ESPN NFL

TAMPA, Fla. -- I scrambled up to the press box here late Sunday afternoon, seeking verification of some basic facts. Namely: The current year and the final score of the game that had just concluded at Raymond James Stadium.

No, I hadn't fallen into a heat-induced delerium. In fact, I had just left the Detroit Lions' air-conditioned locker room. Therein, I heard:

Quarterback Matthew Stafford talk about the latest ailment that forced him to stagger off the field.

Coach Jim Schwartz rant about "stupid" football and "inexcusable" mistakes, promising that "it's not going to be a real pleasant film session" on Monday.

Guard Rob Sims express his conviction that coaches would "jump us on a whole bunch of stuff" in the coming days.

Hmmm. Tapping into my long history as a reporter, I confirmed that Sunday's game in fact took place in 2011. The Lions defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated, winning their season opener for the first time in four years and putting on display many of the components that caused so many of us to catch Lions Fever this offseason.

That Stafford's "injury" was nothing more than cramps, and that Schwartz was able to discuss Sunday's troubles in the context of a victory, marked the start of a new era that only the Lions could indoctrinate. They are far from perfect and in fact could have botched Sunday's game. But overcoming injuries and "bad football," as Schwartz called it during a different portion of his rant, is half the battle in the NFL. There are no perfect teams, and just about every one of them has a knucklehead like Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus, whose fourth-quarter unsportsmanlike conduct was almost certainly what Schwartz was referring to when he said: "There are some things that happened in this game that are inexcusable and will not continue."

Indeed, Cherilus' post-whistle shove of a Bucs defender stopped the clock with 1 minute and 24 seconds remaining and the Bucs out of timeouts. It gave the Bucs enough time to mount a potential game-tying drive, but ultimately they ran out of time. It also gave Schwartz exactly what any coach wants: A victory with plenty of material to humble his players with moving forward.

You see what's happening here, right? One of Schwartz's biggest tasks this season will be to shield players from the hype we've all created for them. It's always preferable to have players who believe they can be good than to be convinced that they already are.

But let's make no mistake here. For the most part, what we saw Sunday verified what we thought about the Lions this summer. Playing in a heat index that reached 94 degrees, the Lions controlled the game from start to finish. Frankly, much of the Bucs' success came after Lions breakdowns, namely Aqib Talib's 28-yard interception return for the touchdown and Sammie Stroughter's 78-yard kickoff return.

Indeed, Schwartz said, "They couldn't really move the ball on our defense but they had 10 points in the first quarter mainly because of two mistakes."

But Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson connected for two highlight-reel touchdowns -- one a 36-yard play on fourth down after Talib bit on a double move, and the other a 1-yard pass Stafford shoved in Johnson's direction during the third quarter just as his right calf seized.

"During the process of dropping back, I was losing it," Stafford said. "I bet I looked pretty stupid on TV. He made me look pretty good once again."

I'm sure it took the breath of many Lions fans to see Stafford on his back on the sidelines while athletic trainers worked on his leg. But he never missed a snap, finishing with the second 300-yard game of his career and the Lions' first on opening weekend since Bobby Layne threw for 364 yards in 1953.

Stafford made a handful of mistakes himself, throwing high for tight end Will Heller on Talib's interception and nearly throwing a second on a pass behind running back Jahvid Best. But Stafford appeared in command of the offense from the start, and the Lions never trailed after the 36-yard play to Johnson.

"We didn't play our best football out there but we still got a win," Stafford said. "That's a good sign. Obviously you won't want those mistakes to keep coming back. We've got to fix those."

As Stafford and the offense rolled up 431 total yards, the Lions' defense largely shut down Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch served in a modified spy role, sacking Freeman once and finishing with two quarterback hits. Freeman had 98 passing yards through the first three quarters, and the Bucs a total of 128 yards, before the Lions' late-game breakdowns.

"This is the beginning of something special and I'm glad to be a part of it," Tulloch said. "It's crazy when you win and you know you can play better. That's what makes this so exciting. We can just keep working."

