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There are some genuine reasons to believe the Minnesota Vikings would seriously consider selecting LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. The most obvious was the Vikings' historically poor pass defense last season, along with the national consensus that Claiborne is the best cornerback in the draft.

But there are just as many reasons to be suspicious of the sudden league-wide uncertainty about the Vikings' intent, which for months we assumed to be either a trade or the selection of USC left tackle Matt Kalil. It coincides with the very public efforts of Vikings general manager (Crazy) Rick Spielman to create that very impression. Based on individual team needs, it's more likely that a team in the top 5-8 would trade up for Claiborne, or possibly Oklahoma receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson, than Kalil.

From a football perspective, some people are shaking their heads and wondering why a team whose base defense includes more zone coverage than anything else would spend the No. 3 overall pick on a cornerback. As conventional wisdom goes, individual coverage skills aren't as valuable when not employed in man/press coverage. Thus, you can get cornerbacks to play in a Cover-2 scheme lower in the draft than if you plan to use them in man coverage.

The Vikings have based their scheme on the Tampa-2 framework since 2006, when Mike Tomlin took over as defensive coordinator. Current coach Leslie Frazier, who like Tomlin is a protégé of modern-day Tampa-2 linchpin Tony Dungy, maintained continuity when he replaced Tomlin in 2007.

The goal of the scheme is to find elite pass-rushers to create havoc among the front four and allow the remaining seven players to flood the coverage zones. As a result, teams that use the Tampa-2 framework don't often pursue cornerbacks in the first round.

The Indianapolis Colts selected cornerbacks Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden with their first two picks of the 2005 draft when Dungy was the coach there. In 2008, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected cornerback Aqib Talib and the Buffalo Bills selected Leodis McKelvin.

Those picks were the exceptions to the rule, and none of the cornerbacks were taken in the top 10.

Spielman said this week that the Vikings aren't a pure zone team, which is true. No NFL team could get away with a single form of coverage for 16 games. ESPN Stats & Information doesn't track coverages, and it is almost impossible to do accurately without help from someone who knew the exact play call on every play.

But considering Frazier's roots with Dungy, and a similar history of new defensive coordinator Alan Williams, it would be fair to say the Vikings' coaching staff has a strong background in zone coverage. That doesn't mean the Vikings won't, or shouldn't, draft Claiborne. But it means that one way or the other, changes would be afoot if they do.

If you have a player as talented as Claiborne in coverage, it makes sense to use more man/press coverage than the Vikings have used in the past. And if that's an issue for the coaching staff, you wonder if drafting Claiborne would further shake the ground under Frazier.

We've already noted the unique position Frazier finds himself in entering a rebuilding process in his second full year as head coach. Would a commitment to an elite cover corner mean that Spielman isn't expecting his Tampa-2 coach to be around much longer? It's a question worth asking. We'll know if it's even relevant in a few hours. Stay tuned.

It's been a long time coming for the Chicago Bears and Kelvin Hayden, a graduate of Chicago's Hubbard High School and a cornerback the Bears have pursued for more than a year. We thought he might join the team last summer, but the Bears passed because of concern about his surgically-repaired neck.

Those concerns apparently have abated, because Hayden signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Bears. The Bears' top three cornerbacks from last season -- Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and D.J. Moore -- will all return in 2012, but if he's healthy, Hayden could compete for playing time at least in the nickel. He is well-versed in the Bears' style of defense after playing under coach Tony Dungy for the Indianapolis Colts for six seasons, and you might remember his 56-yard return of an interception for a touchdown in the Colts' 29-17 victory against the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

If nothing else, Hayden will offer depth in the absence of Zack Bowman and Corey Graham, both of whom have signed elsewhere this offseason. Better late than never, right?

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- In the midst of the early glimpses into the New Orleans Saints' bounty program, this nugget escaped us on the blog: Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy suggested that the Tennessee Titans had a bounty on quarterback Peyton Manning during the time when Jim Schwartz was their defensive coordinator.

It was at least the second time that Dungy had indirectly criticized the Detroit head coach in a public forum; the first came last November when Dungy said the Lions needed to do a better job of keeping defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh under control.

During a break Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, Schwartz was asked if Dungy's newest criticism was accurate: Did the Titans have a bounty on Manning during that time period?

Schwartz's initial response: "I don't have any comment on what Tony Dungy said."

Schwartz, however, went on to speak extensively on the distinction between encouraging aggressive, legal play and organizing illegal bounties. He suggested public discussion on the Saints' program has lumped too many unrelated practices together and said his intent has always been to elicit "a big hit within the rules."

Like many defensive coordinators, Schwartz said he awarded players with a lacquered baseball bat, and later boxing gloves, for the biggest legal hit in a game when he was with the Titans. Many special-teams coaches, he said, print T-shirts with aggressive mantras on the front.

"There's a big difference between that and cash bonuses and bounties and things like that to put people out of the game," Schwartz said. "I think people focus more on the exception rather than the rule."

