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The Detroit Lions will be the first NFC North team to get on the field for a training camp practice, and so it makes sense for them to have made signing their draft class a high priority. After a flurry of agreements Thursday afternoon, the Lions are down to one unsigned rookie: First-round pick Nick Fairley.

The Lions have a 10:15 a.m. practice scheduled for Friday morning.

Chicago Bears

Signed

• Round 5(a): Linebacker J.T. Thomas
• Round 5(b): Quarterback Nathan Enderle

Unsigned

• Round 1: Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi
• Round 2: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea
• Round 3: Safety Chris Conte

Detroit Lions

Signed

• Round 2(a): Receiver Titus Young
• Round 2(b): Running back Mikel Leshoure
• Round 5: Linebacker Doug Hogue
• Round 7: Offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath

Unsigned

• Round 1: Defensive tackle Nick Fairley

Green Bay Packers

Unsigned

• Round 1: Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod
• Round 2: Receiver Randall Cobb
• Round 3: Running back Alex Green
• Round 4: Cornerback Davon House
• Round 5: Tight end D.J. Williams
• Round 6(a): Offensive lineman Caleb Schlauderaff
• Round 6(b): Linebacker D.J. Smith
• Round 6(c): Defensive end Ricky Elmore
• Round 7(a): Tight end Ryan Taylor
• Round 7(b): Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy

Minnesota Vikings

Unsigned

• Round 1: Quarterback Christian Ponder
• Round 2: Tight end Kyle Rudolph
• Round 4: Defensive tackle Christian Ballard
• Round 5: Cornerback Brandon Burton
• Round 6(a): Offensive lineman DeMarcus Love
• Round 6(b): Safety Mistral Raymond
• Round 6(c): Center Brandon Fusco
• Round 6(d): Linebacker Ross Homan
• Round 7(a): Defensive end D'Aundre Reed
• Round 7(b): Receiver Stephen Burton

There has to be a sigh of relief coming from several defensive backs in the AFC North. Three division teams caught a break Wednesday as the New England Patriots traded future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings.


Not only does Moss leave the AFC, but the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns all get to face the Patriots this year without one of the league's best deep threats. New England's next game -- the first this season without Moss -- will be Oct. 17 against Baltimore. It will be a rematch of last season's wild-card victory by the Ravens.

The Patriots also play the Browns on Nov. 7 and the Steelers a week later on Nov. 14. Moss caught five passes for 59 yards in New England's 38-24 win against the Bengals in Week 1.

New England's passing game is not nearly as dynamic without Moss. Wes Welker, Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman now highlight the Patriots' receiving corps.

This trade definitely hurts the Patriots (3-1) in their quest to reach the Super Bowl. The AFC is deep, and the AFC North also has at least two teams --Baltimore (3-1) and Pittsburgh (3-1) -- considered strong title contenders. It could only help teams like the Ravens and Steelers if one playoff contender makes itself less formidable with a huge in-season trade.

The preseason is finally over. All four AFC North teams were in action Thursday night for their exhibition finales.

Here are some notes from each game:

Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Carolina Panthers 3

The Good

• Rookies Emmanuel Sanders and Jonathan Dwyer both made strong cases in their final chance to impress before Saturday's cuts. Dwyer, a sixth-round pick, led the Steelers in rushing for the second straight week with 86 yards on 20 carries. Sanders, a third-round pick, led Pittsburgh in receiving with 66 yards and a touchdown. Both players were up and down in training camp but came on strong late in the preseason to likely earn roster spots.

The Bad

• The huge negative was the left knee sprain to quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was expected to be Pittsburgh's Week 1 starter. Leftwich was hit low in the first half and didn’t return. Now his status is in question for the regular-season opener, where quarterbacks Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch may have to step in against the Atlanta Falcons.

Cleveland Browns 13, Chicago Bears 10

The Good

• We mentioned quarterback Colt McCoy's perfect 13-for-13 passing earlier in the AFC North blog. So let's shift the focus to Cleveland running back James Davis, who likely claimed a roster spot. The backup was on the bubble but led the Browns in rushing with 66 yards against Chicago. Davis also caught five passes for 53 yards and showed good elusiveness to break tackles. Davis was the talk of the preseason last year when he led the Browns in rushing. But he's been quiet this exhibition season until Thursday.

