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Alex Smith takes a shot at Cam Newton, Vince Vaughn gives his take on the NFC North, and the 32 crew debates what the Chargers' record will be this season.

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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Chicago Bears in 2012.

Dream scenario (13-3): Tailback Matt Forte reports to training camp happy and healthy, either with a new contract or an acceptance of the franchise tag. His good will soothes the locker room and allows players to focus on football. Quarterback Jay Cutler leads the second coming of the 2008 Denver Broncos offense, connecting with receiver Brandon Marshall for 100-plus receptions, and the Bears finally find a Devin Hester "Package" that works. The aging defense remains sharp, rookie Shea McClellin provides an important balance to the pass rush and the Bears prove to be an NFC powerhouse.

Nightmare scenario: (7-9): Forte holds out from training camp, starting the summer off on a bad vibe. An offense that looks good on paper struggles to get organized under first-year coordinator Mike Tice. The Hester Package limits his effectiveness as a returner. McClellin isn't ready to be a three-down player. The defense gets old more quickly than expected, exposing the Bears' lack of young impact players.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Chicago Bears and why.

For months, the Chicago Bears have systematically picked off their roster holes, large and small. They traded for receiver Brandon Marshall, giving quarterback Jay Cutler his long-sought "big target." They signed backups at quarterback (Jason Campbell) and running back (Michael Bush), drafted a pass-rusher (Shea McClellin) to complement Julius Peppers, and added another big receiver in rookie Alshon Jeffery.

But rather than address two years of uneven play along their offensive line with additional personnel upgrades, the Bears instead placed their faith in new offensive coordinator Mike Tice to handle that job. The Bears are confident that Tice's background as an offensive line coach will ensure a scheme that offers his blockers plenty of help and limits the difficulty of the position they find themselves under.

In the end, however, football is about the skills of the players more than it is the schemes of the coaches. If Tice can't help the Bears' incumbent linemen play at a winning level, then the rest of the Bears' upgrades won't matter for much. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on one coach.

Over the past few months, the Chicago Bears have transformed their receiving corps from one of the NFL's shortest to arguably the tallest. They've reunited the key players from the Denver Broncos' dynamic 2008 offense and they've fended off questions -- including some from their quarterback -- about their offensive line. But to me, the most intriguing thing happening in Chicago at the moment is the development of a mysterious package of plays for receiver/kick returner Devin Hester, the latest in a long line of attempts to harness Hester's Hall of Fame speed and skills for their offense.

General manager Phil Emery hinted at the new approach shortly after the draft. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice and receivers coach Darryl Drake offered some morsels to reporters during last weekend's rookie minicamp, and all that's left now is to see if it actually works.

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and cringe, as we did recently on the blog, as the Bears once again refuse to accept what Hester is and isn't -- at least what he hasn't been yet. They remain unsatisfied with him simply being the best kick returner in NFL history. And another part thinks this attempt could prove to be the most productive balance the Bears have tried yet.

Drake might have best explained the plan last weekend by suggesting the "Hester Package" will limit snaps but elevate targets to make more efficient use of Hester's time on offense.

"The talent has always been there," Drake told reporters. "It's just a matter of not having him play 70 plays and throw to him twice. Play him 15 [plays], let him touch it 13 [times.] In order for him to be effective, we don't need to have him out there playing that many plays. If he's out there, put the ball in his hands. We need to have that package, and Mike Tice -- I promise you -- he's going to do it."

On the surface, it makes sense. Hester's combination of speed and open-field running ability is rare and awfully tempting to expand on. And when you look at the chart, you see what happens when a team doesn't have or utilize the speed to stretch a defense vertically. The 2011 Bears, for instance, had one of the least efficient short passing games in the NFL last season.

But running a full game's worth of pass routes probably takes the edge off Hester's energy in the return game. There is reason to think he could have a similar impact in 15 plays designed to involve him than he could in 70 plays that spread the ball around the field.

That appears to be the starting point for a tweak that appears to have emanated from, or at least endorsed by, Emery himself.

"I want to make sure that we have a special plan for Devin," Emery said last month. "We have the 'Devin Package' -- packages of plays as a receiver. You never know where he's going to line up. I don't want to get too far ahead of that in terms of letting other people know what we're going to do with him, but he will have a package of plays that we feel can bring out his dynamic ability to the forefront and if not only as carrying or catching the ball, but sometimes that's a decoy.

