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Football Outsiders, a statistics-based analysis service, has been producing division-by-division Insider files on remaining team needs. You'll need a subscription to read the entire NFC North post , but below I've taken a few excerpts and written a few things about them.

Chicago Bears
Football Outsiders' issue: Receiver
Football Outsiders comment: "When we pointed to wide receiver as a major flaw for the current Bears early in the offseason, it was to the consternation of a lot of Bears fans who saw the offensive line as the larger issue. The problem is that Jay Cutler is a see-it, throw-it passer. He's still a solid quarterback, but he's never thrown receivers open on a consistent basis. That amplifies the Bears' receiving problems, and while scheming can create the occasional big play for Devin Hester, Eric Weems, or Earl Bennett, they can't defeat man coverage often enough to benefit Cutler."
Seifert comment: I'm not on board with describing Cutler as a "see-it, throw-it" passer. If anything, his arm strength and velocity give him too much confidence when it comes to throwing receivers open. (The phrase refers to putting the ball in a place that an otherwise covered receiver can catch it). I wouldn't argue that Bears' need for additional depth behind Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Bennett, but it's not because of any passing limitation on Cutler's part. There's just not much else behind them, especially as long as Hester works solely with special teams.

Detroit Lions
Football Outsiders' issue: Offensive line
Football Outsiders comment: "The strength of this line in recent seasons has been pass blocking, as Detroit's offense has finished in the top 10 in adjusted sack rate for the past three seasons, but that is likely to take a hit from this offseason's turnover."
Seifert comment: On the other hand, the Lions' new offensive line might be a better run-blocking group. That aspect has taken a back seat in recent years. I do think, however, that it's worth being concerned about putting your franchise quarterback behind a line with at least three first-time starters.

Green Bay Packers
Football Outsiders' issue: Offensive line
Football Outsiders comment: "[M]uch like the Lions, the Packers are putting their faith in their quarterback to evade the pass rush this season. Unlike the Lions, the Packers don't have a lot of personnel turnover in this unit, but, also unlike the Lions, they finished second-to-last in adjusted sack rate last season."
Seifert comment: There would be those who suggest that flipping the left and right sides of your line is football version of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. But every quarterback needs more help from their blind-side pass blockers. If you're going to have a strength and a weakness, it makes sense to shore up the left side first.

Minnesota Vikings
Football Outsiders' issue: Middle linebacker
Football Outsiders comment: "Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway can take care of things in Leslie Frazier's nickel fronts, but the base 4-3 is lacking a thumper after Jasper Brinkley's departure in free agency. (Of course, given Brinkley's broken-tackle rate, they probably were lacking one even if he had come back)."
Seifert comment: The Vikings clearly fell short in their attempts to find a long-term solution at this position during the offseason. They will give Henderson a chance to grow into it during organized team activities, but he was not their first choice. This position could well be atop their list of 2014 needs as well.

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

A look at key players for each NFC North team who are coming back from injuries:

Chicago Bears: Place-kicker Robbie Gould needed offseason surgery after rupturing a semitendinosus tendon in Week 15 and still hadn't been cleared to kick 13 weeks later. All indications are that Gould will be ready for training camp and should once again be the Bears' place-kicker in 2013. Since he entered the NFL in 2005, Gould has the seventh-best percentage of conversions (85.6) among place-kickers with at least 100 attempts, an especially notable standing considering the typically tough kicking conditions at Soldier Field. With all the other changes in the organization this offseason, the Bears need the reliability that Gould provides.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas managed to play only 41.97 percent of the Lions' defensive snaps last season because of a knee injury that required surgery in training camp. Delmas' knees have been a bothersome issue for most of his career, and there has never been any doubt about the difference in the Lions' defense when he is in or out of the lineup. The team took a cautious approach to re-signing him in free agency, offering a modest deal that would pay him six-figure incentives for every game he plays if he manages to exceed his playing time from last season. The Lions signed free agent Glover Quin as well, but they need Delmas on the field.

Green Bay Packers: Two players who missed the 2012 season because of 2011 injuries could be in position to help the Packers in 2013. Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod had a second surgery this winter to finish repairing a leg he fractured in multiple places, and the Packers have hopes that he can compete for their open right tackle job. Tight end Andrew Quarless, meanwhile, is trying to get back on the field after blowing out his knee in December 2011. When healthy, Quarless might be the Packers' most balanced tight end in terms of receiving and blocking. Jermichael Finley is the team's top tight end, but Quarless could provide important versatility at the position.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Jerome Simpson's disappointing season in 2012 -- he caught 26 passes and no touchdowns in 12 games -- has been attributed in part to a mysterious back injury that decreased the explosiveness in his legs. The Vikings are hoping Simpson can regain the running and leaping abilities that helped him catch 50 passes for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. Although the Vikings signed Greg Jennings, they still need a veteran receiver who can get downfield -- especially while rookie Cordarrelle Patterson is given time to develop. Simpson is the team's best option there.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good mid-Friday morning and let's get straight to our morning tour:

• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune answers several questions about Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long in his weekly mailbag.
• The Bears promoted Mark Sadowski to the position of senior national scout, notes Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Former Bears quarterback Jim Miller has taken a communications position with the team, according to Matt Charboneau of the Detroit News.
• The mother of Titus Young's son has filed a restraining order against the former Detroit Lions receiver, according to the Associated Press.
• Hall of Fame defensive lineman Mean Joe Greene on the Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "He is a powerful man. Unfortunately for him is that he's letting some of this notoriety and publicity get in his head a little bit. By that I mean it changes the way he approaches the game, cause if he changes that he's not Ndamukong anymore. And you need an edge to play in the pit. Anybody that talks about what you shouldn't do hasn't been in there. I think you have to play the game the way he does, but not go over the edge. A couple times he went over the edge, and he shouldn't be afraid of that."
• The Lions' defense is gearing up to take on four quarterbacks who threw for at least 4,000 yards last season, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette is outraged that someone would question the job security of Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
• Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette talks to former Packers running back Paul Hornung about "Titletown Five," a horse that will run in this weekend's Preakness in Baltimore.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed a cigarette tax to cover shortfalls in public revenues to build the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium. Jim Ragsdale of the Star Tribune explains.
• The roof of the Vikings' new stadium is "self-cleaning," Vikings executive Lester Bagley told Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Maybe it's a habit. Despite the NFL's near-elimination of drama in signing draft choices, I still field daily questions about the status of negotiations. So it seems to be a good time to re-set things here in the NFC North now that the Minnesota Vikings have joined the signing party. Below are the six draft choices -- out of 35 who were selected -- that are unsigned as of mid-morning Thursday:

Chicago Bears

• First-round offensive lineman Kyle Long

Green Bay Packers

• First-round defensive end Datone Jones
• Second-round running back Eddie Lacy

Minnesota Vikings

• First-round defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd
• First-round cornerback Xavier Rhodes
• First-round receiver Cordarrelle Patterson

The Detroit Lions have signed their draft class. And if you're worried about the six players listed above, remember that more than two months remain until training camp. Until then, unsigned players can participate in any and all offseason work. Carry on.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Minnesota Vikings finally are following up on their first instinct on Joe Webb. Four years after drafting him with plans to attempt a conversion to receiver, the Vikings have confirmed that Webb is now a receiver moving forward.

Coach Leslie Frazier and Webb himself discussed the decision with Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune, one that apparently was solidified after the team in March signed free agent Matt Cassel to be its No. 2 quarterback. Cassel's arrival left Webb at best as the Vikings' No. 3 quarterback, a waste of his undeniable athletic skills. (You can refresh yourself with this post that carries links to his jumping exploits.)

Webb has dabbled elsewhere since the 2010 draft, working as a wildcat quarterback at times while also catching one pass and returning a kickoff in 2011, but the Vikings could never make up their mind on whether they wanted him as a quarterback with "slash capabilities" or playing another position entirely.

He will be a huge target at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, but everyone should recognize how difficult a position change is at this point in a player's career. Although Webb spent some time at receiver at Alabama-Birmingham, the level of nuance required at the NFL level is incomparable. Using Webb at a position other than quarterback makes sense based on how the Vikings' roster is constituted now. But this type of conversion would have made better sense for a rookie spending a year on the practice squad than a fourth-year player who has already bombed out of one position.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Vikings have continued signing their draft choices and now have only their three first-round picks remaining, writes Ben Goessling of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Replacement official Lance Easley, who signaled touchdown on the infamous Fail Mary play between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks last season, will officiate Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's celebrity softball charity game. More from seattlepi.com.
• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette explains why Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby still has a job.
• Packers president Mark Murphy continues to reiterate his response on the topic of Brett Favre: That the franchise wants Favre back in the family. More from foxsportswisconsin.com via ESPN.com.
• The Detroit Lions lost out on free-agent returner Josh Cribbs, who signed with the Oakland Raiders. More from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions claimed defensive back DeQuan Menzie on waivers, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennett discussed the team's new offense on ESPN 1000 via ESPNChicago.com. Bennett: "This offense, actually, it moves everybody around. So you're not just stuck in one spot. I won't be just primarily a slot guy. I'll be all over the place, and that's what I love about this offense: You never know where you're gonna be. You just have to know what's going on and understand the whole play. I think it's gonna be great for me."
• Defensive tackle Henry Melton isn't worried about his status as the Bears' franchise player, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears general manager Phil Emery spoke to SiriusXM NFL radio about offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, who is not participating in voluntary organized team activities. Emery, via Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: "This is a voluntary situation and every player has to make his own decisions. Gabe has made a decision that he wants to stay in Arizona and train, and we respect that. And he'll be welcomed with open arms when he comes back."

Jeff of Chicago noted the earlier post on the Jay Cutler's pocket timing and asked: "Could you post the time and ranking of the other QBs in the NFCN? I'm most curious where Aaron Rodgers falls, since he gets a lot of criticism for the same thing Cutler does here."

Ask and you shall receive. (Sometimes. When I'm in the mood.)

The chart, courtesy of the data mine of ESPN Stats & Information, shows the average amount of time each NFC North quarterback spent in the pocket (TIP) before the pass during the 2012 season. NFL rankings are based on quarterbacks with at least two starts, and I also threw in the sack rate per drop-back to give you the best apples-to-apples comparison that I could between TIP and sacks.

(It's important to note that TIP doesn't factor in the time a quarterback spends outside of the pocket before a pass. But my sense is that most sacks occur on plays when quarterbacks stay in the pocket.)

To be sure, holding the ball too long is one of multiple reasons a sack can occur. Pass protection, coverage and play calls all play in to it as well. But it's worth noting the difference between, say, Matthew Stafford's average time and sack rate with that of Cutler and Rodgers.

Rodgers' numbers probably require a separate conversation that we'll only start today. I was asked in Tuesday's SportsNation chat if there is anything Rodgers could do better. My response: The Packers would love to reduce his sack total, which is at least a partial reflection of his responsibility.

Rodgers has been accused over the years of holding the ball too long, leading to additional sacks. The counterargument, which I accept for the most part, is that holding the ball for longer than an optimal time can also lead to more big plays. Would you trade a few additional sacks if you knew the approach would also lead to more touchdowns? Probably.

So I'm not ready to make any grand judgments on Rogers' TIP and his sack total. The numbers are open to interpretation. But to answer Jeff's original question: Yes, based on the way ESPN Stats & Information times it, Rodgers holds the ball in the pocket longer than any other NFC North quarterback.

One of the persistent themes of Tuesday's SportsNation chat was a Chicago Sun-Times report suggesting that free-agent linebacker Brian Urlacher was leaning toward signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

My sense at the time: The Vikings are in no rush to sign Urlacher at this point in the offseason. (Coach Leslie Frazier indicated as much during an interview Wednesday morning on NFL Network.) Here are the relevant exchanges from our chat:

Håvard (Norway)

Hi. What do you think about the rumours of Urlacher leaning towards Minnesota? Do you believe he has enough left in the tank to be a good one-year solution for Minnesota? What is in your opinion the best alternative for middle linebacker? Thanks for a interesting and entertaining blog, also for us Scandinavians!!

Kevin Seifert (2:10 PM)

Hey, do I know you? Anyway, my take is there shouldn't be a rush for the Vikings to sign Urlacher. If they didn't do it right after the draft, the guess is they want to see how their young players and/or Erin Henderson look at the position before signing a veteran.

Tom (Brooklyn)

Does the more time that passes without Urlacher signing with anyone make it more likely that he retires? After what the Bears did in the draft, the doors seems closed on a return to Chicago.

Kevin Seifert (2:23 PM)

Seems to be the best scenario for him is a team, possibly the Vikings, to decide it doesn't like its current options and wants a veteran presence. That could happen over the summer or just before training camp.

Beau (London . . (CANADA!))

If the Vikings do bring in Urlacher, do you really see any downside? They don't have a solid Mike at the moment and if they want to transition someone into the spot (Audie Cole, Henderson or [Michael] Mauti) wouldn't that be the perfect player to ease them into it for the season after?

Kevin Seifert (2:31 PM)

What if they don't think Urlacher can play anymore? That would be a downside. The Bears were clearly ambivalent at best about the possibility.

Wednesday morning, Frazier said: "At this point we want to look at the guys on our roster, give them a chance to compete for the middle linebacker position then we'll see where it takes us."

That seems a perfectly logical approach, assuming Urlacher doesn't have a mystery suitor ready to snatch him up at any moment.

The Vikings plan to take a spring look at outside linebacker Erin Henderson in the middle. That is exactly what OTAs are for. If they like what they see from Henderson, they'll move forward with him in training camp. If not, chances are Urlacher will still be available late next month or even in July. As we've discussed, Urlacher's most likely landing spot (if any) is with a team that decides after OTAs that it doesn't like its internal options at his position.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It appears that a tough market for former Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson is loosening a bit. According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Woodson will visit the Denver Broncos on Wednesday and has an offer from the Oakland Raiders, the team he began his career with in 1998.

Late Raiders owner Al Davis allowed Woodson depart as a free agent in 2005, but the team's football decisions are now made by general manager Reggie McKenzie, a longtime Packers executive. And anyone who saw the Broncos' season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens knows why they are at least looking at a future Hall of Fame defensive back.

Woodson has previously met with the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to sign veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and draft safety Eric Reid in the first round.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports from Tuesday night's MACC Fund event headlined by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
• Packers receiver Randall Cobb believes his breakout 2012 season was just the beginning, writes Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel.
• Special-teams ace Jarrett Bush is now one of the longest-tenured Packers players, notes ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers running back Alex Green is ready to compete in a crowded backfield, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Chicago Bears offensive lineman Gabe Carimi skipped his second consecutive organized team activity (OTA) on Tuesday, notes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Parting ways with Carimi is complicated by the fact that his base salary of about $1 million is guaranteed, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears running back Matt Forte is studying a big playbook that is made for his skills, according to Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Former Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including three felonies, in a California courtroom. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Police learned through surveillance cameras that Young allegedly stole from a convenience store earlier this month, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.
• With six days remaining in the Minnesota state legislature's 2013 session, the issue of funding the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium has not been resolved. A sports-memorabilia tax, thought to be a backup solution, has been rejected because of the impact it would have on the Target Corp., according to the Star Tribune.
• Joe Sourchery of the St. Paul Pioneer Press is having some trouble with the Vikings' stadium design.
• The Vikings have signed three of their draft picks, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

You came at me from all sides Tuesday with questions on the Minnesota Vikings' stadium design. I had a few answers but jotted down most of your thoughts for further pursuit. Let's use this post as a jumping-off point for what I consider the most relevant and pressing issues.

• Pivot doors: The design calls for five glass pivot doors on the west side of the stadium, and many of you want to know how they will work. Here's what I can tell you: Each of the five doors is 95 feet tall on a stadium that is 205-270 feet tall at various points. There will also be louvers on the east side of the stadium to help air circulation, but from what I understand, the west side of the stadium isn't really a window in the way we discussed before the unveiling. The area above the doors is transparent but fixed. Regardless, fresh air can still enter the building. The team has wind tests scheduled to help establish a protocol for leaving the doors open.
• Shadows: The Vikings bill the stadium as having the largest transparent roof in the world, so many of you are asking about shadows that would presumably be cast down to the playing field from the support structure. In a news conference Monday night, stadium designer Bryan Trubey of HKS said there should be "no shadow line from hard structure" and that the stadium will be "a completely open and totally illuminated building." According to Trubey, the roof structure is relatively light, allowing for smaller and less frequent structural pieces to support it. From the team's release: The stadium will have the "lightest and most efficient roof structure in the nation for a major new stadium, which will include a single large steel super truss providing primary support for the main long span roof."
• Noise: How will the clear ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof perform acoustically? Will it amplify crowd noise? Absorb it? And how will it impact the public address system, a big complaint of fans in the Metrodome? According to Trubey, the roof surface is "a moderate kind of acoustic material" and is "not very reflective." It's possible we won't know the crowd noise answer until the stadium opens.

A mere two years later, the 2011 draft is crumbling for most of the NFC North. At a time when it should be forming the nucleus of our respective teams, the class of '11 is instead causing some of our most gaping holes.

The futures of two first-round picks are in serious doubt, a second-round pick has already been waived amid a disastrous meltdown, and only eight of the 30 players selected appear to have a reasonable chance to start in 2013.

Mistakes, bad luck and injuries have all contributed to this disaster, which we will detail below.

Chicago Bears
Total picks: 5
Picks remaining with team: 4
2013 projected starters: 2
Catastrophe: Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi (Round 1, No. 29 overall)
On the fence: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea (2-53)
Potential gem: Safety Chris Conte (3-93)
Final analysis: Carimi suffered a season-ending knee injury in his second game as a rookie and didn't appear fully recovered last season. He was benched after 11 starts at right tackle and moved to guard as an emergency measure. New Bears coach Marc Trestman indicated last month that his staff views Carimi as a guard, and Carimi has been working out on his own in Arizona ever since. Neither Trestman nor general manager Phil Emery were with the team when Carimi was selected, so there is no reason to think he is guaranteed a roster spot because of his draft status. Paea started 14 games last season but has ceded any interior playmaking role to Henry Melton, whom the Bears franchised. Paea has 4.5 sacks and a total of 21 tackles in two seasons. You would hope for more from a second-round pick. Conte has been more than competent in 24 starts but has had trouble keeping his 6-foot-2 frame healthy. No matter how you look at it, the Bears didn't get a single impact player from this draft.

Detroit Lions
Total picks: 5
Picks remaining with team: 2
2013 projected starters: 1
Catastrophe: Receiver Titus Young (Round 2, No. 44 overall)
On the fence: Running back Mikel Leshoure (2-57)
Potential gem: Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (1-13)
Final analysis: Drafting Young is the biggest mistake general manager Martin Mayhew has made in his tenure. Young had a history of behavioral problems at Boise State and flamed out midway through his second season, at the cost of about $2.6 million in salary and bonuses -- and not to mention a continuing hole at receiver. Leshoure lost his rookie year to a torn Achilles tendon and was suspended for two games last season because of two drug-related arrests. When he did play, Leshoure was the least explosive running back in the NFL. He'll almost certainly cede playing time to newcomer Reggie Bush in 2013. Fairley demonstrated how dominant he could be during a limited stretch late last season, notching four sacks in five starts, but he needs to provide that kind of performance more consistently.

Green Bay Packers
Total picks: 10
Picks remaining with team: 6
2013 projected starters: 1
Catastrophe: Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod (Round 1, No. 32 overall)
On the fence: Running back Alex Green (3-96)
Potential gem: Receiver Randall Cobb (2-64)
Final analysis: The Packers hadn't found a position for Sherrod by the time he suffered a massive leg injury in Week 15 of his rookie season. Multiple fractures cost him the entire 2012 season and required additional surgery this spring. The Packers are hoping he can compete for their right tackle spot, but if he can't get back on the field 18 months after this injury, it will be fair to wonder if he ever will. Green tore his ACL midway through his rookie season and failed in an extended audition to be the Packers' No. 1 back last season. The drafting of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin suggests Green will need some good fortune to get anything close to that kind of opportunity again. A shoulder injury cost cornerback Davon House (4-131) a chance to win a starting job last summer, and he is now behind Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Casey Hayward on the depth chart. Cobb, on the other hand, led the Packers with 80 receptions for 954 yards last season and is developing into one of the NFL's most electric receivers. The Lions' choice of Young over Cobb will go down as one of the all-time draft gaffes in this division or elsewhere.

Minnesota Vikings
Total picks: 10
Picks remaining with team: 9
2013 projected starters: 4
Potential catastrophe: Quarterback Christian Ponder (Round 1, No. 12 overall)
On the fence: Safety Mistral Raymond (6-170)
Potential gem: Tight end Kyle Rudolph (2-43)
Final analysis: Ponder had a poor rookie year and was terribly inconsistent in his second season until pulling it together for a sharp four-game stretch to end it. He hasn't fallen to the level of Carimi, Sherrod or Young, but 2013 is still a make-or-break year for him. If Ponder falls short and needs to be replaced, the Vikings will have wasted three years developing their team around him. That qualifies as an unmitigated catastrophe. Although there are nine players remaining on the roster from this draft, Raymond and guard Brandon Fusco are the only other likely starters/contributors. Raymond seems to have the interest of coaches even after an injury-shortened season. Rudolph caught half of the Vikings' total touchdown passes last season (nine of 18) and was named MVP of the Pro Bowl. Ponder's development could make Rudolph into a dominant threat.

Never fear. We're chatting. Oh yes, we'll be chatting. What about? That's up to you. One thing we never have to worry about in this division is finding something to discuss. If things get stale, we can always debate which childhood fantasy more closely resembles the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium: The Fortress of Solitude or a "Star Wars" Sandcrawler. In either event, I'll see you at 2 p.m. ET over at SportsNation.

Here is an interesting nugget from the Reno News Journal: Before he agreed to serve as a coaching consultant for the Kansas City Chiefs, Chris Ault weighed interest from both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.

As you might know, Ault is the former Nevada coach who is credited with designing and popularizing the "Pistol" offense that reached the NFL mainstream last season. (He was the college coach of current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.) Ault told the News Journal that he isn't sure whether the Chiefs want him to teach the Pistol to their offense or coach up their defense on how to stop it, and it's fair to wonder the same for the Packers and Vikings.

In the Pistol, the quarterback lines up in a modified shotgun formation, usually closer to the line of scrimmage than the traditional shotgun, with a single running back lined up directly behind him. It prevents defenses from keying a side and provides the quarterback a head start on running if the alignment allows it.

The Packers were blown out of the playoffs by Kaepernick and the 49ers, sending them into an offseason dedicated to stopping the read option scheme that the Pistol provides for. Would the Packers want to run a version of the Pistol with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback? I'm not sure about that, but there is no doubt their defense could use the tutoring. The Vikings, on the other hand, have a similarly athletic and less accomplished passer at quarterback in Christian Ponder. It wouldn't be outrageous to see them dabble in the Pistol with Ponder or perhaps even Joe Webb this season.

Finally, it should be noted that Ault shares an agent (Bob LaMonte) with Vikings coach Leslie Frazier. LaMonte also represents Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo. Sometimes those affiliations are notable when it comes to the rumor mill.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Monday nights in May are not supposed to be as newsy as yesterday's was. We noted the unveiling of the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium/Fortress of Solitude, but several other items popped up as well. We'll start with the absence of Chicago Bears offensive lineman Gabe Carimi from offseason workouts.

As Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com reported, Carimi hasn't worked out with the team since April 18, the conclusion of a three-day veteran minicamp. Instead, he is working out on his own in Arizona, and on Monday, he was the only eligible player who didn't participate in the Bears' first organized team activity (OTA).

It's important to note that workouts and OTAs are all voluntary under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The only mandatory event is the second veteran minicamp, which the Bears will hold next month. But fair or not, players who skip offseason workouts usually don't endear themselves to the coaching staff -- especially a new one like the Bears'.

