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The Denver Broncos have won their first AFC West battle of 2012.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Denver has signed cornerback Drayton Florence to a two-year deal. Florence, who has started 45 games in the past three seasons, was cut by Buffalo last week.

Florence was highly coveted after being released by the Bills. He visited Tennessee on Wednesday. San Diego, where he spent his first five NFL seasons, was also trying to sign Florence. Schefter reports Denver will pay Florence fairly well.

San Diego wanted Florence, 31, as a nickel cornerback, and that is likely the role he will have in Denver. He adds depth to a talented cornerback crew that includes starters Champ Bailey and Tracy Porter.

I could see some situations where Bailey plays nickel in some instances. He played some nickel last season. The Broncos also have Chris Harris, an undrafted player in 2011 who played well, and 2012 fourth-round pick Omar Bolden. He missed last season with a torn ACL, but the Arizona State product was considered a second-round talent before his injury.

Thus, Denver has a deep and talented cornerback group, and the Florence addition strengthens it. Last month, Denver tried to trade for Asante Samuel, but it couldn’t come to an accord with Samuel.

So many thoughts are flying through my head at the moment in the wake of the Chicago Bears' stunning trade for Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall.

(Apparently there is plenty of empty space up there.)

We'll get to how Marshall fits into offensive coordinator Mike Tice's downfield scheme. We'll hit the disappearance of another excuse for quarterback Jay Cutler, whom the Bears have now paired with his favorite receiver (Marshall) and assistant coach (Jeremy Bates). But my top thought was crystallized by a tweet from former Bears safety Chris Harris:

"What am I missing here....3 pro bowls, five 1000 yard seasons and 27 yrs old"

Indeed, how could one of the best receivers in the NFL be available for a third-round draft pick in 2012 and another third-rounder in 2013? Is new general manager Phil Emery that good of a negotiator? Did the Miami Dolphins, as rumored, feel pressured to ship him out as they recruit free agent quarterback Peyton Manning? Or is there something else about Marshall that we don't know about?

There's little doubt Marshall has had his share of off-field issues, culminating with his August 2011 diagnosis of a condition known as " borderline personality disorder." Cutler criticized him in 2008 after a domestic accident, and multiple Denver media outlets reported Marshall had an intense confrontation with Bates behind closed doors in 2007.

Marshall also has 26 drops since 2008, the third-highest total among NFL receivers over that span.

That's the long and the short of the dirt we can quickly dig up on Marshall. His personality might cause some concern, but he'll have a pretty decent support system in Chicago. So unless there is something further behind the scenes, the Bears got Marshall for a steal. He'll turn 28 later this month, and thus remains in his athletic prime. He made it through the 2011 season without any major offseason issues and his past production with Cutler — 206 completions, 2,796 yards and 13 touchdowns from 2007-08 — is undeniable.

Like Chris Harris, I'm going back through the parameters here and wondering how it all adds up. Did the Bears luck into the circumstances of a new coach (Joe Philbin) willing to clear the decks for his new program? I don't know, and I'm guessing the Bears don't care. More to come.

» 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.

NEW ORLEANS -- There are no major surprises on the Detroit Lions' inactive list for Saturday night's wild-card playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. One minor shift from the recent norm: Cornerback Don Carey is active and cornerback Brandon McDonald is inactive.

That could be a nod toward special teams, considering the Lions secondary will be at full strength with Aaron Berry back in the nickel and Alphonso Smith available to play the dime. McDonald had been active for the past two games while Berry rehabilitated a shoulder injury.

As expected, safety Louis Delmas is active and will start his first game since Thanksgiving Day. That moves Chris Harris to the inactive list; Harris has also been dealing with a back injury.

The rest of the inactives: Quarterback Drew Stanton, running back Joique Bell, linebacker Doug Hogue, guard Leonard Davis and defensive lineman Andre Fluellen.

FROM THE VAST NORTH AMERICAN TRANSIT SYSTEM -- As I make my way down to New Orleans, I figured I'd check in and let you know that the Detroit Lions are as healthy as they've been in some time as Saturday night's wild-card game against the Saints approaches.

It looks like only one player, reserve safety Chris Harris, might not be available for the game. Harris hasn't practiced since Wednesday because of a back injury and is listed on the Lions' final injury report as doubtful.

All other players are either probable or not listed at all. That includes safety Louis Delmas (knee), who hasn't played since Thanksgiving Day, and nose tackle Corey Williams, who missed last week's game against the Green Bay Packers because of a hip injury.