"Devin's speed vertically is something that has to be accounted for. So if that pulls people from coverage, to handle that vertical ball, you've got other people; we've got some awfully big targets to hit."

On the other hand, of course, it's not as easy as it sounds. You better believe that opposing defenses will notice when Hester is on the field, especially now that the Bears have announced they want to get him the ball often in the relatively brief period of time he plays offense. I don't think it will make teams leave, say, Brandon Marshall wide open to account for Hester, but his appearance isn't going to surprise anyone, either.

The "Hester Package" has already conjured comparisons to the "Randy Ratio" that Tice used after taking over the Minnesota Vikings' head coaching job in 2002. As you might recall, a study of the Vikings' 2001 season showed they won every game they targeted receiver Randy Moss on at least 40 percent of their throws. Tice announced he would make that goal a centerpiece of his offense.

The "Randy Ratio" wasn't a schematic adjustment as much as it was Tice's attempt to cajole the notoriously anti-authoritarian receiver to buy in as a team leader. It backfired on a number of fronts, and Tice himself acknowledged over the weekend that it "came back to bite me in the [rear end]."

Turning serious, Tice said: "Devin is going to be on the field. If he's not on the field, then they should fire me."

That final line speaks to the extent the Bears have prioritized Hester's potential contribution. You know the old saying: If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

On Friday, we posted some basic but important questions about the trio of NFC North rookie minicamps held over the weekend. I thought they would help us keep focused amid discussion about dozens of players who probably won't make an NFL team, let alone make an impact on the 2012 season.

Below, I've addressed the questions with updated information culled from a variety of sources. Links are provided when appropriate. In one case, I offered a rarely-seen "bonus" section. Don't say I never do anything for you.

Chicago Bears: What is the conditioning level of receiver Alshon Jeffery?

By all accounts, Jeffery was having a nice opening practice Friday -- "picking peanuts off some guys' heads," according to offensive coordinator Mike Tice -- before leaving with leg cramps.

Cramps are not unusual at rookie camps, where nerves and a lack of familiarity often lead to inadequate hydration and/or eating. Jeffery's pre-draft questions about work ethic and conditioning add a level to this particular departure, but he returned for the weekend practices without incident.

"Most of the guys are a little sore right now, but we see a guy with great hands, a big target that will only get better," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He should be in the mix to help us win games this year."

The Bears' initial plan is for Jeffery to learn the "Z" slot position, but it's not out of the question that he could eventually pair with Brandon Marshall as an outside receiver with Devin Hester moving inside.

Bonus: Here's what Tice had to say about criticism of the Bears' depth at tackle, a position they did not draft to: "If we felt that tackle was a dire need for us, I'm sure they would have answered the bell on draft day. With the change in scheme, the change in personality and an offseason and getting some guys healthy, I think we'll make a big jump in the offensive line. It takes time for young guys to play good in all areas. And we have a couple young guys who have played good football in half the scheme, and they need to step it up in the other half. Plus, we have some guys who got hurt, and we need to get those guys back."

Detroit Lions: How many positions is offensive lineman Riley Reiff playing? Also, how much work, if any, is receiver Ryan Broyles doing?

The Lions rotated Reiff between left tackle and right tackle on a per-practice basis, but there were no reports of him seeing time at guard. That doesn't mean he won't eventually get some work there as a possible competitor for right guard Stephen Peterman, but on his first weekend the Lions limited him to the two positions he figured to be most familiar with.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz clearly subscribes to the "less is more" philosophy on drawing conclusions in rookie camp. But here were his early impressions of the Lions' first-round draft choice: "You can tell as much of what we did here today about him as we could outside [of practice.] I mean walkthroughs, meetings and things like that. You can tell that he's an experienced, smart, confident player and he’s going to do well for us."

Broyles, on the other hand, observed but did not participate in any of the practices as he continues to recover from a November knee injury. The question now becomes whether he will be cleared in time for training camp or whether he will open camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Schwartz wouldn't commit to a timetable on when Broyles will be able to practice or play a game but said: "[H]e's on a good path. He's had a good rehab so far. He showed it in his pro day and he's shown it here. It depends on what happens between now and then."

