management plate as he enters Week 8 of his first season as a permanent head coach. Cornerback Chris Cook, a rising young player on a roster of veterans, has been jailed since Saturday morning on domestic violence allegations. Receiver Bernard Berrian has apparently run afoul of team discipline on a number of occasions, resulting in two game-day deactivations and a looming departure from the organization. And although it went underplayed late last week, Frazier absorbed some rare and direct public criticism from soft-spoken defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who challenged Frazier's assertion that the defensive line hasn't played physically. Williams told the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "If you want to call somebody out, call who you're talking about out." There are growing pains in any head coaching transition, and Frazier is dealing with it on a number of fronts.

3. Silliness of criticizing Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers linebacker: Matthews had a sack of Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, bringing his season total to three. But I thought his performance Sunday was a perfect example of how a rush linebacker can make a tremendous impact without sack totals. For one, his run defense was excellent. He was in on tackles that limited the Vikings to 2, 1, 2, minus-2, and minus-5 yards on rushing plays. On the latter, he beat Vikings left guard Steve Hutchinson to the backfield by several steps, as noted by Pro Football Focus.

RISING

1. Tim Masthay, Green Bay Packers punter: It hasn't been a stellar season for Masthay, who entered Sunday's game against the Vikings with the second-worst net average (30.4) in the NFL. But he made the most of his three punts at the Metrodome, averaging 55.3 net yards. According to Mark Simon of ESPN Stats & Information, that net average was the third best by an NFL punter in the past 35 years (minimum three punts). Masthay's 64-yard punt in the fourth quarter was especially important, flipping field position at a time when the Vikings were trying to get into position for a go-ahead score. The punt, downed at the Vikings' 2-yard line, increased the Packers' win probability from 75 to 80 percent, based on data from games compiled over the past 10 years.

2. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears running back: Forte notched his third 100-yard rushing game in the past four weeks Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's almost impossible right now to distinguish him from the top running backs in the game, as ESPN analyst Andrew Brandt writes for the National Football Post. Forte's 1,091 all-purpose yards is 211 yards ahead of the next-best mark in the NFL, and he has accounted for more than 50 percent of the Bears' offense. With Forte and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the NFC North might have the top two MVP candidates through Week 7.

3. Charles Woodson, Packers cornerback: Two interceptions Sunday brought Woodson's NFL-leading total to five after seven games. You can note that four of the five have come against rookie quarterbacks Ponder and Cam Newton, but I haven't noticed any asterisks in league rankings lately. Plus, half of what makes a good defensive player is getting in position to make plays that will eventually be afforded you. Woodson might not be blanketing receivers as he once did, but his playmaking has been a huge equalizer for the Packers' defense.

Earlier Monday, we noted that two Atlanta Falcons players made some serious and specific allegations of taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct by the Detroit Lions, taking place when quarterback Matt Ryan suffered a left ankle injury in Sunday's game at Ford Field. So it's only fair to allow the Lions to respond.

Let's just say that defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril have strongly rejected the accusations of Falcons receiver Roddy White and center Todd McClure. White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Avril was "kicking at [Ryan's] feet" while we writhed on the ground in pain. McClure said Suh was taunting Ryan and calling for the Falcons to "get the cart."

Speaking to reporters Monday, Suh denied "trash talking" Ryan and noted the injury occurred when Falcons left tackle Will Svitek stepped on Ryan's ankle. Suh called the play "karma" for "all the bad stuff" the Falcons' offensive line has "done in the past."

Said Suh: "There are many, many, many plays that I could go back to that I watch on film all week that their offensive line has done," Suh said, "and that they've been coached to do, as far as I know. It's not anything that's not been said; it's not anything that's new."

Asked specifically if he said anything to Ryan after the injury, Suh said:

"I have nothing to say. The man's sitting on the ground. We've obviously continued to do our job, getting to him, causing havoc, his own quarterback takes him out. … I have no comment, no issues, no nothing -- nothing to say to him. At that time, when he's on the ground, there's nothing that I have to say to him. We've done our job, we've been in his face, we've caused him to go down, we've caused his offensive lineman to hurt him."

(Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com is blogging the entire interview.)

Meanwhile, Suh wondered why none of the Falcons' offensive linemen retaliated if Avril had truly kicked at Ryan. If the Falcons had kicked Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, Suh said, "all hell would have broken loose." In an interview with the Lions' web site, Avril backed Suh's assessment of the Falcons' offensive line. He said it is "mind-boggling" that the Lions were cast as a dirty team in comparison.

"You watch film of Atlanta's O-line and they're 20, 30 yards down the field cutting guys," Avril said. "You're running toward the pile and they're trying to clean you up. Everybody was protecting themselves. I guess since they couldn't clean us up in piles because guys were aware of it, they decide to make it like we're the dirty players."

Normally, a he-said, she-said gives us some comic relief during the monotony of an NFL season. But these allegations have come at a serious time in the career of Suh, and to a lesser extent, Avril.

A dirty reputation shouldn't change how anyone plays or limit his effectiveness. In some cases, in fact, it could help create a psychological advantage over opponents. But it's still a damaging stigma to carry because it implies your success has come outside of the rules, or at least the ethics of fair play. Few, if any, competitors want a stigmatic asterisk next to their achievements.

I imagine that's why Suh and Avril were so vehement Monday. There is a school of thought that suggests a response only gives further life to a one-sided story. But in this case, going silent would have been a tacit admission of guilt and provided another episode with which to tack the dirty tag on Suh.

