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Over the past few months, the Chicago Bears have transformed their receiving corps from one of the NFL's shortest to arguably the tallest. They've reunited the key players from the Denver Broncos' dynamic 2008 offense and they've fended off questions -- including some from their quarterback -- about their offensive line. But to me, the most intriguing thing happening in Chicago at the moment is the development of a mysterious package of plays for receiver/kick returner Devin Hester, the latest in a long line of attempts to harness Hester's Hall of Fame speed and skills for their offense.

General manager Phil Emery hinted at the new approach shortly after the draft. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice and receivers coach Darryl Drake offered some morsels to reporters during last weekend's rookie minicamp, and all that's left now is to see if it actually works.

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and cringe, as we did recently on the blog, as the Bears once again refuse to accept what Hester is and isn't -- at least what he hasn't been yet. They remain unsatisfied with him simply being the best kick returner in NFL history. And another part thinks this attempt could prove to be the most productive balance the Bears have tried yet.

Drake might have best explained the plan last weekend by suggesting the "Hester Package" will limit snaps but elevate targets to make more efficient use of Hester's time on offense.

"The talent has always been there," Drake told reporters. "It's just a matter of not having him play 70 plays and throw to him twice. Play him 15 [plays], let him touch it 13 [times.] In order for him to be effective, we don't need to have him out there playing that many plays. If he's out there, put the ball in his hands. We need to have that package, and Mike Tice -- I promise you -- he's going to do it."

On the surface, it makes sense. Hester's combination of speed and open-field running ability is rare and awfully tempting to expand on. And when you look at the chart, you see what happens when a team doesn't have or utilize the speed to stretch a defense vertically. The 2011 Bears, for instance, had one of the least efficient short passing games in the NFL last season.

But running a full game's worth of pass routes probably takes the edge off Hester's energy in the return game. There is reason to think he could have a similar impact in 15 plays designed to involve him than he could in 70 plays that spread the ball around the field.

That appears to be the starting point for a tweak that appears to have emanated from, or at least endorsed by, Emery himself.

"I want to make sure that we have a special plan for Devin," Emery said last month. "We have the 'Devin Package' -- packages of plays as a receiver. You never know where he's going to line up. I don't want to get too far ahead of that in terms of letting other people know what we're going to do with him, but he will have a package of plays that we feel can bring out his dynamic ability to the forefront and if not only as carrying or catching the ball, but sometimes that's a decoy.

"Devin's speed vertically is something that has to be accounted for. So if that pulls people from coverage, to handle that vertical ball, you've got other people; we've got some awfully big targets to hit."

On the other hand, of course, it's not as easy as it sounds. You better believe that opposing defenses will notice when Hester is on the field, especially now that the Bears have announced they want to get him the ball often in the relatively brief period of time he plays offense. I don't think it will make teams leave, say, Brandon Marshall wide open to account for Hester, but his appearance isn't going to surprise anyone, either.

The "Hester Package" has already conjured comparisons to the "Randy Ratio" that Tice used after taking over the Minnesota Vikings' head coaching job in 2002. As you might recall, a study of the Vikings' 2001 season showed they won every game they targeted receiver Randy Moss on at least 40 percent of their throws. Tice announced he would make that goal a centerpiece of his offense.

The "Randy Ratio" wasn't a schematic adjustment as much as it was Tice's attempt to cajole the notoriously anti-authoritarian receiver to buy in as a team leader. It backfired on a number of fronts, and Tice himself acknowledged over the weekend that it "came back to bite me in the [rear end]."

Turning serious, Tice said: "Devin is going to be on the field. If he's not on the field, then they should fire me."

That final line speaks to the extent the Bears have prioritized Hester's potential contribution. You know the old saying: If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

There were some pre-draft whispers about the conditioning and work ethic of new Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery, especially considering his quick weight loss between the end of the 2011 season and the February combine. ESPN's Todd McShay, for instance, projected Jeffery as one of the draft's top receivers "if he wants to play."

