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If the Green Bay Packers are planning any significant player moves before resuming practice this week, it won't be through the initial waiver process. Packers general manager Ted Thompson said Sunday during a news conference that the team did not put in a claim after NFL teams cut down their rosters to 53 Saturday.

The Packers did have a number of their cuts claimed by other teams, however, and there has been a good level of activity in and around all four NFC North teams Sunday. I'll keep a running list on this post of the most significant players involved:

• Ex-Packers running back Kregg Lumpkin was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers had hoped to bring him back on the practice squad to be their quasi-No. 3 tailback. Last year, the Packers lost tailback Tyrell Sutton to the Carolina Panthers in the same way.
• As we discussed earlier, the Detroit Lions claimed ex-Packers tight end Spencer Havner. Of cutting Havner and keeping four other tight ends, Thompson said: "It was a very tough call, as it was with all of our guys. Spencer has played well for us. I think it is more a reflection of the play of the other four fellas that we have. We think they played very, very well and you have to get down to 53. Not an easy call at all."
• Ex-Lions defensive tackle Landon Cohen was claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think that speaks to the depth the Lions have created at the position. They were forced to make what qualified as a difficult cut.
• The Lions released receiver Dennis Northcutt, possibly to make room for Havner, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Northcutt had been earmarked as the Lions' punt returner, meaning Derrick Williams could take over that role in Week 1.
• Ex-Chicago Bears linebacker/special-teams ace Tim Shaw was claimed by the Tennessee Titans. General manager Jerry Angelo said Saturday that Shaw was released because the team thought linebacker Brian Iwuh would give it a better look at linebacker if the Bears needed him to play.
• Ex-Bears quarterback Dan LeFevour was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. LeFevour didn't show much this summer to indicate he will develop into a starting-caliber quarterback, but the Bengals proved how difficult it is to move any young quarterback through waivers.
• As we discussed Saturday, Minnesota Vikings fans need to cut back on the T.J. Houshmandzadeh hysteria. Coach Brad Childress said Sunday that he's not interested in adding Houshmandzadeh "right now." If anything, Childress said he would like to add a younger receiver. For now, however, two of his receivers are likely to be his primary returners -- Percy Harvin on kickoffs and Bernard Berrian or Greg Camarillo on punt returns.
• *Update: The Lions released linebacker Rocky Boiman to make room for kick returner Stefan Logan, whom they claimed earlier in the day. That must mean they're awfully confident that middle linebacker DeAndre Levy (groin) will be ready for the Sept. 12 opener against the Chicago Bears.

I'm getting flooded with questions about the potential of soon-to-be free agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh landing with the Minnesota Vikings, especially in light of reports that the Vikings have told receiver Javon Walker he will be released. Assuming they follow through with that move, the Vikings will be down to four receivers on their roster.

The Vikings heavily pursued Houshmandzadeh last offseason, considering him a perfect fit for their slot position. Houshmandzadeh chose the Seattle Seahawks instead, partially due to concerns about the Vikings' situation at quarterback. That was before Brett Favre became the Vikings' starter but after they took slot receiver Percy Harvin in the first round of the 2009 draft.

So are the Vikings clearing a roster spot for Houshmandzadeh? Did they just think Walker isn't ready to help them? Or did they not want to guarantee Walker his entire salary by keeping him on their Week 1 roster? I'm not sure yet, but we're on it. The dots are all there for the connecting, but there's nothing to report as of yet.

Chug-a-chug. Chug-a-chug. Can you hear it? That's the sound of our NFC North train gaining steam as we approach the 2010 NFL draft. We're at T-minus 19 days. The intensity of our discussions will continue ramping up until April 22 arrives.

There are any number of places where we can rap about the draft. (Like my flow?) You can hit the mailbag, join us over on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter. Let's see what's on your mind this weekend.

Christopher of Minneapolis writes: Kevin, I gotta ask why you think players have been turning down coming to play for the Vikings. Last offseason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh decided to go to a Seattle team that was obviously in a much worse place than the Vikings at the time in their division. Then this year already two free agents have chosen other teams over us: LaDainian Tomlinson and Tye Hill (not sure how good of an addition he would actually have been). So I'm asking what do you think it is about playing here? We have a an owner that wants to win, a very good team with a good chance at making a deep playoff run. I just don't get why free agents would pass up the opportunity to play here.

Kevin Seifert: Christopher, I think you're looking at only half of a trend. There's no doubt some high-profile free agents/trade candidates have turned down offers from the Vikings in recent years, but there are plenty of others who did not. The list includes quarterback Brett Favre, defensive end Jared Allen, receiver Bernard Berrian and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. It's not as if no one will come to the Vikings. It's more like some.

If there is a trend, we should look for a common denominator. In the cases you mention, I don't see one. Houshmandzadeh went to Seattle in part because he thought the Seahawks' quarterback position was stronger. Favre was still months away from signing. Tomlinson, meanwhile, is going to play a lot more with the New York Jets than he would have in Minnesota. That's just a fact of life with Adrian Peterson on the roster.

As for Hill, you're right: His decision was a relatively minor one. At best, he would have competed for the nickel job with Benny Sapp. The timing of his decision to sign with Tennessee -- hours after visiting the Vikings -- suggested the visit might have been intended all along to increase leverage with the Titans.

I know there are some issues that might make the Vikings less than attractive to some free agents, from the aging practice facility to their uncertain future in the Metrodome. But I don't see any common thread in the instances you've mentioned.

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Via Facebook, Ben of Fort Smith, Ark., writes: I just read that Jared Gaither could possibly be available for a second-round pick. He played very well last year and still has plenty of room to improve. I believe the Ravens use a different blocking scheme than Green Bay does, but do you think it would be worthwhile for the Packers to make a move for him and get the jump on one of the top corners or OLBs in the draft, rather than settle for possibly the fifth-best tackle prospect and then whichever corners or OLBs are left later on?

Kevin Seifert: I've gotten more than a few questions on Gaither, not only from Packers fans but also from those who follow Detroit.