As we discussed earlier, there is no evidence on the television copy that Avril got anywhere near Ryan nor of anyone reacting to something Suh might have said. I'm not sure if the Lions needed to publicize their thoughts on the Falcons' play. It sounded a little bit like, I'm dirty? No, you're dirty! But overall, it was important for Suh and Avril to stand up themselves. Good for them.

So here is what we know:

With 10 minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter Sunday at Ford Field, Detroit Lions defensive end Lawrence Jackson drove Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Will Svitek back into the pocket. Svitek stepped on quarterback Matt Ryan's left ankle, leaving Ryan writhing on the field in pain.

What happened after that is a matter of hearsay. Multiple Falcons players told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Lions players were taunting and otherwise acting disrespectfully toward Ryan while the Falcons medical staff attended to him. I watched the TV replay and neither saw nor heard any evidence of that, but obviously much of what happens on an NFL field goes unheard by the public.

Receiver Roddy White said that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cliff Avril behaved in a way that caused him to lose "a whole lot of respect" for them. White said Avril "was kicking at [Ryan's] feet and said, 'Get him off the field.'"

Falcons center Todd McClure said: "I had respect for Suh before the game. But when Matt was on the ground, the things [Suh] was saying and the trash he was talking was definitely uncalled for. There are certain things you don't do. [He said], 'Get the cart' and several other things that I can't repeat."

Via Twitter, Avril said: "Come on, I'm not in the business of hurting not one guy on the field... I would never taunt anyone on an injury."

Suh has yet to respond, as far as I'm aware.

Are White and McClure accurately depicting what Suh and/or Avril said and did? Are they exaggerating? Short of an NFL Films audio emerging, we might never know for sure. But this episode will only add fuel to the debate about the way Suh plays the game, and if he and his teammates are too often pushing the edge of aggressiveness and moving into the realm of being chippy or dirty.

Suh likened himself to Shaquille O'Neal this summer, suggesting he gets penalized based on his superior strength relative to opponents. Whether he likes it or not, he's also being judged by players and officials based on his reputation. There's nothing he can or should do about his strength, but if he acted the way the Falcons say he did after Ryan's injury, he's going to lose whatever benefit of the doubt he still maintained with officials and the league office.

One of the most notorious players in recent NFL history was safety Rodney Harrison, who is now an NBC analyst. Sunday night, Harrison said: "I don't think [Suh] is a dirty player, but I've talked to guys around the league, and they say he is a dirty player. The bad thing about that is it takes away from how good of a player you are. You don't want that reputation. He's too good of a player, and plus it hurts your team."

In the video below, ESPN analyst Antonio Pierce said: "If those things were said, that's wrong." But he also added that the Falcons' offensive line should take some ownership of the situation as well: "You have a job to do as an offensive lineman. If you don't want them to be dirty or hit your quarterback, keep him away."

Let's make our weekly comparison between the Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) and passer rating of each NFC North quarterback. In some cases, it can give us a deeper insight into how each quarterback performed. At the bottom of this post is a cumulative comparison of each metric.

Aaron Rodgers
Week 6 passer rating: 119.6
NFL rank: 1
Week 6 QBR: 91.9
NFL rank: 2
Comment: Rodgers received his second-highest QBR of the season even though the Packers went scoreless in the second half. His three touchdown passes in the second quarter established a lead the St. Louis Rams never threatened. If you want to know why the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (92.5) finished higher despite a 163-yard day: ESPN analytics reports Ryan received significant credit for two passes into the end zone that resulted in pass interference, giving the Falcons first-and-goal on each occasion. Ryan also completed all three of his third-down passes in the fourth quarter. That's the explanation I received.

Jay Cutler
Week 6 passer rating: 115.9
NFL rank: 2
Week 6 QBR: 91.4
NFL rank: 3
Comment: It was unanimous. Cutler had his best game of the season Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Donovan McNabb
Week 6 passer rating: 97.4
NFL rank: 5
Week 6 QBR: 23.2
NFL rank: 22
Comment: This is one occasion where I think QBR offers a more effective evaluation. Sure, McNabb completed almost 80 percent of his passes and didn't throw an interception. But he took five sacks, and the Vikings didn't score a touchdown until the third quarter of the game. McNabb wasn't effective moving the Vikings into scoring range.

Matthew Stafford
Week 6 passer rating: 86.5
NFL rank: 11
Week 6 QBR: 29.7
NFL rank: 20
Comment: Stafford absorbed a QBR beating, largely because he took five sacks and fumbled once. I thought it was probably Stafford's worst game of the season. Did 19 quarterbacks have a better game than him? I'm not sure about that.