So I wanted to make sure I brought to your attention this post from ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson, who reported that Jeffery worked out with -- and got an introduction to the Bears' offense from -- reserve quarterback Josh McCown last weekend in South Carolina. Jeffery also turned down an invitation from the 2012 NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Nike, where rookies are photographed for their trading cards, to spend more time around the team when he reports for rookie minicamp Friday.

Said McCown: "He seems like a good kid. I was very impressed with him mentally. Great hands, too."

Indeed, Bears general manager Phil Emery said Jeffery had the "best hands in the draft." Emery also said his evaluation found no concerns about Jeffery's effort level.

"The more and more you watch of his tape, the more you see the competitiveness," Emery said. "This is not a lazy guy. When he gets the ball in his hands, he's working to score. He doesn't give up. I don't see give-up in this guy in any area."

The Chicago Bears' annual push to sign their draft class early hasn't changed in the transition from general manager Jerry Angelo to Phil Emery. The Bears agreed to terms with second-round receiver Alshon Jeffery on a four-year contract Wednesday, believed to be the first contract agreement for an NFL draft choice this offseason.

Contracts for rookies have less wiggle room under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and holdouts should be far less frequent. And in truth, agreements aren't necessary until the start of training camp in July.

But clearly, Bears contract negotiator Cliff Stein is getting his usual head start. One down, five more to go. Get 'er done, Cliff.

I chuckled a bit Friday night when the Chicago Bears drafted a safety for the eighth consecutive year, this time one in Brandon Hardin who missed his final college season because of injury. But the Bears' ongoing safety obsession wasn't enough to steer me away from what is easily the most intriguing decision they made over the draft's first two days.

South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery has generated polar debates among NFL types, some of whom think he will flop in a manner similar to former Detroit Lions receiver Mike Williams. Others, Bears general manager Phil Emery included, viewed him as one of the draft's top three receivers and one whose question marks could all be attributed to outside influences.

If you were watching the ESPN broadcast of the draft, you saw analyst Jon Gruden torch Jeffery for his roller-coaster weight and poor reaction to South Carolina's quarterback issues last year. Indeed, Jeffery played his final season at close to 235 pounds while is production dropped to 49 catches after pulling in 88 in 2010. He was 216 pounds at the scouting combine in February, but at the time ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, referred to it as a "Jenny Craig 216 pounds" because he had dropped the weight quickly and drawn concern about whether he could keep it off.

If he returned to 235-240 pounds, scouts wondered if he would have enough speed and quickness to separate from NFL defenders. Here's a portion of the Scouts Inc. report on that topic : "Is stiff and upright, which gives DBs a big target to press. Below average initial burst off the line and takes a bit too long to reach full speed. Gets away with some sloppy routes."

Here, on the other hand, is what Emery said he saw: "We feel Alshon has the best hands in the draft," Emery said. "We feel he is the best at adjusting to the ball. We feel he is the best sideline and end-zone catcher in the draft."

Indeed, Emery attended Jeffery's pro day and said he personally timed his 40-yard dashes at 4.42 and 4.47 seconds. Jeffery also has a number of other intriguing measurables, from his 6-foot-3 frame to his large hands (10 1/4 inches) to his long arms (33 inches!). Add up those numbers on paper, at least, and Jeffery would seem to have all the ingredients necessary to be a top-flight red-zone/sideline receiver, one who can compensate for any lack of separation from defenders by reaching over and/or around them for the ball.

Coaches, however, don't always think the same way as scouts. Gruden, for example, was alarmed by the fall in Jeffery's production and a number of instances where his frustration with losing quarterback Stephen Garcia diminished his effort. If it happens once, could it happen again?

The Bears brought Jeffery in for a private visit earlier this month to address the issues from his weight to his performance last season. Emery acknowledged that "I do think he got frustrated" and that "I saw the frustration on tape" but that it was caused by the quarterback transition and not a dark place Jeffery's personality.

