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We're Black and Blue All Over:

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

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

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

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

OK, now, continuing around the NFC North:

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

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Minnesota Vikings and why.

As the Vikings' interim coach in 2010, Leslie Frazier won three games and lost three games. Promoted to the permanent job shortly thereafter, Frazier was part of a 3-13 disaster in 2011 that prompted an organizational shift in power to general manager Rick Spielman and a significant overhaul of the roster.

So in sum, Frazier has a 6-16 record, is entering the second year of a three-year contract and will be asked to compete with a roster that is at least a year from legitimate contention. The team plays in arguably the NFL's toughest division, and he'll have a second-year quarterback in Christian Ponder, three new starters on the offensive line, a rookie place-kicker and first-time starters down the middle of his defense -- at nose tackle, middle linebacker and possibly both safety positions.

Oh, and Frazier's best player -- tailback Adrian Peterson -- is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in December. Peterson insists he will be ready for the opening of the season, but the Vikings' medical staff has refused to confirm that timetable.

Frazier is a good person and a good coach, but that's a challenging series of obstacles for someone hoping to make it to a third season. At 6-16, the honeymoon period of his tenure is over. If nothing else, he'll be undermanned as he attempts to steer the team toward more victories.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- I joined a number of reporters Wednesday afternoon at the Minnesota Vikings' practice facility, where tailback Adrian Petersonwas scheduled to discuss the rehabilitation of his surgically-repaired left knee. On cue, Peterson popped his head through the door. With athletic trainer Eric Sugarman at his side, Peterson motioned for us to join him at the far end of the practice field.

For the next 15 minutes, Peterson demonstrated the extent of his progress by running two sets of sideline-to-sideline sprints. He performed a series of box jumps, moved laterally to catch a rolling soccer ball and ran tight circles around a wide hula hoop.

The scene was impressive for a player 19 weeks removed from tearing two ligaments in his knee. As he caught his breath afterwards, Peterson reiterated his intent to be ready for the Vikings' Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, by far the early side of the typical range for injuries as significant as his.

"People can say what they want to say," he said. "I've got my goals."

I felt conflicted watching Peterson work out and listening to his optimism. Part of me admired his intense desire to return ahead of schedule. The other part kept flashing back to the end of "Fargo."

And for what?

If it wasn't clear before, it should be obvious now. The Vikings have launched a full-scale roster rebuild that should better position them for the long-term but will almost certainly sacrifice the short-term to do it. The latest evidence was this week's decision to jettison still-reliable place-kicker Ryan Longwell for rookie Blair Walsh, perhaps the most extreme example of the team's systematic effort to make its roster younger.

A cynic might say the Vikings know they won't compete for an NFC North title in 2012, making this season as good of a time as any to break in a new place-kicker. Here's what general manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday:

"I think our emphasis has always been trying to get our team better, get it younger, and that's the direction we kind of went. It just fits in with everything else we’re kind of honed in on this offseason."

It's hard to argue with that approach after a 9-23 record over the past two seasons. But as we first discussed last fall, it threatens to nullify the prime of one of the NFL's best players.

Peterson is 27 and has taken the pounding of five professional seasons. By the standards of NFL running backs, at least, the clock on his career is already ticking. It's more than reasonable to wonder what type of performer he will be when the Vikings see the fruit of their rebuilding project.

I asked Peterson what he thought of the Vikings' offseason approach, and he focused mostly on praising Spielman's draft. Peterson also admitted that "the biggest part of my motivation" to return in Week 1 is because "I know how much I mean to this organization." He added: "I want to be out there helping my team and organization accomplish the ultimate goal."

Even with Peterson in the starting lineup, the Vikings figure to have new starters at 11 positions in 2012 in addition to an unproven second-year quarterback in Christian Ponder. In all likelihood, it will be a year measured by progress, not playoff contention.

I'm not going to suggest the Vikings should hold Peterson out of the lineup once he's medically cleared. But in the big picture, there seems to be every reason to take it as slow as possible. If Peterson can avoid some wear and tear during a rebuilding season, wouldn't that help the Vikings in the long-term?