Green Bay Packers: How rough does Nick Perry look at outside linebacker? Also, are there any clues that B.J. Coleman will be able to challenge Graham Harrell for the No. 2 quarterback job?

The biggest news on Perry is that the Packers started him off as the left outside linebacker, which is where Clay Matthews played the past two seasons. Coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't say whether that meant Matthews will move to the rights side or if Perry will initially be slotted as a backup. But as Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette pointed out, most 3-4 teams prefer their biggest outside linebacker to work on the left side to stand up against opponents who are generally right-handed running teams.

Meanwhile, Coleman demonstrated notable arm strength in comparison to fellow quarterback Nick Hill, according to Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette. That's a good start. Whether he can challenge Harrell depends on how quickly he can learn the Packers' offense, and according to McCarthy, how long it takes him to adapt to an entirely new set of footwork techniques required at the professional level.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

The 2012 NFL draft is in the books. Our silly little arguments on left tackles and injured receivers seem so long ago. Oh, the memories….

In a few years, we'll be able to evaluate this draft with a measure of accuracy. For now, let's just consider some immediate highlights and lowlights.

BEST MOVE

The Green Bay Packers fielded arguably the best offense in franchise history last season. Their defense, on the other hand, allowed more passing yards (4,796) than any NFL team that has ever played. So let's award the "Best Move" title to the Packers' decision to deeply supplement their defensive personnel in this draft.

The Packers selected six consecutive defensive players to open this affair, the result of unprecedented maneuvering by general manager Ted Thompson -- who traded up as many times in this draft (three) as he had in his six previous drafts combined. Speaking to reporters in Green Bay, Thompson joked that he is "ashamed" and it was "pathetic" to have given up three of his 11 picks in those trade-ups, but to me that spoke to how seriously the Packers took their defensive slide last season.

Thompson insisted that there was "no intent to do it that way," but that would make for one heck of a coincidence, wouldn't it? Regardless of why it happened, the Packers came away with a pair of pass-rushers/disruptors in linebacker Nick Perry (No. 28 overall) and defensive lineman Jerel Worthy (No. 51) and two defensive backs -- cornerback Casey Hayward (No. 62) and safety Jerron McMillian (No. 133) -- who will have opportunities to compete for immediate playing time.

Worthy, Hayward and linebacker Terrell Manning (No. 163) were the three players Thompson traded up for, giving you an idea of how strongly he must have felt about them. Will this group stabilize the Packers' defense in 2012? It's impossible to predict individual performances, but generally speaking I'll go with this theory: The more the merrier.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

The Detroit Lions had already used their first-round pick on a future need, Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, when they grabbed Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles in the second round. Not only did the Lions already have a deep set of pass catchers, but Broyles is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November.

So yes, it was initially surprising to see a match between the Lions and Broyles, even though it was easy to understand how the Lions made the decision. As we discussed at the time, the Lions follow their board in as tightly wrapped-up of a vacuum as any team in the NFL. Although they had significant need at cornerback and safety, they had Broyles rated higher and that was that.

Hopefully, those of you who were angry and didn't buy that explanation were assuaged by the latter stages of the Lions' draft. They chose three cornerbacks -- Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight Bentley at No. 85, Albion's Chris Greenwood at No. 148 and New Mexico State's Jonte Green at No. 196 -- over their next five selections and finished with six consecutive defensive picks overall.

RISKIEST MOVE

The riskiest move in this draft was one that actually didn't happen. The Chicago Bears did nothing to address their personnel along the offensive line, first in free agency and now the draft.

It's true that a pair of 2011 starters who suffered season-ending injuries, tackle Gabe Carimi and guard Chris Williams, will return in 2012. And the promotion of Mike Tice to offensive coordinator should provide linemen with more help and less one-on-one responsibility than they had in the previous two seasons.

But the bottom line is the Bears have been forced to undergo multiple rounds of midseason patchwork in each of the past two seasons to lessen the punishment on quarterback Jay Cutler. When coach Lovie Smith said last month that he was confident in his current lineup, many of us wondered if he was just covering the Bears' draft plans.

He wasn't, which means the Bears are setting themselves up for another choppy season of personnel changes if their confidence proves unfounded.

