Links to the Best in NFC North Coverage, April 16th Edition

Welcome to another week of NFC North coverage here at Bleacher Report. We are just over a week away from the 2012 NFL draft and, in case you missed the happy dance last Friday post-move, I have been granted a credential for the NFL draft.

Special thanks, again, to Aaron Nagler, Corey Behnke and the folks at CheeseheadTV.com for hooking me up.

So you should get some great live coverage from the NFL draft right here at Bleacher Report and the NFC North blog.

With that out of the way, we've got our morning news and notes column, some of which will revolve around the start of mini-camps this week.

Let's get to it.

CHICAGO BEARS

B/Rs own Chris Trapasso updates you on a few players who may not show to voluntary (not really) workouts this week, among them Matt Forte. This is not shocking really, as we know he's unhappy with his contract status. Trapasso says ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that this is Forte's way of showing his displeasure with the team this off season.

Despite the continued insistence out of team headquarters, we (the media) continue to focus on the offensive line prospects for the Bears this draft. Michael Wright of ESPNChicago.com hits up the tackles and the guards today.

It amuses me to no end that the team keeps insisting and pretty much all of us keep ignoring them. That says something, not sure what yet.

DETROIT LIONS

Keeping you up to date on the ever-messy Lions' running back situation, Dave Birkett writes in the Detroit Free Press that while Jahvid Best will be with the team for voluntary mini-camps, he has yet to be cleared for full football activity yet. 

Let's let that sink in for a minute. About six months after his concussion, Best is still not fully cleared. Maybe they're being super-cautious, but I'd be concerned. 

At DetroitLions.com, Tim Twentyman writes that the extra time this offseason could make an already dangerous Lions offense even more dangerous.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packersnews.com has a look at some later-round quarterbacks the Packers could look at. I'm a huge Russell Wilson fan, but I disagree with Jon Gruden's assertion that his only issue is his height. He can be inconsistent at times, though some of that is due to trying to do too much. 

He's a gamer though and I loved what I heard from him at the Senior Bowl. When he was on and aggressive at practice, he was tremendous. He just didn't do it consistently all week. 

ESPN NFC North writer Kevin Seifert takes a quick preliminary look at the opponents the Packers will face this season.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Mike Kaszuba of the Star-Tribune has some details and insight into the Monday meeting scheduled for the Vikings' stadium proposal. 

Another Trib writer, Mark Craig, has a nice profile on GM Rick Spielman and the challenges he will face rebuilding the team.