"When you challenge him and push him a little bit, which I did in our meeting about his weight and where he was at in his production, his answers come back strong," Emery said. "This guy does not lack athletic confidence. He knows he’s good, which is a good thing. He knows he has to work to continue to get better. The more and more you watch of his tape, the more you see the competitiveness. This is not a lazy guy. When he gets the ball in his hands, he's working to score. He doesn't give up. I don't see give up in this guy in any area."

Emery liked him enough not only to use a second-round pick, but also to sacrifice a fifth-rounder to move up in the round to grab him. It's the kind of move that draws attention to and gives us important insight into Emery's values. This is a player he really, really liked and has committed to. That makes Alshon Jeffery the first boom or bust player in Emery's tenure as the Bears' general manager. We'll see how it goes.

We first introduced you to South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery at the NFL scouting combine, where Jeffery showed up having trimmed down from 231 pounds to 216 so that he could convince NFL teams he projected as a big NFL receiver and not a tight end.

Jeffery managed to do just that, and the Chicago Bears were among a handful of teams to take interest in him in the weeks leading up to the draft. The Bears hosted him at their practice facility and ultimately liked him enough to move up five spots in the second round Friday to draft him.

Two months ago, the Bears didn't have a wide receiver taller than 5-foot-11. Now they have two. Jeffery measured 6-foot-3 1/8 at the combine and will join Brandon Marshall in giving the Bears a new downfield look.

Jeffery isn't going to outrun many defensive backs. But he is bigger than all of them and has the ball skills, not unlike former Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, to maneuver himself in place for catches in traffic. For another style comparison, think Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints.

From a big-picture perspective, new Bears general manager Phil Emery has acted on a long-held need for the Bears roster. He's made substantive stylistic changes to their receiving corps through free agency and the draft, and he might not be done.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

I'm rested (sort of) and ready (definitely!) for Day 2 of the 2012 NFL draft. Before we steamroll into the nitty gritty, let's take a run through local coverage of Day 1 in the NFC North:

• Bears general manager Phil Emery was no doubt happy to pull a draft surprise, writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com.
• New Bears linebacker Shea McClellin is "a natural at the unnatural act of rushing the passer," according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Like Isaacson, David Haugh of the Tribune brings up a dreaded comparison to Dan Bazuin: "But, sorry, I recommend healthy skepticism when evaluating [Phil] Emery's first draft pick as Bears GM. You can't hate it yet. But it's very hard to wholeheartedly endorse -- especially considering the pool of potential Bears available."
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "The [Detroit Lions'] selection of Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff reflects the team’s unwavering commitment in helping its most valuable asset -- quarterback Matthew Stafford -- shine as brightly as possible."
• Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com has a transcript of Reiff's interview with Detroit-area media.
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Packers draft pick Nick Perry: "The 6-foot-2, 271-pounder admitted at the Combine that he was more comfortable as a defensive end. With good coaching, the Packers must feel confident they can help him adjust to linebacker."
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: " No one is ready to call the 271-pound Perry a savior, but his presence is expected to give the defense a major boost."
• The Packers didn't appear too interested in trading up to get a different pass-rusher, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Hilarious column from Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A sample: "Vikings general manager Rick Spielman did his best to convince the world that he was flat-out nutty and might not take the player of paramount importance to the franchise. Oh yes, he said, we like Matt Kalil. Kind of. Sort of. But we also like Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne. Then he stood on his head and spit nickels. He laid it on thick, all right. And for those a bit taken aback by his free-agent signings, which included a former point guard and several players who missed the 2011 season, there was some consternation. Is this fellow really a basket case? But I had faith. Well, let's say some of us could see through the bad acting."
• Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune: "Minnesota hasn't been home to many general managers who could be called 'slick,' unless you were using the word in a way that might start a fight."
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "In reality, the Vikings were going to make sure they got Kalil. They weren't doing a deal with anyone except Cleveland or Tampa Bay, which also coveted Richardson at No. 5. They were committed to protecting Christian Ponder's blindside, regardless of whether LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and/or Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon had marginally better grades or they fabricated the debate entirely to stir up a market."