That's what I think will distinguish this edition of the Lions. Trust me, I understand why Schwartz was upset. Any coach would have been in that situation. But he doesn't get to rain on our parade. "We can just keep working" is much different sentiment than "back to the drawing board." The Lions are done with that place. This is, after all, 2011.

Examining the most crucial event in the history of every team in the division.

The most important moment in Green Bay Packers history was nearly scuttled by an unlikely source. Shortly after Vince Lombardi accepted the Packers' job as head coach/general manager in 1959, his wife was "distraught," according to historian David Maraniss.

Marie Lombardi approached New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, who owned Lombardi's contract as a Giants assistant coach. As Maraniss writes in "When Pride Still Mattered," Marie begged Mara to block her husband's move.

Mara declined, knowing Vince was ready to be a head coach. Marie stood by her husband. And the rest, as they say, is Packers history.

Lombardi's arrival in Green Bay was your overwhelming choice as the Packers' Flash Point, and it received a higher percentage of votes (69 percent) than any individual event offered in last week's series of polls. Lombardi won his first NFL title in 1961 and collected four more before giving up the job in 1967, building an unmatched legend and painting the franchise in gold mystique for generations to come.

Some of you made impassioned arguments for Curly Lambeau's push to sell stock and make the franchise a non-profit organization in 1923, a short-term fundraising effort that embedded a structure still in operation today. "How can it not be Curly?" wrote mallow420. "If Curly doesn't save the Packers then there's no Packers to hire Lombardi."

Hadessniper allowed that "Lambeau making the Packers public is more important for the Packers, as without that there is simply no way Green Bay keeps a team." But, wrote hadessniper, "Lombardi is probably more important for the NFL as a whole. The NFL was gaining popularity, but Lombardi gave the game a legend. Without Lombardi the NFL wouldn't be what it is today."

Timarquardt was more direct: "Get back to me when someone else wins five championships in seven years. That's Lombardi's legacy and with all due credit to Curly, he did it when there was a bunch of good teams. Curly saved the franchise, obviously important, but without those Lombardi years the team never would have had the following through the dark years of the '70s and '80s to be successful."

What's fascinating to me is that Lambeau actually wanted Lombardi's job in 1959, a decade after an internal power struggle led to Lambeau's ouster. As Maraniss recounts, Lambeau flew to Green Bay during the interview process and launched a campaign to capture at least the general manager position that Lombardi ultimately filled. Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Packers board of directors, resisted the urge to hire him despite heavy public support.

The Flash Point mandate was less clear for the NFC North's other three teams. Let's sort through them in alphabetical order:

BEARS: A hero of 1985

About half of you voted for the arrival of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the architect of the 46 defense that led the Bears to a championship in 1985.

Lewie21982 was livid and wrote: "Who are these people voting?? Are you just idiot baby boomers, hippies, or the '80s mullet crowd??? I was born in the '80s and clearly know the decision of drafting Red Grange or instituting the T-Formation was the most significant thing the Bears have ever done. The Bears have nine championships and eight of them were before Buddy Ryan, Mike Ditka, or the 46 defense ever came around!!"

I hear ya, Lewie21982. Red Grange made the Bears an early heavy hitter in pro football, and George Halas' schematic innovations led to the golden age in franchise history -- four world titles in seven years between 1940-46. But I understand where the baby boomers, hippies and mulleteers were going.

The 1985 Bears were the best team in franchise history and one of the most dominant of the NFL's post-merger era. With all due respect to Ditka and running back Walter Payton, Ryan's 46 defense was the biggest reason. It's impossible for a single moment to spawn something so impactful, and I heard a suggestion for ex-general manager Jim Finks acquiring many of that team's stars. But without Buddy Ryan, the 46 defense doesn't exist and the 1985 Bears as they were known never come to be.

LIONS: Forgetting yesteryear

The Detroit Lions' Flash Point vote got more action than any team in the division, garnering more than 53,000 votes. On that, we can agree.

But did the decision to draft running back Barry Sanders have more impact than any other event in franchise history? About 60 percent of you thought so, although the comments reflected a wider disparity.

I'm not on board, and neither was j_sleik83. We agree that quarterback Bobby Layne brought the Lions what Sanders never did. J_sleik83: "Bobby Layne in combination with the Hall of Fame defensive backfield the Lions had during the entirety of the '50s IS their defining era. Barry Sanders didn't lead them to the promised land, Layne did."

I mean no disrespect to Sanders, who forged a Hall of Fame career on some otherwise undermanned teams. But with Layne behind center, the Lions won NFL titles in 1952 and 1953. He contributed to a third in 1957, and upon his subsequent departure, Layne placed a (possibly apocryphal) 50-year curse on the franchise. (For that reason, DWargs thought trading Layne away is the defining moment in franchise history: "Haven't gotten close to a championship since.")

Several of you pointed to the ownership of the Ford family as the primary reason for that dubious run. Regardless, I understand that Lions history is defined more by failure than success. But on an otherwise desultory landscape, the Lions once had a brilliant run. Bobby Layne was the single biggest reason why.

VIKINGS: Varied opinions

I did either an excellent or terrible job of choosing options for the Minnesota Vikings' Flash Point: All four possibilities received between 19 and 32 percent of the vote. Assembling the "Purple People Eaters" had the highest percentage, but its total was hardly a mandate among the 38,000 or so votes cast.

Scanning the comments, it was clear that you agreed on only one thing: A Vikings Flash Point needed to reflect a long history of dysfunction.

Even looking beyond the obvious, Ymacdaddy offered this litany: "Herschel Walker, Metrodome [collapse], Gary Anderson, Dimitrius Underwood, too many in huddle, big-game chokers, etc. How about Darrin Nelson before Marcus Allen?"

The 1989 Walker trade, in which the Vikings ultimately gave up five players and six draft choices, received multiple mentions. So did Gary Anderson's shocking field goal miss in the 1998 NFC Championship Game. BuckeyeVikes80 is "still reeling from that 12 years later."

Dbatten1 noted Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach's Hail Mary pass to Drew "Push" Pearson in the 1975 playoffs. TampaPacMan's moment was the final play of the 2003 season, when the Vikings lost the NFC North title and a playoff berth by giving up an improbable touchdown to Arizona Cardinals receiver Nathan Poole. It was "the signature moment in a franchise history littered with failures!" wrote TampaPacMan.

If it were up to me, Bud Grant's arrival would rank as the most significant moment in Vikings history. Many of us would agree that Grant has made the single-biggest impact in this franchise's 50 years. But what do I know? I just work here.

What key event significantly changed the fortunes of the Lions -- for better or worse? Give us your take and we'll give you our definitive moment on May 17.

The Detroit Lions have been playing football under one name or another since 1929, and although they're best known for the second-longest championship drought in pro football (53 years and counting), there are plenty of history-making events to choose from in this project.

In 1950, for example, the Lions acquired quarterback Bobby Layne via a complicated trade that ultimately left the Lions making financial payments to the Chicago Bears. Layne led the Lions to a pair of championships in 1952 and 1953 and was injured during their run to the 1957 title. As legend has it, he cursed the Lions upon his departure for the next 50 years.

The Lions had a rare moment of excitement in 1980, when running back Billy Sims proved to be every bit as good as his billing when they made him the No. 1 overall draft pick. But in a symbol of the Lions' bad fortune, he blew out his knee in 1984 and never played again.

Five years later, the Lions made running back Barry Sanders the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Sanders' legendary elusiveness made him one of the best players in franchise history.

The arrival of Matt Millen as team president/general manager/CEO in 2001 ushered in the worst decade of performance, based on winning percentage, in NFL history. Millen was fired in 2008 as the Lions were on their way to a 0-16 season, but the franchise is still reassembling itself from the mess he left behind.

Use the module in this post to cast your vote. If you vote Other, give us your suggestion in the comments area below.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Metroplex endured a rare snow and ice storm Tuesday morning, and high temperatures aren't expected to rise above freezing until Friday. The NFL has indicated the Green Bay Packers would move their first practice of Super Bowl week to an indoor facility, but a team spokesman said a final decision won't be made until Wednesday morning.

The Packers were originally scheduled to practice at Southern Methodist University. Their indoor venue would be at Highland Park high school, the alma mater of former and current Detroit Lions quarterbacks Bobby Layne and Matthew Stafford.

Don't be fooled. As you would expect from a Texas high school, the Highland Park facility is big-time. Check out the photograph that accompanies this story in the Park Cities People.

With Super Bowl XLV to be played indoors, it's hard to imagine why the Packers would practice outdoors in snow and ice. But we'll keep you updated on this critical issue.

*Update: The Packers just announced they will practice indoors Wednesday. Hallelujah!

The death of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback/kicker George Blanda brings to mind the earliest part of his professional career with the Chicago Bears. Here's how the folks at the Hall of Fame Players Association encapsulated that part of Blanda's life:

At Kentucky, George had become a fine linebacker, an outstanding punter and place-kicker, and developing quarterback when George Halas drafted him as a 12th round pick for the Chicago Bears. Chicago already had some big name quarterbacks on its roster such as Sid Luckman, Johnny Lujack and Bobby Layne. Blanda signed with the Bears when Halas offered him a $6,000 contract and a $600 bonus.

"What could I do?" George remembers, "That's an awful lot of money for a 21 year-old kid who's never had anything in his life."

Widely recognized as one of the truly great competitors sports has known, Blanda was also a student of the game he played. In his first pre-season game for the Bears he took over in the third quarter of a 0-0 game and promptly threw a 40-yard TD strike to George McAfee on the first play and had a seven for seven day and a 34-0 win.

This performance was not, however, the sign of things to come. Except for the 1953 and 1954 seasons, Blanda was never a regular for the Bears. He was enjoying great success in 1954 when a shoulder injury kept him out of the last four season games. This was the only time in his stellar career that he had to miss a game due to injury. The Bears had kicking in mind for the 31-year-old Blanda, but George balked at the offer and retired (for the first time) in 1959.

Our thoughts are with Blanda's family.

Notable players: Running back Mel Farr, center Ed Flanagan, tight end Charlie Sanders, linebacker Paul Naumoff, defensive tackle Alex Karras, cornerback Lem Barney, cornerback Dick LeBeau.

Analysis: I’m fully aware that this franchise played for four NFL Championships during the 1950s, winning in 1952, 1953 and 1957. It was without question the golden age of Lions football, but you can make a decent argument that the best team came two decades later.

The 1970 Lions ranked second in the NFL in points scored and points allowed, won their first two games by a combined score of 78-3 and finished the season with the league’s second-highest average point differential (10.4), according to pro football-reference.com. They had the best turnover ratio in the league, were the victims of Tom Dempsey’s then-record 63-yard field goal and produced an impressive five-game winning streak to end the regular season.

This team fielded two Hall of Fame cornerbacks, and both Barney and LeBeau had the best seasons of their careers. LeBeau intercepted nine passes, while Barney had seven -- returning two for touchdowns. The Barney/LeBeau team helped the Lions limit the powerful Dallas Cowboys to five points in the playoffs, and that total should have been enough for an offense that put up at least 28 points in six of its regular-season games.

But the offense inexplicably fell flat that day in a 5-0 defeat, leaving Lions fans their first in a series of torturous “what-ifs.” At the time, there was a feeling the Lions were bound for a Super Bowl victory had they gotten past the Cowboys.

I realize there is some room for discussion here. But the 1970s were a newly competitive era for the NFL, and that’s where I landed when comparing this team with the 1950s teams.

Most impressive victory: I’ll go with a tie for the Lions’ collective performances in shutting out Green Bay twice -- 40-0 in the season opener and 20-0 in the season finale. The Packers weren’t a good team that year but they did win six of their other 12 games.

Did you know? The 1970 Lions were the first wild-card playoff team in NFL history. When the league merged with the AFL, the postseason was expanded to eight teams -- three division winners and one wild-card team.

Did you know, Part II? Soul musician Marvin Gaye had a failed tryout for the 1970 team.

Honorable mention

1952: A high-powered offense scored 40-plus points five times on the way to a 9-3 record and an NFL Championship.

1953: A similar team scored a touchdown in the final minutes of the championship game to become the third team in NFL history at that point to win back-to-back titles.

1957: The Lions overcame the training camp resignation of coach Buddy Parker and the broken leg of quarterback Bobby Layne to win its last NFL title.

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

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Falling

Boldin

1. Anquan Boldin, Cardinals WR. The Pro Bowl wideout nearly overshadowed the Cardinals' victory Sunday by essentially calling out his head coach for not being "man enough" to tell him about his deactivation in person. On the field, Boldin is as manly as any wide receiver to play the game. In this instance, Boldin should have been man enough after the game to take his case directly to Ken Whisenhunt instead of reporters crowding around him in the locker room at Soldier Field. Don't get me wrong: I've got nothing against players popping off after games. It's good blog fodder. It's also bad form, particularly for a player with Boldin's credentials. The Cardinals had just improved to 4-0 on the road while taking a two-game lead in the NFC West. Their offense had just played its best game. That wasn't the time for an inactive player to hog the spotlight.

Smith

2. Alex Smith, 49ers QB. Let the record show that Smith played a good game against the Titans. That was the word from coach Mike Singletary, anyway. The bottom line, of course, is that the 49ers lost another game with Smith as their starter, and the other team caught three of Smith's passes. The 49ers have lost both of his starts this season and seven of his last nine. When they needed Smith to rally them in the fourth quarter Sunday, Smith locked onto receiver Josh Morgan without enough regard for safety Chris Hope, who picked off the pass. Smith needs a victory over the Bears on Thursday night for Singletary's words of support to resonate with fans.

Mora

3. Jim Mora, Seahawks coach. Seattle's performance in falling behind the Lions by 17 points at home suggested Mora's harsh words for the team failed to gain traction following a blowout defeat at Dallas a week earlier. That seems like a bad sign. Yes, Seattle is learning new systems on both sides of the ball. Yes, the team has dealt with significant injuries this season. That's life in the NFL. The Lions are also learning new systems. They are even breaking in a rookie quarterback (the Lions probably would have won that game if Daunte Culpepper had been the quarterback). The Seahawks were as healthy for this game as they've been all season. Falling behind 17-0 at home to the laughable Lions is simply inexcusable. Perhaps this is the week Seattle responds to Mora's challenges.

Rising

Warner

1. Kurt Warner, Cardinals QB. With five touchdown passes against the Bears, Warner passed Ken Stabler, Steve DeBerg, Joe Ferguson, Bobby Layne, Norm Snead and Ken Anderson on the all-time list. He needs two more to reach 200 touchdown passes for his NFL career. Warner's fifth and final scoring pass against the Bears killed any chances for a Chicago comeback. Whisenhunt had prematurely handed over the offense to Matt Leinart, whose interception helped fuel a Bears rally. The Cardinals were on their heels when Whisenhunt sent Warner back into the game. Warner immediately connected with Larry Fitzgerald for a 13-yard gain. A penalty for leg whipping against left tackle Mike Gandy negated the play, but Warner had nonetheless proved his head remained in the game.

Hawthorne

2. David Hawthorne, Seahawks LB. Lofa Tatupu's legacy as a middle linebacker remains secure in Seattle. He was a three-time Pro Bowl choice and the key addition to a defense that helped the Seahawks reach Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season. Hawthorne has somehow outperformed Tatupu when given chances this season. That's a tremendous credit to Hawthorne. With Tatupu on injured reserve, Hawthorne picked off two passes against the Lions. He had two sacks against Dallas the previous week. He had a 16-tackle game against the Bears earlier in the season. The Seahawks will need to find a place for Hawthorne beyond this season if he builds on what is already an impressive start to his career.

3. Cardinals tight ends. You know the Cardinals' offense is functioning at a high level when tight ends Anthony Becht and Ben Patrick are catching touchdown passes in the same game. The Arizona passing game goes through Fitzgerald and the other wide receivers, but the tight ends could get more chances as the Cardinals embrace two-tight end personnel groups. The Cardinals averaged 6.3 yards per rushing attempt against the Bears when playing with one back and two tight ends. Similar groupings could become more common in the longer-term future if Boldin talks his way out of Arizona -- particularly if the tight ends show they can catch the ball.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Cutler

A few weeks ago, we referred to the Jay Cutler story as "fun speculation" as it applied to the NFC North. You had three division teams expressing a desire to improve the quarterback position, but at the time there was no indication that Denver would be willing to trade Cutler to the Upper Midwest or anywhere else.

That drawback seems to have dissipated a bit after Sunday's news that Cutler has formally requested a trade. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, meanwhile, told the Denver Post that "we might lose our star quarterback," a relatively shocking admission of defeat before trade talks begin.

So will Chicago, Detroit or Minnesota become serious players for Cutler? There is little doubt the topic is being discussed in each team headquarters Monday morning -- if it hasn't already been hashed through.

In the meantime, let's do a little hashing ourselves on behalf of those three Black and Blue cities (in alphabetical order, of course):

Chicago Bears

Current depth chart: Kyle Orton, Caleb Hanie, Brett Basanez
Key quote: "We have to stay focused on the quarterback position. You win because of the quarterback." (General manager Jerry Angelo early in the offseason.)
Cliff's notes: The Bears aren't sure if Orton is their long-term starter, but to this point they appear set to give him another season to prove himself.
Why Cutler makes sense: He was a Bears fan growing up, so it's likely he would accept a trade to Chicago. That's no small accomplishment for a player who appears to have some maintenance issues. Cutler has proved more in three years than Orton has in four and still has more room for improvement. The Bears could also offer the Broncos a short-term solution at the position by including Orton in the deal.
Why it's difficult to imagine: The Bears typically guard their draft picks and cash with equal passion. Is Chicago willing to pay its quarterback a premium salary, which a trade for Cutler would essentially require? For Cutler, you figure it would take upwards of $30 million in guaranteed money to complete a deal.

Detroit Lions

Current depth chart: Daunte Culpepper, Drew Stanton, Drew Henson
Key quote: "It's probably time to find a replacement for Bobby Layne." (Coach Jim Schwartz during the Lions' interview process.)
Cliff's notes: The Lions were involved in a potential three-way deal that would have netted Cutler late last month. They're facing the difficult decision of whether to draft Georgia's Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick next month.
Why Cutler makes sense: The Lions have the makings of a decent offense, especially if they use their top pick to solidify the offensive line. Scott Linehan is a quarterback-friendly coordinator, receiver Calvin Johnson is a rising star and tailback Kevin Smith is a reliable runner. A smart, strong-armed passer would bring it all together, and the Lions wouldn't have to pay Cutler much more than Stafford would be in line to receive. Finally, don't underestimate the excitement Cutler would bring to a fan base desperate for good news.
Why it's difficult to imagine: Frankly, it's hard to come up with many reasons to argue against this scenario. It's possible Cutler will want to avoid Detroit's rebuilding process. You also wonder if the Lions would want to give up multiple draft choices when they still have multiple holes to fill, especially on defense. But it's not often a 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback becomes available.

Minnesota Vikings

Current depth chart: Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, John David Booty
Key quote: "There is also an incredible range of scenarios that none of us could know about right now." (Coach Brad Childress at the combine last month, adding a caveat to plans for Jackson to compete with a veteran for the starting job.)
Cliff's notes: The Vikings acquired Sage Rosenfels to compete with Jackson before the Cutler saga began.
Why Cutler makes sense: The Vikings won the division last season with a talented roster that includes the NFL's best running back and a top 10 defense. Quarterback is one of their few question marks. Cutler succeeded in a West Coast system not unlike the one Minnesota uses, and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has never been afraid to pay premium cash for top players. Why devote so many resources to other positions and ignore the most important one?
Why it's difficult to imagine: The Vikings, and Childress in particular, have a soft spot for Jackson and want him to succeed as their long-term quarterback. Acquiring Cutler would end that process once and for all. It would also gut their draft for the second consecutive year after the 2008 trade for defensive end Jared Allen. Earlier this month, vice president Rick Spielman said giving up another set of draft choices would "set the franchise back."

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. It was decidedly quiet in these parts after Friday's flurry of moves.

Yes, the second tier of NFL free agency has begun. The big names are off the board, and now teams are filling in their depth and shifting gears to the draft. The college Pro Day schedule is kicking into gear, and executives like Minnesota vice president Rick Spielman plan to hit the road Monday.

What's left? You have to imagine that Chicago will address its right tackle position in some way, most likely by re-signing free agent John St. Clair. Green Bay will continue to sift through the rubble for players with experience in the 3-4 defense. They still have interest in free-agent linebacker Kevin Burnett.

Detroit, meanwhile, has indicated an interest in adding to its quarterback depth. Will the Lions help release the logjam of veterans available on the free-agent market, a group that includes Jeff Garcia, Rex Grossman, Byron Leftwich, J.P. Losman and others? And will the Bears join that pursuit or settle in with Caleb Hanie as their No. 2 quarterback? Those are some of the questions we will be following this week.

But first, let's catch up on the highlights of NFC North weekend coverage:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders if Packers cornerback Tramon Williams will hold out for a multiyear contract this offseason. Williams is an exclusive rights free agent, which means his contract has expired but he is not eligible to sign with another team. It's the same situation Packers running back Ryan Grant found himself in last offseason.
• Tim Froberg of the Appleton Post-Crescent wants an apology from former Packers offensive lineman Tony Mandarich, who has admitted to steroid use during his playing days.
• It's pretty clear Minnesota has no interest in re-signing safety Darren Sharper. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune wonders where Sharper will end up.
• As it turns out, tight end L.J. Smith did visit Detroit last week. Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press reports Smith hasn't ruled out signing with the Lions.
• Jerry Green of the Detroit News debunks, once and for all, the "curse" of Bobby Layne.
• Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press on former Lions defense end Corey Smith: "I have been more stung by the thought that someone I met -- not a friend, not a close associate, just someone I spoke with a few times -- suddenly could be whisked away, not even a body to confirm the death. He's here. Then he's gone?"
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times is confident the Bears will soon sign St. Clair.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

INDIANAPOLIS -- We warned you last week. If you're looking for guesses about specific teams drafting particular players, you're reading the wrong NFC North blog on the ESPN blog network. But with Detroit positioned at the No. 1 overall in the April draft, it's only fair that we take a look at what we learned about the top of the draft this week at the annual scouting combine.

	AP Photo/Darron Cummings
	Matthew Stafford did not throw during his workout at the combine.

(Just for kicks, we'll bring you three questions with a player often associated with the Green Bay Packers' slot at No. 9. But don't get used to it. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA -- yet -- if the Packers want to draft Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.)

With that said, let's try to handicap the Lions' possibilities at the end of this important week -- while knowing there are many more important weeks yet to come before the draft. I compiled the list below in order of the most to the least likely target, an order we'll revisit and update regularly as the draft approaches:

1. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford

Why he's the guy: The Lions paid an awful lot of attention to him at the combine, more than any other individual prospect. Nothing happened to suggest he has fallen from the perch as the top quarterback available, which always makes a player a top candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. And you can't deny the karma: Stafford attended the same high school (Highland Park in Dallas) as former Lions quarterback Bobby Layne.

Why he isn't: Stafford's decision not to throw at the combine means the Lions' evaluation of him can't be complete. It also means NFL teams haven't had a chance to evaluate his accuracy after a college career in which he completed 57.1 percent of his passes.

2. Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith

Why he's the guy: Smith put up the best combine numbers of the top left tackles in the draft. His 33 repetitions on the bench press and 5.22 time in the 40-yard dash both ranked in the top 10 of all offensive linemen. It seems clear he could step in as an immediate starter at one of the game's most important positions.

Why he isn't: The tackle position in this draft is said to be exceptionally deep, and it's possible the Lions could get an immediate starter either with the No. 20 or No. 33 overall pick. Smith might well emerge as the top tackle in the draft, but is he a player worthy of the No. 1 pick overall? That hasn't been determined.

3. Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry

Why he's the guy: Nothing injects life into a moribund defense more than a big-time playmaker, and Curry has the capacity to step in right away at a key position of need: Strongside linebacker. Coach Jim Schwartz has noted the Lions have a deeper personnel deficit on defense than offense, and spoke glowingly of Curry at the combine.

Why he isn't: Curry is built like a middle linebacker but has never played there, and it's difficult to imagine the Lions would move Ernie Sims out of the weakside position. The linebacker position isn't often considered crucial enough to merit a No. 1 overall pick, especially for a 4-3 team.

4. Virginia offensive lineman Eugene Monroe

Why he's the guy: The Lions indicated a heavy level of interest prior to the combine. He is probably more athletic than Smith and has more room to grow. Like Smith, there are no character flaws.

Why he isn't: We downgraded Monroe a bit after a less-impressive combine performance that included 22 repetitions on the bench press. At the moment, Smith is stronger and better prepared to step in right away. This comparison, of course, could change over the next few months.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

The Chicago Bears are hoping right tackle John Tait will reconsider his plans to retire and went to the length Tuesday of posting a story about his situation on the team's Web site. Here's the statement that Bears general manager Jerry Angelo provided:

"John informed us a few weeks ago that he was considering retirement. He has been a great player and representative of our team since joining us in 2004. We would like to have him back for another season, but certainly respect his decision if he chooses to retire."

This marks the team's first public statement on the issue since reports emerged last weekend. The Bears aren't exactly deep at the position; presumptive left tackle Chris Williams will be their only tackle on the roster when free agency begins. Tait's skills are declining, but he might provide a better option in 2009 than anyone the team could scrounge up on the free-agent market.

Expect the Bears to scout the right tackle position heavily when the annual scouting combine begins this week. Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times takes a look at the looming process.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Pending free agent quarterback Chris Simms didn't downplay the possibility of signing with the Bears in an interview with Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. Said Simms: "Who wouldn't be interested or thinking about the Chicago Bears?"
• Get this: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford went to the same high school as former Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne. Here's a feature on Stafford from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
• Minnesota special teams captain Heath Farwell, who missed the 2008 season because of a knee injury, plans to test the free-agent market, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Vikings have attempted to re-sign him, but Farwell would like an opportunity to play linebacker as well as special teams.
• Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sets up the combine with facts and figures.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

If you believe in curses, this week is big for you. Because one of the all-time hexes in sports is about to expire.

As the Detroit News' Bob Wojnowski details in this entertaining column, the Lions are poised to emerge from a 50-year hex allegedly dispensed by quarterback Bobby Layne on the day he was traded to Pittsburgh. On Oct. 6, 1958, Layne supposedly said the Lions "would not win for 50 years."

The Lions had won the 1957 NFL championship. But since trading Layne, the franchise has made only nine playoff appearances and won only one postseason game. Wojnowski brings readers up to date on the failures, tragedies and other "unfathomable" events over that span.

The Lions will be burdened for one more game, Sunday's matchup against Chicago, before the curse is lifted. In a twist of hope available only in Detroit, Wojnowski writes:

In a few days, the Curse of Bobby Layne will be gone, too, which supposedly will lift the shroud and allow the once-proud Lions to frolic again with football's best. Laugh if you must. But if you've never believed in curses, it wouldn't hurt to start now.

Jaunting around the NFC North on a Thursday morning:

• Lions receiver Roy Williams is hoping to "exploit" the Bears' injury-depleted secondary on Sunday, Davis Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes.
• Cornerback Nate Vasher is not expected to play Sunday after having a surgical procedure on his right hand, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. Fellow cornerback Charles Tillman missed practice Wednesday because of an injured shoulder.
• Minnesota quarterbacks Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson combined for 274 gross passing yards Sunday at Tennessee. Amazingly, that was the Vikings' highest total since coach Brad Childress took over in 2006. Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune did the research.
• Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes the Vikings are typically successful when they have at least 30 carries in a game. They are 8-1 in those games over the past two seasons.
• Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (sprained shoulder) alluded to the possibility of taking pain-killing medication in order to play Sunday against Atlanta. Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has details.
• Mike Montgomery will get the first opportunity to start at right defensive end for the Packers after the season-ending injury to Cullen Jenkins, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.