To review: Gaither is Baltimore's 24-year-old left tackle, a player many in Baltimore figured would be a fixture for the next 10 years. The Ravens hedged their commitment, however, by placing only a first-round tender on him as a restricted free agent. That means a team signing Gaither to an offer sheet would only have to give up a first-round pick, and perhaps less if they work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Ravens.

If you're the Packers, you would gladly give up the No. 23 overall pick for a long-term answer at left tackle. The same would probably go for the Lions, who have the second pick (No. 34 overall) of the second round.

But here's the question: Is Gaither a lock to be that kind of franchise player? It's only fair to wonder when the Ravens, who know him best, seem prepared to listen to offers. You could point out that Baltimore has Michael Oher on board and ready to move to left tackle. But if the Ravens trust Gaither's future, it's doubtful they would give up on him regardless. They seem to have some doubts.

It's easy to think that another team's disappointment could be your club's success story. Ultimately, that could be the case with Gaither. But if he's really available, it's fair to wonder why the Ravens don't want to keep him.

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Rob of Milwaukee writes: If the rumors are true about the Packers interest in Brian Westbrook, could this mean the end of Ahman Green in Green Bay?

Kevin Seifert: First, I don't have any confirmation that the Packers are in fact interested in Westbrook. General manager Ted Thompson doesn't often have interest in aging veteran free agents, no matter what position or talent level. And as we discussed Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy believes backup tailback Brandon Jackson made significant strides last season.

If the Packers decide they need a veteran in the backfield, I wouldn't at all be surprised if Green -- not Westbrook -- is the choice. Here's what McCarthy said on that topic at last month's owners meeting: "...I like what Ahman Green gave us there at the end of the year. I thought once he got reacquainted with some of the things we do that are different from when he was here earlier, and frankly he did some nice things on special teams once he got comfortable. I mean, he's definitely an option that's potentially out there."

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Bryan of St. Marys, Ga., writes: I was wondering if you had heard anything about a possible trade between the Lions and Redskins switching first round picks?

Kevin Seifert: It's certainly being rumored, but like most draft-related intrigue, it's based mostly on circumstantial evidence.

St. Louis seems likely to draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford at No. 1 overall. The next-best quarterback is Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, who seems to be drawing interest from Washington (No. 4) and Cleveland (No. 7), among other teams.

So if you're Detroit and you want to trade out of the No. 2 pick, you have to hope that multiple teams emerge with a strong desire to draft Clausen. That team could take a chance and deal with Tampa Bay at No. 3, but the only way to ensure Clausen will be available is to trade into the Lions' spot.

To be clear, there is no evidence that we've reached this point yet. But that's what would need to happen for the Lions and Redskins to swap places in the draft.

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Chris of San Diego writes: I read that Lance Louis of the Chicago Bears is subject to the NFL conduct policy for a crime he committed prior to being drafted because he pleaded guilty to it a year after he was drafted. Can you explain why he is retroactively subject to NFL rules?

Kevin Seifert: The original incident -- a fight with a former San Diego State teammate -- occurred in November 2008. But from what I understand, the league considers the incident part of its personal conduct policy because the charges were filed after Louis signed with the Bears last summer. That's the distinction, however arbitrary it might be.

With all that said, Louis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, making it unlikely he'll face an NFL suspension. A fine could be in order, however.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders | Awards

A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.

Minnesota Vikings

Final Power Ranking: 3

Biggest surprise: Against all odds and previous trends, Minnesota became a passing team. Coach Brad Childress prefers a power running approach, one honed during his time as the offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin, and he built one of the league’s best behind Adrian Peterson over the previous two seasons. The recruitment of quarterback Brett Favre was intended to provide a viable alternative when defenses ganged-up on Peterson. Instead, the Vikings proved they are better equipped to throw than force the run against defenses stacked to stop Peterson. All told, the Vikings threw 101 more passes in 2009 than they did last season -- an 18 percent increase. Their net yardage rose nearly 25 percent, and they threw as many touchdown passes (34) as they did in the 2007 and 2008 seasons combined.

Biggest disappointment: Play at both safety positions was invisible at its best and glaring at its worst. Veteran Madieu Williams, signed two years ago because of his alleged coverage ability, started all 16 games but failed to make a single interception. Along the way, he proved to be a poor tackler and broke up only four passes. Second-year player Tyrell Johnson, who the Vikings targeted last season as Darren Sharper’s eventual replacement, was average at best. It was no coincidence that he lost some playing time to rookie Jamarca Sanford at the end of the season.

Biggest need: A ball-hawking safety would help, but as odd as it sounds, the biggest organizational need is a long-term plan at quarterback. Favre turned 40 in October and is very much a year-to-year proposition. Childress remains supportive of backup Tarvaris Jackson, but the success of the 2009 offense was another indictment of Jackson’s previous ineffectiveness. Childress has never seemed comfortable with No. 3 quarterback Sage Rosenfels. If there were ever a time for the Vikings to draft their quarterback of the future, it’s now.

Team MVP: Brett Favre. As the Vikings hoped, he was the final piece in making them a Super Bowl contender. He was the difference between 10-6 and 12-4, and gives the Vikings a legitimate chance to push deep into the playoffs.

Best thing that never happened: Signing free-agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Vikings targeted Houshmandzadeh at the start of free agency and were on the brink of signing him. Concerns about the pre-Favre quarterback situation prompted Houshmandzadeh to spurn their offer and join Seattle. Had he signed in Minnesota, however, one of the Vikings’ key players would never have emerged. They would have either stunted the development of third-year receiver Sidney Rice, who made the Pro Bowl with an 83-catch season, or might not have drafted slot receiver Percy Harvin. The NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, Harvin, made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner but also ranked second on the team with 60 receptions and 790 yards.

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Green Bay Packers

Final Power Ranking: 6

Biggest surprise: The sudden pass-rushing prowess of rookie linebacker Clay Matthews. Packers general manager Ted Thompson thought highly enough of Matthews to trade back into the first round and select him with the No. 26 overall pick. Matthews had only 4.5 sacks as a senior at Southern California, and a series of spring and summer leg injuries suggested he would have a slow rookie season. But after being inserted into the starting lineup in the fourth game of the season, Matthews collected a team-high 10 sacks. By the end of the year, he couldn’t be blocked. Matthews finished third in the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award voting and should be a force for years to come.