After the Green Bay Packers' 25-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their win against the Falcons, the Packers take a seat in the examination room.
1. We more or less crowned quarterback Aaron Rodgers the league MVP in last week's edition of this post, so it would be hard to add any more hyperbole to his performance Sunday night. So let's move on to a whole new level of hype: Are the Packers going to go undefeated this season? No matter how well they've played to this point, I can't get remotely interested in that question until they are at least 10-0. And in Week 5, I don't know that we can even look ahead and place asterisks next to the teams who might pose the biggest challenge. It's all WAY, WAY too early.
2. We touched on a variety of issues in Sunday night's extended wrap-up post, but here's one we did not. Watching Roddy White's 5-yard touchdown reception Sunday night, I made a note to question what Packers cornerback Charles Woodson was doing on the play. You see Woodson pick up White at the middle of his crossing route. But when White veered into the end zone, Woodson ran upfield. Did he think he needed to cover someone in the flat? Did he believe quarterback Matt Ryan was about to run? As expected when it comes to Woodson, he 'fessed up and told reporters: "My eyes were in the backfield. But once that receiver comes under, I have to take him. That’s on me not making a football play."
3. The Packers have experience falling behind at the Georgia Dome, and in all seriousness, that was a big part of their ability to withstand a 14-point first-quarter onslaught Sunday night. If you remember, they trailed 10-3 in the second quarter during the 2010 regular season and 14-7 in the second quarter during their divisional playoff game. "There was no panic," Rodgers told reporters. "We just knew that games down here ... the last couple of games we've played down here have been similar. They've kind of started fast, got the momentum, got the crowd involved and we've had to kind of withstand that first wave of attack from them and, once we do, settle into the game, start making some plays and get back into the game."

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

I haven't decided if I'm bothered by coach Mike McCarthy's decision to go for a 2-point conversion with a little less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Packers held a 15-14 lead at the time, and the conversion would have left the Falcons unable to take a lead with a field goal. As it turned out, the failure left the Falcons in position to tie the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion once the Packers extended their lead to 22-14. You always want your opponent to need more than one score. But I also think McCarthy was supremely confident that his team still had some scoring left to do. That's the way the game felt at the time, and it proved correct. Sometimes you manage by the book, and other times by feel.

A few thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' comeback 25-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons:

What it means: The Packers improved to an NFL-best 5-0 after their most impressive performance of the season. The Packers also extended their winning streak to 11 games, dating to last season and including the playoffs. Now the Packers will watch Monday night to see if the Detroit Lions can match their record by defeating the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

Adversity football: That's a phrase coach Mike McCarthy uses often. Sunday night, the Packers faced their first two-touchdown deficit since midway through the 2009 season, trailing 14-0 with nearly four minutes remaining in the first quarter. They outscored the Falcons 25-0 the rest of the way. They also overcame the loss of left tackle Chad Clifton, who suffered what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury in the second quarter. The Packers finished the game with Marshall Newhouse moving from right tackle to left tackle and rookie Derek Sherrod at right tackle.

Newhouse praise: Newhouse looked pretty solid at left tackle, but don't take it from me. Here's what ESPN analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth tweeted during the game: " Newhouse is gonna be a star in this league at tackle I can't tell you how hard it is to switch from RT to LT and not skip a beat!"

Defensive shutdown: The Falcons rolled up 140 yards on their first two possessions, both of which ended in touchdowns. The Packers defense held them to 111 yards the rest of the way, and safety Charlie Peprah ended the Falcons' only legitimate scoring threat with an interception at the Packers' 14-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. They only sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan once, but they unofficially hit him seven times and clearly knocked him off his rhythm in the second quarter and beyond.

RodgersWatch: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished with 396 yards, bringing his two-week total to 804. He tied a Packers record by completing a pass to 12 different receivers. Only one skill-position player who was active for the game didn't catch a pass: Fourth-string tight end Ryan Taylor. We'll give him a pass.

JonesWatch: Receiver James Jones entered the game with nine catches for 88 yards. He complained briefly about his role in the offense but wisely waited his turn. His five-catch, 140-yard performance included a 70-yard touchdown. But I thought his best play came in the fourth quarter, when he made sure to stay in bounds near the sideline at the end of a 21-yard play.

FinleyWatch: Tight end Jermichael Finley had an odd night, dropping a touchdown pass in the second quarter and also a third-down opportunity in the third quarter. Finley failed to come up with a catchable two-point conversion pass as well. But his final catch, a 24-yarder in the fourth quarter, converted a third down and was critical in the Packers' efforts to run out the clock.

CrosbyWatch: Let's not forget that place-kicker Mason Crosby tied his franchise record with a 56-yard field goal on the Packers' second possession of the second half. The kick made the score 14-9. Had he missed it, the Falcons would have held their 14-6 lead while taking over near midfield.

What's next: The Packers will host the winless St. Louis Rams next Sunday at Lambeau Field. Six and oh, anybody?

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 5:

Ford Field debut: Unless you count last year's rescheduled game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, Monday night will mark the first prime-time regular-season game in the history of Ford Field. It's the Lions' first appearance on "Monday Night Football" since Oct. 8, 2001. This game against the Chicago Bears has long been sold out, and the Detroit Lions sold 2,000 extra standing-room-only seats. The building will be flush with people hoping to see more magic from the Lions and receiver Calvin Johnson, while also putting a three-game gap between the home team and its division rival. Here's a tip for those 2,000 of you trying to position yourselves in the stadium: Johnson has caught seven of his eight touchdown passes on the right side of the field this season. Just sayin'.

Protecting Cutler: What's the best way to keep Bears quarterback Jay Cutler off his back Monday night? Improved pass protection or minimal pass plays? I'm sure the Bears would like both, but they might have to settle for the former. The Lions have an opportunistic and feisty defense, but they can be run against. Through four games, opponents are averaging 4.8 yards per rush against them, the 10th-highest mark in the league. The Lions have a modest nine sacks this season, but the Bears don't want to take their chances against Ndamukong Suh & Co. As of this moment, it appears the Bears will have a different set of starters on the right side of their offensive line, including right tackle Frank Omiyale, who was benched last week against the Carolina Panthers. Run, Bears, run.

