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Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

There is something about a quarterback controversy that draws interest from even the most casual football fans. Here in the NFC North we have a gen-u-ine, honest-to-goodness battle: When the Chicago Bears report Tuesday for training camp, they will begin the process of deciding whether Rex Grossman (hiss!) or Kyle Orton (uhhhh...) will take the first meaningful snap of the regular season.

The Grossman-Orton competition, however, is only the most prominent example of uncertainty in a division stocked with questions at the game's most important position. The NFC North also includes a chaotic transition in Green Bay, an ongoing project in Minnesota and a looming decision in Detroit.

Can the Packers' Aaron Rodgers survive in the post-Favre era? Will Tarvaris Jackson make enough progress to merit the Vikings' continuing faith? What plans, if any, do the Lions have to replace Jon Kitna, who turns 36 in September? Such are the questions facing the NFC North's four teams as they open training camps this week.

Chicago: Door No. 1 or Door No. 2?

Grossman	Orton

The Bears have invested their time, money and patience in Grossman, the No. 22 overall pick of the 2003 draft. He has returned the favor by teasing them with superstar-caliber throws while haunting them with head-scratching interceptions. The Bears reached the Super Bowl in Grossman's only full season as starter, but after five inconsistent years he is down to his last chance.

From the outside, however, it appears the Bears want him to win the job. Otherwise, logic suggests they would have at least sought out more competition during the offseason, if not replaced him altogether. Instead, they pit him against Orton -- a nondescript game manager who spent most of the past two seasons as a reserve.

The Bears' strength remains on defense and special teams, so the No. 1 criteria for their quarterback is to minimize mistakes. Grossman will have to steady his performance considerably or, based on that standard, Orton could emerge as the surprise winner of this derby.

Is either player a long-term answer? Very likely, no. But for 2008, at least, the Bears have given themselves only two doors to choose from.

Green Bay: What's so good about Aaron Rodgers?

	AP Photo/Matt Ludtke
	Aaron Rodgers has been the heir apparent since he was drafted.

That inquiry has been one of the most-asked questions during the month-long standoff between the Packers and Brett Favre. Although circumstances could change, the team has thus far turned down Favre's request to postpone retirement and has committed to Rodgers, a skilled but untested fourth-year player.

Rodgers has been Favre's heir apparent since general manager Ted Thompson selected him in the first round of the 2005 draft. But Favre's durability, not to mention several of his own injuries, has limited Rodgers to a total of 59 passes in seven NFL appearances. The upside, however, has been that Rodgers received rare training on the professional level, spending three seasons watching a Hall of Fame quarterback perform.

The Packers believe Rodgers is ready, but more importantly they have determined now is the time for a transition. Favre was going to end his career sometime, and the Packers have chosen to make the shift now. Rodgers will take over a playoff-caliber team with a roster deep enough to absorb the growing pains of a young quarterback.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy has adjusted Rodgers' throwing motion, one of the few knocks against him in college. Speaking earlier this summer, before Favre's intentions were made public, McCarthy said: "He's really prepared himself for this opportunity." McCarthy added: "He clearly understands the pressures that are put upon him, of being the starting quarterback, of the legacy of Brett that was in front of him. Those are things he cannot concern himself with. He just needs to stay focused on playing quarterback and being himself."

	AP Photo/Andy King
	Tarvaris Jackson compiled an 82.9 passer rating during the second half of last season.

Minnesota: Is the project complete?

Jackson was the rawest of prospects in 2006 when the Vikings moved up in the second round of the 2006 draft to select him out of Division I-AA Alabama State. Midway through 2007, it appeared Jackson was in far over his head.

But in compiling an 82.9 passer rating during the second half of the season, Jackson convinced coach Brad Childress he was on the right path. In fact, Childress is so confident in Jackson that he and personnel director Rick Spielman surrounded him with a highly-paid veteran team that seems otherwise primed for a deep playoff run.

