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(The Minnesota Vikings are) Black and Blue All Over:

You say the Vikings were sitting on their hands during the first hours of free agency? I'll point you in the direction of Adam Caplan's report that tight end John Carlson is scheduled to visit their facility Wednesday. *Update: My AFC West colleague Bill Williamson writes that Carlson is likely to sign with the Vikings after cutting short a visit with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tight end wouldn't appear to be a primary position of need for the Vikings, who made the promising Kyle Rudolph a second-round draft pick last season. But Carlson was an excellent pass catcher for three years for the Seattle Seahawks before a shoulder injury forced him to miss the 2011 season, and he would fit a larger goal of providing quarterback Christian Ponder with more playmakers. The New England Patriots, after all, have shown how two strong pass-catching tight ends can power an offense.

The Vikings haven't shown much, if any interest, in bringing back veteran Visanthe Shiancoe, who on Wednesday morning tweeted: "Good memories in minn.. especially '09 !"

We'll keep you updated on any Vikings announcement on Carlson, a Minnesota native who is sure to get the locals excited about his return. For now, a few local headlines:

• No one should be surprised at the Vikings' free agent approach, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com. Zulgad: "[T]o get all excited about not diving into free agency in the opening hours of a frenzy in which dollars are thrown around like Aaron Rodgers' passes? That's just silly."
• The Vikings aren't looking for a quick fix, writes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings' stadium bill will get its first committee hearing Wednesday, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

This is it. Tuesday is the day we find out who among our pending free agents will test the free-agent market, and who will sign last-minute deals to remain in the NFC North.

We have a good idea on most of them, and among those who appear set to hit the open market are Detroit Lions left tackle Jeff Backus, Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, Lions cornerback Eric Wright, Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant and Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson.

Packers center Scott Wells is one of the few players whose next step won't be clear until 4 p.m. ET, when the new league year begins. It's also not clear if the Packers will keep veteran receiver Donald Driver and left tackle Chad Clifton under their current contracts, whether they will restructure them or if they both will be released.

I'll station myself in front of the computer for as long as my eyes can stay open, and as always, we'll call 'em the way we see 'em. Hop aboard. The ride is about to begin.

Dashing through the division:

• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune looks at the top free agents available on the market.
• David Haugh of the Tribune doesn't think the Chicago Bears have the luxury of pursuing defensive end Mario Williams. Haugh: "Sturdy offensive line and big-play wide receiver aren't terms I recall using in relation to the Bears offense since the [Jay] Cutler trade three years ago."
• Go here to vote in ESPNChicago.com's Hot Button debate on which receiver -- Vincent Jackson or Mario Manningham -- makes better sense for the Bears.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times looks at how the Bears could afford Williams.
• The Packers will start free agency with at least $7 million in cap space after the NFL gave most teams an additional $1.6 million, notes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Grant on reports of the New Orleans Saints' bounty program, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "Not everybody is coaching from the right place, not everybody is playing from the right place. And that’s just the reality."
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the state of the Wells negotiations: "The Packers and Wells have done such a good job of keeping negotiations secret that it's hard to know whether they have bridged at all a huge gap they faced as late as the middle of February. Typically, the Packers get deals done with their free-agents-to-be right under the gun, so it may take until Tuesday afternoon for Wells' fate to be known."
• If the Vikings seek big-name cornerbacks on the free-agent market, it could be a sign they are planning a schematic change, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings cornerback Chris Cook could take the stand in his own defense as early as Tuesday in his ongoing trial for felony strangulation of his girlfriend, notes Abby Simons of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings appear set to let a number of their veteran free agents depart, including tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It's not clear if the Vikings' stadium bill will clear its first committee this week, according to Doug Belden of the Pioneer Press.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News wonders if the Lions have enough salary-cap room to re-sign Tulloch.
• The Lions want backup quarterback Shaun Hill back in 2012, but it doesn't appear he'll be signed before Tuesday's deadline, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

Judging by your comments, some of you are neither surprised nor particularly upset to learn that the New Orleans Saints had a bounty on then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Over on our Facebook page, for example, Ace wrote: "Wait a second. Does anybody actually care that NFL players are actively trying to hurt each other? I thought that's why we watch the game?"

