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Mike Ditka's final season as a player for the Chicago Bears was in 1966. His last season as their coach was 1992. So why did it take 47 years after his departure as a player, and 21 years after his final season as the coach, to retire the number of one of the most recognizable figures in team history?

A small part of the explanation could be the sheer size and breadth of the Bears' history. Before retiring Ditka's No. 89, a move the team announced Friday, the Bears already had the most retired numbers in the NFL (Ditka's is the team's 14th). I chuckled Friday morning when punter Adam Podlesh tweeted: "BREAKING: The NFL finally gives Bears the nod to use fractions and decimal points on jerseys after the last whole number is retired #iwantpi"

If you retired every deserving number in Bears history, there wouldn't be many left over for the current team.

But I think we all know that more than numbers were in play here. Ditka alluded to it during a morning appearance on ESPN Radio, noting the efforts of Bears chairman George McCaskey to reach out after succeeding his brother, Michael, in 2011. Michael McCaskey, of course, was running the Bears when Ditka was fired as coach.

"I never left" the Bears organization, Ditka said, but added: "I think what happened is they made a decision based on what they wanted to do. They had a right to make that decision. It hurts. It always hurts when there is a separation or divorce.

"But when George took over running the Bears and he called me, him and [team president] Ted Phillips and I met with him. I think [the meeting] was so cordial. George is a special guy. He probably had a little bit more vision than somebody else. But that didn't matter. That's not important to me. Whatever it is, it is. … I am very, very honored. That's the bottom line."

The ceremony will take place Dec. 9 at Soldier Field, when the Bears will host a "Monday Night Football" game (on ESPN!) against the Dallas Cowboys. It should be a great night.

Note: The video of Ditka's radio appearance is at the top of this post. Here is the link to the audio version if you prefer that.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Thursday, we broached the topic of whether the Chicago Bears would retire the number of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. As it turns out, the team is dealing with a backlog on that issue.

Almost a half-century after playing his final game with the team, Mike Ditka will have his No. 89 retired this season, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. (The Bears have since confirmed the report.) As Biggs explains, Ditka has had his ups and downs with the franchise after both his playing career and coaching tenure the latter of which brought the Bears a Super Bowl championship in 1985.

It's the first such gesture by the Bears since 1994.

Modern-day fans might remember Ditka as a coach, but I wonder how many know that he was the No. 5 overall pick of the 1961 draft and went to five Pro Bowls in his first six seasons. He was a two-time All-Pro, still ranks first on the Bears' all-time receiving list for tight ends and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Congratulations to Da Coach, who is now an ESPN analyst.

Let's continue our morning tour around the NFC North:

• Former Bears coach Lovie Smith on Urlacher, via ESPNChicago.com: "[H]is physical play is just a small part of what made Brian great. People knew he called our defense, but his intelligence was never given its just due. His understanding of the game is among the best who has ever played it."
• Former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon on playing for Bears coach Marc Trestman, via Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: "The big thing for Jay Cutler is just realizing that you have an unbelievable opportunity here to work with a guy who has really had success with quarterbacks. You have to ask yourself, 'Why has he had this success?'"
• Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Greenwood, who missed his rookie year because of an injury, is ready for his second chance. More from Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Lions special-teams ace Ashlee Palmer is hoping for an expanded role on defense this season, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Technique development is the first step for Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah, according to Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Former Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan has plenty to keep him busy in retirement, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Nick Perry’s rookie season wasn’t a total injury washout, but the Green Bay Packers still can’t say he’s successfully made the transition from a college defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL."
• Vikings defensive end Jared Allen knows that 2013 could be his final year with the team. Allen, via Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune: "I pray about it. I talk to my wife. And we'll end up going where the good Lord takes us. But I don’t know where that path is headed."
• Ben Goessling of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has an interesting profile of new Vikings punter Jeff Locke, who is an intellect in his own right.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We're down to five unsigned draft choices here in the NFC North after the Chicago Bears wrapped up contracts for their 2013 class over the weekend. First-round draft pick Kyle Long agreed to terms on a four-year deal, with a team option for a fifth, a move that gets 30 of this division's 35 draft picks under contract.

Those unsigned include four first-round picks and one second-rounder. They include the Minnesota Vikings' Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson; and the Green Bay Packers' Datone Jones and Eddie Lacy.