I agree that, in some segments of this debate, the lines have blurred between aggressive players and players who have been incentivized with cash to injure players with cash. The former is a part of the game. The latter should never be. It's wrong to view the two in the same light.

"This is a game that is meant to be played with a physical nature," Schwartz said. "You're trying to hit guys as hard as you can. You're not trying to get penalties and not doing anything to encourage penalties."

We're Black and Blue All Over

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- If it were an emotional decision, it's clear where Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy would stand on the return of safety Nick Collins, who is awaiting word from doctors on the long-term prognosis of his neck.

"If Nick was my son," McCarthy told Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com and Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "I would not let him play."

In the end, of course, the decision will be made by medical personnel. Early tests have been encouraging, but Collins is awaiting a final evaluation that could take place as early as this week. McCarthy said there will be no gray area from a medical standpoint: Collins won't return unless he is completely healed.

"We're not going to put him in harm's way," McCarthy said. If he's on the field, he’ll be cleared, he'll be 100 percent and everybody will be comfortable with it."

Continuing around the NFC North:

• As we noted, the NFL is not expecting to announce the matchup for its Sept. 5 season opener this week.
• Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel liked the Packers' move to sign center Jeff Saturday so much that he wants to see them do it again with a defensive player.
• The Packers felt they had to sign Saturday in order to maintain their style on offense, according to Demovsky.
• It had been a while since the Packers had wined and dined a free agent, McCarthy told Wilde.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune checks in with Bears chairman George McCaskey at the NFL owners meetings. His response when asked if coach Lovie Smith is in a "prove-it" year under new general manager Phil Emery: "Lovie will be the first to tell you that everybody in the NFL is there on a prove-it basis. From what I've seen, he and Phil are working very well together. We hope that shows in results on the field."
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times offers a long profile of Smith.
• Smith spoke with Bears running back Matt Forte after Forte reacted angrily to the singing of backup Michael Bush, according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
• Bears receiver Johnny Knox (back) isn't expected to be ready to start the 2012 season, according to Vaughn McClure of the Tribune.
• Thomas Lee of the Star Tribune examines how lucrative naming rights could be for the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium.
• Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press reviews the Vikings' reputation of questionable hits when Tony Dungy was their defensive coordinator.
• The Vikings are committed to a slow rebuild of their defensive secondary, we noted Sunday.
• Free agency is going "exactly as planned," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch explains why he thinks the Lions' defense will improve this season. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• A contract extension for Lions coach Jim Schwartz is one of the last remaining tasks of the team's offseason, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Make sure you take a moment to check out Jemele Hill's column on the efforts of Chicago Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas to raise awareness for epilepsy.

Thomas, a rookie who spent 2011 on injured reserve, gained notoriety in May when he took an eighth-grade girl with spina bifida to her junior prom, recently met a 14-year-old boy who suffers from epilepsy.

I won't spoil the whole story, but let's just say it ended in Indianapolis a few days ago.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tony Dungy doesn't think the Bears are too far away from winning the Super Bowl, he said Monday on ESPN 1000.
• The New York Giants used the same blueprint for success as the Detroit Lions are attempting to use, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Quarterback Matthew Stafford was one of several Lions players who earned bumps in their 2012 base salaries, according to Birkett.
• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has detailed contract information on the top 51 players on the Green Bay Packers' roster.
• Former Packers and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre told 1340 The Fan in Lubbock, Texas, that he didn't miss football in 2011, according to sportsradiointerviews.com.
• Vikings director of player personnel George Paton had a second interview Tuesday for the St. Louis Rams' general manager job. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• Michael Rand of the Star Tribune writes on the "Carter conundrum."

A few thoughts after listening in on conference calls with Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and his new defensive coordinator, Alan Williams:

• Frazier said Williams will bring some "new energy" and "fresh ideas" to the defense, but it's clear the Vikings aren't changing the fundamental approach they have taken for the past six seasons. Williams and Frazier are both former assistants to Tony Dungy, who popularized the Tampa-2 scheme the Vikings now use. "We are going to keep a lot of the same principles in place," Frazier said. "… I did think a little bit about some other options that were available, but after evaluating our season and looking at our history on defense, we didn't want to get too far away from the things that have let us be successful here in the past." At this point, it would be a stunner if the Vikings shift to a 3-4, as they reportedly were contemplating.
• Williams has never been a defensive coordinator, and Frazier will take more of a hands-on approach to the defense -- at least initially -- while Williams grows into the role. Frazier stopped short of saying who would call the defensive signals in Week 1, but he made clear he doesn't want to be a head coach/defensive coordinator. "Some guys can do that," Frazier said. "I don't think I can. But I do want to be involved early."
• In a situation that is unusual, to say the least, Frazier said that former defensive coordinator Fred Pagac has agreed to return to coach linebackers along with current linebackers coach Mike Singletary. Frazier was not specific about roles or titles, but said that both Pagac and Singletary would be a part of daily linebacker meetings. I couldn't begin to explain how that will work. The Vikings are a 4-3 defense, but in nickel they play only two linebackers. Do they need two full-time veteran coaches? Asked how they would split duties, Frazier cited the need for someone to focus on sub packages.
• Frazier used the Chicago Bears' 2010 defensive shuffle two years ago as a reference point, when coordinator Bob Babich was returned to his role as linebackers coach and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli took over for Babich as coordinator. "I've seen it work before in Chicago," Frazier said. "Between Babich, Rod and [coach Lovie Smith], they made it work. As long as you have the right people, it can work. … After sitting down and talking with the guys about what I was thinking and hearing their feedback, that assured me it could work."
• The Bears analogy doesn't totally work. If Pagac is in the Babich role, moving from coordinator back to linebackers coach, then how does that account for Singletary? I have to assume Pagac is the primary linebackers coach, with Singletary serving in some kind of less-defined role that allows him to remain on staff as a trusted adviser to Frazier, a longtime friend.
• As presumed, defensive backs coach Joe Woods will remain in his current role. Except for a few quality control assignments, the Vikings' defensive staff is now set.

Just to keep you updated, the Minnesota Vikings have made it official: Former Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams is their new defensive coordinator and Brendan Daly will take over as their defensive line coach.

A news release made no mention of former coordinator Fred Pagac, who reportedly will share duties as linebackers coach with Mike Singletary, who will also be a special assistant to the head coach. I'll withhold most comments until later Thursday, when we should hear from coach Leslie Frazier.

In general, however, I would view these moves as more of a re-shuffling than a shakeup considering the familiarity of all involved. Frazier and Williams worked together on the Colts' staff in 2005 and 2006, and both are devoted to former Colts coach Tony Dungy's Tampa-2 defense. Williams was once part of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff that included Dungy as the head coach and former Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as the defensive backs coach.

Daly was the Vikings' assistant defensive line coach from 2006-08, the final two years under Frazier. He replaced Karl Dunbar, who was fired. It is presumed that defensive backs coach Joe Woods will return in his current role. More to come.

As business closed Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings appeared closer to having a defensive coordinator than a new stadium. Let's take a look at those unrelated issues one at a time.

Multiple news outlets -- including NFL.com, ESPN1500.com and the St. Paul Pioneer Press -- were reporting that Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams will soon be hired as the Vikings' defensive coordinator. Williams and current Vikings coach Leslie Frazier were on the same Colts staff under former coach Tony Dungy, and Williams' arrival would ensure continuity for the Tampa-2 scheme Frazier prefers.

Other changes would still need to be worked out. The Vikings need a new defensive line coach, and reports suggest that former defensive coordinator Fred Pagac could return to coach linebackers. In that scenario, 2011 linebackers coach Mike Singletary would stay on staff as a special assistant to Frazier.

That's an awfully convoluted mix of incumbents, newcomers and demotions, one that we'll address if and when the Vikings confirm it.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Dayton failed to deliver a single stadium site or a financing plan, as previously promised, during a Wednesday news conference. Instead, he said that every credible site has outstanding questions that make it impossible to make a final recommendation to a state legislature that convenes next week.

With that said, Dayton has all but ruled out a suburban site in Arden Hills, Minn., saying the Vikings would have to cover gaps in local funding that would increase their required contribution from $425 million to $700 million. That isn't going to happen.

Dayton seems to favor a little-known site in downtown Minneapolis near the intersection of I-94 and I-394, known as the "Linden Ave." site, mostly because it would create a sports entertainment district with Target Field and Target Center. There has been little research done on the site, however, and local businesses have been vocal about their opposition.

The current Metrodome site, Dayton said, is a "default" site that would work if the so-called Linden Ave. site falls through. The Vikings haven't committed to a contribution for either Minneapolis site, however, and Dayton said he can't move forward until they do so.

At this point, I don't think anyone knows how this will play out. It sounds like an awfully large number of big decisions must be made in a short period of time in order for a stadium to be approved in the next few months. Dayton, however, characterized the situation as "first-and-goal at the 5-yard line." Hmmm. We better check his red zone percentage.

The Vikings' Metrodome lease will expire Feb. 1, and while they have indicated they would reject offers to relocate, they have also said they won't sign a lease for 2012 until a new stadium is approved. Stay tuned.

As we await news on any further NFL discipline against Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, it's worth noting a strong assessment from longtime coach Tony Dungy, now a broadcaster for NBC.

Suh has absorbed blistering public criticism in the days since his ejection from last Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. But speaking Monday on the Dan Patrick radio show, Dungy cast blame toward the Lions and their coaching staff for not acting more aggressively to curb Suh's on-field behavior.

"I really have to fault the Detroit organization," Dungy said. "I think they could have stopped this. I think they could have made a preemptive strike and said, 'Hey you know what? We've got to get this player under control.' … They just need to do a better job of channeling it in the right direction. I think that starts with the coaching staff and the organization."

Dungy acknowledged that coach Jim Schwartz has been trying to effect a culture change in Detroit after taking over an 0-16 team in 2009. But ultimately, Dungy said, a coach needs to ensure his players aren't putting his team in a bad spot.

"There is a fine line," Dungy said. "You want to bring that in. I know coach Schwartz has felt like we've got to change the culture [and said,] 'We can't be the people that everyone wants to play. We've got to develop that case of, hey we're going to win those physical battles on the field.' But when it comes to penalties, to personal fouls, to ejections, you've got to draw the line. I think they could have helped him much more than they did."

ESPN reported Sunday that Suh is expected to receive at least a two-game suspension. The Lions aren't likely to be disciplined as an organization, nor should they be. But it's clear they will be held accountable by at least one well-respected NFL observer.

After the Detroit Lions' 25-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their first loss of the season, the Lions take a seat in the examination room.
1. Lost in the post-game fracas was the fact that running back Jahvid Best suffered his second concussion since the start of training camp. It's unclear when it happened, but he last touched the ball with 10 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the game. There is never a good time to play doctor, whether it's about a concussion or another injury. But it's worth reviewing the facts. Best's college career ended in 2009 with a frightening concussion while playing at Cal. He also suffered a concussion in the preseason. That's at least three in the past two calendar years. No NFL player will have a long career if concussions become a chronic and repeated injury. The definition of "chronic and repeated" is subjective, but Best is approaching that point if he hasn't reached it already.
2. I thought a key exchange occurred just before halftime. The Lions mounted a late drive that pushed the ball to the 49ers' 8-yard line after a 15-yard pass to receiver Nate Burleson with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter. But a chop-block penalty on tight end Brandon Pettigrew negated the play and caused a 30-yard turnaround. Ultimately, place-kicker Jason Hanson was wide right on a 52-yard field goal attempt with 55 seconds remaining. The 49ers took over at their 42-yard line, moved 21 yards, and got a 55-yard field goal from David Akers. Coach Jim Schwartz said afterwards that he had no second thoughts about the Hanson attempt. "It was within Jason's range," he said. "We have a lot of confidence in him making those plays. But that's a six-point turnaround right there." It was also the final margin of victory. Of course, Delanie Walker's six-yard touchdown reception on fourth down was the winning score. Make sure you note what Walker told NFC West colleague Mike Sando. According to Walker, the 49ers were confident in the matchup they would get on that final play.
3. Schwartz's fourth-quarter challenge allowed the Lions to take a 19-15 lead with 13:48 left and it also helped them avoid falling victim to the NFL's infamous "in the process" rule for a second consecutive season. We all know what happened to receiver Calvin Johnson in 2010. So why did referee Mike Carey reverse Sunday's call on Nate Burleson's 5-yard scoring catch? Burleson: "The way it was explained to me, Calvin hit the ground with his knees, so his body was on the ground. I didn't go to the ground, so the two feet I got in prior to basically catching my fall out of bounds doesn’t matter." So in Burleson's case, the "process" ended when he landed in the end zone because he never fell to the ground. I understand it technically but still think the NFL needs to clean up that rule in a big way.

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

I'm well aware that I stepped onto a media island by blaming Schwartz more than 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for the post-game fracas. Some of you noted that a few former NFL coaches, now national broadcasters, said they would have done the same thing Schwartz did based on Harbaugh's behavior. Not all of them would, however. Appearing on NBC, Tony Dungy said "protocol is not for you to retaliate" and added: "Whatever [Harbaugh] said, it didn't merit that." Dungy also said that Schwartz should "be a bigger man" and should have gone into the Lions locker room and told players: "I hope we see these guys again" rather than charge after Harbaugh. At worst, Harbaugh was overexuberant. At best, Schwartz was out of line. There was aggression, but no animosity, in Harbaugh's physical contact. There absolutely was malice in the shoulder bump Schwartz gave Harbaugh, and in what he apparently was trying to do while security held him back a few seconds later. There is no equalizing their actions, at least not to me. Now we await the NFL's verdict.

If a football team takes on the personality of its head coach and quarterback, then the Detroit Lions are the NFL's most bipolar franchise.

On one end, the Lions are coached by an emerging sideline madman. Already this season, coach Jim Schwartz has been caught cursing at officials, taunting opposing players and creating a postgame fist-pump that has risen to cult status in Detroit.

On the other end, quarterback Matthew Stafford's unflappable steadiness has lent serenity to the huddle even as the Lions faced 20-plus point deficits the past two weeks. If his biography didn't confirm that he grew up in Dallas, I would swear Stafford spent his formative days surfing somewhere in northern California.

"We take on Matt's personality out there on the field," receiver Calvin Johnson said. "I always say that Matt is cool, calm and collected in the huddle, no matter what the situation is."

