Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield Lectures His Team and More NFC North Notes

This week it feels like there have been too many of these daily news pieces that start off talking about some player being angry or frustrated with another player or someone's attitude rubbing someone else the wrong way.

So we're starting off positive today, as Jeremy Fowler talks about the 10-minute talk veteran Antoine Winfield gave his team this week. By all reports, it was an impassioned, fiery speech that called his team to action and reminded them they have to finish games, not just be in them.

This is what leaders do. When we talk about being a leader, this is what we mean. 

Winfield doesn't have a ton of time left at 35 years of age. His ability is declining, he just wants to win. He didn't call his teammates out publicly, didn't pout, didn't hit anyone, didn't even seem to call anyone out personally. 

There has been a lot of talk about what it means to be a leader, and there are certainly different types of leaders for different kinds of situations. 

Winfield showed a pretty positive one this week in Minnesota, one that fits the style of that team.

Whether it will work, given the tough battle they have this weekend, is hard to say.

He stepped up, though, and that's all you can really ask of any leader.

Stepping up with some more news and notes from the NFC North:

Chicago Bears

Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago says Matt Forte remains sidelined, and Dickerson catches us up on the status of Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher.

FINALLY, Jeff Fisher weighs in on the Jay Cutler drama, according to the rest of the staff at ESPNChicago.

The Sun-TImes' Sean Jensen says DJ Moore's comments about Cutler were unusual for their public nature.

Detroit Lions

Justin Rogers says at MLive.com that the Lions are anxious to see what Mikel Leshoure can do.

The Detroit Free Press says Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak knows that if the Titans don't get going early, it could get really ugly against the Lions.

Bleacher Report featured columnist Chris Madden writes up the most critical matchups the Lions have with the Titans on Sunday.

Green Bay Packers

Jermichael FInley's agent Blake Baratz was on ESPN Radio and discussed his recent Aaron Rodgers comments, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin. Wilde was also on CHTV's Packers Transplants show last night, over the the last 10-15 minutes, and was chock full of good Packers stuff, covering Greg Jennings' future, the offensive "issues" and more.You can watch it on video or catch the podcast audio version by following the link.

Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel says Marshall Newshouse is a guy who does his work and lives his life quietly.

Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette says that when the Packers see ex-teammate Matt Flynn, he'll be in the same spot he was in when he was in Green Bay.

Minnesota Vikings

Tim Arcand, featured columnist for the Vikings on Bleacher Report, gives you the most critical matchups between the 49ers and Vikings.

Brian Murphy talks about the return of Randy Moss in the Pioneer Press.

There's another Chris Kluwe blog post at the Pioneer Press, this one discussing his support of gay rights.

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Follow me on Twitter at @andrew_garda.