Fair point. There is absolutely a segment of football fans drawn to the game by its physical brutality. For you, players incentivized to hurt one another ultimately enhance the violence and elevate the game to a modern-day gladiator scene, where combatants win by disabling their opponent. If you like that sort of thing, you loved seeing Favre pummeled during that game and probably should remove yourself from this conversation.

The rest of you are wondering why it took the NFL two years to document what seemed painfully obvious (pardon the pun) in the days that followed: Regardless of their motivation or incentive, the Saints seemed determined to batter Favre, inside or outside the rules.

It was clear early on, when defensive end Bobby McCray drilled Favre in the chin after a handoff, and continued through a game that included two personal fouls and a third the NFL later said should have been called. Favre's ankle was heavily bruised after McCray grabbed it as part of a high-low hit in the third quarter, and in all it was one of the most brutal beatings we've seen a veteran quarterback take.

McCray was fined $20,000, and looking back, there were plenty of clues and suspicions circulating that suggested this was more than just a physical game. The Vikings were incensed by the Saints' approach and complained to the league the next day. A few months later, then-coach Brad Childress said: "What I hate to see are late hits or attempts to hurt anybody. I don't think there's a place for that in the game."

Asked if he thought that happened in the NFC Championship Game, Childress said: "Yes, I would have to say that, yes."

It's even worth taking a second look at the Twitter "feud" between then-Saints safety Darren Sharper and Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the spring of 2010. What most of us thought was fun self-promotion takes on a different meaning with what we know now. The exchange began when Sharper, noting Favre's subsequent ankle surgery, tweeted: "Well y'all seen Brett had surgery on that ankle we got after in the championship game. Come Thursday night 1st game. X marks the spot."

We even discussed the issue of deliberate attempts to injure that spring. Did anyone know the Saints had a bounty on Favre in that game? Would it have mattered?

To me, not really. Whether there was a bounty or not, the Saints did everything they could to remove Favre from the game. In some cases, what they did violated NFL game rules. We've known that for two years. The only thing that's changed for me is that I no longer blame McCray or any other individual for playing out of control. Clearly, they were acting as part of a larger mentality conceived by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and endorsed, at least tacitly, by coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Not to get all preachy here, but indulge me for a moment. Competition spurs some people to high achievement, but it puts others on a mission to limit the achievement of their opponents. Are you trying to win? Or are you trying to make the other guy lose? It's a subtle difference and doesn't necessarily correlate to win-loss records, but in the end, the Saints succeeded in making the Vikings worse than them on that day.

Under duress and in pain, Favre threw two interceptions, one of which came after an illegal hit by McCray. The Saints won in part by disabling their opponent. But at what price? The NFL will soon provide an answer to that question.

We're going to get some mileage out of the research I did, and had forwarded to me, for our 2011 All-NFC North team. The first installment is left over from the debate that ultimately led me to choose Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson over the Minnesota Vikings' Percy Harvin.

I checked out their playing time as part of comparing their production. As it turned out, Nelson and Harvin were on the field for almost exactly the same amount of time. Nelson played 609 snaps and Harvin 605. (All numbers in this post exclude penalties, which means they vary slightly from the figures we've used during the season.) The percentages of their team's total snaps were close as well: 58.9 for Nelson and 58.4 for Harvin.

That makes sense for Nelson, who was part of the NFL's deepest receiving corps. But I have a hard time understanding how Harvin -- by far the Vikings' best receiver in 2011 and one of their few playmakers -- was on the sideline for more than 40 percent of a mostly punchless team's snaps.