Monday night, the nation will see for itself when the Lions host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

To be sure, Stafford has displayed the enthusiasm of a 23-year-old during the exciting moments of the Lions’ 4-0 start. More importantly, however, he hasn't hung his head in moments of despair. After throwing an interception to end the Lions' first possession Sunday at Cowboys Stadium, Stafford simply walked off the field, slapped his hands together and checked in with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to explain.

Asked about the pass after the game, Stafford shrugged and said: "It was the right read. Just threw a bad ball."

Asked how he handled a 27-3 deficit in the third quarter, Stafford said: "I think everyone was thinking, we've got to make some plays. That’s the way it is."

I'm sure some people would prefer a more fiery attitude from a team's on-field leader, but I tend to think that Stafford's perspective is a critical element for this team. An excitable young quarterback is far more likely to force throws and make mistakes than one who mostly avoids the emotional roller coaster of a typical game.

That's especially true, of course, when the head coach is going berserk on the sidelines. We first discussed Schwartz’s sideline demeanor after his first season with the Lions, noting he was once the epitome of sideline concentration during his tenure as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator.

Like many new head coaches who hand off play-calling duties to assistants, Schwartz filled his game-day void by berating officials and falling prey to the disappointments of his rebuilding team. At the time, Schwartz insisted that his sideline icons were Tony Dungy and Tom Landry and said: "When we get this team the way we need to be, you'll see a lot different me. Because if you look at me for all my years in Tennessee, I wasn't that guy with veins popping out of my head. But you can only do that when you have good players and you have confidence in them and they know you really well."

So much for that.

At the end of the Lions' Week 3 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, FOX microphones caught him telling referee Ron Winter’s to "learn the [expletive] rules!"

And in the third quarter last week, Schwartz took exception to Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant's trash-talking to Lions players during a break in the action while officials reviewed his 34-yard catch. Schwartz had immediately challenged it, and when referee John Parry reversed it, Schwartz took of his headset and pointed at Bryant.

His lips were easy to read.

"Hey, hey," Schwartz screamed. "How about that? Incomplete, you mother [expletive]!"

Asked about the episode Monday, Schwartz smiled and said: "I don't think Dez Bryant had a catch after about midway through the first quarter."

Actually, he caught one more -- a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter. But the point was taken. Bryant didn’t sustain his hot start, or justify his trash-talking, thereafter.

To be clear, Schwartz’s sideline demeanor has never pushed him over the edge or left him unable to do his job. The Lions’ 4-0 start has been characterized by aggressive but sound game management.

And away from the field, Schwartz has a pretty monotone conversational style. His news conferences suggest he has a future in filibustering if he ever decides to step down from coaching. In reality, he is a young coach whose first head-coaching offer came from what was, at the time, the worst franchise in the league. Like everyone else in the Lions organization, he has taken a special measure of pride in their resurrection this season.

But that's how it has worked so far for the 2011 Lions. The coach gets 'em fired up while the quarterback keeps 'em level-headed. So far, it's been a perfect combination.

MANKATO, Minn. -- The summer of 2011 is not the time for Nervous Nellies. After the NFL lockout wiped out five months of offseason work, there is a lot to do and (almost) no time to do it. If you freak out under stress, you aren't going to be much good to anyone this August.

Fortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, their new coach is probably the most serene leader in the NFL. Leslie Frazier makes Tony Dungy look like a spaz. No matter what curveball he has been dealt since accepting the Vikings' interim job last November, Frazier has projected a tranquility that should serve the team well during the hectic run-up to the 2011 season.

In the span of about six weeks, Frazier will oversee the installation of a new offense. He'll preside over the transition to quarterback Donovan McNabb, develop a new left tackle and do his best to instill a tone of professional confidence that reflects his own personality.

Three days at Minnesota State University, Mankato, revealed the Vikings are well on their way to adopting Frazier's style. Players and staff worked hard but with an emotional ease that belied the tense tenure of former coach Brad Childress. It's been a while since I've seen smiles during a full-contact Vikings practice, and I was amazed at how downright happy people were -- from the elite players on the roster to the lowest-level staffers. Even left guard Steve Hutchinson, whose next career is certain to include a role as Oscar the Grouch, chatted gregariously with reporters after last Wednesday's practice.

As a football team, the Vikings have a long way to go in terms of chemistry and scheme. But I can tell you this: No one seemed worried.

"I've been around enough successful teams," said Frazier, who won a Super Bowl as a player [the 1985 Chicago Bears] and assistant coach [the 2006 Indianapolis Colts]. "I think I have an idea of what it takes to win in this league. That's what I've tried to get across to the players over and over, and will continue to do that."

THREE BIG ISSUES

1. How quickly can the Vikings install Bill Musgrave's new offense? Players are learning different terminology and an entirely new scheme, one that will roughly resemble what the Atlanta Falcons run under coordinator Mike Mularkey. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder received a partial playbook during the one-day lockout respite in April, and he helped distribute it to teammates by making copies himself.