Biggest disappointment: The Week 1 offensive line. Quite simply, the Packers are lucky that quarterback Aaron Rodgers survived the first half of the season. Rodgers might have held the ball too long on occasion, but for the most part he was under constant pressure from opposing defenses. Rodgers, in fact, took 37 sacks over the first eight games. The Packers took an unjustified risk in starting Allen Barbre at right tackle and didn’t have a good plan to replace left tackle Chad Clifton when he was sidelined by injuries. They deserve credit for finding a multi-pronged solution, including the return of right tackle Mark Tauscher, but that came only after they dug themselves a huge hole.

Biggest need: Depth behind tailback Ryan Grant would help, but the Packers need a long-term answer at both offensive tackle positions. Clifton and Tauscher will be free agents after the season. Rookie T.J. Lang could figure at one of the positions, but the Packers must address the other high in the 2010 draft.

Team MVP: Cornerback Charles Woodson. A favorite for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award, Woodson was at his best in Dom Capers’ attacking 3-4 scheme. He has retained his coverage skills at age 33, and he also proved to be the Packers’ best blitzer and all-around playmaker. His final tally was nine interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns, along with two sacks and four forced fumbles.

A dark moment turns bright: After finishing 6-10 last season, coach Mike McCarthy retreated to Lambeau Field and went underground for nearly a week. When he emerged, McCarthy had decided to turn over much of his coaching staff. Out of that tumultuous time period came the decision to change defensive schemes and, ultimately, hire Capers. The end result was the NFL’s No. 2 defense, one that allowed the league’s fewest rushing yards (1,333) and created its highest total of turnovers (40).

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Chicago Bears

Final power ranking: 22

Biggest surprise: That new quarterback Jay Cutler would turn into an interception machine. Cutler brought a gunslinging mentality from Denver, but never in his previous three seasons had he finished with more interceptions than touchdown passes. In his first 14 games with the Bears, however, Cutler threw 25 interceptions against 19 touchdowns. A late surge reversed that ratio, but it won’t hide the fact that Cutler personally submarined at least three losses -- at Green Bay, Atlanta and San Francisco -- with multiple interceptions. He threw a total of 11 in those games.

Biggest disappointment: Tailback Matt Forte. There were reports recently that Forte played most of the season with a sprained knee. That could explain the drop-off from his rookie season and especially his lack of power near the goal line. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Forte had the third-most goal-to-goal carries in the NFL this season (33). But he managed only three touchdowns on those carries, a ratio that ranked him No. 102 among all rushers who got a carry in that situation. How many more games would the Bears have won if they had converted more of those runs? Among other things, it would have left Cutler in fewer positions where he felt compelled to force a pass into the end zone.

Biggest need: The Bears need an enforcer on their defense, which has lost the intimidation factor it carried into the Super Bowl three years ago. That player could come at any position, but it’s most needed at safety. The Bears need someone who can put fear in receivers and influence quarterback decisions. That’s not necessarily a hallmark of the Tampa 2 defense coach Lovie Smith plans to continue using, but it could change the way the Bears are perceived by opposing offenses.

Team MVP: Only because it’s a required category: Linebacker Lance Briggs was the Bears’ lone Pro Bowler and their leading tackler. He was also a 15-game starter on a defense that played terribly for most of 2009.

In hindsight: The Bears executed only 50 percent of their goal to improve their quarterback play. They paid a premium price to get a young and potentially elite arm in Cutler. But they failed to follow through with appropriate integration. Cutler didn’t appear comfortable in a pocket scheme and, despite what anyone says, had mostly limited targets. None of his receivers required a double team, which made the offense easier for opponents to defend. The Bears will have to spend the offseason reformulating their plan around him.

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Detroit Lions

Final power ranking: 31

Biggest surprise: We knew quarterback Matthew Stafford had an elite arm. It’s what rocketed him to the top of the draft charts at this time last year. But was there any way to know how much of a “gamer” he is? Opponents battered Stafford in several games this season, none more so than his now-legendary Nov. 22 victory over Cleveland. Every player on the Lions’ roster -- from the biggest offensive linemen to the smallest receiver -- knows how tough their leader is. When the Lions refused to rest his separated left shoulder, Stafford made two more starts with the help of painkilling medication before finally shutting it down. Stafford's greatest contribution would be spreading that determination to the rest of the roster.

Biggest disappointment: The Lions hired two respected defensive minds last winter in head coach Jim Schwartz and coordinator Gunther Cunningham. But ultimately their defense made only incremental improvement from last season’s 0-16 group. Opponents threw at will against Detroit, completing 68.1 percent of their passes for 35 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. Personnel is thin at all defensive positions, but the Lions could have used more help from a scheme perspective.

Biggest need: Schwartz had a blunt answer when asked this week of his team’s biggest offseason need: “Improve the talent level of the team.” Let’s focus that goal on the defense, where depth is frighteningly thin. Entering the offseason, the Lions have three defensive players who seem locked in to start in 2010: Defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy and safety Louis Delmas. What do the Lions need? Starters at the other eight positions and depth behind everyone. That should about do it.

Team MVP: Safety Louis Delmas. Stafford would have been in the running if he had made it through the season. But time and again over 16 games, Delmas proved to be a player the Lions can build around. He demonstrated aggressive tackling, strong ball skills and an admirable competitive edge. Like many young safeties, he ventured into unsportsmanlike conduct territory a few times, and he needs to level off that portion of his game. But in the meantime, there’s nothing wrong with having a feared player on a defense that has long been anything but.

In hindsight: We were among those who questioned the decision to draft tight end Brandon Pettigrew with the No. 20 overall pick, especially with offensive lineman Michael Oher and linebacker Rey Maualuga still available. No matter how good Pettigrew proved to be, is the tight end position more important than an offensive tackle or linebacker? The answer is no. The Lions still have tremendous needs at both positions. But we should say this much: Pettigrew proved not only a strong blocker, but also a dynamic part of the passing game before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He was a good tight end, but having one of those is generally a luxury.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Charles Woodson knew all was well the moment he received Green Bay’s practice schedule last week. Coach Mike McCarthy had given players an extra day off Friday so they could enjoy Christmas.