FILE IT AWAY

We noted before the draft that the NFC North stood on the precipice of transition from the Black and Blue to the Air and Space division. You could make an argument that all four NFC North teams had a need at running back, especially the Packers and Lions. But as the NFL continues to move toward the passing game, it was reasonable to wonder whether anyone would act on those needs.

They did not. In fact, not a single running back was drafted in this division through the first six rounds. The Packers declined to take one in spite of a thin backfield led by injury-prone James Starks. The Lions, meanwhile, didn't deem it necessary despite the questionable health histories of Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith.

Message sent, huh?

I have a hard time getting wrapped up in the individual selections that teams make in the fourth round of the NFL draft and lower. That doesn't mean these picks are unimportant, but essentially we're at a point in this affair where everybody has some flaws and, historically speaking, it's difficult to project many of them into significant roles.

With that said, let's take a collective look at the highlights of the NFC North's fourth round.

Chicago Bears: Most notably, the Bears continued to look in places other than their much-discussed offensive line in this draft. Fullback/tight end Evan Rodriguez is a combination blocker/vertical threat who dropped because of character concerns. He was arrested twice in his college career, once in 2007 and again in 2009, and ultimately transferred from West Virginia to Temple. But in a Mike Tice offense, it's important to have multiple tight ends who can block and catch.

Detroit Lions: Some media analysts had Oklahoma defensive end/linebacker Ronnell Lewis rated as perhaps a second-round pick because of his pass-rush abilities. The league didn't agree, and Lewis was available with the No. 30 pick of the fourth round. (The Lions had traded down, picking up a sixth-round pick in the process.) Does that mean he was a steal, or the media analysts were wrong? Could be either. The Lions view Lewis, who is listed at 244 pounds, as a defensive end. That might require him to bulk up or else be inserted into a specific passing-down role, but low fourth-round picks aren't usually three-down players.

Green Bay Packers: Think defense was a priority for the division champions? The Packers chose their fourth and fifth consecutive defensive players in this draft with their pair of compensatory picks at the bottom of the fourth round. Iowa defensive tackle Mike Daniels was the third defensive lineman. Maine safety Jeron McMillan was the second defensive back.

Minnesota Vikings: Fans could exhale after the Vikings finally drafted a pair of receivers, Arkansas teammates Jarius Wright and Greg Childs. At 5-foot-10, Wright would seem to be best suited as a slot receiver, which is where Percy Harvin plays as well. But the middle of the fourth isn't the time to start getting picky. Take the best receiver and then let coaches figure out how to get him on the field. Childs, meanwhile, is 6-foot-3.

NFL executives and coaches descended on their annual meetings last week, just three months removed from the most prolific passing season in NFL history. Quarterback play has never had a more direct link to team success, and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith could stride confidently through the halls of the Breakers Hotel knowing he has a high performer who should be entering the prime of his career.

Which brings up an interesting dichotomy. Smith, of course, is the coach who for years described his team as one that "gets off the bus running." He appeared to change course in 2010 by hiring pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but for two years he and Martz played tug-of-war over the Bears' schematic focus. Martz is now retired, replaced by former offensive line coach Mike Tice -- who once famously referred to Chicago as a "tough guy town" that required a power running game to succeed -- and the Bears appear headed for another offensive re-set.

So here's the question: How much will the Bears pull back on their passing attack to satisfy Smith's philosophical requirements in the running game? The Bears' offseason moves to this point don't give us a clear idea, so the owners meetings seemed like a good time to ask Smith directly.

Yes, the Bears acquired Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, giving quarterback Jay Cutler the first true downfield threat of his Bears tenure. But they also guaranteed $7 million to their new backup tailback. New general manager Phil Emery would not have allocated the resources it took to sign Michael Bush if he weren't confident that Smith needed two high-quality running backs (along with starter Matt Forte) for his offense.

He didn't say it in so many words last week, but it seems clear that Smith wants to open the 2012 season with the compromise he eventually worked out with Martz in each of the past two seasons. In 2011, in fact, it led to almost a 50-50 pass-run ratio that corresponded with a five-game winning streak.

"During the course of the season," Smith said, "our offense had a different look from time to time. When we leaned on the run, we could move the ball as well as anyone. … As far as how much different it will look, I think we'll just see consistently what we want to be, a little more than occasionally. More that as much as anything."