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Thanks to everyone for bearing with me during a fast-paced and surprising first round of the NFL draft. I told you ahead of time that my focus would be on the Minnesota Vikings, given their spot at No. 3 overall, but that I would account for each of the NFC North's first-round picks in a substantive way.

I did that as best I could as the first round sped on. We have months to pull apart and dissect this draft, but for now it occurs to me that there might be some question about what position three of our five first-round picks will play when training camp begins this summer.

Let's work through that issue for Shea McClellin and the Chicago Bears, Riley Reiff and the Detroit Lions, and Nick Perry and the Green Bay Packers before calling it a night (or early morning).

McClellin played defensive end and middle linebacker at Boise State and was projected by many teams as an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker. The Bears run a 4-3, of course, and general manager Phil Emery said he will begin his career at left defensive end, opposite of right end Julius Peppers.

"We like him at D-end," Emery told reporters in Chicago. "He has versatility, if we were to have a string of injuries, to play 'Sam' [linebacker], but we like who he is as a football player better as an end than at linebacker for us."

While McClellin seemed destined to play outside linebacker for a 3-4 team, it was assumed Perry would land with a 4-3 team so he could play defensive end. That was his position at USC, and he'll need to make a significant adjustment with the Packers.

General manager Ted Thompson told reporters that Perry's athletic ability should smooth the transition.

"He's played with his hand on the ground," Thompson said, "and we're convinced he's athletic enough to play standing up and do some of the things that we do."

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers told reporters that the "top priority" for outside linebackers is to "have that explosive ability to come off the edge."

Capers added: "Some of the coverage stuff we'll be doing with him will be a learning process, but that isn't uncommon with these guys."

Finally, pre-draft discussion centered around whether Reiff projected as left or right tackle in the NFL. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew told reporters that Reiff could play up to four positions, but coach Jim Schwartz said: "Riley is a left tackle."

Schwartz added: "He fits the criteria for that position."

That makes Reiff the heir apparent to incumbent Jeff Backus, but the succession might not occur until 2013 or even 2014.

Now that we know McClellin will play defensive end, Perry projects as an outside linebacker and Reiff as a left tackle, we can close up shop for Thursday night/Friday morning. Back with you a bit later on Friday morning. Peace out.

One of these days, we'll learn our lesson about Phil Emery.

All of us -- media members, fans and executives on other NFL teams -- need to stop acting as if they know what the Chicago Bears' new general manager is up to. Emery has now pulled two significant surprises in his first offseason with the Bears. His March trade for receiver Brandon Marshall was anticipated by no one, and his decision to draft Boise State defensive end/linebacker Shea McClellin was among the top surprises of the first round.

McClellin fits the pass-rushing profile that many of us thought the Bears would target, but many draft analysts considered him best suited to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. That's why we thought Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a better fit for the Bears. As the Bears' No. 19 pick grew closer, I wondered if they would target Stanford guard David DeCastro, a beast who figured to be off the board long before then.

But here's our mistake: None of us have any idea how Emery thinks and where his values lie. That's a bi-product of a career-long low public profile, one that hasn't exactly sprouted since the Bears, and it's worked to his advantage on a number of occasions already.

McClellin was a late riser in the public's eyes, and many of us thought he fit into the Green Bay Packers' possibilities at No. 28. But obviously Emery, and probably defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, saw something in him that spurred them to grab him then and there.

In the big picture, the Bears addressed one of their most important needs. Their starters in 2011, Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije, each played more than 80 percent of the team's snaps. That's way too many, especially for Idonije, who is best suited as a swing end/tackle. You have to figure McClellin will eventually take over the defensive end spot filled in 2011 by Idonije, most likely in time for Week 1.