Quick starts: The Green Bay Packers scored 28 points in the second quarter of last year's divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons. That trend has continued in the 2011 season and would be the perfect avenue to taking out what will surely be an electric crowd Sunday night at the Georgia Dome. The Packers rank second in the NFL with 80 first-half points and are tied for the NFL lead with seven touchdown passes in the first half, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Receiver Greg Jennings has 17 first-half receptions, second in the NFL. There is no doubt the Packers will try to jump on the Falcons early, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them use their new no-huddle scheme to do so.

Getting outside: Why did the Falcons trade up in the draft to select receiver Julio Jones? Largely because the Packers' cornerback tandem of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams dominated their receivers on the outside in last year's pair of matchups. Woodson and Williams limited Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to 4.6 yards per attempt on passes outside the numbers, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and Ryan finished those two games with a cumulative Total Quarterback Rating of 3.2 on such passes. Both cornerbacks have struggled at times this season, Williams in part because of a bruised right shoulder, and it will be interesting to see whether the Falcons try to capitalize with Jones, who has 24 receptions in his first four NFL games.

So close: Will Sunday be the day the Vikings break the ice? They have been historically close so far; rarely has an NFL team started 0-4 by such a slim margin. The Vikings' four losses have come by a combined 19 points, fewer than all 0-4 teams since the 1970 merger except for the 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13) and the 1974 Detroit Lions (14), according to Elias Sports Bureau. I think that's why coach Leslie Frazier hasn't instituted personnel changes or shown any indication that he plans to veer from his original vision. He seemingly believes the Vikings have been too close in their four losses to merit an overhaul. Maybe all they need is a home game against a 1-3 opponent to get things started. Hello, Arizona Cardinals.

OK. Here goes.

I reacted forcefully Tuesday upon hearing news I honestly never expected. Never did I think the Minnesota Vikings would draft a quarterback No. 12 overall, declare him their Matt Ryan/Joe Flacco -- i.e., an instant starter on a veteran team -- and then acquire a veteran to start ahead of him just before training camp.

If anything, I anticipated the Vikings pursuing an experienced quarterback who could start if Christian Ponder wasn't ready, but would otherwise provide competent insurance as a backup.

And after mulling it for most of Wednesday, I think that's exactly what the Vikings did. Their trade for Donovan McNabb, completed a short time ago, requires us to recalibrate how most of us view McNabb at this stage of his career. He will offer a professional presence during whatever time Ponder needs on the sideline, if any, but McNabb should in no way be viewed as the Vikings' unquestioned starter for the 2011 season.

If McNabb starts Sept. 11 against the San Diego Chargers, he'll become only the third post-merger quarterback in the past 41 seasons to be a Week 1 starter for three different teams in consecutive years. Yes, Donovan McNabb -- a six-time Pro Bowler -- is now a quintessential journeyman.

(Hat tip to ESPN's Keith Hawkins for digging out that Elias stat.)

Think about how this all played out. The Washington Redskins wanted no part of McNabb, even at a time when merely capable quarterback play is a much-valued commodity. The Redskins are prepared to start fellow journeyman John Beck, and the best deal they could find for McNabb is one that guarantees only a sixth-round draft pick.

It's also important to note that multiple media reports, including one by Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com, have the Vikings first pursuing free agent Tyler Thigpen for this role. Thigpen is a former Vikings draft pick. He's started 12 games in his career and fits the profile we've been discussing.

McNabb might be an upgrade over Thigpen as a short-term starter, but how he will accept Ponder's eventual ascension is anyone's guess and probably had something to do with the delay between the preliminary agreement and the deal's completion.

McNabb would need a career renaissance to fulfill the expectations I'm hearing from some of you. He'll have a much stronger set of skill players to work with than he did in Washington, but he'll also have a fraction of the time to learn the Vikings' offense and develop the chemistry necessary for this transition.

So I don't think this is a terrible move, especially if the Vikings first tried and failed to sign Thigpen. They needed to add a veteran quarterback one way or the other.

I just don't think it changes the franchise's big-picture dynamic. Ponder will start when he is ready and possibly sooner. If McNabb can buy the Vikings a few extra weeks or months, then bully for everyone.

If there is a downside, it's that the Vikings have added a layer of consternation to the eventual transition. Barring a McNabb injury, Ponder will get his first start after one of these scenarios:

1. He beats out McNabb in training camp.
2. McNabb struggles.
3. McNabb plays well enough to keep the job but is cast aside anyway.

None of these scenarios would be painful if you substituted "Thigpen" for "McNabb." That's what we all need to get our heads around. The events of the past few days have told us this: In the summer of 2011, at least, Thigpen = McNabb.

I inadvertently left this week's "Have at It" topic a little vague, but I like where you guys and gals took it. In addressing which NFC North tailback combination would finish the 2011 season with the most combined yards, most of you included receiving production -- a smart move considering the expected disparity in this division's offensive schemes.

Along with you, I'm still getting used to our new conversation software. But my sense is that many of you sized up the situation and decided that the Minnesota Vikings' combination of Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart would lead the pack in 2011 from a statistical point.

Peterson put up 1,639 rushing/receiving yards on his own last season, and with an upcoming quarterback transition, it's safe to assume the Vikings will ride him more than ever in 2011. Peterson's total last year, in fact, wasn't much less on a per-game average than the Chicago Bears' tandem of Matt Forte and Chester Taylor (1,952 yards).

"Assuming that [offensive coordinator Bill] Musgrave will build his offense around Peterson, this is a no-brainer," wrote Nabicus. While Peterson and Gerhart will face defenses stacked against the run, wrote dragonkeeper0209, "they have no other choice but to run the ball."

Wocomule52 noted that the Vikings have "perhaps the best running back in the league" who will be "the focal point of their offense" but wondered if Forte/Taylor might finish with more total yards given their roles in Mike Martz's passing offense as well as the Bears' quarterback advantage.

"The Bears have two great pass-catching running backs," wrote wocomule52, and workdaddy1877 added: "I think Lovie [Smith] understands in order for the Bears to be successful Forte needs to touch the ball quite a bit. If Taylor can improve just slightly then I can see the Bears finishing first in total yards. If Forte receives between 300-315 touches (he was at 288 last year) then it will be really close."

Most of all, noted drew_d2, "there is no easy answer." But I thought drew_d2 offered an interesting argument for the Detroit Lions' duo of Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure -- in essence, the Lions will have the top No. 2 back in the division: "Best isn't the best #1 option, but Leshoure is a very good #2 option and might even be better than Best."

Colin3451 thinks Best and Leshoure "could easily turn out to be the best RB tandem" in the division but has a hard time envisioning them as the most productive: "The Vikings will [be], but they'll also have the lowest YPC average. The Bears will have the same problem in YPC. Detroit won't run the ball enough to have the most yards...."

Finally, the Green Bay Packers have a few questions yet to answer about their presumed grouping of Ryan Grant and James Starks. Will Grant be back to his 1,200-yard form? Will it also include free agents Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn? How will rookies Alex Green and Randall Cobb fit in? And how much will coach/playcaller Mike McCarthy actually utilize his running backs?

Jesse.nile had a smart thought in the Packers' favor: "Starks tore it up towards the end of last season and in the postseason. With the addition of Grant this season I see them tearing off huge runs when teams line up in nickel and dime defenses to deal with all the passing threats the Packers have."

My take? I think we hit on a really interesting theme for the 2011 season, whenever it arrives. Who knows? Maybe we'll have to add a "Stomp and Grind" feature to pair with "Air and Space."

As for the matter at hand, I'm presuming the Vikings are going to start rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. Musgrave has some experience in this situation. Three years ago, Musgrave was the Atlanta Falcons' quarterbacks coach. The Falcons started rookie Matt Ryan in Week 1, and in 16 regular season games, they gave tailback Michael Turner a whopping 376 carries. Backup Jerious Norwood had another 95, and together they combined for 2,567 rushing/receiving yards.

I'm not saying Peterson and Gerhart will approach that title, but my guess is Musgrave will do everything he can along those lines. Forte/Taylor are serious candidates for this mystical title, but I'm thinking Martz will balance out his offense more than Musgrave will be able to.

To be continued on a blog near you on the other side of this lockout ...

The coach of the Super Bowl champions notes the Detroit Lions are "definitely a football team that the rest of the NFL needs to be aware of."

The Lions use their top three draft picks on exciting playmakers who each add to a roster strength.

A respected statistical analyst demonstrates the team's quantum jump in 2010 and the likely impact of its draft class. Another describes the likelihood for elite play on the defensive line.

The franchise quarterback, sidelined for much of the past two years by injuries, is bigger, stronger and zipping the ball all over the field during player-organized workouts.

Upwards of 40 players show up for at least a portion of those workouts.

The HBO reality series "Hard Knocks" reportedly gives its stamp of approval by gauging the franchise's interest in participating this year.

Even rock star Bob Seger gets into the act, dedicating a song to Lions coach Jim Schwartz during a Detroit-area concert and declaring: "The Lions are going to the playoffs!"

I'm not impressed by the Lions' business decisions during the NFL lockout. But that sentiment shouldn't distract from the undeniable buzz developing around the team this spring. It's a truly modern version of hype, sparked by a four-game winning streak last season after a 2-10 start, stoked through Internet discussion and continuing through an offseason that remains incomplete for all teams.

Our job is to determine whether the Lions warrant the now-trendy notion they will contend for the playoffs in 2011. Are they an explosive offensive team with an elite defensive front? Or are they a still-rebuilding franchise, one that is merely benefiting from disproportionate name recognition thanks to years of high positioning in the draft?

My instinct is to place a cold compress or two on Lions Fever, at least in advance of a presumed free-agency period during which the Lions ostensibly must strengthen deficiencies at cornerback and outside linebacker. Moreover, their division includes the NFC's top two teams from 2010, and their 2011 schedule opens with road games in three of the first four weeks.

With that said, spring should be a time for hope, optimism and, most of all, positivity. (Even from me, especially during the lockout.) Instead of looking at Lions Fever through the prism of possible pratfalls, let's carve into stone a few goals that must be fulfilled in order for the Lions to make their first playoff appearance in 14 years.

1. Finishing must be a habit. The Lions lost 10 of their first 12 games last season, but six of those defeats came by a margin of five points or fewer. Then, suddenly, all four victories in their season-ending winning streak were decided by one score. The Lions clearly learned how to close out games in a way they couldn't during the first 12 games, whether it was linebacker DeAndre Levy's game-changing interception against the Miami Dolphins or tailback Maurice Morris' late-game runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Schwartz repeatedly has said this offseason that the successes of one season can't be expected to carry over to the next. But this is one asset the Lions must maintain in their institutional memories after a decade of fostering a losing culture.