The Bears worked Carimi mostly at guard in their April minicamp, and it appears he will have to win a competition just to ensure a roster spot. The team has signed veteran guard Matt Slauson and also drafted guard Kyle Long in the first round. Regardless, it has been a quick and hard fall for a player who was a No. 1 draft pick himself just two years ago.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Bears made several roster moves Monday, including releasing linebacker Dom DiCicco. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has the details.
• The father of former Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young has spoken out and wants the public to know that his son has been seeking treatment at outpatient facilities for his behavior. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News: "Richard Young said his son suffers from a disorder caused by his brain being compressed into the front of his skull, but he couldn't remember its name Monday. The father said his son's disposition changed after he suffered a concussion during his rookie season, although the Lions never listed that as an injury."
• Free-agent returner Josh Cribbs left Detroit without signing a contract but said the Lions are high on his list of potential landing spots, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's website.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune was disappointed the Minnesota Vikings didn't pony up for a retractable roof in their new stadium. Scoggins: "That said, the Vikings found a suitable compromise that will bring an outdoor feel and atmosphere to the stadium."
• "There shouldn't be much angst" about the fixed roof, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com. Zulgad: "Looking at the 65,000-seat stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2016, it's clear how much things have changed since the Metrodome was completed in 1982. Simply put, just because a stadium isn't open to the elements doesn't mean it's destined to be a dark and dingy dome."
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The Vikings' new stadium doesn't look like a football stadium. It's more like some futuristic spaceship you would envision warp speeding around a distant quadrant of the universe. And there's nothing wrong with that. The new stadium will have a distinctive look that had fans who saw it for the first time letting out the kind of cheer Adrian Peterson gets when he takes off on an 80-yard touchdown run."
• The Green Bay Packers signed five players who had tried out for their roster during rookie minicamp, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• History shows that an undrafted tight end has a good chance to make the Packers' roster, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

The Minnesota Vikings revealed the proposed design of their new stadium Monday night and, as promised, it included a fixed roof with "operable" doors and transparent technology designed to give a very Minnesota outdoor "feel" within a climate-controlled environment.

There's a photo embedded at the top of this post, but you can also look through a photo gallery on vikings.com or over at 1500ESPN.com.

The features include what the team said is the largest transparent roof in the world via the first clear ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) usage in a U.S. stadium. It will also have the "largest glass pivoting doors in the world," the team said. The doors will open to the west plaza and, presumably, the Minneapolis skyline. Skyways will connect the stadium to downtown parking and other buildings.

Many of you are looking for an immediate reaction to the design. I know less about engineering, architecture and design than I do football. I'm not big into aesthetics. I barely know how to wear matching clothes. Honestly, the first thing I thought of was the Fortess of Solitude, but that's more a comment on my limited reference points than the design itself.

But from a functional standpoint, the Vikings appear to have accomplished their goal of providing an outdoor element and feel without splurging on a retractable roof that likely would have been closed for more than half of the team's games. And as many of you have noted, the sloped roof is good for snow removal. (Come on, have some fun!)

Competitively, I'll be interested to know how crowd noise reverberates off an ETFE roof, and how loud the stadium will be when the doors are closed versus open. It's impossible to predict how new technology will perform.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for October 2013.

Monday night, the Minnesota Vikings will unveil their proposed new stadium design in a red-carpet affair at the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

Among other things, we will get official word on whether owner Zygi Wilf has decided on a retractable or fixed roof. Every indication, as we discussed last month, is that the roof will be fixed and that a retractable "window" will be installed to provide fresh air and a clear view of the city.

My plan is to post a photograph of the design, which is subject to approval by the Minneapolis City Council, and a link to other information and images as well. There could be a few tweaks in the design before construction begins, but Monday night's unveiling figures to be pretty close to the final rendition.

In the meantime, you can find in this link two initial images submitted by HKS Architects, who won the bidding process to design the stadium last year. The best way to view those drawings is that they represent an intent to allow substantial natural light into an otherwise (mostly) closed structure.

The unveiling will be streamed live on 1500ESPN.com, among other news sites.