NFC North: Week in Review
By Mike Praser
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Eric Ebron (North Carolina) stands with former running back Barry Sanders and commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number ten overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The draft is officially over and we can now look forward to mini camps, OTAs and Training Camp. I didn’t realize that draft grades were so popular after the draft. It seems like everyone and their grandmother have done some sort of draft grade for the NFC North. Just don’t forget that none of these players have even suited up to play in the NFL yet and most of these opions mean absolutly nothing. But let us read them anyway.
Make sure you check out our BearGogglesOn NFC North Draft Grades here.
Bucky Brooks from NFL.com gives his grades for the NFC North. He really likes what the Vikings did. I actually agree with him. Mostly in the B range for the NFC North. I like how he breaks it down.
SBNation.com provides some video if you don’t like to read and they appear to really like what the NFC North teams did.
Here is a video from NFL Network giving their NFC North Grades.
NBC 5 Chicago gives their grades, but they don’t give any love to the Lions.
You can’t go on without reading what Mel Kiper Jr. thinks about how well the NFC North drafted. Where is the love for the Bears?
Let us get into the NFC North news from this past week. What have our hated rivals been up to besides drafting players and such?
Packers
Nov 30, 2013; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis (4) hauls in a pass as his team plays the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Penn State defeated Wisconsin 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Draft grades are really popular after the draft. But after the draft, teams need to sign their draft picks. Not everyone is as fast at signing draft picks as the Bears. So far, the Packers have signed three of their draft picks.
Eddie Lacy avoided the Madden curse. I don’t know how they do it, but Packer fans really know how to vote their players out of the running.
Vikings
May 9, 2014; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman (left), linebacker Anthony Barr, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and head coach Mike Zimmer (right) pose for pictures at Winter Park Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Goessling projects what Anthony Barr’s role will be in the Vikings defense. He then reviews Teddy Bridgewater’s chances of starting for the Vikings. Without reading the article, I am going to guess ‘most probable’ to ‘for sure’. Good luck in Norv Turner’s offense Teddy. Good think you have the best running back in the NFL standing behind you.
Here are 5 things to watch at Vikings Rookie Minicamp.
Lions
Dec. 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson (4) kicks a field goal in the first half against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Lions signed their fifth round pick. I call that progress. Come on Lions, the Bears have already signed all of their draft picks. How hard is this, there is a rookie wage scale.
The Lions are down to two in competition for their new kicker. It is hard to replace a guy who was playing for the last 21 years.
Did I miss anything that happened this week in the NFC North? Make sure you let me know in the comments below. Go Bears!