For the Saints, receiver Lance Moore (hamstring) won't play.

The New Orleans Saints have declared wide receiver Lance Moore (hamstring) out for Saturday’s playoff game with Detroit.

New Orleans still has plenty of healthy receivers with Marques Colston, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson. But the Saints use all sorts of different personnel groupings and Adrian Arrington could pick up some of Moore’s playing time. Arrington has very limited playing experience.

The Saints also declared linebacker Jonathan Casillas (knee) and tight end John Gilmore (toe) out for Saturday. Martez Wilson and Ramon Humber could get more playing time with Casillas out.

The Saints are listing Meachem (knee), linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee), safety Malcolm Jenkins (neck) and safety Jonathon Amaya (shoulder) as probable.

The only Detroit player who is listed as anything other than probable is safety Chris Harris, who is doubtful with a back injury.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 16:

Busted rivalry: When the NFL released its schedule this spring, most of us had high expectations for a late-December matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Instead, an injury-devastated Bears team will limp north as (deserved) 13-point underdogs. It's possible the Packers will have clinched home-field advantage even before taking the field Sunday night, if the San Francisco 49ers lose Saturday at the Seattle Seahawks. If not, the Packers will attempt to secure it against a team playing without quarterback Jay Cutler, running backs Matt Forte and Marion Barber, and receiver Johnny Knox. Third-string running back Kahlil Bell is expected to start, pairing with third-string quarterback Josh McCown -- who has a history of helping the Packers' playoff positioning. (See: Noooooooooooooooo!) One other interesting bit of history: The Packers are one of five teams in NFL history to open a season 13-0 and then lose in their 14th game. All four of the other teams lost their 15th game, too. That list includes the 2009 and 2005 Indianapolis Colts, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 1998 Denver Broncos.

Packers run game: For several reasons, Sunday night's game would be an obvious target for the Packers to rely on and enhance their running game. James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) are expected to return. The Packers will start a makeshift offensive line that likely will include T.J. Lang at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard; the best way for offensive linemen to get comfortable is via run blocking. And it's also worth repeating that the Bears historically have done a good job limiting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' downfield opportunities. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers has completed only five of 26 attempts on throws against the Bears that traveled in the air 21 yards or more. He's thrown one touchdown, a game-winner to receiver Greg Jennings in 2009, and two interceptions on those passes.

Detroit's challenge: The Detroit Lions will clinch a playoff spot Saturday if they beat the San Diego Chargers in what will likely be a raucous atmosphere at Ford Field. (There are also several scenarios to clinch this weekend even if they lose. They're noted in this post.) Hopefully everyone knows the Chargers are on one of their annual December rolls. They've won three consecutive games after a six-game losing streak. Since Norv Turner took the head coaching job in 2007, the Chargers are 20-2 in December. This will be no cakewalk.

Big targets: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers struggled earlier this season, but he has been the NFL's most efficient quarterback over the past three weeks based on Total Quarterback Rating. Rivers has hit a groove with a pair of 6-foot-5 receivers that will pose significant matchup problems for the Lions. Malcom Floyd has 11 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games, while Vincent Jackson has caught 12 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has been sidelined in practice this week by a groin injury. Lions cornerback Chris Houston (knee) clearly wasn't 100 percent last week against the Oakland Raiders, and the team re-signed Brandon McDonald this week for extra depth. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) also remains sidelined, and backup Chris Harris was cleared Thursday to practice following a concussion.

Make it stop: If you're a big-picture observer, you see ample motivation for the Minnesota Vikings to lose Sunday at the Washington Redskins. One more victory by the Indianapolis Colts, in conjunction with two more Vikings defeats, would give the Vikings an excellent chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft. A loss to the Redskins would extend the Vikings' losing streak to seven games, tying a franchise record set in their original expansion season of 1961. But I'm not sure what would be worse: tying that record or extending their NFL record of games without an interception, which currently stands at nine. Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has thrown at least one interception in his past 10 starts, and he is tied for the second-most interceptions in the NFL (18) despite missing three games this season. Something's got to give.

After the Detroit Lions' 27-15 loss to the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertAfter falling to 7-4 following a loss to the Packers, the Lions take their turn in the examination room.
   Lost in the discussion over Ndamukong Suh's third-quarter ejection was how critical the accompanying penalty and his subsequent absence was. You almost forget that the Lions had stopped the Packers on third-and-3 at their 3-yard line. The Packers probably would have set up to kick a short field goal in hopes of taking a 10-0 lead. Instead, they got another set of downs and ultimately scored a touchdown on John Kuhn's 1-yard run. The penalty cost the Lions four points, and it also opened the floodgates for the Packers' offense. In the end, they scored 20 points with Suh off the field. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 10 of 15 passes when Suh was in the game. Afterward, he hit on seven of nine and averaged 16.9 yards per attempt. According to ESPN Stats & Information, all seven of those completions came against the Lions' four-man pass rush, one obviously watered down without Suh.
2. As fallout from the Suh incident continues, it's probably only a matter of time that people start connecting Suh's style with the personality and approach of fiery coach Jim Schwartz. That's essentially what Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole wrote in the aftermath of Thursday's events. Cole made clear that Schwartz wouldn't encourage a player to do what Suh did Thursday. But, Cole wrote, "It's no surprise that Jim Schwartz's Detroit Lions are out of control" and added: "It's also not much of a surprise that the same coach who earlier this season stormed after San Francisco counterpart Jim Harbaugh is now watching his team's best player face a suspension for losing his cool." Schwartz's role in the incident with Harbaugh doesn't excuse Suh for his actions. But I agree with Cole in this sense: The coach sets a tone for his program. If the coach occasionally flies out of control, that's the example for decorum he has set for his players -- consciously or otherwise. The bottom line, according to ESPN Stats & Information, is that the Lions have had more personal fouls called against them since the start of Schwartz's tenure in 2009 than any other NFL team. Patterns always emerge over time.
3. It's amazing how central running back Kevin Smith became to the Lions offense in such a short time, and that's why the Lions are keeping their fingers crossed on further tests to his right ankle. Smith touched the ball on four of the Lions' first five plays and had 10 touches in just over a quarter of play. X-rays were negative on the injury, and Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson reported on air Thursday that the Lions believe Smith has a high ankle sprain. Starter Jahvid Best (concussion) was at the game, but there is no indication when or if he will return or if he will play again this season. The Lions will have to hope that their extended weekend will give Smith enough time to heal. It's obvious they deem him a preferable option over current incumbents Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams.

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

How many defensive starters will the Lions have to replace for their nationally televised Dec. 4 game at the New Orleans Saints? It's quite possible Suh will be suspended. And the Lions finished Sunday's game with half of their secondary sidelined by injuries. Things got so thin that veteran Rashied Davis was pushed into emergency duty as a cornerback. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) didn't return after their injuries, leaving Chris Harris and a combination of Aaron Berry and Brandon McDonald in their respective places. The Saints lead the NFL in total offense (436.9 yards per game) and are second in scoring (31.7).

DETROIT -- There was no scoring in the first quarter of our Thanksgiving Feast here at Ford Field. But there have been two significant injuries.

Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas left the game with what appears to be an injury to his right leg. Delmas was in obvious pain and a number of Lions medical officials are continuing to examining him on the sideline. Chris Harris has replaced Delmas in the lineup.

The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, are playing without inside linebacker Desmond Bishop, who suffered a calf injury. Rookie D.J. Smith is playing in his place at the moment. We'll keep you updated.

A few weeks ago, I questioned the competitive significance of the contract uncertainty surrounding several Chicago Bears players.

Tailback Matt Forte wasn't happy to be approaching the expiration of his contract, while linebacker Lance Briggs and safety Chris Harris had each requested trades. But the Bears were 3-3 at the time and, at least in the case of Forte and Briggs, there appeared to be no connection between their production and financial issues. Three days later, the Bears improved to 4-3 with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London.

Yet as the Bears emerge from their bye and prepare for a Monday night game with considerable playoff implications, the heat appears to have risen a few degrees. Harris was released in a surprise move last week, and Forte reacted viscerally Tuesday to reports the Bears would use the franchise tag to pay him about $7.7 million in 2012 rather than include some $20 million or more in a presumed multiyear extension.

Briggs has supported Forte publicly on a number of occasions, and on Tuesday he took to Twitter to "applaud" Forte, presumably for continuing to play hard and well despite his contract situation. Briggs: "[E]very down he is out there is a risk to injury. in football tomorrow is not guaranteed. ask chris harris."

It's not often that you see playoff-bound teams speaking so openly about their dissatisfaction with front-office decisions. So in this critical juncture, one that will include games against two teams -- the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions -- who figure to be in the wild-card race next month, let’s establish where we stand.

For our "Have at It" feature this week, tell me if you think this situation will impact the Bears' playoff run. Will it serve as motivation to perform at a higher level? Will it swallow them up? Or is it a non-issue until the offseason?

Forte made clear that he appreciates the loyalty of his teammates. He doesn't feel the same way about the organization, but he said: "That doesn't keep me from going out on the field and putting my best out there."

Forte also acknowledged that public discussion of the issue "gets kind of old." It isn't likely to dissipate anytime soon, though. As ESPN analyst Andrew Brandt points out for the National Football Post, a franchise tag in 2012 further reduces the chances the Bears will ever reward Forte with a lucrative long-term deal.

Let me know your thoughts below. I'll publish a representative sample, along with my own take, by the end of the week. Have at It.

DENVER -- As expected, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Sunday against the Denver Broncos. And the Lions feel confident enough about his injured right ankle that third-string quarterback Drew Stanton is inactive.

Shaun Hill will be the only backup quarterback active, as usual.

There were no surprises among the Lions' pregame roster announcements. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), receiver Rashied Davis (foot) and running back Jahvid Best are among those who won't play. New safety Chris Harris, claimed Friday on waivers from the Chicago Bears, is inactive as well.

Maurice Morris will start at running back for Jahvid Best.

I'm sure the Detroit Lions have an on-field explanation for why they claimed former Chicago Bears safety Chris Harris on waivers Friday. Whatever it is, however, wouldn't seem as significant as the information Harris could pass along about his former team.

Consider these circumstances:

• The Lions already have two young starters at safety who have played relatively well this season. Both figure in the team's long-term plans. I wouldn't think the Lions envision Harris as replacing either Louis Delmas or Amari Spievey, although I guess I could be wrong on Spievey.
• The Lions opened the season with two veteran safety backups in Erik Coleman and John Wendling. When Coleman was injured and lost for the season, the Lions signed another veteran, Vincent Fuller. But Coleman and Wendling, at least, were both key special teams players at the beginning of the season. Harris wasn't a part of the Bears' special teams this season.
• We should note that Lions special teams coordinator Danny Crossman was on the Carolina Panthers' staff during Harris' time with that team. Perhaps Crossman thinks Harris could help the Lions in that area.
• I wouldn't think Harris would play Sunday against the Denver Broncos, and the Lions have a bye in Week 9. Quite frankly, that gives the Lions two weeks to decide if they think Harris can help them at all before making him a part of their gameday roster. Harris' play in Week 5 against the Lions was a big reason he lost his starting job.
• In the meantime, however, it stands to reason that the Lions will do their best to mine everything they can about the Bears. The teams are NFC North rivals and should know each other well, but they're likely to be in a second-half dogfight for a playoff spot. Their second matchup of the season is coming in Week 10 at Soldier Field, and every advantage will help.

Never a dull moment here in the NFC North, is there?

Reviewing the Chicago Bears at their bye:

Record: 4-3

Seven-game capsule: The Bears are over .500 after a tough early schedule. Five of their games have come against opponents that currently have winning records. Their offense is still working to maintain a winning formula, and coaches continue to look for their optimum defensive alignment. But Devin Hester is providing elite impact on special teams and the Bears will enter the second half of the season as a playoff contender.

MVP: Matt Forte is on pace to produce one of the best all-around seasons for a running back in NFL history. He leads the league with 1,091 all-purpose yards, ranking third with 672 rushing and first among running backs with 419 receiving yards. He has accounted for nearly half of the Bears' total offense and is having a career year as his contract approaches expiration. Most importantly, Forte remains remarkably durable. He has now started every Bears game since he was drafted in 2008, a streak of 55 consecutive games.

Runner-up: I'm torn here between center Roberto Garza and defensive end Julius Peppers. In his 11th NFL season, Garza has made a relatively seamless shift to a more difficult position, averting a crisis following the departure of longtime starter Olin Kreutz. Garza probably won't receive any Pro Bowl votes and might not finish his career at center, but by all accounts he has made a credible showing on short notice. Peppers, meanwhile, has a modest four sacks in seven games. But close observers can measure his impact by watching what the Detroit Lions did to the Bears defense when Peppers left with a knee sprain. He wasn't on the field for Calvin Johnson's 73-yard touchdown reception or Jahvid Best's 88-yard scoring run in Week 5.