Still, Musgrave freely admits there isn't enough time to install everything. He has cut back the volume of the playbook and won't have his full arsenal installed for some time, if at all, in 2011.

"We're in uncharted territory," he said. "We've never been through anything like this, whether as a coach or a player. We're trying to be smart in whittling down the volume that we present to the players. We want to be diverse and difficult to defend on offense, but at the same time, we want to know what the hell we're doing. We also want to get these guys back in football shape, so we don't want to work hard mindlessly. We want to work smart. We're balancing all those factors."

For now, at least, less will have to be more.

2. Cedric Griffin's quick recovery: I'm not sure if Griffin's story has gotten enough national attention, but it will be remarkable if it holds up. Griffin tore both anterior cruciate ligaments in a span of 10 months, starting with the right knee in January 2010 and then the left knee last October. But doctors cleared him for full participation when training camp began and he was working with the first team throughout my three days in Mankato.

Griffin was never the fastest cornerback in the NFL, and it's fair to wonder how two major knee surgeries will impact his ability to run downfield with receivers. But the Vikings appear to be counting on Griffin, who is backed up by a pair of young cornerbacks -- Chris Cook and Asher Allen -- who each struggled last season.

Griffin probably won't play in the preseason opener, but Frazier said he has every intent of starting him in the Sept. 11 season opener against the San Diego Chargers. Said Griffin: "Injuries are a part of this game. If you get hurt, you get back up and continue to work hard. That's what I do."

3. Replacing Sidney Rice: The reality is the Vikings weren't going to find a receiver who could duplicate Rice's ball skills and leaping ability. Instead, they signed Michael Jenkins to offer reliable hands and precise routes. They renegotiated the contract of receiver Bernard Berrian, who should be motivated to put aside two lost years caused by a poor connection with former quarterback Brett Favre.

Most of all, however, the Vikings have thrust their faith behind third-year pro Percy Harvin, whom they hope will be their pseduo-No. 1 receiver and the top playmaker in their passing game. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Harvin doesn't have the prototypical size for that role. But he has already earned the respect of McNabb, for one.

"I have played with guys that play big, but are short in stature and have been so successful," McNabb said. "You talk about guys like DeSean Jackson and Santana Moss. There is no reason why Percy can't be a perennial Pro Bowler, as a starter at the receiver position with over 1,000 yards receiving, 90-100 catches."

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The release of left tackle Bryant McKinnie could qualify as both the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment of the Vikings' summer. We'll classify it as the former because no one, not even Frazier, saw these circumstances coming. Specimens like McKinnie, who is 6-foot-8 with a 94-inch wingspan, are rare and can take years to suitably replace.

Last week, I suggested McKinnie's departure was a warning shot to a roster that might have underestimated Frazier's demeanor. But I really don't think Frazier arrived at training camp intending to make that kind of splash, a belief Frazier reinforced during an interview.

"It really wasn't intended to send a message to our team," he said. "I had not planned in this offseason to have a new left tackle. That was not the plan. It was just a matter to do what's best for our team and our organization. If there is anything from them to get from this, it's that. That's why I did what I did it. Every decision I make is going to be what's best to bring a championship to Minnesota. No hidden agenda. No personal agenda, that was it."

Indeed, Frazier could have chosen a less crucial position if he was just looking to make a point. No, Frazier arrived in Mankato to find he had an unexpected crisis on his hands: a key player who was in no condition to play anytime soon. The Vikings planned for uncertainty at quarterback. They orchestrated intentional changes at receiver and defensive line. All the while, they were counting on McKinnie as their left tackle. His condition stunned and angered them and will leave them weakened for some time.

MOST DELICATE JOB

The Vikings acquired McNabb for the shortest of short-term jobs: To help them win until Ponder is ready to start. In order to give McNabb a fair chance to do that, Frazier and Musgrave must give him unconditional support. But they'll have to do it while keeping one eye on Ponder's development as well.

The first week of training camp suggested the Vikings aren't close to having a quarterback controversy on their hands. McNabb authoritatively took control of the offense, working with several veterans at a local high school until he was eligible to practice, and then learning enough of the playbook to effect a smooth transition on his first day as the starter.

Ponder, on the other hand, looked like a rookie in his first week of professional practices. He displayed a quick release and an obvious ability to throw on the run, but his inexperience manifested itself in poor downfield accuracy and some bad interceptions.

McNabb's one-year, $5.05 million contract doesn't suggest he is in the team's long-term plans. But Frazier said he hasn't given much thought to the eventual quarterback succession, and I for one believe him.

"I really haven't thought that far ahead," Frazier said. "From time to time I'll look a little bit ahead, but there is so much to get done right now. It's all-encompassing. So to start saying right now what we're going to do a year from now or two years from now, that we're going to do this or that in certain positions. ... With all the changes we're having in 2011, you better get your focus on right now or you'll look back and regret certain things."