Unsigned draft choices are free to participate in offseason programs and in essence have until the start of training camp before their contracts become an issue.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears fans should realize their team is in the same boat with backup quarterback Josh McCown as most of the NFL, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. Pompei: "As quarterback play has become more important, the notion of a backup superhero has become increasingly quaint. There are more desirable ones than McCown, certainly. But not many."
• Former Bears coach Mike Ditka checks in with the Chicago Sun-Times on Jay Cutler's football IQ and other issues.
• Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch said that former Lions receiver Titus Young confided in him about mental illness. Tulloch would not specify Young's issues, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions' upcoming organized team activities should begin to answer the team's questions, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Free-agent defensive back Charles Woodson isn't opposed to playing for the Lions, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com. The question is to what extent the Lions would have interest.
• Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop is pledging to be "110 percent" by the time training camp begins, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Bishop is still recovering from a torn hamstring muscle suffered last summer.
• Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "The greatest mistake I made in my life was to coach. It's a great lesson that could apply to any of us. Because I didn't plan to, I hadn't prepared to. And I didn't have the guts to say to the Green Bay Packers, 'Thank you, but no thank you. I'm not going to do it.' I wasn't prepared, and it showed over the first few years. I felt very, very badly about that."
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on rookie Packers running backs Lacy and Johnathan Franklin: "It’s entirely possible both will be used extensively this season and complement each other while giving Aaron Rodgers and his receivers some room to breathe."
• Vikings cornerback Chris Cook says he is ready to handle opponents' top receivers. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com has more.
• Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson was part of a journalism boot camp earlier this month, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• Neighbors of the new Vikings stadium have mixed reviews, writes Richard Meryhew of the Star Tribune.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin will be back at the team's facility for at least one day soon to conduct his exit interview and physical. In speaking to reporters Tuesday, coach Leslie Frazier continued to downplay Harvin's departure from the team after he was placed on injured reserve and said he "coexists peacefully" with the franchise.

The Vikings have a decision to make this offseason on Harvin, who has one year remaining on his contract and thus could be in line for a contract extension. My sense on him remains the same: He might require more personal maintenance than most players, but he also produces more game-changing plays than most players.

That's not uncommon when it comes to building NFL teams. You deal with issues provided there is a reasonable reward. In Harvin's case, there is. He is too good of a player, and at 24 he is too young, to give up on.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Expectations for the Vikings in 2013 are raised, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Star Tribune offers seven offseason topics for the Vikings to consider, including pending free agents.
• Frazier wants veteran defensive players Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield to return in 2013, according to Ben Goessling of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Running back DuJuan Harris could be the Green Bay Packers' unsung playoff hero, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers receiver Jordy Nelson (knee) did not practice Tuesday, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. The Packers' first injury report of the week is due Wednesday.
• The Packers have changed their offensive identity, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Chicago Bears' assistant coaching staff is playing the waiting game, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Former Bears coach Mike Ditka is glad the team is considering special teams coaches in its coaching search, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune believes that interviewing Mike Singletary for the Bears' top job is a mistake.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com grades the Detroit Lions' special teams.
• The Lions believe that defensive end Ronnell Lewis will be a pass-rushing factor in 2013, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions receiver Nate Burleson told NFL Network, via Josh Kaztenstein of the Detroit News, that he was surprised the team let receivers coach Shawn Jefferson go.

DETROIT -- As we await kickoff here at Ford Field, I just want to pass along some great news: Former Chicago Bears coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka has been released from the hospital. Ditka suffered a minor stroke Friday and is not appearing in his usual Sunday morning role on the network. We'll, of course, keep you updated on Ditka's condition whenever we receive updates.

A few Saturday afternoon updates before starting the trek to Detroit:

• The Detroit Lions have activated cornerback Drayton Florence from short-term injured reserve and created a roster spot by placing safety Amari Spievey (concussion) on injured reserve. Florence will play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, it's fair to question Spievey's future. He's not ready to resume playing a month after suffering a concussion. Last season, a concussion he suffered in the playoffs did not clear until spring practice.
• The Chicago Bears have ruled out three players from Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. We already knew about quarterback Jay Cutler and defensive end Shea McClellin, both of whom have concussions. The Bears also won't have defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (toe). Everyone else will be available, including receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand).
• Former Bears coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka, who suffered a minor stroke Friday, is hoping to be released from the hospital in time to watch Sunday's games.

ESPN NFL analyst Mike Ditka, who played for the Chicago Bears and coached both the Bears and New Orleans Saints, suffered a minor stroke.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 11:

History rules: The Green Bay Packers have won 12 of their past 13 games against the Detroit Lions and 14 of their past 16, dating to the start of the 2004 season. Their most recent loss came in 2010, a game quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't finish because he suffered a concussion. Most every bit of conventional wisdom suggests the Packers, coming off their bye, are in the driver's seat heading into this game. All 14 ESPN experts have picked them to win, and Green Bay is a 3.5-point favorite on the road. The Packers are also riding an eight-game winning streak in NFC North games, the second-longest active streak in division games in the NFL. Of course, we all know what can happen when we rely on history and conventional wisdom.

