NFC North Daily: Hot Breakfast Links for July 30, 2012

We've had a lot going on the last few days—which means football season is here!

Thank goodness!

Today we have a lot on rookies (shocking), some nice veteran leadership, a two-tight end set and more!

Breakfast news links are up—read them while they're hot!

CHICAGO BEARS

ESPN Chicago's Michael Wright that flashes of great play aren't enough as far as rookie Shea McClellin is concerned. The rookie isn't satisfied with an up and down first few days of camp.

That's good to hear if you are a Bears fan—great players are never satisfied. Hopefully he's a great player.

Anyway, nobody should be excited or worried THAT much less than a full week into camp.

Over at the Sun-Times, Sean Jensen has a great story about how former Bucs and new Bear DT Brian Price has tried to overcome the death of his sister in a hit-and-run accident last May and the death of two brothers in gang-related shootings.

I'd like to see Price succeed if just because I have seen such rancor from Bucs fans in his direction.

DETROIT LIONS

Rookies are making some noise in Lions camp as Justin Rogers of MLive.com reports that Ryan Broyles is pushing hard to get on the field. Veteran Nate Burleson is trying to calm him down, but he's not having any of that.

He wants to play, he wants to be on the field. He wants to prove himself. As I said with McClellin in the Bears section, this is what you want to hear from a rookie.

Rogers also had a piece on rookie corner Dwight 'Little Bill' Bentley and the aggressive approach he is taking in grabbing the starting corner job.

Bentley was a guy who The Go Route's Aaron Nagler touted in a video we did a couple months back (my guy, Mr. Aaron Berry is no longer around so... we don't talk about that), and he's impressed me so far with his efforts.

Nate Burleson takes a bow with another special guest appearance, mentioning Bentley is pulling him aside asking questions after routes.

That's a smart rookie. And let me say further that hearing Burleson giving advice to two young players is exactly what you want to read about during camp.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

The Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn says rookie corner Casey Hayward is good enough to start—high praise indeed from the veteran writer who has been watching Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson for several years.

You have to love hearing this because it will help ease any fears that, if Charles Woodson is spending more time at safety (perhaps at some point, all his time) that there is plenty of depth to cover his absence. Hayward is just the tip of the iceberg, and we'll hear more about that depth the rest of camp.

On Friday I mentioned that the concussion keeping Jermichael Finley on the sideline will give a young tight end a chance to prove himself—D.J. Williams could be that guy according to ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde.

It's unlikely that the Packers will keep five tight ends as they have in the past—so the guys have to stand out. Williams is making his reps count.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Over in the Pioneer Press, Jeremy Fowler says that the Vikings tight ends are trying to pattern themselves after the Patriots' gang.

It IS a copycat league after all—and makes some sense of signing Carlson for the money they did. The wide receivers beyond Harvin are mostly question marks save for Jerome Simpson, who is out the first few games of the year.

If the Vikings want to spread out defenses—and they will—having the ability to roll out two tight ends can do that.

Over at The Daily Norseman, Chris Gates takes issue with Pro Football Weekly's grading and comments on the Vikings.

I was talking with Chris a bit this weekend, and he's dead right.

First, I will say that the quote he pulled is talking about starting from scratch in terms of GM and coach more than players. Which is fine except—isn't Spielman new?

Putting aside the fact that the Vikings reloaded everywhere to get younger, I agree with Gates. Aren't they starting from scratch now?

Second, there is no way you can rank the defensive line and secondary at the same grade. I don't know if PFW raised the secondary too high or cut the line down or what, but the defensive line was not the issue in 2011.

I don't know how you rate the two things equivalently.

Like these stories? Follow the linked writers on Twitter!

@MichaelCWright @Sean_Jensen @Justin_Rogers @bobmcginn @jasonwilde @jasonwilde @VikingsNow @dailynorseman

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