That's a cold and calculated analysis that isn't likely to apply in this case. Neither the Vikings nor Peterson should time his rehabilitation progress based on the projected competitiveness of the team. NFL teams are expected to compete with all available resources at all times. It's not for Peterson to "save" himself for future seasons. The timing is what it is.

The best thing Peterson can do in the short-term is help this team squeeze out a few more victories than it appears capable of while imposing his fanatical work ethic on others. He seems to understand that as well. During rehabilitation a few weeks ago, Peterson noticed some teammates running sprints. Sugarman gave him permission to join them. He wiped out the field.

"Those guys got an understanding of 'Hey, he's really pushing hard to get back out to a level better than he played at before' and it was even more motivation for those guys," Peterson said. "It was like, 'Hey he's out here four months and he's beating us.' Maybe we need to do something different."

Knowing Adrian Peterson, he'll do everything he can to will the Vikings to more success than expected in 2012. It's reasonable to question whether it will be enough, and to wonder how long it will take the rest of this roster to catch up. Will Adrian Peterson be this generation's Barry Sanders? Is he a Hall of Fame player whose career window doesn't match up with his team's window for winning? That's what it feels like at the moment.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We spent a good part of Monday night following the Minnesota Vikings' stadium vote in the state House of Representatives, so Tuesday morning we should shift to the other big story going on in the NFC North.

New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said he did not tell current Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove to deny the existence of a bounty program when both were with the New Orleans Saints in 2010. Hargrove made that claim of Vitt and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in a signed declaration that was leaked Monday.

Vitt told Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times Picayune: "At no time did I ever tell Anthony Hargrove to lie or deny the existence [of the alleged bounty program]. He can say whatever he wants to say. It just didn't happen."

Consider it yet another twist in a story that doesn't seem to have a lot of indisputable truths.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Quarterback Graham Harrell, who is in line to take over the Packers' No. 2 role, could be eligible for the team's rookie minicamp this weekend because he is technically a first-year player, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Several of the Packers' scouts will be promoted soon, including Alonzo Highsmith, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Free-agent running back Ryan Grant was scheduled to be at the Detroit Lions' practice facility Monday but did not appear to show up, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The meeting either didn't occur or was moved to Sunday, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com takes an early look at the Lions' 53-man roster.
• Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall thinks new teammate Devin Hester is poised for a big season. Marshall said that and more in an interview with ESPN 1000.
• Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks the Bears should have upgraded their offensive line this offseason.
• The Minnesota Senate will take up the Vikings' stadium bill at 10 a.m. ET, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• A Vikings spokesman said an amendment in the House bill to raise the team's share by $105 million in "unworkable," according to the Star Tribune. But that figure could be changed in late-bill negotiations.
• The decision to release place-kicker Ryan Longwell is an other example of the roster rebuild new general manager Rick Spielman is effecting on the team, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.

As we discussed earlier Monday, the Minnesota Vikings drafted Georgia place-kicker Blair Walsh to mount a serious challenge at incumbent Ryan Longwell. That intent was clear based on how coach Leslie Frazier spoke about the situation during last weekend's rookie minicamp.

But I can't say I thought the Vikings would release Longwell on Monday, presumably handing Walsh the job before a competition could ensue. Longwell received nearly $5 million in total compensation last year as part of a new contract he signed 10 months ago, a sum that suggested the Vikings were committed to him for more than one season.

It's true that Longwell took a step back in 2011, missing more field goals -- six -- than he had in his previous two seasons combined. Yes, he'll be 38 in August. But my thought on kickers has always been to ride the reliable ones until they can't drag their legs onto the field. Longwell is nowhere close to that point, and it's reasonable to think he can still be a reliable performer at a unique position that teams can struggle for years to fill.

The Vikings must have seen enough from Walsh during rookie minicamp to convince them it was time to add Longwell's name to a growing list of veterans they have ousted in the past two years. By my count, only six of the 24 players who started the 2009 NFC Championship Game -- including kickers -- are still on their roster.

Why did the Vikings spend so much money to retain Longwell last season only to cut him 10 months later? I guess we chalk it up to the lack of a broader vision -- they clearly misjudged how close they were to competing -- that presumably has been solved by the promotion of general manager Rick Spielman.