The Bad

• Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty's much-anticipated debut ended poorly as he suffered another knee injury. Hardesty missed all of training camp and three preseason games with a right knee injury. After seven carries, he hurt his left knee and was on crutches after the game. Hardesty came to Cleveland with a reputation of being injury-prone in college.

Baltimore Ravens 21, St. Louis Rams 27

The Good

• Baltimore rookie WR David Reed showed flashes. Reed recorded 138 yards on four kickoff returns. The fifth-round pick also caught three receptions for 65 yards. Reed is on the bubble but helped his case to be one of the final receivers to make the team.

The Bad

• We also mentioned Ravens quarterback Troy Smith earlier. But let's discuss the most unnecessary move we've seen in the AFC North this preseason, which was Dannell Ellerbe stopping at the goal line to taunt the Rams before scoring a defensive touchdown. Where to start with this one? First, the Ravens were losing. Second, it was the preseason. Third, Ellerbe is fighting for playing time and made a good defensive play look unprofessional. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh cleary wasn't happy with Ellerbe's antics.

Cincinnati Bengals 30, Indianapolis Colts 28

The Good

• The Bengals finally got great quarterback play from backups Jordan Palmer and J.T. O'Sullivan. Both players have been inconsistent this preseason but had their best efforts against Indianapolis. O'Sullivan was 9-for-12 for 102 yards, and Palmer was 10-for-14 for 114 and two touchdowns. This should bring a little bit of calm in relation to Carson Palmer's replacements heading into the regular season.

The Bad

• Cincinnati had another double-digit penalty game with 11 infractions. Sure, a lot of backups played Thursday, but there were some on the field who will contribute in the regular season. Cincinnati doesn't seem concerned about its penchant for penalties. But we will see if it disappears or carries over when the games count.

Here are observations from Saturday night's preseason action in the AFC North:

Bills 35, Bengals 20

The Good

• Cincinnati's first-team offense doubled its touchdown output this preseason with two touchdown drives. With new faces like Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham, the Bengals' offense has been a work in progress. It showed positive signs against Buffalo as quarterback Carson Palmer connected on touchdown passes to Gresham and receiver Chad Ochocinco. Palmer had his best preseason game to date, completing 9 of 11 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
• Bengals starting tailback Cedric Benson also had his best game of the preseason. He rushed for 50 yards on eight carries. Benson is running hard, but hasn't found many holes in limited carries this preseason. He finally broke off a nice run of 20 yards against Buffalo and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

The Bad

• The Bengals allowed too many points to a Buffalo offense that's not very good. Rookie tailback C.J. Spiller rushed for two first-half touchdowns, giving the Bills a 21-7 lead at intermission. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was near-perfect, completing 13 of 17 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. Cincinnati's defense was often one step behind Buffalo's offense Saturday. Expect Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to get after his unit in practice this week.
• The Bengals have been sloppy with penalties, an issue that plagued them last season and has continued in the preseason. Cincinnati recorded 12 penalties for 122 yards, which is high even for a preseason game. Cincinnati cannot expect to suddenly "turn it on" and play smarter when games count in the standings.

Ravens 24, Giants 10

The Good

• Baltimore's first-team offense came alive in the "dress rehearsal" game. Quarterback Joe Flacco recorded a preseason-high 229 passing yards. He drilled two nice touchdown passes to tight end Todd Heap and receiver Anquan Boldin in the red zone, an area Baltimore wants to be more efficient passing the football. The Ravens also want to spread the ball around, and 10 receivers caught passes Saturday.
• Heap looks great. He led Baltimore Saturday with six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Competition has clearly brought out the best in Heap after the Ravens drafted two tight ends in April. This is also the healthiest Heap has been to start the season in years.

The Bad

• Baltimore suffered a major injury as receiver Donte' Stallworth broke his foot and is expected to miss about two months. Stallworth, who was out of football in 2009, had a solid training camp and was expected to be a good addition to Baltimore’s receiving corps. Backups Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams will have to step up in reserve roles.
• The Ravens' third-down conversions could still use improvement. Baltimore's offense moved the ball well, but was just 4-of-15 on third downs.