Indoor dominance: While we're on the subject of conventional wisdom, it's worth updating the Packers' elevated performance when they play indoors under coach Mike McCarthy, as they will Sunday at Ford Field. Overall, they are 17-7 in domes since McCarthy's tenure began in 2006 and have averaged 30.7 points in those games. Rodgers owns an NFL-record 117.0 passer rating in his career indoors. In his past eight indoor games, including the playoffs, he has put up these incredible numbers: 71 percent completion percentage, an average of 327.9 yards per game, 25 touchdowns and one interception. No wonder he prefers playing indoors so much.

Lions' opportunity: Could the Lions make this game a shootout? They certainty have the personnel in place. Receiver Calvin Johnson has been affected by injuries but still managed to put up a 200-yard game as recently as last week against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers will be playing without their two most important defensive players, cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews, and will have five rookies playing prominent roles Sunday. To make this a high-scoring affair, the Lions will have to overcome a near-season-long problem of slow starts. Did you know that all 11 of quarterback Matthew Stafford's touchdown passes this season have come when the Lions were trailing? I didn't until ESPN Stats & Information pointed it out. When the score differential is fewer than 10 points, Stafford has completed 59.6 percent of his passes and thrown seven interceptions. Facing a deficit of 10 points or more, he has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown only one interception.

Tough trip: The Chicago Bears haven't won in San Francisco since their Super Bowl year of 1985, having lost the ensuing seven games at Candlestick Park by a combined score of 239-42. Although there was no shame in a close loss at home to the Houston Texans, the Bears haven't spurred much confidence among national experts. ESPN's 14-person/machine crew almost unanimously picked the 49ers; the lone holdout was former Bears coach Mike Ditka.

Campbell profile: The Bears announced Friday that Jason Campbell will make the start at quarterback because of Jay Cutler's concussion. For what it's worth, Campbell's recent history suggests he has the type of approach that could help the Bears win this game. He has the NFL's lowest average distance on throws since the start of the 2008 season (6.6 air yards per attempt), but that relatively careful approach has helped him compile a pretty impressive career touchdown-interception ratio of 74 to 50. A careful approach, with few mistakes, might not be a bad formula for this game. Campbell is 10-5 in his last 15 starts dating to 2010.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Something is different about the Chicago Bears this season, and it's not just their potential for an explosive offense. As Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune writes, coach Lovie Smith is physically rejuvenated, having dropped 29 pounds over the past 12 months. Healthy and calm as always, Smith is in position to be among the longest-tenured coaches in Bears history.

Smith said he is "on a health kick like I've never been on in my life." Pompei notes there are no signs of the physical stress and mental fatigue that punctuated the final years of former coach Mike Ditka's reign in Chicago. If he makes it through the 2014 season, Smith will tie Ditka as the second-longest tenured coach in Bears history after George Halas.

Pompei: "If Ditka was starting to burn out in his ninth season, Smith has reignited his fire. Smith has continued to work well with people around him, both newcomers and holdovers. There are no external signs that he has been on the job too long. In fact, he has the enthusiasm of a high school cheerleader. He doesn't drink alcohol, coffee or pop but seems impervious to the stress and fatigue that eats up NFL coaches. Smith rolls with it, and being a flat-liner has its benefits. He could live longer than he otherwise might have, both as coach of the Bears and as a human being, as a result."

I've always thought one of Smith's most admirable qualities is his consistently calm demeanor, both on the sideline and on the practice field. I know some fans are frustrated by what they consider a lack of fire, but I really think players appreciate that he offers a consistent daily approach.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears defensive tackle Amobi Okoye received $600,000 on his way out of Tampa Bay a few days ago, according to my NFC South colleague Pat Yasinskas.
• The Bears have not discussed a new contract for quarterback Jay Cutler, whose deal expires after the 2013 season, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Injuries are a factor now for the Bears, writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is predicting a 10-6 season for the Green Bay Packers. McGinn: "In analyzing this team, there are a few too many weaknesses without readily discernible solutions."
• The Packers are comfortable with a thin group of seven offensive linemen on their 53-man roster, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged this might be his final season with receiver Greg Jennings, who is a pending free agent. Via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com, Rodgers said: "I think you have to think about whether or not there's room for all of us. If there's not, obviously you wish Greg the best. He's a great guy and will be a great friend."
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press gets to know new Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams, who once blew up mailboxes with firecrackers.
• Vikings middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley is a riddle, writes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
• The Detroit Lions got under the NFL salary cap by restructuring the contract of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• The crew at Mlive.com debates whether the Lions' secondary is ready to step up this season.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "The Lions don't even try to disguise their intent anymore. Would Jim Schwartz and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan like to develop a running game? Well, sure. But virtually every move the Lions make, every offensive player general manager Martin Mayhew adds, is done with the goal of maximizing [Calvin] Johnson's ability to affect a game."
• Check here for season predictions on the Lions from the Detroit Free Press.