You might remember that the Bears threw on a higher percentage of their plays last September than any team in the NFL. Smith and Tice eventually persuaded Martz to balance his play-calling, and as the chart shows, the Bears didn't throw more than 32 passes in any game during that winning streak. But they also didn't tilt too far toward the run, with the exception of a windy Week 10 blowout of the Detroit Lions.

If I had to guess what the Bears will try to accomplish this season, that five-game window is the snapshot. If anything, Smith wants to maintain the course correction that Martz accepted only in fits and starts over the past two years. Tice has a professed love for the power running game, and Smith said simply: "Our philosophies mesh."

Smith added: "[Martz] and I had a long background together. So I knew what I was getting at the time. So, when I say 'philosophies mesh,' I'm talking about the direction I want to go now as we go forward. I knew what we were getting into. I wanted Mike, and I knew exactly what he would bring to the table. No more than that. Going forward, I felt like that was the direction we wanted to go with personnel and our running back position, and what I felt we needed to do to get back to where we belong. So, no more than that."

That's about as close as you're going to get to hearing Smith say he plans to do something differently. I don't mind saying I was in favor of Smith's initial decision to hire Martz, mostly because the Bears weren't in a position to make a gradual shift to an untested offensive coordinator or scheme. I just thought Smith would achieve better and more consistent oversight than he did.

That shouldn't be a problem with Tice, who is as strong-willed as Martz but more likely to push in Smith's direction.

The Bears are competing in a division that features two of the most explosive passing offenses in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. I'm not sure whether the Bears will be able to compete throw for throw with either team, but I'm positive they don't want to. What the Bears hope to achieve is the NFC North's most balanced offense. They are well on their way.

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Chicago Bears

Key additions: Running back Michael Bush, linebacker/special teams Blake Costanzo, quarterback Jason Campbell, receiver Brandon Marshall (trade), receiver Devin Thomas, receiver/returner Eric Weems.

Key losses: Running back Marion Barber (retired), cornerback Zack Bowman, cornerback Corey Graham.

Come on back: Lost in the shuffle of the Marshall trade were the return of three free agents who should play key roles in 2012. Tight end Kellen Davis figures to get an expanded role in offensive coordinator Mike Tice's scheme, especially as a receiver. Cornerback Tim Jennings should retain his starting role opposite Charles Tillman, with D.J. Moore in the nickel. And safety Craig Steltz will provide reliable depth at safety and will be one of the Bears' special teams leaders after the departure of Graham and Bowman.

What's next: There is no urgency yet, but the Bears will need to make peace with tailback Matt Forte at some point before the summer. Forte isn't happy that he's been made the Bears' franchise player and briefly lost his public composure when Bush signed a deal that guaranteed him about the same amount of money as the franchise tag will pay Forte. It's not a big deal if Forte skips the Bears' offseason program or even misses a few days of training camp, but the Bears will want to find a way to eliminate this issue by early August. Meanwhile, it wouldn't be surprising if the Bears address their offensive line during the draft.

Detroit Lions

Key additions: Defensive end Everette Brown, cornerback Jacob Lacey.

Key losses: Cornerback Eric Wright.

All in the family: With the exception of Wright, the Lions were able to retain the core of their 10-6 team. Among those who re-signed: Tackle Jeff Backus, safety Erik Coleman, defensive end Andre Fluellen, quarterback Shaun Hill and linebacker Stephen Tulloch. And don't forget that receiver Calvin Johnson is locked up for perhaps the rest of his career. He signed a new eight-year contract worth $132 million.

What's next: The Lions appear interested in adding competition at safety, having hosted free agent O.J. Atogwe earlier this month. Adding a safety remains a possibility, if not through free agency, then probably through the draft. And while Backus is re-signed for two years, it wouldn't be surprising if the Lions look for a long-term replacement in the draft.

Green Bay Packers

Key additions: Defensive lineman Daniel Muir, center Jeff Saturday, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Key losses: Quarterback Matt Flynn, center Scott Wells.

Shocker: The Packers usually do whatever it takes to keep their own players and avoid having to search the free-agent market for other the castoffs of other teams. They started off that way by re-signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract, but when they were unable to sign center Scott Wells, they quickly targeted veteran Jeff Saturday and made him their first starting-caliber free-agent signee in five years. General manager Ted Thompson also authorized the acquisition of Hargrove and the pursuit of Dave Tollefson.