Lions 35, Browns 27

The Good

• Cleveland's first-team offense was productive. The Browns scored 17 offensive points in the first half. (Cleveland's starting defense also scored a first-half touchdown.) Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme was accurate for the third straight exhibition game. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown. For the preseason, Delhomme has thrown for 345 yards, two touchdowns and completed 79.2 percent of his passes. He's done a good job of erasing concerns about him heading into the regular season.
• The Browns have a nice find in running back Peyton Hillis. Acquired in the Brady Quinn trade with the Denver Broncos, Hillis showed his versatility with 40 receiving yards and 26 yards rushing and a touchdown. But what stood out most was Hillis' regular-season intensity. He broke through arm tackles and bullied Detroit defenders. Hillis is Cleveland’s leading rusher through three preseason games.

The Bad

• For the second week in a row, the Browns were too careless with the football. Cleveland fumbled four times, losing three. Running back Jerome Harrison's fumble in the second quarter was returned 14 yards for a touchdown. Last week Cleveland played in rainy conditions, but this time there were no excuses for putting the ball on the ground in a dome. The Browns have eight turnovers in their past two preseason games. They have to play smarter and more efficient to have a chance to climb out the basement of the AFC North.
• Cleveland's defense was gashed by the Lions. Detroit rookie Jahvid Best zipped through the Browns’ first-team defense for 51 yards on his first carry, which was a sweep left. Cleveland's tackling and defensive fundamentals were not sharp, particularly against the run. The Lions rushed for 154 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns made their preseason debuts Saturday night against a pair of NFC North teams.

Here are some observations:

Browns 27, Green Bay Packers 24

The Good

• The quarterback play was stellar. Browns starter Jake Delhomme might have calmed some early concerns with a near-perfect touchdown drive to start the game. Delhomme went 6-for-7 for 66 yards on the first drive before being taken out. Delhomme was decisive and accurate with his throws. Backup Seneca Wallace also threw for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
• Browns kicker Phil Dawson already looks in midseason form. Dawson accounted for nine points, including two field goals in the final two minutes that won the game. He made kicks of 58 yards and his 48-yard game-winner as time expired. Dawson, 35, is known for his accuracy, but not his range. He was able to show both in the final quarter.

The Bad

• Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy did not have a good NFL debut. He threw for 25 yards and was intercepted twice by Green Bay. McCoy also suffered a hand injury. His best plays were a pair of scrambles for 25 yards. But the rookie still has a lot to learn about the NFL game.
• Cleveland's running game, which is expected to be a strength, was not productive. The team averaged 3.9 yards per carry, and that average was boosted by McCoy's two carries of 12 and 13 yards. The longest gain for a running back came from James Davis, who ran for 12 yards. Starter Jerome Harrison recorded 25 rushing yards on seven carries and a touchdown on the opening drive.

Steelers 23, Detroit Lions 7

The Good

• Backup quarterback Dennis Dixon is forcing his way into the quarterback competition. Although he played against Detroit's backups, he outperformed Byron Leftwich by throwing for 128 yards and a touchdown. Leftwich started the game and was 6-of-10 for 43 yards. Pittsburgh's coaching staff hasn't given Dixon much time with the first-team this offseason. But the team might have to reconsider if Dixon continues to perform at this rate in the preseason.
• Isaac Redman continues to take advantage of his opportunities. He led the Steelers in rushing with 60 yards on 15 carries. Redman also showed his nose for the endzone with a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He earned the nickname "Redzone" last season for his ability to score against Pittsburgh's first-team defense in practice.

The Bad

• Pittsburgh decided not to play star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He will not be around the team for at least a month during his conditional six-game suspension, which can be reduced to four games. Preseason is the only time Roethlisberger will get game reps before October, which makes this a debatable move. Pittsburgh's priority is to get Leftwich, Dixon and Charlie Batch ready to play. But the team also has a delicate balance to keep its franchise quarterback sharp, as well.
• Steelers starting running back Rashard Mendenhall didn't gain much in limited playing time. He rushed for just two yards on five carries. But perhaps the biggest thing the coaches will warn Mendenhall about was his fumble, which was eventually recovered by Pittsburgh. Mendenhall has had ball security issues, so he must improve in that area.

BEREA, Ohio -- Despite being a third-round pick, the Cleveland Browns are putting a lot of stock into rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. Regarded as the team's quarterback of the future, McCoy was given a favorable contract (it could max out at $5 million) for his draft slot.