Biggest surprise: Initially I planned to suggest that the apparent decline of safety Chris Harris would qualify as the Bears' top surprise. But we covered that topic earlier Thursday after the Bears pulled off a bigger surprise by releasing him. So I'll go with the production of undrafted rookie Dane Sanzenbacher, who ranks second among NFL rookie with three touchdown receptions. His 19 total catches ranks fifth among rookies. Sanzenbacher has limited the damage that might have occurred following the Week 2 loss of receiver Earl Bennett, a favorite of quarterback Jay Cutler.

Biggest disappointment: The Bears opened the season seemingly oblivious to the successful offensive formula that propelled them to the NFC Championship Game in 2010. Through three games, they were calling a higher percentage of pass plays than any other NFL team. Given Forte's presence and a shaky pass-blocking scheme, it's hard to fathom what offensive coordinator Mike Martz was thinking. It's especially notable that it took a public plea from Cutler to shake up Martz's thinking. The Bears' offense is at its best when it doesn't face obvious passing situations.

Stat to note: Forte ranks No. 37 in the NFL in the percentage of his total rushing yards that have come after contact (43 percent), according to ESPN Stats & Information. That's not a knock on Forte as much as it is a credit to the Bears' run blocking. It means Forte has gained 383 of his 672 total yards before a defender has touched him.

Looking ahead: If the Bears are going to challenge for a playoff spot, they should win at least two of their next three games. With matchups at the Philadelphia Eagles and then at home against the Lions and San Diego Chargers, the Bears could win all three. The NFC playoff race is wide open, but now is the time for the Bears to make their move.

Earlier: The Green Bay Packers at their bye.

Chris Harris is 29 years old. Last season, the Associated Press named him a second-team All-Pro. So how could it be that Harris made it through only seven games for the Chicago Bears this season before his surprise release Thursday morning?

A couple of factors are in play here, not the least of which is the Bears' pathological compulsion to swap out players at the safety position. Since taking over as coach in 2004, Lovie Smith has made 29 changes to his lineup at safety. When the Bears return from their bye next week, they'll be looking for a new starter to pair next to the sudden anchor of the position, rookie Chris Conte, who has started two games in his NFL career.

It's fair to say that Harris struggled some in coverage this season, most recently when receiver Dezmon Briscoe beat him for a touchdown in last Sundays' 24-18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But I think even Harris would admit he is best used near the line of scrimmage as a run enforcer. A starting safety must be able to function in pass coverage, but the Bears could have protected Harris more if they had a better option to play alongside him. Wright, Conte and newcomer Brandon Meriweather -- who has been a healthy scratch the past two weeks -- all have similar run-first styles.

Finally, I think it's impossible to ignore the systematic breakup the Bears are engineering of their long-held core of veterans. Since the end of last season, they have bid farewell to defensive tackle Tommie Harris, center Olin Kreutz, tight end Desmond Clark and now Harris. (You wonder if linebacker Lance Briggs, who requested a trade last summer, will be the next to go.)

The Bears had justifiable football reasons for parting ways with each of those veterans. If Smith was ready to bench Harris permanently, there was no sense keeping him as a backup/special-teams player. NFL teams routinely make harsh decisions about key players, but the Bears have made a number of them in short order. So it goes.

Getting inside the NFC North Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: All players are probable for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers except for offensive lineman Gabe Carimi (knee) and defensive lineman Matt Toeaina (knee). Still, receiver Earl Bennett (chest) seems unlikely to play. Safety Major Wright (hip) might give way to veteran Chris Harris in the starting lineup.

Detroit Lions: The Lions officially ruled out running back Jahvid Best (concussion) for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, to no one's surprise. The good news: Linebacker Justin Durant and tight end Tony Scheffler, both of who whom have been dealing with concussions, are listed as probable. Durant has missed the past three games.

Green Bay Packers: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett was added to the injury list Friday because of a concussion and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Packers coach Mike McCarthy indicated that Pickett should be cleared for the game, which would be a quick recovery. Cornerback Sam Shields is doubtful because of a concussion and isn't expected to play.

Minnesota Vikings: It looks like the Vikings will be missing two of their four starting defensive backs for Sunday's game. Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) and safety Jamarca Sanford (concussion) are both listed as doubtful. So is center John Sullivan (concussion). Chris Cook would continue starting for Winfield. Tyrell Johnson would start for Sanford and Joe Berger for Sullivan.