OBSERVATION DECK

• After spending four seasons in a West Coast, zone-blocking scheme, tailback Adrian Peterson appears invigorated by the potential of Musgrave's offense. "The running back is definitely asked to do a lot more," Peterson said. "I'm excited about it. [There are] different formations, different looks that a running back has outside of the box. I'm excited to get this installed in my mind, this playbook, and get out there on Sunday to showcase the new Vikings offense." If all goes as planned, Peterson will play a much bigger role in the Vikings' downfield passing game than in previous years.
• Peterson wants to be on the field for every play, but obviously the Vikings will need to establish both a backup and some potential relief on third down as well. Conventional wisdom suggests it will be Toby Gerhart, a second-round pick in 2010 who ran for 322 yards in limited service as last season. But I wouldn't rule out fourth-year pro Lorenzo Booker, a late addition last season who could also return kickoffs. During full-padded goal-line drills, Booker hit the holes quicker and more decisively than Gerhart, who seems to need time to gather a head of steam.
• The Vikings' left tackle transition has attracted national attention, but it's not the only offensive line position in flux. Right guard Anthony Herrera is still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last November and has not yet returned to practice. His status for the start of the regular season is uncertain at best. The Vikings are using second-year player Chris DeGeare in his spot, but they also re-signed veteran Ryan Cook as a possible alternative. From what I saw, neither player can match Herrera's aggressive play. On the plus side, Hutchinson and right tackle Phil Loadholt both reported to camp in the best shape of their Vikings careers.
• While the offense is under significant schematic renovation, the defense doesn't appear much different under new coordinator Fred Pagac. That's no surprise. Pagac was the Vikings' linebackers coach for five years, including four under Frazier, and will run a similar hybrid form of the so-called "Tampa-2" scheme. Pagac implied that his game-day calls might be more aggressive than Frazier's, and there was plenty of blitzing during the team drills I saw. "The calls might be a little different according to the different situations but that's just a difference in philosophy," Pagac said. "Our defense is going to be the Viking defense that you've seen here for the last five years except again, we're going to push running to the football, playing with our hair on fire and having fun. We're going to get after it."
• Fourth-year pro Erin Henderson is working with the first team at outside linebacker, the position vacated by the unsigned Ben Leber. It's not clear if Henderson is merely the first of a rotation of players who will get an opportunity or if the Vikings intend for him to be their starter. Henderson has been a good special-teams player but hasn't previously done much to distinguish himself on defense. Another candidate, Kenny Onatolu, is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy will meet with Lovie Smith on Monday to share ideas heading into the 2011 season.

The Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein recently hit the golf course with Bears long-snapper Patrick Mannelly.

Detroit Lions

The Free Press compiled a list of Detroit coaches who lasted just two seasons as head coach. Can you name the Lions' representative in the list?

Green Bay Packers

Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga won the home run derby prior to Donald Driver's charity softball game. Meanwhile, Driver said Sunday he wants to chase down James Lofton's team receiving records.

Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins offered his support Friday at the hearing before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis. Jenkins: "It would be easy for me to worry about getting my deal done. But you get out here and figure out what is going on and it is a much, much larger picture. ... Once I figured out what is going on, I just wanted to offer my support."

Minnesota Vikings

Lester Bagley, vice president of public affairs and stadium development for the Vikings, on getting a stadium bill passed: "We're optimistic. I think [Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf] have done what they've been asked. They put $407 million on the table, plus about $20 million a year in operating cost and capital improvement. They put significant capital at risk. They've got a great site, they've got a great local partner, so I think we're in good shape because we delivered. The Vikings delivered, the Wilfs delivered what they were asked to deliver."

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Hello there everyone. I'm finally re-connected after making the long trek back to NFC North blog headquarters. The trip spanned Monday night's thrilling game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and leaves us to discuss -- yes -- the possibility of the Chicago Bears nailing down the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture.

The Saints' victory kept that possibility alive. Here's what would have to happen, according to ESPN Stats & Information:

1. A Bears win at the Green Bay Packers AND
2. A Falcons loss at home to the Carolina Panthers AND
3. A Saints loss at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers AND
4. A Philadelphia Eagles loss in one of their final two games.

It's a long shot, but nothing about the Bears' 2010 season has been predictable.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Bears played something other than Cover 2 on 54 percent of their snaps against the New York Jets, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, suggesting it wasn't to blame for the Jets' 34-point output.
• Bears tailback Matt Forte needs 22 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times examines whether the Bears should pull back their personnel and schemes against the Packers.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "If not for their plethora of penalties in Week 3 at Chicago, the Green Bay Packers might be playing for the NFC North title this Sunday against the Bears at Lambeau Field."
• Amazingly, the Packers are still within range of the fewest penalties for a season in team history, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers punter Tim Masthay, whose net average is 37.2, is in range of the best net average in team history. Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• The Detroit Lions are expected to get safety Louis Delmas (concussion) back for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions center Dominic Raiola could face team discipline for shouting an obscenity to a fan at Sun Life Stadium, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz is reacting cautiously to his team's three-game winning streak, writes Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News.
• The rhetoric of Minnesota Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier has changed noticeably in recent weeks, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Frazier, via Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Some of the things we have experienced, we'll look back on in 2011, I believe at some point, we'll say that's what helped us become the champion we've become. I know I'd like to return, and what we've gone through, for sure, you'd like to see what things would be like if we can get our squad together and keep some guys healthy and line up and play."
• Frazier spoke to former NFL coach Tony Dungy recently about his challenges with the Vikings' wild end to their season, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

If you’ve ever been in the Orlando airport, you know it makes chaos seem tame.