2. Someone else in the NFC North needs to slip or stay down. Responding to our initial Lions Fever post, reemer2104 wrote: "I'd be more excited about the playoff possibility if the Lions were in the NFC West. The North could be one of -- if not the -- best divisions in football next year so even a 10-6 record could land you in third and out of a playoff spot."

I'm not suggesting that the Packers or Chicago Bears need to implode, or the Minnesota Vikings need to remain in transition, for the Lions to be a good team. But their chances of joining two other NFC North teams in the playoffs aren't great. Since the NFL implemented its eight-division format in 2002, we've seen two instances of three playoff teams from the same division: The 2007 AFC South and the 2006 NFC East.

Asked about our competitive division this winter, Schwartz again cautioned against assuming carryover.

"It's something you're used to dealing with in the NFL," he said. "[In 2010], everybody was talking about Minnesota and the Super Bowl and they were basically bringing their entire team back, and it didn't work out as well for them. ... You can never anticipate what happens.

"I think we have gained a little bit of confidence in our division. We played Chicago -- they were a final four team -- and we played them really close, less than a touchdown both times. We split with Green Bay and played a tough game at Lambeau and we haven't played a good game out there in awhile. It's business as usual in the NFL -- everybody's good, everybody's dangerous and every coach can find a way where every team can potentially beat them.''

3. Quarterback Matthew Stafford must stay on the field. Stafford arrived in Detroit with the raw skills of an elite quarterback, but to me the point is not so much whether Stafford develops into a Pro Bowler in 2011 but whether he can provide continuity at the game's most important position.

As well as Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton played last season, an emotional swing and a game-planning adjustment take place whenever any franchise quarterback is sidelined. Typically, the change isn't conducive to a playoff run.

Take last season's 12 playoff teams as an example. Stafford missed as many games last season (13) as the primary quarterbacks of those 12 teams combined. The continuity on those playoff teams was no coincidence. The only team that endured any sort of quarterback transition was the Philadelphia Eagles, who had what can reasonably be called a non-traditional backup in Michael Vick.

With continuity at quarterback from the first day of training camp, the Lions would be in position to maximize the exceptional set of skill players they have accumulated over the past three years. Their offense could be as explosive as any in the NFL.

4. Twelve teams must be wrong about defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Much of Lions Fever can be attributed to the addition of an elite interior disruptor to what was already a powerful defensive line.

At one point in the pre-draft process, Fairley was on the Carolina Panthers' list as a possible No. 1 overall pick. His skill set hasn't changed since then, but obviously there were enough concerns about his work habits and demeanor to drop him to the Lions' position at No. 13 overall.

If the Lions can coax elite production from Fairley, it's reasonable to believe their line will further elevate and protect the rest of the defense. But if the concerns of other teams prove justified, the Lions will have a defense that once again can be exploited by upper-end quarterbacks. Their schedule not only includes two matchups apiece with Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler, but also games against Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Tony Romo and Matt Cassel.

5. The Lions must find or develop reliable starters for at least some of the five apparent openings they have on defense -- two at outside linebacker, two at cornerback and one at safety. Help could come via free agency or internally, but let's at least note that this offseason hasn't been conducive to the type of work that helps young players develop. So any hope for a big leap from, say, cornerback Alphonso Smith is reliant on that player's individual work away from coaches.

Regardless, as the charts show, the Lions finished last season with one of the league's worst nickel defenses and least impactful group of linebackers. There are a number of ways to address those issues, but future personnel improvement must be part of the solution.

6. The Lions must squeeze another year out of an offensive line that largely has gone unaddressed during this rebuilding process. Wrote Yjacket2000: "I'd still like to see the Lions spend draft picks the next two years on the O-line like they've spent the last two years on the D-line. The game of football is all about the lines, and if they improve there like they have the D-line, that, in my opinion, could be the difference between being a playoff contender and a perennial powerhouse."

Right tackle Gosder Cherilus must return from serious knee surgery, unless the Lions believe that Corey Hilliard or Jason Fox could step in for him. Left tackle Jeff Backus, who turns 34 in September, and center Dominic Raiola, 32, must maintain their current levels of play.

If anyone could reliably predict an NFL season, Las Vegas would get out of the football betting business. So let's not pretend that we can say on May 26 whether the Lions will make the playoffs. But I think we should agree that the foundation for Lions Fever is real and grounded. It's reasonable to envision a path to the playoffs. In fact, we just did it.

Last year: The Packers ultimately justified their spring status as a Super Bowl contender.

You might have forgotten amid the NFL's labor chaos, but on a much quieter day last week I asked you for some help in this week's installment of the ESPN.com offseason positional Power Rankings. Namely: Where should I rank quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who solidified his status as an elite quarterback last season during the Green Bay Packers' run to Super Bowl XLV.

Your 791 comments were all over the map, but in the end I saw nothing to dissuade me from my original intent. I ranked Rodgers No. 2 behind Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. As it turns out, however, I was the only voter among our eight-man committee to do so. As we suspected he might, Rodgers finished fourth after Brady, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

(NFC West colleague Mike Sando and Paul Kuharsky of the AFC South both ranked Rodgers No. 3.)

There is no doubt that Manning and Brees have produced success over a longer period of time than Rodgers. But their histories shouldn't be held against Rodgers in a ranking based on the present. Who would you want as your quarterback right now? When you peel away the weight of their longer careers, Rodgers compares favorably to both Manning and Brees.