The sporting public had the right role targeted but the wrong player. Welcome to the Phil Emery Era.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Happy (first) Draft Day! We're getting a bit of a late start Thursday because this day isn't really going to end for about 60 hours or so, when the final pick of the 2012 draft is made late Saturday afternoon. It'll be a blur, but the best kind of blur, if you know what I mean. (And yes, Twitter followers, the overnight break did in fact include an unexpected but most appreciated viewing of "Weekend at Bernie's.")

You probably have guessed this, but my plan is to cover Thursday night's first round from the Minnesota Vikings' draft headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn. So there will be a Vikings focus Thursday night, but that should be expected when a team has the No. 3 overall pick (at least for now). Rest assured we will account for the first-round picks of all four NFC North teams in a substantive way before the evening is complete.

I'll have some final thoughts to post as we await the 8 p.m. ET first pick, but for now let's take a mid-morning spin around the division:

• All things considered, a defensive end seems like the Chicago Bears' most likely target in the first round, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• We really don't know what we have yet in new Bears general manager Phil Emery, writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn't get the expectation of a defensive pick. Morrissey: "Was anybody paying attention last season when Jay Cutler was healthy? Did that look like a Super Bowl offense to you? Not once last season did I say to myself, 'If the Bears only had a defensive end to take the pressure off Julius Peppers, they'd win a championship!'"
• In his mock draft, Pompei has the Bears taking Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus at No. 19 overall.
• Mercilus goes to the Detroit Lions at No. 23 in the final mock draft of Detroit Free Press writer Dave Birkett.
• The same goes for the mock draft of Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News makes a case for the Lions drafting North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "But whomever [the Lions] draft over the next couple of days, they had better make sure that these picks don't embarrass the franchise as last year's class did with its recklessness -- with four accusations by police of marijuana possession."
• The Green Bay Packers have no choice but to focus on their pass rush in this draft, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• McGinn gives the Packers Boise State linebacker Shea McClellin with the No. 28 overall pick.
• McClellin is the best fit for the Packers, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune gives the Vikings USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 in his mock draft.
• The decision between Kalil and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne will be complicated, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• It's a much more simple choice for Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Powers thinks the obvious choice is Kalil and writes that general manager Rick Spielman's only decision is: "To be (an idiot) or not to be (an idiot), that is the question."
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press would be surprised if the Vikings take Kalil.

A few newsbits from the first day of draft week in the NFL:

Item: Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery said Monday that he is focused on seven players he might select at No. 19 overall in this week's NFL draft.
Comment: If Emery had revealed the names of any of those seven, that would have been some serious news. It's safe to assume that some defensive ends are on his list.

Item: Emery wouldn't rule out the Bears starring on HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2012.
Comment: I am also not willing to rule out my election as President of the United States. But I don't think it's going to happen.

Item: The Bears announced their signing of veteran offensive lineman Chilo Rachal.
Comment: Rachal will provide depth at multiple positions.

Item: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be the Green Bay Packers' most tenured player in 2012, following the release of left tackle Chad Clifton.
Comment: As Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com points out, the futures of safety Nick Collins and receiver Donald Driver are both tenuous. It's not out of the question that Rodgers, drafted in 2005, could become the team's most senior player.

Item: Political maneuvers were underway Monday to revive the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill in the state House of Representatives.
Comment: It would not be at all surprising to see the bill at least reach the floor of both houses of Minnesota government for vote.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Long before he led a team of investors in purchasing the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, Zygi Wilf's family owned a real estate company that had significant investments in Southern California. His frequent visits have often provided convenient fodder for the rumor mill, mostly because his private plane has an unmistakable Vikings logo painted on its tail and the team has always been rumored to be a candidate to relocate there.

So when the Los Angeles Daily News reported Thursday that Wilf's plane was spotted at a Southern California airport, in the same week when his stadium bill in Minnesota was quashed, the news spread quickly.