I get wanting to move on past a 38-year-old player, especially when you're getting as young as the Vikings are trying to get. But sometimes place-kickers deserve their own rules when it comes to roster movement. We'll see if the Vikings jumped the gun on this one.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Monday's scheduled adjournment of the Minnesota state legislature came and went without resolution on any significant issue, meaning the session will continue on. That gives the Minnesota Vikings stadium bill a chance to be heard and approved at some point between now and May 21, the constitutionally required day to adjourn.

As the Star Tribune explains, there are at least two other issues -- business-tax relief and bonding -- that legislators appear to have put ahead in line of the stadium bill.

It's impossible to know how long those issues will take to resolve, and there's no sense trying to project the timetable. We'll keep you updated on any progress.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier thought the team's depth was "abysmal" in some areas last season. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com has more.
• Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "I have to admit, my wife had to wake me up at 8 this morning because I was physically and mentally exhausted."
• Former Vikings and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre will have to testify in court about sexually suggestive text messages he allegedly sent while with the New York Jets in 2008, according to the Associated Press.
• Tackling skills were a big part of the Packers' draft evaluation, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com wonders if Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie will hire any former Packers scouts.
• The Packers' unsettled safety position means that rookie Jerron McMillian will have a legitimate opportunity to play, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Detroit News has video of Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's Top 10 list on "Late Show with David Letterman."
• New Lions quarterback Kellen Moore on draft weekend, via Chad Cripe of the Idaho Statesman: "Very frustrating process, but a great outcome in the end."
• Kick returner Stefan Logan might face a roster challenge this summer, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• ESPN analyst Mel Kiper backed the Chicago Bears' choice of defensive end Shea McClellin, notes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune speaks with former Bears running back Rashaan Salaam.

Cleaning out my notebook after the 2012 NFL draft:

It can be difficult to gauge the value of coaching the annual Senior Bowl, but it's worth noting that two of the Minnesota Vikings' draft choices played under their coaching staff for the North team at this year's affair. That included Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith, whom the Vikings traded up to draft at No. 29 overall, and NC Sate linebacker Audie Cole, a seventh-round pick.

In the case of Smith, the Vikings were so convinced of his value after the Senior Bowl that they didn't speak again through the entire draft process. They didn't interview him at the annual scouting combine and didn't invite him to their facility for a pre-draft visit.

"When we got into our meetings and we put our board together and seeing how it was going to develop and knowing that we do need some help on the back end to improve our secondary," general manager Rick Spielman said, "that was the one huge advantage of being able to coach the Senior Bowl because we got to know those players inside and out and know what they are about. How they are in a meeting room. How they are out on the field. Our coaches know what it’s like to coach that player so that was a huge advantage for us and we know exactly what we are getting in Harrison Smith."

We've noted that the Green Bay Packers drafted six defensive players to open the draft. Another trend we noted: The Vikings drafted three pairs of players from the same school.

But we probably didn't spend enough time in the latter stages of the draft pointing out that the Detroit Lions finished the draft by selecting six consecutive defensive players -- including three cornerbacks -- while also drafting three players from Oklahoma.

We should probably chalk up the Sooner connection -- receiver Ryan Broyles, defensive end Ronnell Lewis and linebacker Travis Lewis -- as coincidence. But I wouldn't say the same thing about the defensive trend, considering how poorly the Lions' defense played over the second half of the 2011 season.

The impact of that decision is "yet to be seen," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. He added: "Drafting them doesn't do anything other than drafting them. They have to play well in preseason and training camp and they have to prove their draft status. So, yeah, it adds more guys to the roster and creates competition and things like that. ..."

With that said, I would think the Lions' cornerbacks should consider themselves on notice. Third-rounder Dwight Bentley is a smallish but feisty corner who had an excellent Senior Bowl against elevated competition. And fifth-rounder Chris Greenwood might have played at Division III Albion, but he is 6-foot-1 and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Players with those kind of measurables eventually get their opportunity.

The Chicago Bears' decision not to draft a lineman would appear an endorsement of their returning starters. So it's worth noting that coach Lovie Smith refused to say where offensive lineman Chris Williams will play in 2012, calling into question the short- and long-term future of the Bears' No. 1 draft choice in 2008.

First, here's what Smith said when asked if Williams would resume his role as left guard when training camp begins: "I can't tell you that right now. We have options with him. We'll see how it all shakes out. Chris, of course, can do both [guard and tackle]. Right now, we're two weeks into our offseason program. Let us get into it a little more and we'll be able to define some roles a little better."

That's hardly an endorsement for a player who has started at right tackle, left tackle and left guard in his disappointing career. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune makes some excellent points in suggesting Williams' most likely 2012 destination is a swing backup.

Williams was drafted as a left tackle, but the Bears chose J'Marcus Webb to play there last season and don't appear interested in looking back. Gabe Carimi, the 2011 first-round pick, figures to return at right tackle, making it easy to move Lance Louis back to one of the other guard spots. Louis, Chris Spencer and newcomer Chilo Rachal would be top candidates to start at the other two guard spots.

Everything is subject to change. But clearly there remain some parts in motion along the Bears' offensive line.

I'm sure the Packers have kicked around the idea of signing a veteran backup quarterback, and it could still happen. But after drafting Tennessee-Chattanooga's B.J. Coleman in the seventh round Saturday, the Packers don't appear eager to add anyone else. In other words, former No. 3 Graham Harrell is going to get every opportunity to win that job.

"I don't think you just say, 'I need a veteran backup,'" Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We have the MVP in Aaron Rodgers as our No. 1, and now we feel that we have three really good candidates to compete for two spots. ... The roster will shake that out."

Those candidates are Harrell, Coleman and Nick Hill, a former Arena Football League player who signed in January.

Some people cringed when the Coleman spoke reverentially about his pre-draft work with and respect for Brett Favre. Coleman seemed oblivious to the hard feelings surrounding Favre's departure in 2008 and his return with the Vikings in 2009 and 2010.

Maybe Coleman was a bit naïve, but I thought his giddiness was instructive as much as anything and perhaps illustrative of the big-picture way most of the football world view the relationship between the Packers and Favre.

In the big picture, the Packers-Favre separation was a small portion of a two-decade marriage that is destined to be reconciled. We are hypersensitive to that blip because we lived through it on this blog, but not everyone was as affected. If we aren't already, we'll all be closer to Coleman's perspective than we probably ever thought possible.

Analysis of the 2012 draft literally will continue for years, but I long ago accepted our psychological need for instant answers. It has become a tradition around here to review the immediate reaction of the country's foremost media draft analyst, which I consider to be a starting point for further discussion. So here are Mel Kiper Jr.'s 2012 draft grades , which require an Insider subscription to view fully but can be summarized forthwith:

Chicago Bears
Grade: C+
Kiper snippet: "I'm really surprised they had six picks and didn't get a single offensive lineman."
Seifert comment: The Bears weren't joking before the draft when they said they were satisfied with the makeup of their offensive line, one that will include the return of Gabe Carimi and Chris Williams. Saturday, coach Lovie Smith said: "We as a coaching staff are going to try and put the players in a better position, adding Chris and Gabe to the mix. There's a period of time, as you might have forgotten, during the season, when we played pretty good ball on the offensive line." Kiper thinks that first-round defensive end Shea McClellin might have been overvalued at No. 19 and isn't a big fan of second-round receiver Alshon Jeffery, but I think the Bears improved both positions with those additions.

Detroit Lions
Grade: B
Kipper snippet: "The board broke pretty well for Detroit."
Seifert comment: Yes, few media analysts thought tackle Riley Reiff would be available at No. 23 overall. (Clearly they hadn't measured his arm length.) And it's true the Lions managed to snag three intriguing cornerbacks after making the surprise choice of receiver Ryan Broyles in the second round. But to me what stands out about the Lions' draft is that they are in position to address future needs rather than desperately flail at their current issues. Reiff might not be a starter until 2013 or 2014, and Broyles' knee rehabilitation means he might not have immediate impact, either. It's called roster maintenance, and the Lions haven't been in that position in a while.

Green Bay Packers
Grade: B
Kiper snippet: "The Packers simply had to add to the pass rush."
Seifert comment: There will be plenty of talk moving forward about first-round linebacker Nick Perry and some about fifth-round linebacker Terrell Manning, whom Kiper loves as a situational pass-rusher. But you wonder if they'll both be eclipsed by second-round defensive lineman Jerel Worthy, a first-round talent who should be highly motivated by his draft fall. He's got the ability and capacity to become a dominant force on the line, whether it's as a 3-4 end or as a tackle in the nickel. Worthy could turn this into a proverbial "A" draft.

Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B
Kiper snippet: "I don't think we'll look back and see a lot of star power here, but they got what they needed."
Seifert comment: General manager Rick Spielman did a good job convincing everyone he was considering several bad decisions, and thus has been widely praised for making what seemed to be the obvious ones. That's the case for both of his first round picks, left tackle Matt Kalil and safety Harrison Smith. And after passing on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Spielman at least added some speed to the position by drafting Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson. At the end of the weekend, Spielman used 10 draft picks and pushed two more into 2013. Quantity runs a close second to quality in the draft.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- A small part of why the Minnesota Vikings chose left tackle Matt Kalil over cornerback Morris Claiborne in Round 1 of the 2012 NFL draft: The chances of finding a starting-caliber cornerback later in the draft were higher than if they were looking for a starting left tackle.

And so it came to be that the Vikings drafted Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson early in the third round Friday night. Robinson had the fastest 40 time at the scouting combine in February, running it in 4.33 seconds, and that speed along with a 38 1/2 inch vertical leap give him the raw skills that the Vikings hope will help him develop quickly into a contributor if not a rookie starter.

"Some of the plays he makes on tape really stand out because of those athletic traits," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said.

Robinson left school a year early and turned 21 in January, so he might need some development time. But I'm trying to remember the last time the Vikings had a defensive player with this kind of speed. I can't.

This list could be outdated soon after the second round of the NFL draft opens Friday evening, but for now here are the picks each NFC North team is scheduled to take in the second and third rounds. The Green Bay Packers have an NFL-high 11 picks remaining, while the Minnesota Vikings rank second with 10. That gives both teams ample ammunition to move around in the second round, or elsewhere, without forfeiting flexibility in the latter rounds. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has made no secret of his intent to pursue that option.

Chicago Bears
Total remaining: 7
Today: No. 50 and No. 79

Detroit Lions
Total remaining: 6
Today: No. 54 and No. 85

Green Bay Packers
Total remaining: 11
Today: No. 59 and No. 90

Minnesota Vikings
Total remaining: 10
Today: No. 66

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. -- The sky is still blue.

Grass is still green.

Water is still two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.

Up is still up.

Down is still down.

Left tackle is still one of the most important positions in football.

Whew!

Had the Minnesota Vikings passed Thursday night on the opportunity to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil, I would have been left questioning one of the most basic premises of life. Crazy Rick Spielman, the Vikings' general manager, tried to convince us that he might turn the earth on its axis. In the end, Spielman stopped short of losing his mind.

He took Kalil over LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne because his team was barren at one of the most difficult positions to fill in football.

Spielman drafted Kalil because the immediate future of the franchise depends on creating a more comfortable environment for quarterback Christian Ponder.

And Kalil is a Viking because there are more ways to elevate poor secondary play than there are to fill a hole at left tackle. Spielman demonstrated just that a few hours later by trading back into the first round to select Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith.

"There is never or rarely ever a left tackle that's going to come available in the unrestricted free agent market," Spielman said. "You look at the corners, the top three corners in free agency became available. There are receivers that become available. When you're going back and forth at this position and that position, I know that when you have the opportunity to get a left tackle, especially where we were picking, and as talented as Matt is, I don't know that you'll ever get that opportunity again."

I agree, and frankly I felt like banging my head against a wall this week as so many of you argued for Claiborne. I don't have a single bad thing to say about him or his talent, but the left tackle position is arguably more important than ever given the passing explosion of recent seasons. As long as you're convinced Kalil is a true franchise player, as the Vikings are, you make the move first and then start sorting through your other needs. Left tackle can't be an afterthought. Not on this team, at least.

Even Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, a former NFL cornerback and longtime defensive coach, agreed.

"It's a very important position," Frazier said, "when you're talking about a young quarterback that you want to make sure gets a little bit more comfortable in the pocket, and Matt gives us some confidence in knowing that that position is taken care of.

"We had some needs, but none were more important than addressing the left tackle position."