What's next: It's not out of the question that the Packers will add a veteran pass-rusher, whether at defensive end or linebacker. Then they'll get back into their comfort zone and start preparing for the draft, where it's reasonable to think they'll use at least one of their 12 picks on a center while also continuing to pursue pass-rushers.

Minnesota Vikings

Key additions: Cornerback Zack Bowman, tight end John Carlson, running back Jerome Felton and offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz.

Key losses: Nose tackle Remi Ayodele (release), guards Anthony Herrera (release) and Steve Hutchinson (release), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (retire), running back Jerome Felton.

Methodical methodology: The Vikings made one big-money signing, bringing in Carlson as a new weapon for quarterback Christian Ponder, and otherwise have spent their offseason getting younger and signing complementary players. General manager Rick Spielman wants to end a cycle of seeking blue-chip players via free agency and instead count on the drafts for his difference-makers.

What's next: One way or the other, the Vikings need to find a deep threat for Ponder. The draft would seem the most likely place for that will happen. They are also midway through a rebuild of the secondary that could use at least one more cornerback and perhaps two safeties.

Having already been suspended for insubordination, Brandon Marshall figured he had nothing to lose. So after agreeing to a national television interview during his tumultuous 2009 season with the Denver Broncos, Marshall placed a large photograph of himself and quarterback Jay Cutler on his living room wall -- in clear view of the cameras.

Was there any better way to symbolize his displeasure with the Broncos -- and tell the world he wanted out of Denver -- than a reminder of the trade that sent Cutler to the Chicago Bears a few months earlier? "I was like, 'hey, let's make a statement,'" Marshall told ESPN 1000 earlier this year.

Most of our coverage on the Bears' acquisition of Marshall has focused on his previously boorish behavior and a recent incident outside a New York City nightclub. That's too bad, because it pushed to the background two stunning years Marshall and Cutler had with the Broncos, and it has overshadowed what, by all accounts, is the kind of football relationship that most teams only dream of assembling.

So consider this post our own blatant and staged attempt to shift the focus to football, if only for a moment while we await further news on Marshall's role in the nightclub fracas.

In 31 games together with the Broncos from 2007-08, Cutler and Marshall combined for 206 receptions, 2,590 yards and 13 touchdowns. They were so locked in that by 2008, Cutler targeted Marshall on 179 passes in 15 games. That's the highest number over the past four years in the NFL, as the first chart shows.

But to hear Cutler and Marshall tell it, their wild production was not just the product of a strong-armed quarterback and a prototypical big receiver.

"His physical abilities are second to his mental side of the game," Cutler told EPSN 1000 in January. "I've never been with a receiver that understands the game, understands why we're doing certain things [like Marshall]."

Despite their limited time together, Cutler has thrown more touchdown passes to Marshall (14) than any teammate in his career. The same is true for Marshall. Although the Bears' offense differs schematically from the Broncos', new offensive coordinator Mike Tice has traditionally allowed quarterbacks and receivers flexibility to freelance when prudent.

More than anything, that's where Cutler and Marshall figure to make their hay in 2012 and beyond -- with unspoken adjustments and collective instincts.

"It's hard to find that and sometimes it's once in a lifetime," Marshall said. "... When you take two guys and put them on the field together and they have that chemistry, that's what's almost impossible to find. I can't explain it."

Describing their past time together in the present tense, Marshall said, "We will line up there and we'll get a coverage and he will just look at me and I'll know exactly where he wants to adjust my route on. You don't find that.

"It got to a point where coaches, they didn't know what we were doing so we'll install a whole play and they'll give us a play on the front side and put me on the back side and they'll tell us just do what you all do and just make it work. We had a lot of freedom in our offense, and we made it work and the chemistry was great. It was something special."

It's a little early to project another 100-connection season between Cutler and Marshall, but I think it's safe to say they are capable of production levels unseen in Chicago in a decade or more. (At least by a Bears team.)

The Bears' streak of nine consecutive seasons without a 1,000-yard receiver is the longest in the NFL. Their last statistical season of note came from Marty Booker, who caught 97 passes for 1,189 yards in 2002.

Marshall has caught at least 81 passes in all five of his full-time seasons. In their history dating to 1932, the Bears have had six receivers catch 80 passes in a season.

Even in today's unprecedented era of passing, it takes a lot for a quarterback/receiver duo to rack up a huge season. Health, complementary players and pass protection are all important factors.

But the chemistry that Cutler and Marshall claim to have -- and is borne out by the statistics -- is the rarest of commodities. We have a chance to watch something special from two presumably matured personalities still in their physical primes. When it's over, maybe the photograph above the fireplace will be more than just a prop.

Hang with me for a second here. Imagine the Chicago Bears' pursuit of receiver Brandon Marshall as a shopping excursion for a speedy sports car.

You've read the reviews, which include a long history of high performance and extensive maintenance. You're hemming and hawing. You figure you're a great driver, never had an accident, and feel relatively immune toward the chances the car will break down on you. The dealer offers one final test drive. As you careen around the final corner into the lot, laughing the whole way, the transmission drops to the ground.

What do you do? Write it off as a random and unpredictable incident? Or do you connect it with the documented history of this model and head to the minivan dealer?

In many ways, that's the decision the Bears faced early this week when they learned Marshall -- whom they had already researched extensively and planned to acquire via trade -- had been present for a violent incident outside a New York City nightclub. According to a police complaint, a woman is accusing Marshall of punching her in the left eye. Marshall's attorney said he was not involved.

The Bears went ahead with the deal. Speaking extensively about it for the first time Thursday, general manager Phil Emery said: "We've done our work, we've done our research and we'll monitor it to its conclusions."

Coach Lovie Smith said, "I am aware, I think, of everything that happened in New York." He added that you really can't base anything on "allegations."

After listening to a 45-minute conference call with Emery and Smith, I got the clear sense they did not consider Sunday's incident a warning sign, let alone a reason to scuttle the deal. Emery said he had long been impressed by Marshall's acknowledgement in August 2011 that he suffers from borderline personality disorder, and that "it tells me a lot about his courage … and makes a big statement to me about the person he wants to be."

Indeed, Marshall had a relatively quiet seven months off the field after announcing the disorder. If Sunday's allegations are false, the Bears can make a reasonable argument that Marshall is on a path toward personal growth. But I can only assume they know more than we do about it. Otherwise, I can't imagine they would have acquired a player with a history as long as Marshall's if there was even a question about whether he is still hitting women.

Under those circumstances, the Bears would have traded for a player who faces a long NFL suspension and thus be unavailable to provide a return. At worst, they would have demonstrated a brazen lack of sensitivity toward an ongoing series of despicable behavior. As the "Outside the Lines" video in this post describes, Marshall's history included seven cases of domestic violence by 2009. He had an eighth incident with his current wife in April 2011.

Emery said the Bears will provide an experienced and structured environment with a built-in support structure for Marshall. That might help Marshall's assimilation from a football perspective, but there's nothing that Jay Cutler or Brian Urlacher or Mike Tice or anyone else can do to prevent Marshall from hitting a woman. Marshall himself is the only one who can get control of that.

The Bears appear to think that process has already begun. They better hope so. They got a rare gift this week: A last-minute addition to the large dossier on a previously troubled potential employee. They chose not to act it on it. They bought the sports car anyway. They better be right.

Let's catch up on the fast-moving Chicago Bears, who have curiously signed a kick returner while also adding a third veteran quarterback in the past few hours.

Veteran Eric Weems is technically a receiver, but he caught a grand total of 24 passes in four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He has returned 113 kickoffs and 77 punts over that stretch, however, and it's worth wondering why a team with Devin Hester on its roster felt compelled to sign a veteran kick returner.

There are a few theories making the rounds, most of which are pretty innocent. One is the Bears aren't counting on the immediate return of receiver Johnny Knox, who shared kickoff return duties with Hester last season before suffering a serious back injury.

Another is that Weems is simply an all-around good special teams player, having made 55 career special-teams tackles in addition to his return duties. It's also worth noting Weems originally joined the Falcons in 2007, when current Bears general manager Phil Emery was the Falcons' director of college scouting.

But we should also note that Hester's contract originally called for a $10-million roster bonus this season. I don't know the details of when it must be paid out or how, but that's a steep total for any player, let alone one who is primarily a returner — even if he is the best returner in NFL history.