As we've discussed, we are now in a phase of increased pressure and dramatic rhetoric as the franchise's future is sorted out. Whether the plane's arrival in Southern California was coincidental, an expensive message or an indication that Wilf is in negotiations to sell the team to a Los Angeles investor, the overlying point hasn't changed: The Vikings will eventually leave Minnesota if they don't secure a stadium deal.

Are they already angling to leave with 10 days remaining in the state's legislative session? I can't answer that. Just consider it another reminder of a potential future reality.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Regardless of the plane's purpose in California, the NFL is sending commissioner Roger Goodell and other executives to Minnesota for meetings Friday on the stadium, notes the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings have met two league requirements for a relocation, notes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings' contingency plan at running back is incomplete, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• It's safe to assume the Green Bay Packers will select an outside linebacker relatively high in the draft, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Offensive lineman Chad Clifton has been working out in the Packers' offseason program, a good sign that he will get a chance to return in 2012. More from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers general manager Ted Thompson said he is "fine with" having Graham Harrell and Nick Hill as the backups to starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best (concussion) has been working out in the team's offseason program, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Lions general manager Martin Mayhew's draft philosophy can be boiled down to "the best player for us." More from the Detroit News.
• The Lions haven't changed how they evaluate prospects after having three of their 2011 draft class members have legal entanglements related to marijuana, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com takes a look at the Chicago Bears' prospects for drafting a receiver.
• Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery's approach is rooted largely in the "Patriot Way," writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The aggressive offseason of first-year general manager Phil Emery has caught the attention of Chicago Bears players. Speaking Wednesday to announce his contract extension, linebacker Lance Briggs said: "It feels like a miracle, what they've done this offseason."

Briggs continued: "They've gone out and gotten a bunch of guys that are going to help us win a championship. I know that … we are a contender. Even guys that have signed, they know they signed here instead of possibly other places because we're a contender."

Briggs said that "on paper," the Bears have their most talented roster in his tenure with the team.

"Would I call us the dream team?" Briggs said. "No, I would not. But I would say we're a championship-caliber team, potentially. … We have to go out and transition it to the field. We have to go out and turn the paper into reality."

With a pair of 2011 playoff teams in their division, the Bears needed to get better. They knew it and their players knew it, and Emery has made a good first impression on them.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Briggs had spoken with former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo about his contract the day before Angelo was fired, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Agent Drew Rosenhaus was glad to avoid "negativity" in the Briggs negotiations, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Briggs was guaranteed $8.25 million in the new contract and could earn $12 million through 2013, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears hosted free-agent offensive lineman Adam Goldberg on a visit, notes Biggs for the Tribune. Goldberg played for offensive coordinator Mike Tice in Minnesota.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings spoke to high school students in Green Bay about financial intelligence. Patti Zarling of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Defensive end tops the Packers' draft shopping list, according to Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Boise State linebacker Shea McClellin figures to be on the Packers' draft radar, according to Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette.
• Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart is in the final stages of knee rehabilitation, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune looks at the Vikings' possibilities in the third round.
• The Detroit Lions have a goal of multiple championships, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News considers potential cornerbacks the Lions could add in the draft.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

On Tuesday, we downplayed the individual impact of three incidents Detroit Lions players have had with marijuana in the past three months. They are mostly misdemeanors and aren't likely to have lasting consequences from a legal perspective. If anything, they seem more significant when bunched together as a reflection of the organization.

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press takes a different tack, writing the Lions should release defensive tackle Nick Fairley and running back Mikel Leshoure. They don't need "another ticking time bomb," Sharp writes. He adds: "Just because marijuana usage is perceived as more casual than other drugs doesn't mean the punitive measures should be equally nonchalant."