Across the NFL, 54 receivers played a higher percentage of their team's snaps than Harvin did. That includes teammate Devin Aromashodu, who eventually stepped into the starting lineup after Bernard Berrian's departure and Michael Jenkins' injury. Aromashodu caught 26 passes while playing on 674 snaps, 69 more than Harvin. (Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe led Vikings pass-catchers by playing 76.1 percent of the team's snaps.)

I think we all assumed that Harvin would be the Vikings' No. 1 receiver, and it was immediately surprising when he played about half of the snaps in the Vikings' first two games. At the time, coach Leslie Frazier said: "We have certain packages where we want to feature him, and not necessarily overuse him, but use him to help our football team."

Many of us dropped the issue given Harvin's season-long productivity, but in the end the Vikings finished the season with the NFL's fifth-fewest passing yards while their best receiver was on the sideline for 41.6 percent of their plays. That's hard to defend.

On the other hand, it's possible the Vikings believed Harvin would be more effective with managed snaps. He did, after all, catch a career-high 87 passes while rushing for 345 yards out of the backfield. The Vikings also had him as their primary kickoff returner on 30 of the kickoffs they faced.

Frazier denied during the season that his playing-time plan for Harvin was related to his migraine history, but it's worth noting that Harvin had no reported issues this season. Did the limited contact contribute to that? Assuming Frazier was being truthful, the two events were coincidental.

Regardless, in the big picture Harvin is too young to be on a pitch count. He won't turn 24 until May. It's true that he was managing a rib injury late in the season, but that doesn't account for 431 plays on the sideline. There is every reason to believe that Harvin could and should play at least as much as the No. 1 or No. 2 receivers on other teams.

For context, here are the NFC North receivers who played a higher percentage of snaps than Harvin in 2011:

• Calvin Johnson: 93.2
• Nate Burleson: 87.1
• Aromashodu: 65.1
• Titus Young: 63.1
• Greg Jennings: 62.2
• Roy Williams: 59.6
• Nelson: 58.9

Consider that Jennings played more snaps in 12 1/2 games before suffering a knee injury than Harvin did in 16. In the end, Harvin had the best year of his career when playing limited snaps. The Vikings must spend part of this offseason deciding if that was the reason, or if they artificially capped his production by overcompensating on his playing time.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

With so much discussion recently about the future of Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, we've hardly noted that another prominent Bears assistant also has an expiring contract and is uncertain to return.

Highly regarded special teams coordinator Dave Toub is a coaching "free agent" and has aspirations to be a head coach. In a story first reported by the Chicago Tribune, Toub is a candidate for the Miami Dolphins' job and has been scheduled for an interview.

Toub would seem likely to return to Chicago if he doesn't get the Dolphins job, but as a free agent he would have the opportunity to field offers to fulfill the same job elsewhere. The Bears might have to match a big contract offer to retain him. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears coach Lovie Smith was pretty neutral on the future of Martz during a news conference, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Here's how Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com interpreted Smith's comments on Martz: "In Lovie-speak, that reads as much like Martz is not coming back as anything short of a press release announcing it."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune grades the Bears' offense.
• The Detroit Lions aren't just happy to be in the playoffs, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions haven't been great with their blitz, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' front seven deserves some of the blame for giving up 480 passing yards to Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• The Packers are considering making Brad Jones their starting right outside linebacker for the playoffs, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers are an awfully healthy team heading into the playoffs, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• After finishing last year with 15 players on injured reserve, the Packers have six at the moment, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings players are bracing for significant personnel changes in 2012, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings have nearly 20 free agents heading into the offseason, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com breaks down the tape of the Vikings' loss to the Bears, noting among other things that rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph got more snaps than veteran Visanthe Shiancoe for the third consecutive week.

Catching up on Mondays newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Johnny Knox had successful back surgery Monday, the team announced, and the prognosis for continuing his career is good. Meanwhile, coach Lovie Smith refused to name a starting quarterback for the Bears' next game, sparking speculation that he will bench Caleb Hanie for either Josh McCown or Nathan Enderle.