If there was any question about how the Packers would bounce back from a stunning loss at Pittsburgh last week, McCarthy nipped it with one flick of his pencil.

“I don’t remember a time in my career -- college, high school, pros -- when the coach has given you off the whole day for a holiday,” Woodson said. “You just don’t get that opportunity to spend the whole day with your family. That’s a day away from preparation. Most coaches are not going to take you away from preparation. He showed his support in this team and his trust in this team.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell Woodson that many NFL coaches, including all four in the NFC North, designed a similar schedule last week. But from that moment, it was clear to Woodson and the rest of the Packers' locker room that they would stomp an undermanned Seattle team in their final home game of the regular season.

That they clinched a wild-card playoff berth, courtesy Carolina’s stunning 41-9 defeat of the New York Giants, was a bonus. You can say what you want about the level of competition the Packers faced Sunday -- and we will soon -- but there is no debating that the Packers successfully circumvented what could have been a devastating loss.

As a result, they remain one of the NFL’s hottest teams after winning for the sixth time in seven games.

“It’s an impressive body of work, this second half of the season,” McCarthy said. “That’s the truth. That’s the reality, and that has been acknowledged.”

In Pittsburgh, Green Bay made clear they were a playoff-caliber team -- if not one equipped to win a postseason game on the road. And it’s only fair to point out the Seahawks appeared to have given up on this season about three weeks ago. They’ve lost their last three games by a combined score of 106-24, and I thought quarterback Matt Hasselbeck made a measured observation Sunday afternoon.

“They are a good football team,” Hasselbeck said of the Packers. “We made them look really, really good today.”

Indeed, playing the Steelers on the road is much closer to a playoff atmosphere than taking on the Seahawks at home. But before we dig too far into the Packers’ chances to make a run in the NFC playoffs -- “Anything is possible,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said -- we should give them a moment to enjoy their clinching moment. Meanwhile, we can reflect on how they got there.

In many ways, Sunday’s victory provided a high-octane example of how the Packers pointed themselves in the right direction after a 4-4 start.

First, they adjusted their offense to compensate for severe pass-protection issues. Sunday, you saw the fruits of their primary tweaks. Running backs accounted for all six of their touchdowns: Three by Brandon Jackson (one via a screen pass), two for Ryan Grant and one for Ahman Green.

Grant’s 56-yard scoring run in the second quarter officially buried the Seahawks in a 21-3 lead. Over this seven-game stretch, Grant has broken off three scoring runs of 24 yards or longer and has a total of six scores.

“It’s nice to have some of the burden taken off of you,” said Rodgers, who was sacked once Sunday and has taken only 15 during the seven-game stretch. He took 37 over the first eight games of the season.

Indeed, you didn’t hear much from Seattle defensive end Patrick Kerney, who was largely shut down by another improvement the Packers made at midseason. Right tackle Mark Tauscher, who replaced former starter Allen Barbre, held Kerney without a sack and with only one quarterback hit.

From a defensive perspective, meanwhile, the Packers have overwhelmed most opponents with havoc at the line of scrimmage. Sunday, they sacked Hasselbeck three times and intercepted him on four occasions. They’re playing coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme at a high level, rendering moot some early complaints from Woodson and defensive end Cullen Jenkins.

Here’s one anecdote to explain what I’m talking about.

With the Seahawks facing third-and-8 from their 31-yard line in the third quarter, Woodson lined up across from Seahawks receiver Deion Branch in the slot. Woodson noticed tight end Cameron Morrah in the backfield and immediately recognized the upcoming play.

Before the snap, he turned to Packers safety Atari Bigby and filled him in.

“You recognize what a team is doing to you,” Woodson said. “You recognize sets. I’ve seen that set a number of times, and I just let [Bigby] know what they were going to run. Either the ball will go short and I’ll get it, or it will go long and he gets it.”

As it turned out, Hasselbeck overthrew Branch on a seam pattern. Bigby was in place to make the interception.

Those are the types of game-changing plays a well-coached and well-oiled defense makes. Opponents will still find weaknesses, as the Seahawks did Sunday by targeting Packers nickelback Jarrett Bush on a 31-yard pass to receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a 16-yard touchdown to tight end John Carlson. More often than not, the Packers’ smart defensive plays have outnumbered their mistakes during the second half of the season.

So where does this all leave us? Sunday, it meant a team that changed its defensive scheme in January and significantly altered its offensive scheme in November is now in the playoffs. Its flaws have surfaced against some of its most difficult opponents, Minnesota and Pittsburgh among them, giving us some pause when you consider the Packers’ postseason aptitude.

But in terms of reaching the playoffs, the Packers ultimately minimized those losses and prevented them from consuming their season.

“You’ve got to keep your vision,” Woodson said. “I think most of the guys on this team have done that. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of things said. A lot of things were not said. But everybody realizes our ultimate goal. We’ve now got a chance.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Interesting point this week from Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and one that might help you sort through this week’s Have at It feature. Did the Packers hurt themselves by devoting too many bodies to pass protection in their loss to Cincinnati? Rob Demovsky tackles that question in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Rodgers: “I think one of the things that happened last week was because of struggles [in protection] in Week 1, we’ve kept more guys in [to block]. Our backs were staying in a little bit longer, and so our stuff was all down the field because we didn’t have any of our check downs out. The push, hopefully, this is week is, ‘Hey you guys got to hold up front.’ We need more options underneath the coverage. When they’re dropping off so far, you need some checkdowns.”