But 2010 is expected to be a learning year for the University of Texas product. Browns president Mike Holmgren said he prefers veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme lead the team this season while McCoy transitions to the NFL and learns from the sidelines.

McCoy was a four-year starter at Texas, so this is new territory for a player who admits he's not very patient.

"I can't have the mentality coming out to practice that I'm going to sit out all year," McCoy said. "If I did that, I wouldn't be [prepared]. So every day I come here, I got to compete. I got to do my best and be ready whenever something happens."

McCoy will make his NFL debut Saturday when the Browns travel to play the Green Bay Packers. As the third quarterback, McCoy should get plenty of playing time in the second half.

Most of McCoy's offseason has consisted of limited reps in practice behind Delhomme and No. 2 quarterback Seneca Wallace. But it will be interesting to see how much McCoy has learned at this point about the NFL game.

"I spend a lot of time in the film room," McCoy said. "I'm really excited about Saturday and really excited about getting out there and playing live at Lambeau Field. That's going to be a lot of fun. So I feel really good. I do."

McCoy's former college teammate and close friend Jordan Shipley is making a splash for the rival Cincinnati Bengals. Shipley, McCoy's favorite target in college, is competing for the No. 3 receiver role in Cincinnati and likely will play right away as a rookie. Meanwhile, McCoy must wait -- perhaps an entire season -- for his first opportunity.

"It's just one of those things," McCoy explained. "Some rookies step in and play. My hats off to them. But I just really try to be the best I can be in the situation that I'm in. And when it's time, it's time."

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Jim Anderson remembers that September day in 1992 vividly.

Anderson watched from the sidelines as the Bengals were in control against the Green Bay Packers, leading 20-10 in the fourth quarter during a game at Lambeau Field. Cincinnati's defense played well and even knocked Packers starting quarterback Don Majkowski out of the game.

Enter an unknown backup name Brett Favre -- and the rest was history.

Favre struggled early but had enough magic to earn his first NFL come-from-behind victory, throwing two touchdowns late in the final period to help the Packers topple the Bengals, 24-23.

Consider it the start of the Favre legend.

"I'll never forget it," said Anderson, who coaches Bengals running backs. "We were playing Cover 2, and the next thing you know, it was big plays and they came back and won the game. We turned the ball over at a crucial time and that was it.

"He just seized the moment, and that's what great players do."

Favre went on to have a stellar career in Green Bay, which included a Super Bowl title and another Super Bowl appearance. He also played for the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings before reportedly considering retirement Tuesday.

There is still debate in NFL circles whether this is it for Brett Favre. But either way, the Bengals will always have an unique tie-in with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

It's no secret that the Cleveland Browns are searching for their long-term solution at quarterback.

So could Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy be the answer?

Cleveland patiently watched the draft board fall heavily in its favor Thursday night as two of the top-rated quarterbacks of this year's class landed into second round. The Denver Broncos’ surprising selection of Tim Tebow sent shockwaves throughout the NFL and perhaps sparked some celebration in the Browns' draft room.

Now Clausen and McCoy are there for the taking in Friday's second round, where Cleveland owns the sixth pick (No. 38 overall). The Browns have a legitimate chance to land either player and it would be hard to argue the type of value they'd get in return. Either prospect could sit a year in Cleveland and has the luxury to learn behind starter Jake Delhomme.

Clausen was projected by many to be a top-20 pick, while McCoy remains in his projected range of early in the second round. Cleveland president Mike Holmgren initially said he wasn't as impressed with Clausen as he'd like to be, although he somewhat backed off those statements recently. But Holmgren is in line with a lot of teams that weren't completely sold on the former Notre Dame star -- at least as a first-round pick.

McCoy is a player the Browns liked all along. He has tremendous accuracy and seems to be a great fit in a West Coast offense, which is a system Holmgren unequivocally believes in. Although the chances aren't great, it would be interesting to see who Cleveland would take at No. 38 if both players were available. An educated guess is the Browns might have Clausen rated higher on their draft board but still believe McCoy is the better fit for their offense.

A trade up Friday might be necessary.

Of the five teams ahead of Cleveland, the Minnesota Vikings (No. 34) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 36) are both possibilities to take quarterbacks of the future. There are also teams like the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders who may look to trade up and jump ahead of Cleveland for Clausen or McCoy.