Detroit Lions: Coach Jim Schwartz said he hasn't ruled out any player on the active roster for Saturday's game against the San Diego Chargers. That includes defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh), cornerback Chris Houston (knee) and safety Louis Delmas, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on Saturday.

Green Bay Packers: Right tackle Bryan Bulaga has a sprained knee cap and isn't likely to play Sunday night against the Bears, coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. Rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod has already undergone surgery on his broken leg. McCarthy indicated the Packers will practice this week with T.J. Lang at right guard and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard, but he also said that veteran left tackle Chad Clifton is expected to return to individual drills Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings: Two players are being monitored after suffering concussions Sunday: Left guard Steve Hutchinson and cornerback Asher Allen. Meanwhile, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe told reporters that some of his teammates quit in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints. "Not a lot though," Shiancoe said. "Like a very small handful of guys."

Hitting a few of Wednesday's news tidbits before heading to the airport:

Chicago Bears: We already got you up to date on the acquisition of quarterback Josh McCown. Cornerback D.J. Moore (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Safety Brandon Meriweather (concussion) was limited.

Detroit Lions: Reserve defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) is doubtful for Thursday's game. Defensive tackle Corey Williams (calf) is listed as questionable but told reporters this week he plans to play. Defensive end Willie Young (ankle) is questionable but is expected to play. The only players ruled out are running back Jahvid Best (concussion) and punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps).

Green Bay Packers: As we noted earlier, running back James Starks (knee/ankle) is questionable and left tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring) is out. All other players should be available Thursday.

Minnesota Vikings: Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) was one of four players who didn't practice Wednesday. Coach Leslie Frazier said the team won't try to test Peterson in practice until Friday at the earliest. Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) also missed practice. The Vikings might need to promote practice squad tight end Allen Reisner because of the Shiancoe and Rudolph injuries.

Getting inside the Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Nickel back D.J. Moore (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game and isn't expected to play against the San Diego Chargers. Corey Graham will be the nickel back. All other players should be available.

Detroit Lions: Punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps) was ruled out, confirming that newcomer Ben Graham will punt Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Safety Amari Spievey (toe) is probable and expected to play. The Lions could be thin on the defensive line, based on the availability of defensive ends Willie Young (ankle) and Lawrence Jackson (thigh). Both are listed as questionable.

Green Bay Packers: The only injury issue this week has been defensive end Mike Neal (knee), who made it through portions of all three practices. The Packers are listing him as questionable for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an encouraging sign. Even if he doesn't play this week, it appears Neal hasn't had any setbacks to prevent an imminent return.

Minnesota Vikings: Guard Anthony Herrera (knee) and safety Husain Abdullah (concussion ) were ruled out for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Joe Berger will again start at right guard, and it's expected the Vikings will use a three-man rotation at safety between Jamarca Sanford, Tyrell Johnson and rookie Mistral Raymond. Meanwhile, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) is questionable, as is linebacker Erin Henderson (hamstring). Kyle Rudolph and Kenny Onatolu, respectively, could see additional playing time Sunday.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- As a nation, I think we've done a decent job limiting our discussion on the possibility of the Green Bay Packers finishing the season undefeated. Cornerback Charles Woodson spoke openly about it with Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports, and a post relating to that topic will appear Friday on this very blog, but for the most part no one is getting carried away with eight games still left in the season.

Regardless, the Minnesota Vikings are rallying this week around the idea of rendering moot the need for that discussion. Coaches and players spoke openly Wednesday about handing the Packers their first loss of the season Monday night at Lambeau Field.

"Our goal is to squelch the talk of an undefeated season after Monday night," coach Leslie Frazier said.