The theory makes some sense but leaves you wondering which is the less of two evils: Defenses getting free shots on the quarterback, or the quarterback ultimately taking sacks because he doesn’t have time to let downfield plays develop? The answer is getting your regular pass protectors -- the offensive line -- to play better. Can that happen in one week? We’ll know soon enough.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Rodgers was also outspoken this week on the subjects of effort and accountability, according to Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “I feel like some portion of the team felt that we could just show up on Sunday against a Bengals team that we felt like we were better than, and they were going to fold. Well, they didn't. They played with more effort and more intensity. You've got a guy in Antwan Odom who's not a huge name guy, but he out-efforted us on sacks. And his motor was running higher than ours was. I think as a professional you need to hold yourself to a high standard, and when you make mistakes two weeks in a row, that should be unacceptable to you as a man and as a Packer and as a member of this offense." Wow.
• Chicago should be able to get its running game unhinged Sunday at Seattle, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears are optimistic that defensive end Alex Brown (ankle) will play Sunday, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
• Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the Bears’ lack of interest in him this offseason: “Man, the Bears ain't holler at me. Jerry Angelo probably didn't even think I could play. So I'm going to show him Sunday." Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune has details.
• Detroit officials confirmed that rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy will start Sunday against Washington in place of the injured Ernie Sims, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• As of Wednesday, the Lions had 10,000 tickets remaining for Sunday’s game, according to the Associated Press. That’s a big number in terms of preventing a local television blackout.
• Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune shares none of the concerns expressed so far about Minnesota.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at the connection between Vikings rookie Percy Harvin and quarterback Brett Favre.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

On Sunday, Breana of Chicago prompted this debate: If you had to pick, would you prefer a great quarterback with average receivers or vice versa? After all, that pretty much describes the situations in Chicago and Minnesota, respectively. What's the preferable arrangement?

About 500 of your closest friends jumped into the fray, with a clear majority favoring a superior quarterback over top receivers in the abstract. But there were a number of you who pointed out the limitations facing any quarterback with inferior receivers, while some noted specific instances of an otherwise middling quarterback lifted to prominence by a stellar group of pass-catchers.

Off the top, several people dismissed the premise of a deep Vikings receiving corps. Tony of Seoul wrote: "I would be ecstatic if the Vikings had elite receivers, but we do not." Nick of Portland added:

"I think it's important to note that the Vikings WR corps isn't even that good. Bernard Berrian is a serviceable No. 1, but no other WRs on that team have proven anything. Sidney Rice got 15 receptions last year, Percy Harvin has proved nothing and Bobby Wade is ... Bobby Wade. In this situation, I'd have to pick the Bears passing corps, because they have an elite player (Jay Cutler) whereas the Vikings best player has never had a 1,000-yard season, and would be the third WR in Green Bay."

But if you accept the notion that the Vikings at least have a deep group of receivers, you can continue on. Nate of Lexington, Va., put an eloquent voice to a quarterback's ability to lift an offense:

"I played wide receiver in college and the quarterback that I played with ended up winning the Gagliardi Trophy (essentially the D-III Heisman) and I was an all-conference wideout. While I was no slouch, I would have to say that without question it was because of [the quarterback] and his ability that made me and us as a group better. A good quarterback and his timing, arm strength and accuracy can make up for a lack of separation and overall talent in general. No matter how good a receiver is, if a bad quarterback can't get him the ball he is no good to an offense.

As a lifelong Bears fan it pained me to see Kyle Orton (who I like on the whole) underthrow Hester on a deep ball or miss an open receiver by just that little bit. A guy like Jay Cutler surrounded by Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Rashied Davis and Desmond Clark will be more successful than Tarvaris Jackson throwing to Berrian, Wade, Rice and Harvin."

Tim of Kansas City notes the early success of New England quarterback Tom Brady -- before his receiving corps included Randy Moss and Wes Welker. "The Patriots had only average receivers and won three Super Bowls," Tim wrote. Akio of Tokyo concludes: "Proven quarterbacks will make receivers shine. A chicken (QB) or an egg (WR)? My vote is that a chicken comes first."

Fire up the grill!

On the other side of the debate, Brian of Sturgis, S.D., points out how a good receiver can make a quarterback look better. "I would prefer to have receivers who can catch the bad pass as well as the good ones from the suspect QB rather than receivers who miss the good ones on occasion and CAN'T catch the bad pass."

David of Austin recalls the 1998 season, when Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham came out of nowhere to have a Pro Bowl season. The Vikings surrounded him with a deep group of skill players and a dynamic scheme, factors we haven't really accounted for in a strict debate between quarterbacks and receivers. But David makes some good points:

"Cunningham's 1998 season with Minnesota, when he had Cris Carter, Jake Reed, Robert Smith, and Randy Moss (whose explosiveness was as yet largely unanticipated and unplanned for by defenses) as offensive weapons, and a decent offensive scheme, speaks volumes about how good offensive weapons and game planning was able to turn an 81.5 lifetime average QB into a wunderkind, at least for one season. His 106 QB rating that season was 14 points higher than his next best season, eight years earlier, and 24 points higher than his lifetime average."

My take? I figured you would ask. I have always felt that quarterback is the most important single position in all of sports. It's much more difficult to find a good quarterback than it is to assemble a group of competent receivers.

But just for kicks, I looked at the top two receivers for each of the NFL's five highest-rated quarterbacks in 2008. Then I did the reverse: Who was the primary quarterback for the five most productive receivers in 2008?

Here are the highest-rated quarterbacks' top wide receivers:

Leading receivers for top quarterbacks, 2008 Quarterback Team Rating Top WRs (catches-yards) Philip Rivers San Diego 105.5 Vincent Jackson (59-1,098), Ch ris Chambers (33-462) Chad Pennington Miami 97.4 Ted Ginn Jr. (56-790), Greg Camarillo (55-613) Kurt Warner Arizona 96.9 Larry Fitzgerald (96-1,431), Anquan Boldin (89-1,038) Drew Brees New Orleans 96.2 Lance Moore (79-928), Marques Colston (47-760) Peyton Manning Indianapolis 95.0 Reggie Wayne (82-1,145), Marvin Harrison (60-636)

And here are the quarterbacks for the top five receivers by yards:

Primary quarterback for top WRs (yards), 2008 WR Team Yards Quarterback (rating, NFL rank) Andre Johnson Houston 1,575 Matt Schaub (92.7, No. 7) Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 1,431 Kurt Warner (96.9, No. 3) Steve Smith Carolina 1,421 Jake Delhomme (84.7, No. 18) Roddy White Atlanta 1,382 Matt Ryan (87.7, No. 11) Calvin Johnson Detroit 1,331 Dan Orlovsky (72.6, No. 29)

And by receptions:

Primary quarterback for top WRs (receptions), 2008 WR Team Catches Quarterback (rating, NFL rank) Andre Johnson Houston 115 Matt Schaub (92.7, No. 7) Wes Welker New England 111 Matt Cassel (89.4, No. 10) Brandon Marshall Denver 104 Jay Cutler (86.0, No. 16) Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 96 Kurt Warner (96.9, No. 3) T.J. Houshmandzadeh Cincinnati 92 Ryan Fitzpatrick (70.0, No. 31)

Because this is only a one-year sample, I don't know that we should draw too many conclusions from these charts. You can see that the NFL's five highest-rated quarterbacks last season had the benefit of working with four 1,000-yard receivers. You can also see that it's possible for a receiver to have a good year with a low-rated quarterback, but it wasn't frequent last season. (Detroit's Calvin Johnson and Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh were the only ones to make the cut.)

Finally, four of the five highest-rated quarterbacks made the playoffs last season. Three of the top receivers in yardage advanced to the postseason, but only one from the group organized by receptions. This tells us that in 2008, at least, you were better off with an elite quarterback than an elite receiver -- but we probably knew that anyway. For me, however, it also shows there is enough gray area in this question to make for reasonable disagreement in this debate.

In the specific question of Chicago vs. Minnesota, there are some mitigating factors that we avoided for the purposes of this debate. How does the relative quality of each team's running game impact the debate? And what about their defenses?

From a big-picture perspective, however, I'll always choose the quarterback ahead of the receivers. A really good group of receivers can bail out an average quarterback at times, but not to the extent that an elite quarterback can lift an average group of receivers. I'll take Tom Brady with Troy Brown and David Patten over Ryan Fitzpatrick with Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh any day.

	Getty Images
	Who has a better chance of being 2009 NFL Rookie of the Year: the Vikings' Percy Harvin or the Cardinals' Chris Wells? The bloggers debate.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando and Kevin Seifert

Nothing gets the football juices flowing in April like drafting an exciting skill position player.

Fans in Minnesota are already envisioning receiver Percy Harvin dashing through the secondary on the way to a long touchdown. In Arizona, they're wondering how many defenders tailback Beanie Wells is going to run over on the way to a 1,000-yard season.

Who will be the NFL's 2009 Rookie of the Year? It's a little early to crown a winner, but Harvin and Wells are two strong candidates. Our NFC West and NFC North bloggers take an early stance:

	AP Photo/Star Tribune, Carlos Gonzalez
	Minnesota first-round draft pick Percy Harvin will get a chance to put up big numbers for the Vikings.

Kevin Seifert: Well, Mike, we're three months from training camp and 4 1/2 months from the start of the regular season. There's no way to predict for sure where the voters will land. But I'll tell you this much: Harvin is going to get every opportunity to put up Rookie of the Year numbers.

Early on, I think the Vikings will ease him in as a punt and kickoff returner -- with selected packages for him on offense. But it might not take much. Harvin is the kind of playmaker who could have a pretty high ratio of touchdowns to touches.

There are veterans who likely will start ahead of him, but when Harvin gets in the game he'll be quick to make things happen. Think of him as the receiving version of New Orleans tailback Reggie Bush. He can make people miss once the ball gets in his hands.

Mike Sando: Once the ball gets in his hands? That's the hard part in Minnesota.

There's a reason Jeff George keeps saying he should be the Vikings' quarterback at age 41. There's a reason T.J. Houshmandzadeh decided to sign with the Seahawks about four seconds into his free-agent visit to Minnesota.

There's a reason no one on the Vikings caught more than 53 passes last season. Five rookies caught at least as many passes (Eddie Royal 91, Matt Forte 63, DeSean Jackson 62, John Carlson 55, Davone Bess 54 and Donnie Avery 53) in 2008.

I'm just not sure the Vikings can get the ball in Harvin's hands consistently enough.

Kevin Seifert: I'm not sure there is enough WD-40 in North America for Jeff George to do it, either, but that's for another debate.

Seriously, in some ways it doesn't matter whom the Vikings have at quarterback as long as he can throw a screen pass and a shallow cross. Harvin is at his best after the catch. Check out some of his highlights at Florida against some pretty fast SEC defenses. Trust me, the Vikings have plenty of three-yard pass plays in their playbook. The key will be finding simple ways to get the ball in Harvin's hands. Then let him do the rest.

In reality, the quarterback issue might be a bigger deal for Arizona. Nothing I saw last year leads me to believe Wells will get enough opportunities to put up Rookie of the Year numbers. Are you telling me Kurt Warner is going to hand the ball off all season and Larry Fitzgerald is going to become a downfield blocking specialist?

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Something smells familiar around here. After all, it wasn't too long ago when an NFL team put a prominent player on the trading block and suddenly the NFC North was awash in rumors?

And for good reason, as it turns out. Exactly two weeks ago, Denver shipped quarterback Jay Cutler to Chicago after considering an offer from Detroit and speaking briefly to Minnesota early in the process. Based on the tone of letters in my mailbag, we're abuzz with the possibility that a Black and Blue team could grab receiver Anquan Boldin from Arizona.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed Wednesday the Cardinals will listen to offers for Boldin, who wants a contract that Arizona doesn't seem willing to offer. The Bears can still count receiver among their personnel needs, and Minnesota aggressively pursued free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh earlier this offseason.

I won't entirely rule out the possibility of Boldin joining Cutler in the NFC North, but there seems to be more circumstances working against it than there are in favor. Among them:

	Paul Spinelli/Getty Images
	There are NFC North teams that would love to have Anquan Boldin but do not seem to have the necessary assets to trade for him.

1. There haven't been too many estimates as to the Cardinals' asking price, but the Bears already coughed up three valuable draft choices in the Cutler deal. They don't have a first- or third-round pick to trade this year, and they don't own a first-rounder in 2010. (They do have a third-round pick this season, but it was a compensatory award and thus not eligible to be traded.) The Bears could include the No. 49 overall pick this year, but that is their only immediate ammunition and probably isn't enough.
2. The Vikings gutted their draft last year to acquire defensive end Jared Allen, and vice president Rick Spielman has spoken multiple times about the dangers of diminishing two consecutive drafts. It's true that the Vikings heavily pursued Houshmandzadeh, but he wouldn't have cost any draft choices. That courtship isn't necessarily an indication that the Vikings are strongly committed to upgrading their receiving corps. They considered the Houshmandzadeh opportunity to be unique in several ways. I don't doubt Boldin would help their offense and be a strong complement to Bernard Berrian, but I'm not sure it's enough of a need to give up multiple draft picks to fill. Sidney Rice, a second-round pick in 2007, should be ready to take the next step.
3. The Lions, if they have any interest, are hampered by the same factors that conspired against them in the Cutler sweepstakes. They own eight draft picks, but that includes the poisonous No. 1 overall choice. The Cardinals, after all, won't want their compensation to earn more than Boldin is asking for. The Lions have enough assets to get a deal done, but their across-the-board holes should preclude them from dedicating a hunk of their draft toward acquiring one receiver.
4. To be clear, it's without malice that I leave Green Bay out of this discussion. I think most of us would agree the Packers have a deep-enough receiving corps to allow them to sit this one out and focus on filling holes in other areas.

I can't totally rule out the possibility of an NFC North team getting involved here, but it's far from the slam dunk we saw in the Cutler discussions.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Will of Chicago, Pat of Green Bay and others have asked if and when an NFC North team would express interest in free agent receiver Torry Holt, who was released by St. Louis three weeks ago.

	Cary Edmondson/US Presswire
	Torry Holt doesn't appear to be a target of NFC North teams.

So far, the answer is a flat no. Holt visited Jacksonville earlier this month and is scheduled to visit Tennessee on Thursday, according to this report in The Tennessean. If Holt is on the radar of receiver-needy Minnesota or Chicago, I'm not aware of it.

Minnesota seemed interested in receivers during its pursuit of T.J. Houshmandzadeh earlier this spring, but Houshmandzadeh might have represented a highly focused target. Under vice president Rick Spielman, the Vikings have rarely pursued veterans older than 30 years old. (Houshmandzadeh will be 32 in September, while Holt turns 33 in June.)

Asked why he stepped out of his normal parameters to pursue Houshmandzadeh, Spielman said: "We just felt he was still a very good football player."

Holt, meanwhile, saw his streak of eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons end in 2008 amid the Rams' offensive collapse. He still has some productive years left in him, but his days as a deep threat might be behind him. Houshmandzadeh was never a deep threat and thus projected better as a possession receiver as he advanced in years.

I feel less confident in saying the Bears won't make a late run at Holt at some point, not after their out-of-nowhere decision to host free-agent offensive lineman Orlando Pace and cornerback Ken Lucas on Monday. Like Pace, Holt played in St. Louis during Bears coach Lovie Smith's stint as the Rams' defensive coordinator. So the connection exists.

There will be a point soon where teams shut down their free-agent activity pending the results of their draft. We're not quite there yet. But to date, there have been no direct indications that an NFC North team is waiting to pounce on Torry Holt.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

DANA POINT, Calif. -- By now, I'm sure most of you know the background of the Great Telephone Caper starring Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and free agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

You can catch up at this link. Or, here is the Reader's Digest version, based on what I know: Houshmandzadeh was near an agreement to sign with Minnesota on March 1 but changed course after a brief telephone conversation with Jackson. The call, arranged by coach Brad Childress, apparently gave Houshmandzadeh the impression that Jackson was the team's likely starter as opposed to being a competitor with Sage Rosenfels for the job.

Wednesday, Childress spoke publicly about those events for the first time. He acknowledged that Jackson might have been a bit "groggy" during the conversation because it was early on a Sunday morning. Childress, however, couldn't say why Houshmandzadeh perceived Jackson as the likely starter.

"I'm not speaking for T.J. Houshmandzadeh," Childress said. "But I couldn't paint that conversation with that litmus."

Childress has said Rosenfels and Jackson would compete on a 50-50 basis for the starting job. If that was the case, I asked Childress, why didn't he also put Houshmandzadeh on the phone with Rosenfels? Childress said that Rosenfels was traveling and therefore wasn't available at the same time. He initially said the pair talked but later said it might have been via text message.

Here is Childress' full response:

"You know what? He talked to Sage at some point. He was traveling. His phone was getting blown up. Sage texted him, I think, that he was at a wedding in Miami. There was an attempt. How fast it got through, I don't know. Like I said, I know that I dialed [Jackson] and handed it to him. I can't tell you because Sage was in Miami."

I understand Childress' point of view, but I can't say it changed my mind on what this all means. If I'm a significant free agent receiver and a head coach hands me the phone to speak with a quarterback, I'm assuming that player is the starter. Rosenfels might well have been unavailable at the moment, but if he truly had a 50 percent chance of starting in 2009, it's safe to assume Childress would have pre-arranged a conversation with Houshmandzadeh at some point during the visit.

I still think Rosenfels and Jackson will split the snaps during training camp and carry on a traditional competition. I also believe Jackson will win the job unless he falls on his face, given the years of work Childress has already put into developing him. The Great Telephone Caper offers a measure of proof.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Hi there. Just returned from the NFC coaches breakfast here on the final day of the NFL owners' meeting, enjoying some fine Southern California eats with Chicago's Lovie Smith, Minnesota's Brad Childress and Detroit's Jim Schwartz.

I spoke with Smith about his commitment to backup quarterback Caleb Hanie (high), his hope for improvement from receiver Earl Bennett ("He's listed as our starter right now") and whether he thinks it's reasonable to assume a rookie receiver could contribute immediately (Yes).

Childress gave us a blow-by-blow account of the now-infamous telephone conversation between quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and free agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. But Childress offered no reason why Houshmandzadeh perceived Jackson was the team's likely starting quarterback.

Schwartz, meanwhile, said the Lions hope to squeeze in a private workout with USC quarterback Mark Sanchez at the end of his pro day April 1.

As we noted earlier, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy left the meetings Tuesday to attend to a family matter.

I'll flesh out all of the above nuggets as the day progresses.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando and Kevin Seifert

The Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks combined for six victories last season. That included two Seahawks victories over the Rams.

The draft won't fix these wayward teams overnight -- unless, of course, they follow the advice of NFC West blogger Mike Sando and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert.

Kevin Seifert: Well, Mike, first off I'd like to thank the Seahawks and Lions for making our jobs a bit easier for the next six weeks. Before last weekend's trade that sent defensive tackle Cory Redding to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson, we were weighing the candidacies of too many players for the No. 1 overall pick in the April 25-26 draft.

	AP Photo/Darron Cummings
	Baylor tackle Jason Smith would help solidify the Lions' offensive line.

Would the Lions take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford? Would they capitalize on the strong tackle class and swoop up Baylor's Jason Smith? Or would they make a compromise selection and take the player considered the safest pick in the draft, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry?

Seems to me this trade has eliminated Curry from the Lions' mix. Don't you agree? I mean, would you draft Curry after giving up a promising defensive tackle (and also a fifth-round pick) for someone who plays the same position? I don't think I would. They say Curry could project as a middle linebacker in the NFL, but it would be awfully hard to justify drafting a middle linebacker with the No. 1 overall pick.

So that pretty much settles it, right? Wouldn't you agree that Curry is much more likely to wind up with one of your NFC West teams, whether it's St. Louis at No. 2 or Seattle at No. 4? If it were up to me, the Lions would take the best left tackle in the draft, and that would be Smith.

Mike Sando: I tend to see Curry landing with Kansas City in that third slot. The Rams could use him, sure, but they pretty much have to emerge from this draft with a starting offensive tackle. Can they find one after the first round? Probably, but 'probably' might not be good enough for a team that has invested so much in Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson. Upgrading the offensive line was the No. 1 priority this offseason. Signing Jason Brown solved the problem at center, but Alex Barron is the starting left tackle now that Orlando Pace is out. They're talking about having Jacob Bell move from left guard to right tackle. That doesn't sound promising.

As much as Steve Spagnuolo wants to build that defense, I'm not sure the Rams can resist taking a tackle. Once Curry makes it past the Rams, the Chiefs would seemingly be a good fit -- which would put Seattle in an interesting position. They've got Matt Hasselbeck, but should they consider Stafford under our scenario?

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

This is how player acquisitions get discussed among the general populace in the year 2009: Via YouTube highlight reels.

Yes, this is a small sampling, but the current cut-up making the rounds on new Chicago safety Josh Bullocks isn't exactly the stuff of inspiration. I can't embed it on this blog, but you can view it on the Chicago Tribune's blog here. Go ahead. It won't bite.

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune is guessing the Bears believe new defensive backs coach Jon Hoke can point Bullocks in the right direction. Or maybe they'll find their actual 2009 free safety next month in the draft. All that's assured now is Bullocks will be in uniform for next week's mandatory minicamp at the Bears' practice facility.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times believes it's possible the Bears will consider new free agents Marvel Smith and Kevin Shaffer if they cannot make a quick deal with free-agent offensive lineman John St. Clair.
• Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald looks back at the performances of recently-drafted wide receivers.
• Free-agent defensive end Michael Montgomery might make another visit before deciding whether to return to Green Bay, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson speaks with Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, among other things revealing that his now-infamous recruiting discussion with free-agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a 1-minute conversation -- by phone.
• Free-agent cornerback Karl Paymah is scheduled to visit the Vikings on Friday morning, according to Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Star Tribune reports the Vikings are also considering a late run at free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver, who spent the past four seasons in Seattle.
• Pat Carter, who spent the past three seasons as Detroit's tight ends coach, is working as a volunteer coach for the University of North Alabama. Here's the story from the TimesDaily.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Based on the comments you left Wednesday, a few of you are getting tired of the T.J. Houshmandzadeh-Tarvaris Jackson angle we've been working here for oh, it seems, about three years. So this will be the last post. I'm pretty sure.

Jackson

But it's only fair that we bring you Jackson's response to reports that Houshmandzadeh chose Seattle over Minnesota because the Seahawks have a more stable quarterback situation. (We piled on Wednesday, noting that the Vikings portrayed Jackson as their likely starter during Houshmandzadeh's visit, despite the recent acquisition of Sage Rosenfels.)

Appearing Thursday on Sirius NFL Radio, Jackson said he wasn't bothered by Houshmandzadeh's preference for Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck. But Jackson also noted Hasselbeck was injured for most of last season and made clear he considers the Vikings a better overall option. (Kudos to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune for transcribing the interview.)

"No, it don't [bother me]. Matt Hasselbeck took his team to the Super Bowl. He won some games in Seattle. He's an older guy, experienced guy. With my situation that I've been in, not [being] in the lineup, and now we have Sage. He's been kind of in and out of the lineup in Houston and with his prior teams to that. That was [Houshmandzadeh's] decision and I wish him the best in Seattle. Not to take anything away from Seattle, but we feel like we're farther along than they are as far as the team goes. Matt is a big part of their team and he was pretty much hurt for the whole year last year so that probably hindered them a little bit. But they have a lot of receivers, they have a lot of talent out there in Seattle, so he made the decision to go out there and I guess that's where he felt more comfortable at."

As for the legitimacy of his battle with Rosenfels, Jackson said he considers himself in competition every year:

"Well, year in and year out coach [Brad] Childress always tells me we're going to compete. So I'm taking that same approach this year. I'm competing for the starting job and that's the approach I'm taking. I'm just going to go do my best and prepare hard this offseason and do what I normally do, take it up a notch and try to get better. So whatever coach decides, that's his decision but I'm going to make sure I do my part."

End topic. For now.