"The equity he has built in this building with his teammates really speaks for itself," Childress said.

Unlike last season, however, Childress hedged his bet by signing free agent backup Gus Frerotte and drafting former USC quarterback John David Booty. Neither is a threat to unseat Jackson in training camp, but Frerotte is more than capable of bridging the Vikings to 2009 if Jackson falters.

Detroit: When is the right time to look ahead?

After compiling a 10-22 record in his first two seasons as Lions coach, Rod Marinelli can't afford to look too far into the future. Marinelli believes strongly in veteran quarterbacks, but eventually the franchise will have to glance beyond Kitna and determine a succession plan.

Stanton	Orlovsky

The favored scenario might well involve Drew Stanton, a second-round draft pick in 2007. Officially, Stanton is competing with Dan Orlovsky for the No. 2 position, but the Lions would love to see Stanton develop into a legitimate option for the 2009 season.

Already the debate in Detroit is whether the Lions should find a way to get Stanton playing time in 2008 if/when the Lions' season goes sour. (Pessimists!) After all, it's never too early for a quarterback controversy.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

	AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Linebacker Jordon Dizon was arrested in an alcohol-related incident April 20 in Boulder, Colo. The arrest occurred less than a week before the Detroit Lions selected him in the second round of the NFL draft, according to a report in Tuesday morning's edition of the Boulder Daily Camera.

A fair question: When did the Lions find out about the arrest? Before or after the draft?

Dizon has been hailed as a premier example of the kind of tough, high-character player that Lions coach Rod Marinelli wants to build around. He was one of Colorado's team captains last season, was a second-team member of the Big 12's all-academic team and is a candidate to start at middle linebacker for the Lions.

According to the police report, Dizon was cited for driving under the influence, driving the wrong way on a one-way street and failure to provide proof of insurance. His blood-alcohol level was .097, above the legal limit of .08.

Dizon has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for Oct. 21.

One of two things happened here. Either the Lions decided the arrest -- and the potential ramifications under the NFL's personal conduct policy -- wasn't serious enough to remove Dizon from their draft board. Or, Detroit officials learned about it sometime between drafting him April 26 and a court appearance Monday by Dizon's attorney.

In many ways, the Lions would probably look better if the former scenario were the case. Assuming they vetted Dizon's character thoroughly before the draft, they would be in position to know whether the arrest was an aberration or a sign of future trouble.

If they simply didn't know ... well, we'll let Lions fans fill in the blank on that one.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

The fellas at Ghosts of Wayne Fontes have not been pleased with the Detroit Lions' offseason approach. One wide receiver (Calvin Johnson) is complaining about his back, and the other one (Roy Williams) wants out of town. Oh, and the team doesn't have anyone resembling a starting running back.

Fortunately for Lions fans, I have a great friend in the club's scouting department and plan to nail this pick Saturday. Right now, Rashard Mendenhall has a lot of momentum in the draft room, but my guts tells me the Lions will go with Vanderbilt's Chris Williams instead.

Here's some solid analysis from Ghosts:

"At this point, the Lions are still sitting on an overpaid, old religious prankster at quarterback (Kitna) who would have made a serviceable replacement from Scott Mitchell any day (which was right around his prime), but was never really meant to be a franchise quarterback. We have a marginal right tackle playing left tackle (Backus) and a marginal starting guard at best penciled in at right tackle (George Foster).

"Please God let us draft a good tackle. In case you don't remember how the Lions got Foster in the first place, he was part of the Dre' Bly for Tatum Bell and a fifth-round pick trade. Given the efforts Marinelli has expended acquiring defensive backfield players this offseason in conjunction with the glaring need for a tackle, I'm guessing this was yet another move whereby they would kill to take a mulligan."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Lions coach Rod Marinelli brough this "A" material to his news conference at the combine this morning. When the subject turned to the combine rumor mill, a Detroit reporter asked Marinelli for the wildest rumor the coach had heard. "That you wrote an unbelievable column yesterday," Marinelli said in jest.

The Lions hope to bring that kind of bite to their offense under new coordinator Jim Colletto this season.

Colletto is keeping the offensive system Mike Martz ran last season, but the Lions will make significant changes in how they run it. The Lions expect to:

• favor more three- and five-step drops and fewer seven-step drops;
• make more of an effort to funnel the ball to receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson on the outside;
• adopt a base offense featuring two backs, two receivers and one tight end, matching the base personnel for the West Coast offense (Martz traditionally preferred one-back personnel groupings).

This arrangement appears to carry some risk. Colletto has served exclusively as an offensive-line coach at the NFL level. He was also a coordinator and head coach (Purdue) at the college level.

Keeping the same playbook makes sense from a continuity standpoint, but a tradeoff could be having a coordinator who cannot promote the system with as much authority. Colletto worked with Martz at Arizona State in the 1980s.

Under Colletto, the Lions will attempt to dramatically reduce the number of sacks allowed. Marinelli identified three problems that contributed to high sack numbers last season: offensive tackles, depth of quarterback drop and the quarterback holding the ball too long. Establishing a stronger ground game through a two-back set could take pressure off the tackles in pass protection.

We've been talking about this since Saturday night, but the Lions officially canned offensive coordinator Mike Martz today and replaced him with receivers coach Kippy Brown and offensive line coach Jim Colleto.

The move addresses what had become an unstable situation in which Martz didn't actually report to head coach Rod Marinelli. And while Brown and Colleto are both respected in league circles, you don't get the sense that Lions fans are dancing in the streets this afternoon.

In fact, quarterback Jon Kitna doesn't sound overly supportive of the decision.

"It wasn't a coaching thing where you were outcoached or they weren't putting you in a position to be successful. There were plays to be made, and we didn't make them for whatever reason that is."

It appears that Martz will land on his feet as the new offensive coordinator for the 49ers if you consider that landing on your feet. As we discussed this morning, Mike Nolan was given a reprieve in San Francisco, although much of his power has been stripped.

Martz is one of the most egotistical coaches in football, but you can't deny the success he's had working with quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Kitna. Someone will always take a chance on Martz - even though he's one of the most bizarre personalities in the league.

This season, he inexplicably abandoned the running game after the Lions bolted to a 6-2 start. And for no apparent reason, he froze out rookie receiver Calvin Johnson in favor of Shaun McDonald. But it's hard to lose the "genius" label once you have it, and Martz's time in St. Louis earned him a lifetime of second chances.

As usual, the one man not held accountable for the Lions collapse was GM Matt Millen, who must have something on the Fords that would bring the organization to its knees. Did the Lions get better today? I highly doubt it.

Mike Martz was part of the problem, but the Lions reluctance to go straight to the source will ensure more mediocrity. Was this the most embarrassing year in Lions history?

Well, take a peek at the evidence.

Each Monday morning, we scan newspapers and blogs across the country in order to see who's taking the losses the hardest. It's my sincere hope that you realize you're not alone today.

• David Steele isn't convinced the Ravens are "underachievers" after yesterday's 19-14 loss in Buffalo. Maybe they're just not very good.

"They're a middle-of-the-pack team, watching the true elite disappear over the horizon," Steele writes. "There's no switch they can flip that will make them catch up."

• Tampa Trib columnist Joe Henderson said Jeff Garcia was superb Sunday, but it wasn't enough. He played a role in two costly turnovers, causing the Bucs to miss a shot at going 5-2.

• On the opposing sideline, Rod Marinelli received an ice water bath that will be the subject of Albom's next book. The release is scheduled for tomorrow.

• Kent Somers explains how the Cardinals let one get away against the Redskins. And do you really want to put the game in the hands of a non-quarterback with 26 seconds to go?

• Our friend Richard Justice says that Houston's loss to the Titans was on head coach Gary Kubiak. Shame on Kubiak for saying he was surprised how much the Titans blitzed. Did he think defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz would come with a conservative plan?

• Edwin Pope thinks it's a good thing the Dolphins are leaving the country. And it's a little sad to hear a proud player like Zach Thomas admit the defense felt completely helpless for the first time in his career.

• Armando Salguero says the Dolphins are still trying to establish where rock bottom is.

• Terence Moore says Byron Leftwich on crutches served as a metaphor for the past eight months in Atlanta.

• Oh my. Gore says the 49ers may not trust their new offensive coordinator. If you haven't been keeping up, this is not going well. Trent Dilfer has been dreadful. Where have all those e-mails about the NFC West being so stacked gone? Right now, it may be the worst division in football.

• Ray Ratto said one play defined another Raiders loss.

• The Pennington Era may have ended yesterday with an embarrassing loss to the Bengals.

• Well, at least one columnist is defending him.

• Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is another friend of the program. Like many of us, he doesn't understand why Brad Childress is acting like he has all the time in the world.

• Bob Ford says the Eagles are all talk at this point.

• Phil Sheridan says the Eagles exchanged toe tags with the Bears on Sunday.

• The Bears have a new play-caller: His name is Brian Griese. Shocking that the audio would suddenly go out with 1:52 left in the game at the Linc.

• This is what it's come to in St. Louis. The Rams are proud of their defense in a 33-6 loss.

• Did the Steelers outsmart themselves last night in Denver?

• Bob Smizik says the Steelers' status in the league took a major blow.

• Who is Chad Mustard, and why is Woody Paige writing about him?

• The Eagles have reunited with return specialist J.R. Reed two years after he suffered a devastating leg injury. Coaches said Jeremy Bloom just never showed them enough.

• The Steelers signed starting right guard Kendall Simmons to a four-year extension worth $23.1 million. Linebacker Clark Haggans, fullback Dan Kreider, offensive tackle Max Starks and six-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca are all playing in the final year of their contracts.

• Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he's not afraid to play in front of Mellencamp. He also makes blasphemous statement regarding "MNF."

• Mark Maske of the Washington Post takes a look back at Roger Goodell's first year as commissioner. He said Goodell wanted to "keep the league's mostly clean image polished" when he took over last September. I don't recall the league have a "mostly clean image" when he took over.

• Pats nose tackle stops to draw the roses.

• Deion Branch almost lost a son to viral meningitis. By all accounts, Deiondre shouldn't have made it past his first birthday, but now he's 6, and making progress after suffering brain damage.

• A lot of you wanted to know where defensive end Quentin Moses would land after being cut by the Raiders on Saturday. Well, you can now find him on the Arizona roster.

• We have confirmation that Michael Strahan has finally joined the Giants. GM Jerry Reese said the Giants have received a two-week roster exemption from the league, and that should buy a little more time for Strahan to get in football shape.

• The Texans have a lot of fresh faces, and The General's pumped.

• The Lions are apparently set at quarterback, according to Coach Marinelli.

• Woody Paige has several suggestions as to who the Broncos should sign off the street.

Upon further review, I've decided to roll these out game-by-game in an effort to avoid one massive entry.  We begin with Colts 37, Lions 10 in what has to be considered a potential Super Bowl preview:

• Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz, who was kind enough to give me an idea for a Super Bowl column a few months ago, is having trouble finding anything to worry about with this Colts team. In fact, he thinks the Colts have actually improved at cornerback after the losses of Jason David and Nick Harper to free agency. Hate to see him turn his back on the highly underrated Cato June, but he thinks the defense won't miss a beat with Freddy Keiaho.

Who's Joe Addai's backup going to be? Well, here's a nice feature on the leader in the clubhouse, former CFL standout Kenton Keith. For more info on Kenton, check out KentonKeith.com. Yes, CFL stars have web sites, too.

