Bucs won the Superb Owl in a waltz 31-9. Therefore, welcome to the magical time of offseason!!! Where Sweet Melts have melted away and hope and Lions fever return. Here is some news and notes of the happenings around the great NFC North.
Packers
Aaron Rodgers won MVP and got engaged to *checks notes* Shailene Woodley. This is Rodgers third (3rd) MVP season (2011, 2014, 2020). A-a-aron should be the Packers QB for the next two or threes seasons based on this performance.
The Packers hired former Lions and Redskins DC Joe Barry to be their new Defensive Coordinator. Barry has sucked in all four years as DC but I guess has hidden potential as a 3-4 DC. New Chargers coach Brandon Staley was planning to hire Barry to be his DC so that is something. The Packers snatched him away but the bar is decently high for Barry from Pettine’s success (NFC Champ game not included). This will be Barry interesting for 2021. Barry was awful in Detroit but the Lions had zero talent under Millen/Marinelli.
Charles Woodson got in the Hall of Fame. Stud CB/safety. One of the best I have ever seen and really helped Green Bay win the Super Bowl in the 2010 season. Stupid Raiders cutting him.
Lions
Calvin Johnson is a first ballot hall of famer. Congrats to Megatron, he was a game changer despite double and triple teams. Injuries and Lions 2015 season couldn’t even derail a great career. 11,619 yards and 83 TDs in 9 seasons despite some injuries. Calvin is second all time in yards per game and holds the single season yardage record. Seems Calvin and the Lions are mending fences regarding the bonus pay back situation. Calvin is a great receiver and maybe Stafford will throw him another deep bomb in triple coverage during the ceremony in August.
The Lions have filled out their new coaching staff nicely under new HC Dan Campbell. Former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn is the new OC. I’m guessing it will be a run heavy scheme from that. Aaron Glenn spurned the Bears and will be the new Lions DC. Glenn could run a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. Lions need all the scheme help they can get. Mark Brunell is the QB coach and will try to fix Jared Goff. Hank Fraley returns as Oline coach. Duce Staley also spurned the Bears to be the Lions RB coach. Duce can help Swift progress for sure.
Dave Fipp comes from the Eagles to be the Lions new ST coordinator. Former Jaguars DC Todd Wash is the new Dline coach. Anthony Pleasant was a pleasant addition to DB coach. Nice little staff here. Mark DeLeone leaves the Bears and will be the new ILB coach. Dom Capers was added as a defensive assistant (yuck). Ben Johnson returns as TE coach. Nice little staff coming together but still need a WR coach (Hines Ward or Antoine Randle El possibly) and three WRs in Detroit. Tag N Trade Golladay. Marvin Jones wants to join Stafford in LA and Amendola won’t be back.
Lions asked for Aaron Donald in the Stafford trade. Shooters shoot folks.
Bears
Sean Dasai was promoted to the Bears new DC from safety coach. Chuck Pagano retired. We’ll see if the Bears can keep their same good defense under this new young guy. They wanted Aaron Glenn though and then DeLeone left because he didn’t get the job.
Bears looking into trading for Carson Wentz possibly. Oh Bears
Vikings
Klint Kubiak is the new offensive coordinator in Minnesota. He is dad Gary retired. Yet another new OC for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense. Vikings had a good offense in 2020 so a high bar was set.
Justin Jefferson did not win OROY of the year but he is a specimen.
HOF
Jared Allen didn’t get in the Hall of Fame. Calvin Johnson, some guy named Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, stud Bucs safety and 49ers GM John Lynch, Steeler stud guard Alan Faneca, old Raiders coach Tom Flores, Scout Bill Nunn (contributor), Drew Pearson old WR all got in for the 2021 class.