Thursday's pick of former Florida cornerback Joe Haden was solid but didn't create much buzz in Cleveland. Yet, potentially adding a high-profile quarterback like McCoy or Clausen in the second round certainly adds excitement and intrigue to the Browns' 2010 draft class.

It's hard to keep score with the Cleveland Browns these days. So far they have been the biggest whirlwind in free agency this offseason.

The Browns got rid of their top two quarterbacks and added two more. They signed a veteran linebacker (Scott Fujita), tight end (Benjamin Watson) and right tackle (Tony Pashos). They also traded Corey Williams and Kamerion Wimbley for draft picks and added another fullback to the roster from the Denver Broncos (Peyton Hillis).

Yes, the Browns are making a ton of changes. But are they getting better?

It's still early. But despite a large flurry of transactions, there is nothing the Browns have done to this point in free agency to make you believe they'll climb out of the basement and to the top of the AFC North in 2010.

The division champion Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers all finished with winning records last season. And if the season started today, most would pick the aforementioned trio ahead of Cleveland, which was 5-11 last season.

"Anything we do, we've done it thoughtfully, hopefully," Browns president Mike Holmgren said this week of their busy free-agency period. "We've done it together. We've done it to make the team better in our opinion and however that manifests itself."

(Read full post)

Last week, we began a semi-regular feature designed to feed you a digestible amount of the pending changes to the way the NFL's offseason will work when the salary cap is eliminated next month. We started off by addressing the way franchise and transition tags will work, and Tuesday our SportsNation chat gave us an opportunity to review the "Final Eight" plan.

This plan is one of several ways the NFL will restrict player movement in the uncapped scenario. The eight teams that played in the divisional round of the playoffs won't be able to sign an unrestricted free agent unless one or more of their own unrestricted free agents sign elsewhere. In addition, the four teams that played in the championship round will be further limited in that the free agent they sign must be a player with a "comparable" salary to the one they lose.

(The four teams that lost in the divisional round will have some additional flexibility, but those rules aren't relevant in the NFC North.)

All of which compelled Zack to ask this question during Tuesday's chat:

How big a role do you think that letting Chester Taylor leave would allow the Vikings to sign an outside free agent could factor in a decision to resign him or not?

I thought that was a compelling question and one that emphasized the new layers of strategies teams will be faced with this year. In this particular case, Taylor is an unrestricted free agent who is a valuable backup but might attract starter-caliber money on the open market. He is also an asset who would allow the Vikings to add a key component at another position if they want.

In essence, then, the Vikings would be faced with a trade situation. Would the free-agent player be important enough to mitigate Taylor's departure? And would the contracts match up to satisfy the "comparable" requirement?

(I've yet to see or hear a firm definition of what "comparable" means, but the best guess is that the deals must have similar first-year compensation.)

With all that said, I don't know if there is a player the Vikings might target who would compel them to let Taylor leave. It's possible they'll need his free agent "slot" to replace quarterback Brett Favre, but that's a discussion for another day.

Before we launch ourselves full-bore into the offseason, I think it makes sense to take a look back at Super Bowl XLIV to provide some guidance for NFC North teams. What lessons can we learn from New Orleans and Indianapolis advancing to the final game of the season?

Let’s look at that question in alphabetical order. We won’t force it, so for each team I’ll choose either the Saints or the Colts for guidance:

Chicago Bears

A pressing issue: A defensive approach that has slipped from feared status to one that seems stale and passive.

How New Orleans addressed that problem: By hiring defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, knowing he would shake up and energize a group that was similar to the 2008 Saints with the exception of safety Darren Sharper.

Williams described that attitude change thusly: “It was a culture shock to them from the very first meeting. My aggressive demeanor in the meetings, making them defend themselves with explanations and demonstrations on the field. Every single time we stepped on the field of play in practice, it’s been a game. We had to turn that scout team mentality there on defense.

“I’ve joked with [Saints coach Sean Payton] about this, because a lot of times offensive head coaches want the defense to play scout team in practice. You don’t get better on defense that way. You get worse on defense that way. We had to attack our offense. We had to challenge our offense, and we made our offense better because they had a tough time dealing with us this spring.

“I tried to break their spirits and make them do physically unbelievable things from up-downs and running sprints and all these things for semi-attention deficit disorder mistakes they were making. It made them stronger. When things don’t break you in times of easiness, then they find out they become stronger later on.

“I tell them all the time, ‘When you bleed more in times of peace, you’re going to bleed less in times of war.’ They kind of paid the price in minicamp, OTAs and training camp. It was remarkable to see the leaders come back and say, ‘We want more.’ When they started that swagger and attitude back at me, I knew I had them. Now I have to manage them, and that’s not easy. Our motto has been: ‘Live on the edge, play on the edge, never hurt the team.’”

The Bears have already assigned Rod Marinelli their defensive coordinator duties. Marinelli won’t change the Bears’ scheme, but he would be well-advised to find a way to shake up the complacency that seems to have settled over Chicago’s once-proud defense. He has the kind of fiery personality to do so.

Detroit Lions

A pressing issue: A defense that gave up a staggering 392 yards per game in 2009.

How the Saints addressed it: By making turnovers the great equalizer. For as much as Williams’ defense was celebrated this season, it still gave up an average of 357 yards per game during the regular season. That ranked No. 25 among all NFL defenses.

Those totals actually got worse in the playoffs, where opponents averaged 422 yards per game.

But this season, the Saints balanced that yardage by nearly doubling their takeaway total from 2008. After causing 22 turnovers that season, the Saints created 39 takeaways in 2009. They caused eight turnovers in the playoffs.

That trend was no accident. Williams expected players to take risks to create those turnovers. “If you’re afraid to jump routes, if you’re not willing to play aggressively that way, you’re not going to make it,” he said.

The Lions ranked No. 25 this season with 23 takeaways, including only nine interceptions. There’s no doubt they need to elevate their talent level on defense. But encouraging players to take more risks would help cover for that deficiency. They would probably give up some big plays if the risks backfire, but they were already doing that. What is there to lose by taking more chances given that dynamic?

Green Bay Packers

A pressing issue: An aging offensive line that includes probably two players -- left guard Daryn Colledge and right guard Josh Sitton -- who seem locked into starting roles in 2010. That leaves three open spots, although Jason Spitz could return as center if his back is healthy.

How Indianapolis addressed it: The Colts made a change at left tackle, sliding in Charlie Johnson to replace Tony Ugoh. But to me, the lesson of the Colts is that they didn’t do enough to solidify their line and ultimately paid for it in the Super Bowl.

As my AFC South colleague Paul Kuharsky noted, the Colts’ failure to convert key 3rd-and-short situations proved critical in the playoffs during the past two seasons. Kuharsky notes the Colts might want to re-think their approach to building their offensive line as 2010 approaches.

The Packers could share in that lesson. Their first order of business: Develop a depth chart that avoids using starters as the primary backup at another position. As they learned last season, moving Colledge to left tackle when Chad Clifton was injured weakened two positions.

Their second task: Find a long-term answer for at least one of their two tackle positions. Clifton and Mark Tauscher are both free agents. Even if both are re-signed, planning needs to accelerate for their eventual replacement.

Minnesota Vikings

A pressing issue: The conflict between their fundamental desire to run the ball and the current state of the NFL as a pass-happy league.

How the Saints addressed it: By falling into a much more balanced pattern than most people realize. The Saints increased their rushing plays by about 15 percent and decreased Drew Brees’ passing attempts by about 20 percent during the regular season. The Saints, in fact, ranked No. 15 among all NFL teams in passing attempts.

I know I argued several times during the season that the Vikings should recognize their offense had trended toward the passing side, and ride it as far as they could in the playoffs. But based on the way the Vikings are configured, I don’t see that as a good long-term solution.

The Saints provided a paradigm for balance even while recognizing their strength as a passing team. Who would have guessed the Saints would have more running plays and pass fewer times than the Vikings?

But that’s exactly what happened in 2009, and the Vikings would be wise to re-center themselves a bit for the long-term.

Even if quarterback Brett Favre returns, is it reasonable to expect another career year from him? Like the Saints in 2009, the Vikings’ offense would be better in 2010 if they need to throw a few less times because their running game has offered a more viable alternative.

MIAMI -- As you can see from the award-winning photograph in the post below, we ESPN.com bloggers arrived at Sun Life Stadium with a few minutes to spare before Super Bowl XLIV. The primary purpose of posting the shot is to rub it in for those of you who are snowbound or otherwise stuck in weather that is at least somewhat less ideal than what we’ve got here. (Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60’s.)