The Packers have defeated the Vikings in three consecutive games, averaging 30 points against them in the process. But the teams played a tight game decided by one score last month at the Metrodome, and defensive end Jared Allen said: "We're not anybody's pushover. I know they're thinking 16-0. Well, they have to play us first and hopefully we can get those seven points we were lacking the last time."

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said "there's going to be no trash talking" and agreed the "Packers are a good team." But he added: "They need a loss, don't they? They need one. We're going to see what we can do about that."

Allen suggested the Vikings "have the upper hand on most teams that have played them because we've already played them once." He added: "Everybody's beatable. There's a reason only one team's been undefeated throughout the Super Bowl, because it's hard to do. We've got to go up there and give them their first loss and get after it."

Look, I wouldn't even consider this trash talking. The Vikings are 2-6 and they have a couple of choices. They can cower at the pressure of playing the NFL's top team at their stadium on national television, or they can embrace it and enjoy the challenge. They've chosen the latter. No more, no less.

A few notes from the two NFC North teams with games scheduled this weekend:

Detroit Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (ankle) was officially listed as limited in practice. Rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), who hasn't made much impact in his three games this season, didn't practice. Running back Jahvid Best (concussion), offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus (knee), receiver Rashied Davis (foot), defensive lineman Sammie Hill (ankle) and cornerback Chris Houston (back) also didn't practice.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) is going to test himself in a padded practice Thursday and could be getting closer to a return. Receiver Percy Harvin (ribs), offensive lineman Anthony Herrera (knee), running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (foot) all sat out practice. Herrera is likely to miss a few games and be replaced by backup center Joe Berger, presuming starting center John Sullivan (concussion) plays Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Thanks to the miracle of modern travel, I was able to hustle back to NFC North blog headquarters Sunday night while keeping an eye on the Chicago Bears' impressive prime-time victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Thanks to ESPNChicago.com for covering me on the late-night Rapid Reaction.

Week 6 left us in a state that makes me feel privileged to cover the NFC North. We have:

1. The Green Bay Packers, who at 6-0 are the last undefeated team in the NFL.
2. The Detroit Lions, whose coach certainly made it interesting for us after their first loss of the season.
3. The aforementioned Bears, who put together a complete game in advance of their trip to London next weekend.
4. The Vikings, who could be on the brink of a quarterback change to rookie Christian Ponder. The Vikings also have a big week on their stadium front, with meetings scheduled with Gov. Mark Dayton and league officials starting Monday in an effort to create an agreement that could lead to a fall special session.

We'll get to all of it, eventually. But first, let's catch up on local coverage of Sunday's action:

• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on the team's reconfigured offense Sunday night, via Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune: "We stuck to what we can do out there."
• The Bears scaled back Cutler's drops and added more people, most notably tight ends, to their pass protection. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com explains.
• It's important to take into account the Vikings' "poorly played, poorly coached and lackluster effort," writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com. Added Isaacson: "The Bears are what they appear to be after six games -- a .500 team no matter how they spin it."
• Devin Hester had two touchdowns Sunday night, including a 98-yard kickoff return, but left with a chest injury, notes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Vikings defensive end Brian Robison on the loss, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com: "It's humiliating. That's the only word I can think of right now. It's simply humiliating."
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune: "It's amazing that an offense featuring Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe can look so alarmingly inept and predictable. But it did for a variety of reasons. So here's the question: What exactly is this team's identity on offense, other than hope and pray Peterson can save the day? They don't have a Plan B when a team stuffs the run the way the Bears did Sunday night."
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press thinks the Vikings should have a fire sale.
• For the record, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was noncommittal about the status of his quarterback position after Ponder relieved starter Donovan McNabb in the fourth quarter. Frazier, via Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press: "We've got to sit down and talk about a lot of things."
• The Packers' defense had three sacks Sunday and limited the St. Louis Rams to three points but wasn't satisfied with its effort, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk after television cameras caught him making an obscene gesture to the Packers' sideline, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "I'm stupid. I don't even realize sometimes when I'm out there that anyone's out there; the TVs or anything I know it got caught on TV. … It's kind of been a running joke with some of my teammates. There was no anger or malice or anything. It was a joke and I kind of got caught up in the emotions of the game. I definitely apologize if any kids or anyone else saw it. I have a daughter myself so I wouldn't want her doing that. I got excited and got caught up in the game and it was just a bad joke. I definitely won't do it again."
• Packers nickelback Sam Shields suffered a concussion after trying to run out an interception from the end zone Sunday, notes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers have now won 12 consecutive games, including playoffs, and tied the franchise record. Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel has more.
• The Lions' postgame fracas was less important than its late defensive failure Sunday, writes Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News on the episode: "But there's really no explaining the reaction of the coaches after this one, and I'm guessing the NFL commissioner's office will agree upon further review. Clearly, this was not the proper way to 'complete the process' of the traditional postgame meet-and-greet."
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press: "But it's unacceptable when coaches make fools of themselves, as [Jim] Harbaugh and [Jim] Schwartz did."
• Lions running back Jahvid Best suffered a concussion late in Sunday's game, notes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com: "Jim Schwartz's outburst at the end of the game was overboard, even if Jim Harbaugh antagonized him."

