Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

Here is my preview of the NFC North and how they will finish

1. Chicago Bears
Key Additions:
DT Anthony Adams(SF)
SS Adam Archuleta(WAS)
TE Greg Olsen(1st Round)
Key Losses:
DT Alfonso Boone(KC)
HB Thomas Jones(NYJ)
DT Tank Johnson(FA)

Head Coach Lovie Smith just signed a new long-term deal through 2011. The Bears took a huge step last year going from an 11-5 Playoff contender to a 13-3 Super Bowl participant. However this year, the Bears do not have all 22 starters coming back. Thomas Jones the leading rusher is gone, along with two guys from the DT rotation. Former first-round pick Cedric Benson finally gets his time to shine and will hopefully pan out than the last first round Bears HB Curtis Enis. The Defense always lead by stud MLB Brian Urlacher will be ever solid. The only real questions come across with the new single-backed backfield in Cedric Benson and if Rex Grossman can recover from one of the biggest Super Bowl lapses in memory. If those two can combine to be a formidable backfield then you can peg at least the NFC Championship game for them. If not they'll still probably win the division with how bad the other teams are.

2. Green Bay Packers
Key Additions:
DT Justin Harrell(1st Rnd)
Key Losses:
HB Ahman Green(HOU)
FB William Henderson(Cut)

Favre is back for another year in Green Bay. Always touted as the "Leader of the Pack" it will be sad to see him go. Unfortunately for him GM Tommy Tompson is intent on building towards the future instead of giving Favre a spectacular out. An Offense that lacked a true weapon last year gained nothing in the off-season. They actually lost their starting halfback in Ahman Green. That leaves the starter as Vernand Morency picked up in a trade last year for Samkon Gado or Brandon Jackson the 2nd round pick out of Nebraska. Either way things don't look good for Favre on what MIGHT his final year in the Green and Gold

3. Detroit Lions
Key Additions:
HB Tatum Bell(DEN)
OT George Foster(DEN)
OG Edwin Mulitalo(BAL)
WR Calvin Johnson(1st Rnd)
QB Drew Stanton(2nd Rnd)
Key Losses:
CB Dre' Bly(DEN)
DE James Hall(STL)
FS Terrence Holt(ARI)
FB Cory Schlesinger(MIA)
WR Mike Williams(OAK)

The Matt Millen era in Detroit has been a dismal one at best. You know the numbers, 24-72 since Millen took over. 3 Head Coaches, and a slew of 1st Round busts(Joey Harrington(2002), Charles Rogers(2003), Mike Williams(2005)) and 4 WR's taken in 5 years, 2 of which aren't with the team anymore. This is the year for Millen. Either he keeps his job or he doesn't. Luckily for him, he's got a slew of Offensive weapons to keep Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz daydreaming plays til Midnight. Jon Kitna has a plus arm with average accuracy and if Calvin Johnson is as good as advertised this Detroit Lion team might just outscore you. Because their defense sure as hell won't stop you. Losing corner Dre' Bly leaves them with 0 respect in the defensive backfield. Hopefully Boss Bailey and Ernie Sims two young LB's can carry this porous defense.


4. Minnesota Vikings
Key Additions:
SS Mike Doss(IND)
WR Bobby Wade(TEN)
TE Visanteh Shiancoe(NYG)
HB Adrian Peterson(1st Rnd)
Key Losses:
LB Napolean Harris(KC)
QB Brad Johnson(DAL)
WR Marcus Robinson(DET)
OT Mike Rosenthal(MIA)
CB Fred Smoot(WAS)
WR Travis Taylor(FA)
TE Jermaine Wiggins(JAX)

Long gone are the days of the Randy Ratio, Cris Carter, Daunte Culpepper and company. It's the new era of Vikings. This one might take some time. 2nd year QB Tarvaris Jackson will take the reigns of this Vikings team with vastly underachieving WR Troy Williamson perhaps on his final straw. HB Chester Taylor seemingly got tired towards the end of last year so Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma should help him make it to the end this year. The switch in schemes left a lot of Vikings out of place such as cut TE Jermaine Wiggins. More people with unknown names have been brought in to remedy this situation. The defense will be tremendous against the run and if they could play all four safeties pretty good at Pass defense to. However I don't see a whole lot of wins coming from the offensive side of this team.


If you want the rest of the division/teams please ask. Or have this one create good discussion I hope.