The timing of these incidents, which also include offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath, suggests the Lions will have to create a more effective internal deterrent. But parting ways with these players would be an awfully harsh, and probably unrealistic, punishment. I think Sharp was trying to snap people out of downplaying the significance of NFL players using marijuana, and the message was heard.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: "The arrests have put a cloud over what has been a mostly optimistic and promising offseason for the Lions."
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher wants to finish his career with the team, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears were happy to see the "GSH" on their jerseys be restored to its original size in the Nike uniform change, chairman George McCaskey told the Sun-Times.
• Bears general manager Phil Emery, coach Lovie Smith and receivers coach Darryl Drake were all at Notre Dame's pro day on Tuesday to see receiver Michael Floyd. Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• An exact date for a meeting between the Green Bay Packers and safety Nick Collins has not been set, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. It is expected sometime next week.
• Packers tight end Jermichael Finley likes the gloves he can wear as part of the new Nike uniform, reveals Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com wonders if the Minnesota Vikings have put coach Leslie Frazier in a spot to fail, and risk being fired, in 2012. Their offseason hasn't exactly given them a personnel jump that would allow them to improve dramatically off a 3-13 performance.
• The Vikings haven't been their usual selves off the field lately, writes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has started running during his knee rehabilitation, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Vikings are hosting all of their 30 draft-eligible visits this week, notes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.

Chicago Bears

Bears GM Phil Emery is already putting his stamp on the team, writes the Chicago Sun-Times' Sean Jensen.

How will the Bears utilize Devin Hester in 2012? Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. at Windy City Gridiron examines the possibilities.

Detroit Lions

The Lions aren’t interested in trading for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, reports NFL.com's Jason La Canfora.

Lions GM Martin Mayhew will attend this weekend's Super Regional Combine at Ford Field, which is expected to include more than 100 draft prospects, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Some of them [the prospects] have played at good schools and played good football and been productive, so I'm excited about who that crop of guys is, or who those players are. Looking forward to getting over there," Mayhew said.

Look for the Lions to pick a developmental quarterback late in the draft, writes Tim Twentyman for the team's website.

Green Bay Packers

Coach Mike McCarthy will shake up his normal training camp practice schedule after the new collective bargaining agreement banned true two-a-day practices, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Is automatic replay review for turnovers a good rule change? Packers.com's Mike Spofford and Vic Ketchman debate.

Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne, and other top draft prospects are scheduled to attend the team's annual Top 30 event at the Winter Park practice facility, reports Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Linebacker Chad Greenway told 1500ESPN.com that he thought Roger Goodell made the right move by coming down hard on the Saints for their bounty program. "I think you need to have them learn their lesson, and have it be a lesson to everybody else in the NFL that this is just not going to be happening," Greenway said. "Even though it may have been the culture 30 years ago, it's not the culture anymore, and the game has changed a lot."

We're Black and Blue All Over

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- We've arrived at the final day of the 2012 NFL owners meetings, one that might be the busiest from an NFC North perspective.

There is a 7:15 a.m. ET breakfast with NFC coaches, and I'll do my best to circulate among Lovie Smith, Jim Schwartz, Mike McCarthy and Leslie Frazier without spilling orange juice all over myself. I'll then endeavor to give you a blog post from each interview session, while saving some of the information for later posts, and by midday we should get word on any rule changes approved by NFL owners before the meeting has adjourned. An early-evening flight back to blog headquarters is also on the docket.

I know we've been a little light on Chicago Bears coverage here, but they've been quiet from a news perspective and sometimes life isn't fair. Hang in there.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Bears' shift to general manager Phil Emery has been a "smooth transition," according to Smith via Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears receiver Brandon Marshall is still well liked by former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has had trade discussions about veteran players while at the owners meetings, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Mayhew said he has never been part of a team that put up money for big hits, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Mayhew admitted he told defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to slow down after a recent traffic ticket, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com speaks with former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, now the Miami Dolphins coach, about his decision to move his family immediately to Miami after the death of his son, Michael.
• Free-agent defensive end Dave Tollefson will visit the Packers at the end of the week, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Nine of the Packers' 12 draft picks will come on the final day of the draft, notes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Minnesota Vikings lobbied owners and then made a presentation of their stadium situation Tuesday at an afternoon session, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Political support for the stadium in the Minnesota state legislature is tenuous, writes Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune.