NFL: Reaction to Today's Hottest Issue for Every NFC North Team, 2/10 Edition

The NFL is a year-round endeavor, with pressing issues coming up for every team throughout the course of the offseason. Whether it's free agency, the draft or off-field incidents, there's always something to talk about. Here are my takes on today's top stories in the NFC North.

Green Bay Packers QB Matt Flynn is a Hot Free Agency Commodity, but How Well Will He Perform as a Starter?

Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn likely increased his 2012 payday with his Week 17 showing against the Detroit Lions in which he completed 31 of his 44 passes for 480 yards, six scores and one interception. But it seems unrealistic to believe Flynn will perform as well on an every-week basis as a starter for another team.

Flynn is an unrestricted free agent and will find a new home in 2012, due to a number of teams needing an upgrade at quarterback. Reports have surfaced that the Miami Dolphins have Flynn in their sights if they cannot nab Peyton Manning, who is likely out the door in Indianapolis.

A major reason for Flynn's Week 17 success is the offense around him. There's little chance he will end up on a team with the kind of high-quality receivers and offensive linemen that the Packers field, which will likely limit his ability to be as effective as he was against Detroit.

Flynn has earned himself a starting position elsewhere, certainly, but whatever team signs him should temper their expectations. A quarterback such as Flynn is only as good as the players around him.

The Chicago Bears need QB Jay Cutler to Pass the Ball More

In the pass-happy NFC North, the place quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford call home, one of the division's biggest arms has been held back—the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler.

Just comparing his last (full) season with the Bears in 2010 and his last season as a Denver Bronco in 2008, shows just how Cutler hasn't played to his fullest ability:

Comparing Jay Cutler's 2008 and 2010 Seasons

Team/Year	Comp	Att	Yards	300+	TDs
Denver, 2008	384	616	4,526	8	25
Chicago, 2010	261	432	3,274	1	23

The Bears have relied more on running the ball during Cutler's tenure, but that's not the only reason for his dip in production since leaving Denver.

Chicago has lacked a strong receiving corps for years, which made it seem bizarre that they'd bring in such a strong passer as Cutler without the weapons to assist him.

If the Bears are going to be playoff contenders in 2012 and beyond, they'll need to make some key additions at receiver, both in free agency and the draft.

Running back Matt Forte can't carry the offense forever and Cutler needs a legitimate group of receivers if he is going to accomplish what he was brought to Chicago to do in the first place.

The Minnesota Vikings have a Number of Problems to Address, but Which is the Biggest?

The Minnesota Vikings had the worst season in franchise history in 2011, ending the year at 3-13 and with seemingly endless questions that need to be answered between now and August.

According to Football Outsiders, there are a number of areas that need drastic improvement, but the Vikings aren't going to be able to address them all.

2011 Vikings Rankings

Quarterback (out of 47)	44
Pass Defense	32
Run Defense	9
Offensive Line	18
Pass Protection	32
Passing Offense	28
Rushing Offense	5

The Vikings will likely stick with quarterback Christian Ponder as their starter next season. But he's going to need help at wide receiver, as well as in pass protection to show much improvement in his second year in the league.

While Minnesota was a top-10 rushing team last season, much of the credit for that goes to running back Adrian Peterson, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16. They'll need to compensate for not having him on the field for at least half of the season.

Only defensive end Jared Allen seemed to make much of an impact on Minnesota's defense in 2011. Their secondary is dreadful and the run defense ranking is skewed—teams simply didn't need to run against the Vikings to win.

The Vikings are edging ever close to the projected 2012 salary cap, which should be somewhere around $124 million, and have 17 free agents to address.

So they're going to have to pick and choose which areas they can improve this offseason. Their focus, I believe, should be on the passing game. With Peterson out, Ponder needs to step up and lead the offense; to do so, however, he will need a better receiving corps and better protection.

The Detroit Lions Must Retain DE Cliff Avril

Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril is set to be an unrestricted free agent, one who isn't terribly interested in the franchise tag. However, to keep him around, the Lions will likely have to pay him around $10 million a year.

The Lions are likely going to be right up against—if not slightly over—this year's salary cap and have a number of difficult decisions to make about their 20-plus free agents.

However, keeping Avril around should be a priority. The Lions' calling card is their brutal defensive front, and Avril is a major component of that, racking up 36 tackles, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2011.

They have depth at the position, but Avril has a dynamism that is integral to the Lions defense, and he has become one of the most important and well-regarded members of the team.

It's going to be a hard offseason of cuts for Detroit, but Avril should be the team's top free-agent priority in the coming weeks.

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