• What's this? Peyton Manning's expletives overheard on PA system? Did anyone else watch the re-run of his SNL locker room skit last night?  After watching Manning for a few minutes last night, I'm thinking the Colts will survive the change at left tackle. The lob pass to Dallas Clark was genius, and poor Stanley Wilson didn't know what hit him on the touchdown throw at the end of the half.

• Oh my. Detroit Freep columnist says Falcons owner Arthur Blank desperately needed another black superstar.

• Good news, Lions fans. Coach Marinelli says Colts didn't win.  OK, starting quarterback Jon Kitna sat this one out, but it was still a disastrous dress rehearsal. Safety Daniel Bullocks (knee), running back Tatum Bell (shin) and linebacker Boss Bailey (concussion) all had to leave the game early.

• Rookie phenom Calvin Johnson hasn't recovered from his eight-day holdout. You've got to be me kidding me. He's now played in three preseason games, and we're supposed to believe he's hit the wall. If you've bought into this Lions playoffs push, now's a good time to bail.

1. New England- I keep hearing good things about this team. Sure, that secondary could be a little suspect without Asante Samuel, but the Patriots always find a way to patch things together back there. And Tom Brady has too many weapons for this team to not reach the Super Bowl.

2. San Diego- There are some subtle moves the Chargers have made to make tight end Antonio Gates even more of a weapon. The rookie Scott Chandler will help in that regard. You can poke holes in most rosters if you try hard enough, but I have a hard time doing that with the Chargers.

3. Indianapolis- I kept telling myself that all those defensive losses weren't going to hurt even though linebacker Cato June is one of the most underrated players in the league. Then they lose defensive tackle Booger McFarland, and I had to bump them down a spot.

4. Chicago- Still the best defense in the NFC by far, although I really like what the Eagles have done to shore up their run defense. If Rex Grossman can simply be adequate, this defense will win a lot of games.

5. Denver- Some will say that I gave into an angry Broncos fandom, but they'll only be half right. The truth is I realized my concern about Jay Cutler was a little over the top. The Broncos have way too many weapons on both sides of the ball not to be in my Top 10.

6. New Orleans- Reggie Bush will be much more of a consistent threat in the running game this season, and I think the Saints have improved their receiving corps. I also think defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs does a great job working with that defense, and he knows how to get those no-name linebackers to perform.

7. Baltimore- Yes, Adalius Thomas was a solid player, but I really like this Jarret Johnson kid. He was a two-time captain at Alabama, something that rarely happens. Overall, I still think the Ravens are the best defense in football. Throw in the addition of Willis McGahee on offense, and there's no reason this team can't challenge for AFC supremacy.

8. Philadelphia- I believe in the whole change-of-scenery thing, and Takeo Spikes appears to be a new man under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Andy Reid is known for being patient with young players, and I think that will pay off this season when former third-round draft choice Chris Gocong steps into the starting lineup. Of course, all of this hinges on Donovan McNabb's health.

9. Pittsburgh- Bill Cowher had a great run, but I think the change at the top will be good for this team. Look for running back Willie Parker to put up huge numbers this season, which will take some of the pressure off Ben Roethlisberger.

10. Seattle- I'm just not ready to write this team off, although I concede that running back Shaun Alexander does seem to be slowing down quite a bit. The Seahawks enter the season feeling much better about their secondary, and new special teams coach Bruce DeHaven will do an excellent job.

11. New York Jets- I may have been a little too high on the Jets, but I think Chad Pennington is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and that Thomas Jones will be a really nice addition. Still can't believe the relatively huge payday they gave defensive end Kenyon Coleman, though.

12. Dallas- It should come as no shock that I think Tony Romo is going to live up to all the hype. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and assistant head coach/offensive line Tony Sparano are doing a great job getting Terrell Owens more involved. He was dominant at times during training camp, and the Cowboys need him to be that type of player. I also think new head coach Wade Phillips will have a dramatic impact on linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Roy Williams.

