NFL Nation: NFC North

2013 minicamp, OTA schedules

May, 7, 2013
May 7
3:04
PM ET
The 2013 dates for organized team activities and minicamps have been announced. The minicamp schedule includes both rookies and veterans unless specifically noted:

AFC

Baltimore Ravens
Minicamps: May 3-5 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 29-31, June 4-7

Buffalo Bills
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 13-15, May 20-21, May 23, May 28-31

Cincinnati Bengals
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Cleveland Browns
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 14-16, May 21-23, May 28-31

Denver Broncos
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-22, May 29-31, June 3-6

Houston Texans
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-21, May 23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Indianapolis Colts
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-22, May 28-30, June 3-6

Jacksonville Jaguars
Minicamp: June 11-13
OTAs: May 13-15, May 20-21, May 23, June 4-7

Kansas City Chiefs
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 14-16, May 21-23, May 28-31

Miami Dolphins
Minicamp: June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 29-31, June 3-6

New York Jets
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20, May 22-23, May 28, May 30-31, June 3-6

Oakland Raiders
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-21, May 23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Pittsburgh Steelers
Minicamp: June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

San Diego Chargers
Minicamp: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 13-15, May 20-22, June 3-6

Tennessee Titans
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 18-20
OTAs: May 29-31, June 3-4, June 6, June 10-11, June 13-14

NFC

Arizona Cardinals
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 14-16, May 21-23, June 3-6

Atlanta Falcons
Minicamp: June 18-20
OTAs: May 28-30, June 4-6, June 11-14

Carolina Panthers
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Chicago Bears
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 13-14, May 16, May 20-21, May 23, June 3-6

Dallas Cowboys
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Detroit Lions
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6-7

Green Bay Packers
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 20-22, May 28-30, June 11-14

Minnesota Vikings
Minicamp: June 18-20
OTAs: May 28-30, June 4-6, June 10-13

New Orleans Saints
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 10-13

New York Giants
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 22-23, May 29-31, June 3-7

Philadelphia Eagles
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 13-15, May 20-22, May 28-31

St. Louis Rams
Minicamp: May 10-12 (rookies)
OTAs: May 21, May 23-24, June 3-4, June 6-7, June 11, June 13-14

San Francisco 49ers
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Seattle Seahawks
Minicamps: May 10-12 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minicamp: June 11-13
OTAs: May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4, June 6-7

Washington Redskins
Minicamp: June 11-13
OTAs: May 20, May 22-23, May 28-30, June 3-6
» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

With the draft in the rearview mirror, what is the most pressing issue on each NFC North team’s agenda?

Chicago Bears: The top priority at Halas Hall, from now until the start of the season, is getting the offense organized in Marc Trestman's new scheme. This task has appeared annually for the Bears in recent years, but the failure to accomplish it played a big role in the firing of former coach Lovie Smith. There is also an additional level of urgency as quarterback Jay Cutler enters the final year of his contract. The Bears might not want to make a decision on Cutler's future until seeing him adjust successfully to this scheme, but will he do it in time for the Bears to make a decision?

Detroit Lions: The next order of business in Detroit is to set up a plan for settling on the new right side of their offensive line. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus departed via free agency, right guard Stephen Peterman was released and right guard candidate Riley Reiff is likely to play left tackle. Rookie Larry Warford will compete with Bill Nagy and perhaps Rodney Austin at right guard, while right tackle will be a competition between Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard, among others.

Green Bay Packers: Suddenly, the Packers have an offseason-long project on their hands: making a reconstructed offensive line work. After the draft, Packers coach Mike McCarthy moved Bryan Bulaga from right tackle to left tackle and flipped guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang. McCarthy now has his two best offensive linemen on the left side, with Lang pairing with a yet-to-be-named right tackle. There is no substitute for time when establishing continuity for an offensive line, so the Packers' next and continued order of business is getting Bulaga and Sitton comfortable on the left side. They'll also need to decide whether Marshall Newhouse, Don Barclay, Derek Sherrod or even rookie David Bakhtiari are best suited to be the right tackle.

Minnesota Vikings: Identifying the 2013 middle linebacker is the Vikings' most unanswered question. After allowing 2012 bridge starter Jasper Brinkley to depart via free agency, the Vikings set their sights on the draft to find a longer-term replacement for E.J. Henderson. There was widespread and justified speculation that the Vikings would draft Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, but the unpredictable first round brought them three players they ranked higher on their board. Without second- or third-round picks, the Vikings weren't able to draft a starting-quality prospect. Veteran outside linebacker Erin Henderson told reporters this week that he was preparing to take on the role, apparently at the suggestion of coaches, but this is the time of year for experimenting with position changes that could be reversed before training camp. To this point, the Vikings haven't shown serious interest in free agent Brian Urlacher.
Another in a periodic series examining the roles of NFC North newcomers:

Running back Eddie Lacy figures to absorb the majority of attention on the Green Bay Packers' draft class, considering his national name recognition and his status as the Packers' second-round pick. Lacy especially figures to overshadow the other running back drafted by the Packers, at least initially.