Chicago Bears

With the coaching staff looking to add a special offensive package featuring Devin Hester, the Bears plan to cut down on his kickoff returns in favor of punt-return duty, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The Bears and Packers will add a new facet to their rivalry June 18 when current and former players from both sides -- including Mike Ditka, Richard Dent, Mason Crosby and Lynn Dickey -- hit the links at Medinah Country Club for the "Rivalry Cup."

Detroit Lions

Despite suffering two concussions in a two-month span last season, running back Jahvid Best is eager to get back to full speed -- and not worried about another head injury. "There's no real point to thinking about it," said Best, who has not yet been cleared for contact. "I mean, I'm not impaired or anything."

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham tells the Detroit Free Press that he'll occasionally move Ndamukong Suh from his customary spot at left defensive tackle to right defensive tackle in an effort to boost Suh's sack totals.

The Lions brought back receiver Maurice Stovall, who caught one pass in 15 games last season, on a one-year contract and cut receiver Jared Karstetter.

Green Bay Packers

Defensive end Mike Neal said the four-game suspension levied against him by the NFL was for his use of Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. He's also battled obsessive-compulsive disorder, he tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers talks about his "obsessively competitive" attitude, last season's disappointing end and more in a Q&A with Tyler Dunne.

Minnesota Vikings

Receiver Percy Harvin, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and linebacker Chad Greenway, who missed some time last week due to a family matter, both participated in organized team activities Tuesday, the Vikings' official site reported.

The Vikings signed A.J. Love, an undrafted rookie wide receiver from South Florida.

In four seasons as the Green Bay Packers' starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers has missed two starts. One was the result of a concussion, and the other a coaching decision in Week 17 of 2011. Otherwise, Rodgers has started 62 of a possible 64 games, winning a Super Bowl and (likely) an MVP award along the way.

That resume was enough for ESPN.com's panel of 20 Hall of Fame players to make him a member of the "Any Era" team that has been rolling out this week. Here is a sampling of their comments:

RAYFIELD WRIGHT

"Aaron Rodgers has the ability to recognize and run an operation and run a team. You aren't talking only about physical toughness. You're talking about mental toughness with him, and he is mentally tough."

MIKE DITKA

"Aaron Rodgers is the epitome of tough mentally and physically. He can handle the hits, but mental toughness is something more important."

In the video below, Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton said Rodgers' willingness to wait his turn in Green Bay behind Brett Favre, and the way he used his three years as a backup, makes him in Any Era player. "That's what quarterbacks used to have to do," Lofton said. "You used to draft a quarterback and you'd let them marinate a couple years."

Jared Allen's eyes lit up last month upon learning that 20 Hall of Fame players had named him to ESPN.com's Any Era team, comprised of current players whose skills and mentality would have made them a success at any point in football history.

"Wow, that's great," Allen said. "That's why I play, to earn the respect of the guys before me."

Here's a sampling of what some of our panel said about Allen, whose 22 sacks in 2011 fell one shy of setting a league record:

MIKE SINGLETARY

"Jared Allen is going to will himself to get to the quarterback. I don't know how he does it. I can't even really explain it, but he lines up and the next thing you know, he's got the quarterback. The mentality and relentlessness that he approaches the game with is second to none."

WARREN MOON

"Jared Allen is just a tough, hard-nosed player. He's a defensive end who can get to the quarterback, but if he has to play in the trenches, he can. When he played at Kansas City, he played the run well. And in Minnesota, he is more of a pass-rusher. He is a throwback type of guy if you know him. He's like a big cowboy. He wears cowboy boots and tight jeans and he's a real throwback."

MIKE DITKA

"Jared Allen plays every down, hard and physical. He could've played in the '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s. He brings it on every play and gives all he's got."