A few words about the plan for today. I’ll pop on the blog as warranted during the afternoon, and then at 5:30 p.m. ET I’ll be moving over to our NFL Nation Live in-game chat thingee. Please join me there.

I’m expecting to write a New Orleans-themed post after the game, which will naturally show up here on the NFC North blog.

Starting Monday we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Dick LeBeau -- the player and longtime defensive back for the Detroit Lions -- was voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.

But make no mistake: It was LeBeau's lengthy and stellar coaching career which, directly or indirectly, helped get him over the hump.

LeBeau, 72, was a senior committee nominee. He will join an impressive 2010 class that includes Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Rickey Jackson and fellow senior nominee Floyd Little.

For many years, the Hall of Fame panel debated the merits of LeBeau's playing career, which is fair. He recorded 62 interceptions and made three Pro Bowls during his 14-year career.

But LeBeau, a first-time finalist, didn't become a better player since he retired in 1972. It was LeBeau's continual contributions to pro football after retirement that made his induction into Canton undeniable.

LeBeau is the most accomplished defensive coordinator in NFL history. He invented the "zone blitz," which helped win Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005 and 2008. LeBeau also made it to three additional Super Bowls as a coach with Pittsburgh in 1995 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1981 and 1988.

When the Hall of Fame panel had to vote "yes" or "no" on LeBeau the player, LeBeau the coach and overall contributor had to weigh on the back of voters’ minds whether they admit it or not.

I remember covering last year's Super Bowl between the Steelers and Arizona Cardinals when conversations about LeBeau and the Hall of Fame really began to heat up.

The talk had nothing to do with LeBeau's playing career, which ended more than three decades ago. But it had everything to do with LeBeau once again coaching an elite defense into the Super Bowl and how much he added to the game throughout his career. Ending the week by winning his second championship as defensive coordinator only added to his resume.

As a player and coach, a strong case can be made that no one has dedicated more of his life to pro football than Dick LeBeau. This summer pro football will return the favor and give its highest honor by inducting LeBeau into the Hall of Fame.

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: It’s only fitting that quarterbacks Brett Favre (Minnesota) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) are paired once again on the same team. We all know about last season’s bitter transition in Green Bay. But the fact is the two battled for NFL statistical supremacy for most of this season. Likewise, Packers cornerback Charles Woodson has arguably been the best defensive player in the league this season.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen ranks first in the NFC with 13.5 sacks, even if only one of have them have come in the past four games. Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams has had a solid season with six sacks, tying him for first among NFC defensive tackles.

Made it on rep: Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs leads the Bears with 135 tackles but had an injury-slowed season while playing for a defense that took a nosedive this season. Word circulated early this that Minnesota left tackle Bryant McKinnie was having his best season, and that propelled him to the Pro Bowl despite some weak performances on national television over the past month. Vikings special teams ace Heath Farwell has had better years than this one, but he’s the best-known cover man for a group that has been one of the NFL’s best this season.

Got robbed: Packers linebacker Clay Matthews has 10 sacks and has been a better all-around player than Washington defensive end Brian Orakpo, who has 11 sacks and made the team. Matthews is a first alternate. Minnesota’s Percy Harvin led the league in kickoff returns for most of the season and had two touchdowns, but he lost out to Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson. Green Bay running back Ryan Grant has more yards (1,202) and touchdowns (10) than Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams (1,117 and seven).

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin owes rookie Mike Wallace a special Christmas gift. The Steelers' rookie saved his boss from a lot of scrutiny with an amazing touchdown reception with no time remaining to seal a 37-36 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Tomlin made one of the most curious coaching decisions of the 2009 season late in the fourth quarter.

After taking a two-point lead with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Tomlin called for an onside kick. It only went nine yards and Green Bay got possession at the Steelers' 39. Green Bay scored a touchdown less than two minutes later to take a six-point lead.

But Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for a team-record 503 yards and three touchdowns, led a masterful two-minute drive against a tough Packers defense. It ended on the final play when Roethlisberger connected by throwing the football on the back shoulder of Wallace, who also had the savvy to tap his two feet in bounds.

The win ended a five-game losing streak for Pittsburgh (7-7), which remains in the hunt for the postseason. The Steelers have an AFC North showdown next week against the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) in a game that will have huge playoff implications.