Drafting Kalil was part of a bravura opening performance for Spielman in his first draft since the Vikings promoted him to general manager, a mixture of sound thinking, stoic poker-playing and aggressive targeting that netted Kalil and Smith -- and still left the Vikings with 10 picks between rounds 3-7.

According to Frazier, the coaching staff has felt comfortable since last month that Kalil should be the pick. Kalil said he got "good vibes" on the possibility during a visit to Minnesota this month, but Spielman managed to turn public perception of what seemed an obvious decision into a legitimate debate.

It doesn't appear that any team bought into the possibility that Claiborne or Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon was his top choice. But Spielman still managed to parlay his professed flexibility -- Kalil, Claiborne or Blackmon -- into an easy pre-draft trade with the Cleveland Browns. If the Browns were convinced he was going to take Kalil at No. 3, they never would have felt compelled to move up and block a team from taking their target, Alabama's Trent Richardson.

Adding three picks from the Browns to move back one spot made it easier to deal a few hours later with the Baltimore Ravens, who accepted second- and fourth-round picks in exchange for the No. 29 pick to select Smith. As much as Spielman had spoken publicly about Kalil, he had never mentioned Smith -- whom the Vikings fell in love with while coaching him at the Senior Bowl. To hide their interest, the Vikings made no contact with him at the scouting combine and didn't invite him to Minnesota for a pre-draft visit.

Even with the trade, the Vikings have enough picks remaining to move back into the second round for a receiver or a cornerback. On the other hand, they might move further back and start piling up picks for in 2013. Or …

"You never know what's going to happen," Spielman said with a laugh.

Not with Crazy Rick Spielman. No sir.

Look, this is the same Spielman who ran the Vikings' past four drafts with mixed results. I don't think it's time to start interviewing artists for his Hall of Fame bust. We had some fun with him this week, but the guy had a good day and the Vikings are better for it. That's all.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- "Crazy" Rick Spielman was at it late Thursday night, wheeling and dealing his way back into the first round to find another starter at a barren position. Much as Matt Kalil figures as an immediate starter a left tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, so does Harrison Smith at safety.

Armed with three additional draft picks for moving down one spot earlier in the round, the Vikings had no problem giving up their second-round pick (No. 35 overall) and one of their four picks in the fourth round (No. 98) to select Smith at No. 29. By my count, the Vikings still have 10 picks remaining in Rounds 3 through 7, more than enough to move back into the second round -- possibly for a receiver -- if they choose to.

I imagine we'll speak soon with Spielman, and I'll wrap up a franchise-changing day for the Vikings before the night is through.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- After a week of sudden speculation about whether the Minnesota Vikings were moving away from their long-assumed affection of USC left tackle Matt Kalil, we have our answer.

They hadn't.

The Vikings selected Kalil at No. 4 overall, passing up the opportunity to draft the other two players that general manager Rick Spielman claimed to be under consideration: LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon. Give Spielman credit for creating enough uncertainty to elicit three extra picks to move down one spot, but in the end it was hard to believe he would pass up the opportunity to select a franchise left tackle regardless of the other multiple other needs on his roster.

It was the right choice. I'll have more on this decision after speaking with Spielman in a bit, but there was no position more barren on this roster than left tackle. It's one of the most difficult positions to fill in the game, and the Vikings had the opportunity to draft the best in the country.

How could they pass that up?

As for cornerback, the Vikings have a much better chance to find a starter later in the draft than they did a left tackle.

It was that simple.

More in a bit.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- We'll start our draft coverage by giving credit to Minnesota Vikings general manager "Crazy" Rick Spielman, who succeeded in creating a trade market for his No. 3 overall pick.

ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that the Vikings will move back one spot in the first round after making a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings got three extra picks -- in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds -- to make room for a team to draft a player the Vikings had no plans to select. In other words, Spielman just got something for nothing.

The Browns are expected to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson. That means the Vikings will still have the opportunity to draft all three players they have targeted -- USC left tackle Matt Kalil, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon -- at No. 4, with additional trade compensation as well.

Having publicly ruled out Richardson as an option for the Vikings, Spielman must have convinced the Browns that they were in talks with another team that also had interest in him. I'm going to guess we'll never know who that team was (or wasn't). That's how these things go.

Back in a bit.