So what can we say about UCLA's Johnathan Franklin after noting Lacy's between-the-tackles style as well as his established pass-blocking skills?

Franklin is lighter (by 26 pounds) and faster than Lacy (a 4.49 time in the 40-yard dash versus 4.6). Those attributes helped make Franklin one of college football's most prolific breakaway tailbacks over the past two seasons, but you might also be surprised with how nifty of a runner he was as well.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Franklin accumulated 30 rushes of 20 or more yards since the start of the 2011 season, tying with Wisconsin's Montee Ball for the most in the FBS over that period. Last season, meanwhile, he averaged 7.4 yards per carry on runs outside of the tackles. That average was substantially higher than Ball (6.2) and Lacy (4.5), among most other college runners.

But Franklin didn't amass those runs as a speedster. As the chart shows, he ranked fourth in college football last season with 765 yards after first contact. He also led the country with 23 broken tackles, based on ESPN Stats & Information analysis.

Those are the kind of numbers you would have expected from a bulldozer like Lacy. Our friends at Scouts Inc. Insider wrote that Franklin "lacks ideal power," but there are plenty of other ways to break tackles and/or make defenders miss. In college, at least, Franklin got it done.

Earlier: The Detroit Lions could follow a template for easing in young, inexperienced pass-rushers. The Minnesota Vikings know they need to have a plan for receiver Cordarrelle Patterson's rookie season.

Video: NFL draft winners and losers

April, 28, 2013
Apr 28
12:04
PM ET
video
Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and Bill Polian discuss their winners and losers from the 2013 NFL draft.

Countdown Live: 2013 NFL draft, Rds. 4-7

April, 27, 2013
Apr 27
10:00
AM ET
Join our ESPN.com NFL experts for Rounds 4-7 of the 2013 NFL draft.

Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at noon ET. See you there.
If it wasn't apparent already, the Detroit Lions made it clear Friday evening: Riley Reiff will be their left tackle in 2013.

The Lions could have drafted a left tackle in either the second or third rounds of this draft, but instead they selected Mississippi State cornerback Darius Slay and Kentucky guard Larry Warford, respectively. Both players fill needs and were better value picks than a left tackle, a position that drops off significantly after the top of the first round, and the Lions weren't in desperate shape there to begin with.

As we discussed Thursday, we'll never know how interested the Lions were in drafting an elite left tackle and moving Reiff to right guard or right tackle. The draft's top three left tackles were all off the board when the Lions' turn arrived at No. 5. Conventional wisdom suggested they would have taken advantage of the opportunity to have a stronger line across the board, but they have no incentive to confirm that now.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit-area reporters, in fact, that the Lions were prepared to use Reiff at left tackle as soon as they learned of Jeff Backus' retirement.

"That's why we drafted him," Schwartz said. "Again, when Backus got hurt last year, that's why we played [Reiff] there. You never say never. You never know who is going to become available, what's going to happen. But we drafted him as a left tackle. We thought he could play right tackle, we think he can play guard.

"You know, Riley, if you gave him time, could probably play center too. He played tight end for us. He's that kind of athlete. He's a guy that can move around and do those things, but we drafted him as a left tackle. Probably, with the way things ended up here, we'll probably start him off there. We have a lot of confidence in him. I mean, that's why we drafted him last year. Last year, Riley was the second offensive lineman picked."

Reiff will play next to veteran left guard Rob Sims, and it's assumed that veteran Dominic Raiola will hold on to his job for another year. Warford could compete at right guard with Bill Nagy and Rodney Austin. Meanwhile, Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard could compete at right tackle.

The Lions have five draft picks remaining Saturday, but it's difficult to expect a rookie starter coming after the third round. It happens, but not enough to count on it. Unless the Lions decide to jump back into free agency, chances are they'll roll this season with the offensive linemen now on their roster.

Countdown Live: 2013 NFL draft, Rds. 2-3

April, 26, 2013
Apr 26
4:00
PM ET
Join our ESPN.com NFL experts for Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2013 NFL draft.

Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at 6 p.m. ET. See you there.

Twitter: Ziggy Ansah wears 3D glasses

April, 25, 2013
Apr 25
9:21
PM ET
The Detroit Lions drafted BYU defensive end Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah with the No. 5 overall pick in Thursday's first round of the NFL draft. But as Ansah walked up to the podium, people noticed his eyewear -- what appears to be 3D glasses. Here's some reaction via Twitter:

Countdown Live: 2013 NFL draft, Round 1

April, 25, 2013
Apr 25
5:00
PM ET
Join our ESPN.com NFL experts for the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.

We'll be analyzing every pick from 1 to 32. We'll get started an hour early at 7 p.m. ET, so submit your questions and comments and we'll see you there.