13. Carolina- Am I the only one who thinks Jake Delhomme might still have something? Steve Smith is one of the most explosive players in the game, and I think Dwayne Jarrett will complement him really well.

14. Cincinnati- It has been a rough offseason for the Bengals, but there's still plenty of talent on this roster. I think Carson Palmer is poised to have a season like he had two years ago. Rookie Leon Hall will help this team immediately in the secondary, but it's not like the Bengals made wholesale changes from a team that was pretty average last season.

15. San Francisco- I had to talk myself out of putting the 49ers a few spots higher. I think rookie Joe Staley is going to be a solid offensive tackle in this league for a long time and rookie linebacker Patrick Willis has tremendous upside. Running back Frank Gore has become an elite back, but I still think the Seahawks will be able to hold off the 'Niners for one more season.

16. Tennessee- I've talked about this team's nondescript group of running backs and receivers, but quarterback Vince Young's the type of player who can still find a way to win. Former Colts cornerback Nick Harper will help, but he's not Pacman Jones. It will also be interesting to see who fills in for Jones in the return game. He made a huge impact there last season.

17. St. Louis- I'm struggling to get a solid feel for this team. Still capable of putting up huge numbers on offense, but that defensive line doesn't do much for me. Just not enough experience for my taste.

18. Detroit- Not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon. Yes, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson could end up being one of the best tandems in the league, but the defense still has to stop someone. Roy Williams thinks this offense could average 40 points per game, and the Lions may need that type of production to make the playoffs. I do think Rod Marinelli has brought a new attitude to that team, and I like how the Lions played for him when they were out of contention last season.

19. New York Giants- The more I think about it, this team might be better off without Michael Strahan this season. I know that Mathias Kiwanuka has moved from defensive end to linebacker, but he could move back. I also like Justin Tuck. Of course, the biggest thing will be finding out if Eli Manning is ready to play with some consistency and confidence. It bothers me that the club had to talk to him about having better body language on the field. That's not a great sign.

20. Jacksonville- What's that saying about having three quarterbacks? Means you don't have any. Byron Leftwich has never been embraced in this town, and he doesn't have any great targets at receiver. I do like the Jags situation at running back a lot.

21. Buffalo- Starting to come around on this team a little bit. From what I can tell, the Bills may end up with a really talented offensive line, something that hasn't been the case for years. And I think J.P. Losman is showing signs of taking the next step.

22. Miami- Cam Cameron is doing a nice job of winning his team over after the club made a questionable first-round draft choice with receiver Ted Ginn Jr. The Dolphins still have a solid defense, so the offense doesn't have to do all that much for the team to stay in games.

23. Washington- Some of us have been a little too hard on this team. I think Jason Campbell has the chance to do some nice things, and you have to like their situation at running back. I also think Sean Taylor and LaRon Landry have an opportunity to be the best safety tandem in the league soon. Taylor has been destroying people in training camp, so the Redskins are ready to see some opponents.

24. Atlanta- You have to feel bad for the situation that Bobby Petrino has walked into. He felf like he was going to finally get some consistency out of Michael Vick, and he ends up with Joey Harrington. I just don't see any way this team makes a run at the playoffs.

25. Kansas City- This team's stock keeps falling. The Chiefs just lost their starting left tackle, and still no sign of running back Larry Johnson. I think he'll end up playing, but if Herm Edwards is really going to start Brodie Croyle he deserves what's coming to him. I just don't think this kid is ready to be a starter in the league, and for some reason, the Chiefs are forcing him to be.  

26. Green Bay- I think the Packers could be relatively solid on defense, but a soon-to-be 38-year-old Brett Favre will be surrounded by a rookie running back and a questionable group of receivers. I'd love to see him go out with a bang, but I don't think Ted Thompson has put him in position to do that.