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Concern about Ryan Grant's future: The veteran Green Bay Packers running back didn't exactly roar back from his ankle injury in the first two weeks of the season, totaling 65 yards on 15 carries. But against the Chicago Bears this past Sunday, Grant broke through for 92 yards on 17 carries and emerged relatively unscathed from a hit to his ribs. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said: "Ryan was Ryan today for the first time this season. He ran the ball hard. He made the right cuts." I'm sure the Packers aren't going to forget about second-year back James Starks, but Grant's performance was a reminder that this team has two legitimate options in the backfield.

2. Game-day awareness: Two weeks ago, the Bears allowed offensive coordinator Mike Martz to call passing plays more than 80 percent of the time in what was mostly a close game against the New Orleans Saints. Last Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings unintentionally limited tailback Adrian Peterson to a total of five carries in the second half against the Detroit Lions. In each case, Bears coach Lovie Smith and Vikings coach Leslie Frazier expressed regret the next day. You have to wonder about game-day communication when such an obvious trend goes unnoticed, or at least unaddressed, until it's too late.

3. Roy Williams, Bears receiver: Williams returned from a groin injury but continues to look totally out of sync with quarterback Jay Cutler, and it wasn't clear if he was even running at 100 percent because of the injury. Cutler threw four passes toward Williams. Two were intercepted and two fell incomplete. With Earl Bennett sidelined by a chest injury, the Bears really need Williams to step up as an option. But it seems increasingly unlikely that it will happen.

RISING

1. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions place-kicker: It's hard to believe that we spent time this summer discussing whether Hanson was nearing the end of his career. The Lions had a legitimate competitor in Dave Rayner, but Hanson never appeared challenged. This past Sunday, he drilled all four field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder that might have been good from 60. Even at age 41, Hanson appears to have one of the most accurate deep legs in the league. He has converted all eight attempts this season, including two from at least 50 yards, and is tied for fourth in the NFL with 11 touchbacks on kickoffs. The man is in his 20th NFL season.

2. Jarius Wynn, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle: How many of you had Wynn as the Packers' leading pass-rusher after three weeks? I wouldn't have guessed it. Wynn had his way with the Bears' offensive line last Sunday and now has three sacks on the season. The only other Packers player with more than one sack is cornerback Jarrett Bush (1.5). Much as C.J. Wilson did last year, Wynn is taking advantage of Mike Neal's latest injury to establish a permanent role. I can't say I spent a lot of time studying Wynn during the preseason, but on Sunday, he appeared powerful and aggressive and fully capable of capitalizing on attention paid to linebacker Clay Matthews. (And before you ask, the answer is "no." I don't think anyone should have concerns about Matthews' total of one sack this season. I feel like he's still affecting games, especially in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. And Sunday, all three of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage.)