Take a look at the chart accompanying this post. Rodgers has a higher career passer rating than either Manning or Brees. He's averaged more yards per attempt, a key and historic measurement of downfield success, has thrown about the same amount of touchdowns per attempt as Manning and has thrown fewer interceptions per attempt than either Manning or Brady.

Manning by far has a better regular-season winning percentage, but ultimately all three quarterbacks have one Super Bowl championship under their belt. (And only Rodgers has The Belt.)

Look, rankings of elite players are fun and silly but ultimately irrelevant offseason talk. If you gave me one quarterback to build my 2011 team around, I wouldn't complain about Brady, Rodgers, Manning or Brees. But if we have to choose, and in this case I did, there is substantial quantitative support for Rodgers to stand just behind Brady.

For the record, here is how I voted:

1. Tom Brady
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Peyton Manning
4. Drew Brees
5. Philip Rivers
6. Ben Roethlisberger
7. Michael Vick
8. Matt Ryan
9. Matt Schaub
10. Josh Freeman

I was in favor of including trades in ESPN.com's third annual Blog Network mock draft, but the consensus was they would further cloud the muddy snapshot we already have of this draft. After all, with three days remaining until the first round begins, it isn't totally clear who the Carolina Panthers will take with the No. 1 overall pick -- let alone who will follow at No. 2, No. 3 and so on.

As a result, my goal was to make the best pick for each NFC North team regardless of the slot I was drafting in. It left me taking a leap from conventional wisdom for one team but also put me in position to provide the other three teams what would seem to be near-ideal scenarios. My picks, which we made last week, and explanations are below. Some picks took longer to justify than others:

12. Minnesota Vikings
My pick: TCU quarterback Andy Dalton
Simmer down: About five minutes after filing my pick, a colleague called and (jokingly, I think) asked how I felt about taking a third-round player with the No. 12 overall pick. That sentiment helps illustrate my first reason for taking any quarterback, let alone Dalton, at this spot.

The quarterback position has grown to the point where it can't be valued along the same lines as other positions. I don't have an exact formula for the comparison. But to me, having merely an above-average quarterback is more important than having a 10-sack man at defensive end or a 10-year fixture at left tackle. Without competent quarterback play, those 10 sacks and that stability on the line can carry a team only so far.

The Vikings have needs at positions other than quarterback, but they won't move forward as a franchise without beginning the process of building toward a long-term answer at the position. Recent history has shown us that teams in similar situations almost always need to use a first-round pick to ensure themselves a player who has the potential to fill that role. In fact, 20 of the NFL's 32 teams finished last season with a starter acquired via the first round. The Denver Broncos could unveil No. 21 (Tim Tebow) this season.

I'm not necessarily suggesting that Dalton, or any of the other quarterbacks who remained after Auburn's Cam Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert left the board, is the 12th-best player in the draft. I'm saying you throw out conventional rankings when you're in a situation like the Vikings' and recognize that getting a long-term starter at quarterback is worth the No. 12 overall pick.

Trading down was not an option, and I'm not sure I would have done it if it were. The Vikings aren't the only team in this situation, and chances are a team they partner with to trade down will be in search of a quarterback themselves. The Vikings' lack of a third-round pick leaves them with limited value to send in return, and their chances of even a second-tier prospect being available with their second-round pick at No. 43 overall is limited at best.

Why Dalton? I won't pretend to have evaluated his film, or that I would have known what to look for even if I had. I landed on him in part after crossing out a few other options.

We've discussed the accuracy issues of Washington's Jake Locker before. Put it this way: If he improves substantially at the NFL level, he'll be the exception to the rule. Arkansas' Ryan Mallett doesn't strike me as leader material. And in comparison to Florida State's Christian Ponder and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, I thought Dalton had the best chance to excel in an offensive system that will be similar to what the Atlanta Falcons installed with rookie quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008.

To be clear, this is the worst-case scenario to be in. Quarterback is the one position where need has to trump value. For those of you who think the Vikings should wait until next season, you're assuming they'll be in a better draft spot than No. 12 or that the annually limited college supply will somehow be enhanced in 2011. The Vikings have put themselves in this position by willfully ignoring the reality of Brett Favre's impending retirement. To me, they haven't given themselves much choice in the 2011 first round.

13. Detroit Lions

Amukamara

My pick: Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara
Breathe easy: Admittedly, my head was spinning when this pick arrived after all the possibilities we've discussed. Every offensive lineman was available except for USC's Tyron Smith. Unsurprisingly, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers had slipped out of the top 10. Two of the top three cornerbacks, Amukamara and Colorado's Jimmy Smith, were on the board. Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith was gone, but several other defensive ends -- including Bowers, Wisconsin's J.J. Watt and Cal's Cam Jordan -- were still there.

In the end, I did what I imagine Lions general manager Martin Mayhew would do -- take a deep breath and calmly make a defensible decision. I won't begin to tell you that I know for sure that Amukamara is the best player among those remaining, or that the Lions agree with media analysts who suggest he is the second-best cornerback in the draft. But based on the information we have, and the indisputable evidence that cornerback is the Lions' biggest need, it sure seems a logical choice to make.