Live blog: Radio City Scene

April, 25, 2013
Apr 25
11:58
AM ET
Join ESPN.com's Ashley Fox and a host of other ESPN NFL experts live at Radio City as we give you the sights and sounds leading up to this NFL holiday.

Visit us all day long for text, video, and photo updates from New York City. We'll kick things off at noon ET when Ashley will take your questions and comments. See you there.

Live: ESPN.com #bloggermock draft

April, 23, 2013
Apr 23
10:00
AM ET
Join our ESPN.com NFL experts as they play general manager for their divisions and execute a 2013 first-round mock draft.

Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at noon ET. You can also participate via Twitter using the hashtag #bloggermock. See you there.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

What's the ideal first-round scenario for each team?

Chicago Bears: There are a number of hopeful scenarios for the Bears, but we've got to keep it reasonable. The Bears would no doubt be thrilled if one of the draft's top guards, Alabama's Chance Warmack or North Carolina's Jonathan Cooper, fell to them at No. 20. That doesn't seem likely, however, based on the current thinking of media analysts. Others might like to see Alabama right tackle D.J. Fluker available, but the Bears aren't desperate at the tackle position. The most ideal but reasonable scenario is Georgia middle linebacker Alec Ogletree falling to No. 20 because of off-field issues. Ogletree could be an immediate and long-term replacement for the departed Brian Urlacher, allowing the Bears to use D.J. Williams perhaps at the strong-side position.

Detroit Lions: We've discussed a scenario in which the draft's top two left tackles (Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Central Michigan's Eric Fisher), its top cornerback (Alabama's Dee Milliner) and arguably its most intriguing defensive end (BYU's Ezekiel Ansah) are all off the board at No. 5. So if the draft gods are looking kindly upon the Lions, they'll give them a choice of two of those players. There's no telling whom the Lions would pick, but Milliner or either of the left tackles would give them a good shot at having a really good anchor player for the next decade.

Green Bay Packers: I don't know how likely it is, but the Packers would no doubt love to see one of the draft's top defensive tackles make his way to their spot at No. 26 overall. Could that be Missouri's Sheldon Richardson? North Carolina's Sylvester Williams? Both players are natural interior disruptors, although Richardson might be on the smaller side for a 3-4 defense and could fit best as a 4-3 under tackle. There is little doubt that the Packers want to enhance their defensive line in this draft.

Minnesota Vikings: There are plenty of options for a team with two first-round picks, including trading up to get a coveted player or trading back to pile up second-round options. But here's an ideal scenario if the Vikings stay put: They draft a receiver with one pick, perhaps Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson or Cal's Keenan Allen, and a cornerback with the other. Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden has gotten a lot of publicity lately, but his value in the first round remains publicly uncertain. The Vikings have need at defensive tackle and middle linebacker as well, but those positions might be more heavily stocked later in the draft.

Double Coverage Live: Game-day experience

April, 9, 2013
Apr 9
11:45
AM ET
The NFL claims it is trying to improve the game-day experience for fans. AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert traded thoughts on Twitter. Now we want to hear from you.

Cheaper concessions? Cracking down on drunks? What's your idea? Join us at 12:15 a.m. ET as we discuss the possibilities. You can also contribute via Twitter. Send your thoughts to @espn_afcsouth and @espn_nfcnblog. See you there.

If the best day of the NFL offseason is the release of the regular-season schedule, the next-best is the release of the preseason schedule. Thursday, we got part of the next-best thing. Or something like that.

Below are the preseason matchups for all four NFC North teams. We know the exact date and time of three games that are nationally televised, and the remaining details will trickle out over the coming weeks and months. We bring you this information so you can mark your calendars for scouting out the backups and backups to the backups of your favorite team:

Chicago Bears
Preseason Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
Preseason Week 2: San Diego Chargers (Aug. 15, 8 p.m. ET)
Preseason Week 3: at Oakland Raiders
Preseason Week 4: Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions
Preseason Week 1: New York Jets
Preseason Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
Preseason Week 3: New England Patriots
Preseason Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers
Preseason Week 1: Arizona Cardinals
Preseason Week 2: at St. Louis Rams
Preseason Week 3: Seattle Seahawks (Aug. 23, 8 p.m. ET)
Preseason Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings
Preseason Week 1: Houston Texans
Preseason Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Preseason Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers (Aug. 25)
Preseason Week 4: Tennessee Titans

Here is a link to the full weekly preseason schedule from ESPN.com.

Sources: Packers, Clay Matthews near deal

April, 3, 2013
Apr 3
3:04
PM ET

When the deal for Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews gets done this offseason -- and it will -- it will come in at or north of $13 million a year in new money, sources have told Adam Schefter. Matthews, 26, has 42.5 sacks in his four seasons with the Packers, including 13 last season.

The Packers are also working on an extension for Aaron Rodgers, with sources saying last week the sides are closing in on a long-term deal that would make the quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Click here for the rest of Schefter's story.
BACK TO TOP

SPONSORED HEADLINES