3. Tight end play: We just saw a glimpse of the kind of tight end production the NFC North could have on a weekly basis. Our top four tight ends combined for five touchdowns in Week 3. The Packers' Jermichael Finley had three of them, while the Bears' Kellen Davis had a 32-yard score and the Vikings' Visanthe Shiancoe had an 8-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew recorded 11 receptions for 112 yards and is tied for third among all NFL tight ends this season with 16 catches.

Getting inside our first Friday injury report of the week:

Chicago Bears: The team declared tailback Marion Barber (calf) out for the game, removing any mystery that remained about his status for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Defensive end Corey Wootton (knee) is listed as questionable but not expected to play. Receiver/special teams man Sam Hurd (ankle) fully participated in practice Friday but is questionable as well.

Detroit Lions: None of the three players declared out for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a surprise. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), offensive tackle Jason Fox (foot) and cornerback Alphonso Smith (foot) are all at least a few weeks away. All other players are expected to be available.

Green Bay Packers: Coach Mike McCarthy delivered good news Friday afternoon. Cornerback Tramon Williams suffered a bruised right shoulder in Thursday night's victory over the New Orleans Saints but apparently avoided a more serious injury. The Packers have the weekend off and don't have to update their injury report again until Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Asher Allen (foot) is the only player whose health makes him even questionable for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. Marcus Sherels would probably serve as the dime back with Allen sidelined. All other players will be fully available, including tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who missed the preseason because of a hamstring injury. Shiancoe participated fully in practice all week.

NEAR GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I'm holed up in an undisclosed and secure location to conduct final preparations for ... THE START OF THE 2011 SEASON!!

That's right. We're hours away from the Green Bay Packers' kickoff game Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints. I'll warn you in advance this blog will be pretty Packers-centric here for the next 24 hours or so. I'll of course account for any breaking news around the division, but a kickoff game only happens once a year. (Or so I'm told.)

For those looking to make last-minute bets, and I'm sure no one would consider it, keep this in mind: The defending Super Bowl champion has won its season opener in each of the past 11 seasons, most recently the Saints last season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Let's take a quick spin around the division while we have a moment:

• Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviews the team-building philosophy of Packers general manager Ted Thompson through the lens of the recent availability of free-agent guard Brian Waters.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "It would be preposterous to think a Packers player would entertain this thought for even a second: "Now that I have a Super Bowl ring, I'm going to kick back and take it easy."
• Jason Wilde's Q&A with Packers coach Mike McCarthy at ESPNMilwakee.com covers some very un-McCarthy like topics, including his take on the makeup he wore for a recent NFL Films interview. McCarthy: "I look like an idiot. I hated it. It was terrible."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: "To provide the type of security elite quarterbacks enjoy, Cutler needs the type of year he hasn't had yet. He needs a 3,800-yard, 30-touchdown, 12-interception season to remove doubt and enter the next echelon. He needs to blend his obvious talent and not-so-obvious intangibles to make everybody around him better."
• Bears receiver Roy Williams, via Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com: "We like the Detroit Lions being [picked ahead of the Bears], everybody talking about the Lions. I mean, they deserve it. They're an up-and-coming team, but the Bears aren't going anywhere."
• Former Bears center Olin Kreutz believes new center Roberto Garza, recently elected a Bears captain, has always been a team leader. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times has more.
• Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on his job, via DetroitLions.com: "I'm here to cause you problems and meet your quarterback."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "You don't have to be drunk or delusional to suggest this is the year the Lions return to that strange, mythical place known as the playoffs. Lots of people more respected than me have suggested it."
• Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch missed practice Wednesday because of a "non-injury" reason, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune introduces you to new Minnesota Vikings nose tackle Remi Ayodele.
• Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe might need some time to gain chemistry with quarterback Donovan McNabb after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings' cornerback trio of Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook played only one game together last season, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.