We're Black and Blue All Over:
At a time when two of the NFL's seven head-coaching vacancies have been filled, the Chicago Bears are still adding names to their list of candidates. That is not necessarily a bad thing; it simply illustrates they are on their own timetable and didn't enter the process with a favored candidate.
The latest name to emerge is Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who has an extensive background in the NFC North as a Green Bay Packers assistant (2000-05) and the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator (2006-10). Bevell is eligible to interview this week.
We now have 10 names on the list of reported candidates, and there could be more. We identified the other nine known names in this post from Sunday. Most of them are NFL offensive coordinators, and none have defensive backgrounds.
Continuing around the NFC North:
Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians might be the best fit for the Bears, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bears general manager Phil Emery has plenty of work to do this week, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
The Green Bay Packers' defense might hold the key to defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional round this weekend, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The 49ers and Packers have reinvented themselves since their Week 1 matchup, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy on deactivating receiver Donald Driver last Saturday for what might have been in his final home game, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "Donald Driver is a class act, to say the least. He's a pro's pro."
Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reviews the tape of the Minnesota Vikings' season-ending loss to the Packers.
The future seems bright for the Vikings under coach Leslie Frazier's leadership, writes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
Frazier and general manager Rick Spielman should be held accountable for backup quarterback Joe Webb's performance, writes Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Justin Rogers of Mlive.com posts comments from Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew on his 2012 draft class.
The Lions need more leadership from their star players, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
John Niyo of the Detroit News looks at the Lions' decision to stand pat in their leadership positions this offseason.