At any time of the day, you can find thousands of over-sugared, under-rested children in hysterics after spending a week at Disneyworld. Stressed parents are stopped in the middle of cramped terminals, trying to read ever-changing message boards. No one seems to know what to do at X-ray machines even after waiting 30 minutes in a security line. (Take off your shoes, fool!) Sunlights embedded in the high ceilings might look nice, but in reality they heat the terminal to such a muggy state that everyone gets that slimy, glazed-over look.

Well, almost everyone.

I was standing amid that scene last week when I spotted Detroit coach Jim Schwartz striding through the terminal, heading home after the NFL owners meetings. He was wearing aviator-style sunglasses. He walked at a beachcomber’s pace. His face bore no expression as he found a reasonable security line. He was a picture of serenity amid absolute insanity.

That’s the image many of us recall during Schwartz’s time as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator -- calm, calculating and thinking clearly despite the bedlam of a game-day sideline. And that’s why it was such a surprise to see Schwartz flat-out lose his mind during several games of his rookie season as the Lions’ coach. (See the vein-popping eruption in the photos accompanying this post.) The development was enough to make you wonder if Schwartz would bury himself in frustration during the earliest stages of arguably the NFL’s most difficult coaching job.

Mostly tongue-in-cheek, Schwartz said his top offseason goal is to control those outbursts and project a more collected version of his personality. “When we get this team the way we need to be,” Schwartz said last week, “you’ll see a lot different me. Because if you look at me for all my years in Tennessee, I wasn’t that guy with veins popping out of my head. But you can only do that when you have good players and you have confidence in them and they know you really well. We’re not at that point.

“I admire Tony Dungy. I admire Tom Landry and those kind of coaches.”

Kidding aside, Schwartz will have to walk a fine line in tempering his, well, temper. The only thing worse than losing your mind during a game is losing your competitive edge.

I would think Lions fans were mostly energized to see a normally mild-mannered coach displaying such visceral reactions to the team’s predictable stumbles during a 2-14 season. You can’t make up such raw emotions. Schwartz’s former boss, Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, thought his protégé’s newfound proximity to game management might have exposed him to more sources of rage.

“All coaches are emotional and Jim’s an emotional coach,” Fisher said. “But when Jim was calling defenses, he was very focused. That was the thing that was unique about Jim. He was very composed. He kept his focus. Because you have to. You can’t let a big play or anything affect your train of thought. So when you’re not calling defenses, it’s normal to get caught up in either side of the circumstances of the game and get emotional.”

As a result, some of Schwartz’s ire was directed at officials. But there is no doubt some of it arose when it was apparent early on in 2009 that the Lions had a long road ahead. After spending much of his career in a stable and relatively well-oiled program in Tennessee, it was surely jarring to watch inferior talent at far too many positions.

It began on opening day in New Orleans, where the Lions absorbed a 45-27 drubbing by the eventual Super Bowl champions. Photographers caught Schwartz in a number of heated moments. In a clipped postgame news conference, Schwartz was asked what disappointed him most.

“Good gracious,” he said. “What wouldn't disappoint me? Points allowed, third-down defense, red zone defense, rushing. There's no silver lining in that performance.”

It was the type of gut-punch to professional pride that many former Lions coaches have endured. Check out the chart below.


Here’s what stood out to me while compiling that table: No Lions coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger has managed a winning record in his second season. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1952 and Buddy Parker to find one who did.

Every coaching tenure is different, but from the big picture I think we can understand that recent Lions coaches have historically taken on rebuilding projects that offer no quick fixes. Some had first-year success, but none have sustained it over time.

The Lions have steadily improved their roster over the past 18 months or so, but Schwartz still faces similar obstacles. He’s going to confront a few more freak-out moments before he can calm himself down.

You can only hope the Lions give him a fair amount of time to compile a winning season. Schwartz made a point to say last week that the NFL is “about now, not about developing” and added: “You’re not graded on a curve.” But I think we can all agree the Lions’ record last season was generally in line with their talent level.

In the meantime, Schwartz will have to smile through gritted teeth when fans hand him a vein-popping photo to sign -- as they already have on more than a few occasions.

“I’ll look at it and say, ‘Blood pressure looks like it was high during that one,’” Schwartz said. “I think there’s probably a million pics they could have printed, but whatever.”

He’ll be a cool customer. Eventually.