29. Chicago Bears

Carimi

My pick: Wisconsin offensive Gabe Carimi
Jump for joy: Truth be told, I almost botched this pick. Carimi wasn't among the players I planned on choosing from. To me, this is the value of an eight-person mock as opposed to a single drafter. You have different ideas and different philosophies weaved throughout the round, much like the actual draft.

I don't think there is any doubt the Bears want to upgrade their offensive line, and if their evaluation is anywhere close to that of most media analysts, they'll jump at the chance to get Carimi at No. 29. He would have an excellent chance to start right away, probably at right tackle, and would give the Bears some immediate structure to their cloudy personnel arrangement along the line.

Last year at this time, few media analysts thought Iowa's Bryan Bulaga would fall into the final third of the draft. But he did, and the Green Bay Packers -- who, like the Bears, had an acute need for offensive linemen -- wasted little time turning in their draft card. I see a similar situation should Carimi still be available when the Bears hop on the clock.

32. Green Bay Packers

Sherrod

My pick: Mississippi State offensive lineman Derek Sherrod
Nod your head: Offensive linemen were slower to go than expected in this mock, leaving two of our teams with opportunities to fill needs here. The Bears would get an immediate starter in Carimi, and the Packers could do the same with Sherrod.

Sherrod would give the Packers a number of short- and long-term options. He could conceivably play left guard if Daryn Colledge doesn't return. In the long run, he could be an option at right tackle if Bulaga eventually moves to the left side.

In either event, don't expect Packers general manager Ted Thompson to pass on a more talented player in order to draft an outside linebacker, where the Packers have a greater short-term need. If Sherrod ranks higher than the remaining linebackers on the board -- and in this draft, UCLA's Akeem Ayers wasn't available -- he could without question draft a player like Sherrod.

I've watched as the Cam Newton conversation has escalated and, most would say, devolved into personal attacks and accusations of racism. There's no doubt that any team deciding whether to draft the Auburn quarterback, including the Minnesota Vikings, has watched it unfold as well.

Character is subject to opinion, and it's fair to question the motives of someone making a harsh judgment. But ultimately, the entire conversation is relevant to the extent that it impacts Newton's performance on the field. So let's go there. What objective measures can we take of Newton's character and intangible abilities to be a quarterback?

First, we have to remember that Newton was the quarterback on two different teams that won national championships. In 2009, he took Blinn (Texas) College to the NJCAA National Football Championship. This past season, he led Auburn to the BCS national championship.

It's possible that his personality has rubbed some people the wrong way, but to me, championships are the best tangible evidence of leadership we can find. You could argue that Newton's raw athletic ability simply overpowered opponents, but to me there is too much that goes into a college season to credit one supremely talented player for a title. Maybe in high school, and possibly junior college, but not at the level of the SEC.

I wasn't inside Auburn's locker room last season, or Blinn's the year before, but you would have to stack up a lot of hard evidence for me to convince me that Newton isn't a leader of some measure. If any specific examples have been cited, I've missed them.

Second, as you know, we here at ESPN.com get the enormous benefit of statistics that help us pull back the curtain on a player's performance. Everything must be taken in context, of course, but our friends at ESPN Stats & Information have circulated some information that reflects a higher level of so-called "football intelligence" than some of Newton's detractors might suggest.

For starters, Newton completed 73.5 percent of his passes last season against the blitz in conference games. He threw five touchdowns and did not throw an interception. For context, consider that Missouri's Blaine Gabbert, the other top quarterback in this draft, completed 44.8 percent of his passes in the same situation.

There are plenty of possible explanations for why Newton threw so efficiently against the blitz. His offensive line could have blocked exceptionally well. His scheme might have lent itself to friendly dump-off passes. But it could also be a hint -- gasp! -- of football intelligence, an ability to process a defensive alignment quickly and make a positive play based on a combination of instincts and scheme knowledge.

This much is clear: Generally speaking, the best quarterbacks in the NFL are usually the best at handling the blitz. In 2010, for example, here were the top seven NFL quarterbacks against the blitz based on passer rating:

1. Tom Brady
2. Tony Romo
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. Matt Cassel
5. Josh Freeman
6. Ben Roethlisberger
7. Matt Ryan

Here's another measure we can consider: pocket passing. Someone (like me) who doesn't watch a ton of college football might have an impression of Newton as a freelancing athlete who prefers to run if given an opportunity. Similar quarterbacks rarely succeed in the NFL because of the complex passing decisions they'll ultimately have to make in a pro system.

So for what it's worth, Newton also outperformed Gabbert when it came to making traditional throws from the pocket. In conference games last season, Newton completed 67.6 percent of his pocket throws for 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Gabbert completed 61.1 percent, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

I realize Newton and Gabbert played in much different schemes last season, making the comparison something less than apples to apples. But I still think it's instructive to compare Newton's pocket performance against the quarterback who seems to be considered the more "polished" player.

I have no idea what type of personality Newton has, whether he was well-liked by his teammates or if they simply tolerated him. And I also acknowledge that character, leadership qualities and football intelligence are critical to the success of an NFL quarterback.

But here we have a quarterback who has won consecutive national championships, who handled blitzes well against some of the fastest defenses in the country last season, and who was a better pocket passer than the presumptive top quarterback in the draft. Shouldn't we at least give that kind of resume the benefit of the doubt? It's not necessarily racist to question Newton on those qualities. It just doesn't fit the objective facts as we know them.

Related: NFC South colleague Pat Yasinskas writes that the Carolina Panthers should take Newton with the No. 1 overall pick.