I have heard nothing to suggest Hester's future with the Bears is in doubt. I just think it's worth considering every possibility when a relatively prominent player is signed to a similar position as an established incumbent.

In addition to Weems, the Bears also announced the return of veteran quarterback Josh McCown, who presumably will compete with Nathan Enderle for their No. 3 job. Jason Campbell signed a one-year contract Tuesday to back up starter Jay Cutler. It's not often that a team has two veterans behind a veteran starter, but I'm not going to get too worked up about it if McCown ends up the Bears' No. 3, considering the quarterback problems the Bears encountered last year.

Finally, the Bears are hosting former Minnesota Vikings guard Anthony Herrera on a visit. Herrera, who was released over the weekend, joined the Vikings in 2004 when Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice was the head coach. Herrera can also play center.

Let's take a moment to review.

As the Chicago Bears' offense collapsed last season, then-injured quarterback Jay Cutler made a nuanced plea for schematic continuity without directly endorsing the return of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

A month later, the Bears replaced Martz and promoted offensive line coach Mike Tice into the role.

A few weeks after that, the Bears hired a quarterbacks coach whom Cutler once endorsed for Martz's job and is obviously a personal favorite. Jeremy Bates was one of the Denver Broncos' offensive assistants during Cutler's time there.

On Feb. 20, Cutler spoke openly during an ESPN 1000 interview about his desire for a big receiver and specifically acknowledged his continuing friendship with Brandon Marshall, who at the time was a member of the Miami Dolphins. Tuesday, less than an hour after the NFL's free agent and trading period opened, the Bears acquired Marshall for a pair of third-round picks.

What Jay wants, Jay gets.

Maybe he should have asked for Jake Long, Reggie Bush and a private plane as well.

In all seriousness, I know some of you will think that new general manager Phil Emery and coach Lovie Smith have gone out of their way to placate, suck up to and otherwise make their quarterback happy. But I wouldn't look at it quite that way.

What the Bears have done is take most every step available to maximize the huge investment they made in Cutler in their historic 2009 trade for him.

It's fair to expect an elite quarterback to raise the production of those around him, but the Bears hadn't given Cutler much to work with since his arrival. They traded away his best receiver, tight end Greg Olsen, and hoped he could make it work with former college teammate Earl Bennett, a kick returner trying to play receiver in Devin Hester and a raw speedster in Johnny Knox. Last year's signing of veteran Roy Williams proved a laughably inadequate response to their positional weakness.

It's also fair to expect a quarterback to find common ground with his coordinator, but Cutler has now bid farewell to two of them in his three-year Bears career. The hope now is that Cutler can resume his lockstep relationship with Bates, and get enough flexibility from Tice, to eliminate the red tape and bureaucracy that has stifled the team's offense at times in recent years.

There is no such thing as a perfect environment in the NFL, and it's worth noting that pass protection has probably been the single biggest issue the Bears offense has faced since Cutler arrived. Regardless, the Bears have surgically repaired much of the ruins around him.

Cutler has been reunited with his favorite coach and top receiver, and frankly it's on him to make it work. The Bears have reinforced their commitment to their franchise quarterback. The rest is up to him.

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.

Checking in on Mel Kiper's second mock draft of the mock draft season:

3. Minnesota Vikings
Kiper's pick: USC offensive lineman Matt Kalil
Seifert comment: That's assuming the St. Louis Rams don't take Kalil at No. 2, as ESPN analyst Todd McShay has suggested they might. It also presumes the Vikings don't trade the pick to a team hoping to land Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

19. Chicago Bears
Kiper's pick: Ohio State offensive lineman Mike Adams
Seifert comment: In this version, Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd is already off the board. Kiper reasons that the Bears' promotion of offensive line coach Mike Tice to offensive coordinator means they will prioritize the offensive line.

23. Detroit Lions
Kiper's pick: North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins
Seifert comment: This pick would give us plenty to write and talk about here on the blog. Jenkins is an elite-level cornerback whose drug-related departure from Florida last year naturally has raised flags. But there is little doubt he could help the Lions on the field.

28. Green Bay Packers
Kiper's pick: Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith
Seifert comment: The Packers figure to know the future of Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins by the time the draft comes. Smith would make plenty of sense if doctors haven't cleared Collins to return by then.