27. Tampa Bay- I've read where a couple of people think the Bucs could be a sleeper. I don't see it. Maybe it's because they're schedule doesn't look too bad, but this team just doesn't have much at receiver beyond the aging Joey Galloway, and its offensive line will continue to be suspect. It scares me to think of Jeff Garcia running around back there behind that line.

28. Houston- I'm trying to be a lot nicer to Texans fans these days because they deserve better. Matt Schaub will be a serious upgrade at quarterback, but I still don't like that offensive line very much. And do we seriously think that Ahman Green is the answer at running back?

29. Arizona- I think the Cardinals are finally heading in the right direction, but haven't we said that in the past? New head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm are certainly a breath of fresh air, but as long as the Bidwills are running the show, I'll always have my doubts. Look for Al Johnson to have a strong season anchoring that offensive line.

30. Minnesota- Two words: Tarvaris Jackson. OK, that's not totally fair. I think the Vikings could have a solid running game if Adrian Peterson can stay healthy.

31. Cleveland- We spent so much time praising the Browns for their draft-day moves, but some of that good will was cast aside during Brady Quinn's holdout. I'm hard-pressed to find more than six wins on the Browns' schedule, so it's probably curtains for Romeo Crennel.

32. Oakland- The Raiders have too good of a defense to remain down for much longer, but that offense is going to struggle mightily. I keep reading that this will be a much better offensive line, but I need to see it with my own eyes. Tough, tough year with a rookie quarterback. But look for them to make a nice move in 2008.

• Arthur Blank and Rich McKay are out of Africa. Now they must choose a course of action.

• Maybe Vick should turn to the defender of wayward Ravens, Don Samuel.

• Perhaps Vick could turn into a good role model.

• Daunte Culpepper quotes Gandhi after his release from the Dolphins. Next stop Jacksonville or Atlanta?

• Pacman Jones wants to participate in training camp, but the Titans aren't exactly rolling out the red carpet.

• Polamalu is close to signing a contract extension in Pittsburgh.

• Why it pays to be a Marinelli guy.

• Here's a Q&A with Marvin Lewis.

• A few options in case Asante Samuel doesn't show.

• British blogger says it's time for Alstott to retire.

• Hashmarks intern shows off versatility.

• Nice story on Jerome Brown's son.

Teams have pretty much closed shop until training camp, but we're not going anywhere. Please join me for another exciting edition of Morning Hash:

• Why was Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher wearing Lance Briggs' number yesterday? I can't recall a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance having this many disgruntled players.

• Keenan McCardell and the Redskins have traded contract proposals. He obviously has history with quarterback Mark Brunell, but it looks like he could make more money with the Texans.

• Lions head coach Rod Marinelli still disputes controversial decision by Russian bear handler in 1966.

• In a span of nine months, Chris Simms has gone from franchise quarterback to a complete afterthought. From the sound of it, he may end up as the Bucs' third quarterback this season. I'm afraid the whole "broken heart" thing is a little much, though.

• In the latest Pacman Jones news, a manager at the Las Vegas strip club reacts to the player being charged with two felonies.

• In a move he's hoping will lead to legislative approval for a new stadium, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has purchased four blocks next to the Metrodome from the owners of this newspaper.

• In a lengthy interview with the Kansas City Star, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson says he's prepared hold out this season. Johnson, who's set to earn $1.7 million this season, is "hustling to get more money to put in the bank" in anticipation of a possible holdout. The fifth-year player also talked about his text-messaging habit during team meetings. I'm sure quarterback Brodie Croyle's looking forward to taking over the job without Johnson in the backfield.

• Former Jags safety Donovin Darius began his free-agent tour in Oakland, but he should receive interest from several other teams.

• It's that time of year when people somehow convince themselves that David Boston could recapture past glory. He's just one of those guys you look at during a minicamp, and think he has to be good. But please stop doing this to yourself.

• Jacksonville's stadium needs a new name.