In the video below, Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton applauds Allen for his performance as an emergency long-snapper during a Week 12 game against the Atlanta Falcons. "And he's covering punts, and he's running 100 miles an hour. That tells me right there: football player."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Longtime NFL personnel man Gil Brandt, now an analyst for NFL.com, still has good insight into the inner workings of the league. And it's his belief that the Detroit Lions could make "a big play" for pending free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha whenever the market opens this summer.

Brandt, via NFL.com: "I wouldn't be at all surprised if they make a big play for Asomugha. And I think he would consider the situation in Detroit and playing for Jim Schwartz, who has won the respect of his team. A cornerback's best friend is a great defensive line, and right now the Lions have a pretty good group of defensive linemen."

Brandt also thinks the Oakland Raiders will make a big push to keep Asomugha, and national speculation has centered around his desire to play on the East Coast. But the Lions offer a unique situation: An elite pass rush from their defensive line and maximum contract leverage given their dearth of other cornerback options. No one knows how much the Lions would extend financially, but from a media standpoint, at least, they are gaining traction as a legitimate contender for his services.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Associated Press has a complete roundup of the confusion surrounding Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson's summer camp in Oklahoma. (Yawn.)
• A Twin Cities politician has started an online petition to prevent the Vikings from building a suburban stadium in Arden Hills, Minn. Shoreview City Council member Blake Huffman is frustrated by the lack of public involvement in the planning thus far, according to Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune.
• Former Chicago Bears coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka will appear this summer in the HBO show "Entourage," Ditka told ESPN 1000.
• Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com examines the future of Bears safety Danieal Manning, cornerback Corey Graham and linebacker Nick Roach.
• Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk, via Greg Billing of the Dayton Daily News: "We haven't had any full team workouts. We've had small groups of guys here and there working out together. The great thing about Green Bay is we're not banking on having any rookies coming in and play. We're not putting in any new schemes. For us the main thing is making sure everyone is coming into camp in shape and on time. We have a lot of guys who are accountable and take care of their bodies this whole summer."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

Gale Sayers is challenging the current players to help former players. "Some players of today's game think that they made the game what it is today. I beg to differ," Sayers said Friday night at an event hosted by the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. "The players who are playing today are standing on the shoulders of those who made the game what it is that played the game for peanuts.

"If today's players cannot help these players, shame on you."

Detroit Lions

Mike Ditka says Calvin Johnson did make that catch against the Bears.

From the Kalamazoo Gazette, coach Jim Schwartz talks about the lockout and the buzz around his team.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers announced Friday that Eliot Wolf is their new assistant director of player personnel.

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, a story about the Packers keeping their Super Bowl ring ceremony private.

Minnesota Vikings

The Pioneer Press reports that Leslie Frazier and the coaching staff have been discussing adding a veteran quarterback.

Also from the Pioneer Press, Minnesota's governor draws a line at how much the state is willing to share a new stadium's costs with the Vikings.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

I hope everyone had an outstanding weekend. By all accounts, 14-year-old Joslyn Levell of Morgantown, W.Va., did.

Levell, who has spina bifida and is confined to a wheelchair, was escorted to her high school prom Friday night by Chicago Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas, a sixth-round pick in last month's draft. Thomas' 7-year-old autistic brother rides the same school bus as Levell, and word got back to J.T. Thomas that she was a big Bears fan.

Their story was told in several media outlets over the weekend, including ESPNChicago.com, the Chicago Tribune and NFL.com.

Thomas: "This is just about her being happy. Although that dance might last two or three hours, she might have something to remember for the rest of her life. Anytime you can affect someone's life positively like that, why not?"

And with that, let's start our week.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune looks at Mike Ditka's expanding coaching tree.
• Bears tight end Greg Olsen on the offense's recent workouts, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "We kind of said, 'If you want to be here, you'll make a way to be here, if it's important enough to you.' We had such a great turnout, and we have such a good group of guys. We don't have to beg anyone to come."
• Former Bears running back Garrett Wolfe, a pending free agent, was arrested in Miami and charged with retail theft, disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has more.
• Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, another pending free agent, won his boxing debut Friday night in a unanimous decision.
• Former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke is working with a number of drafted quarterbacks this spring at the IMG Football Academy, according to Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Vikings draft pick Christian Ponder is scheduled to join them this week.
• The Vikings' stadium issue isn't likely to be decided by Monday, assuming the state legislature goes to a special session. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com has more.
• Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe reports that the Green Bay Packers have cut assistant coaches' pay during the lockout.
• Winning Super Bowl XLV helped the Hall of Fame chances of Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com speaks with veteran safety Erik Coleman, whom the Detroit Lions signed to compete for a starting job.
• Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News speaks with Lions quarterback Drew Stanton about the lockout.