Black, Blue, and Ornery: NFC North News for Thursday, January 17th, 2013

Good morning, folks! Welcome to the NFC North News for Thursday, January 17th, 2013.

Former pinup model Betty White still has a successful acting career at the age of 91. Click on picture to see nudes from her modeling days.

I like to start every Thursday with some fun facts. I hope you do too!

• On this date in 1916, the Treaty of the Danish West Indies was ratified in Washington D.C, completing the sale of the Danish West Indies (later renamed the U.S Virgin Islands) from Denmark to the United States for the sum of $25 million dollars in gold.
• The cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man first appeared in the Thimble Theatre comic strip on this day in 1929.
• This date in 1982 was dubbed “cold Sunday” due to unprecedented cold temperatures around the United States. For example, it was -28 degrees in Green Bay, Wisconsin. And, in case you wondering, Green Bay didn’t make the playoffs, so the Packers weren’t playing that day.

By the way, I figured out why the Packers fans dislike the CFL so much. In 1980, the Packers selected defensive end Bruce Clark with the 4th pick in the first round. Clark refused to play for the team and immediately left the NFL for the CFL. He later returned to the NFL, but never played a down for Green Bay.

Some other people who never played for the Packers but are celebrating birthdays today include comedic actress Betty White, comedic actor Jim Carrey, and voice of Darth Vader James Earl Jones!

NFC North News

Links, I am your father!

Chicago Bears

Late breaking news! Brad Biggs is reporting on Twitter that newly hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is trying to hire Rod Marinelli away from the Bears. Kiffin and Marinelli worked together in Tampa Bay, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. I definitely want Marinelli to stay, considering what he’s done with the defense in recent years.

The Chicago Bears were busy Tuesday night, hiring new head coach Marc Trestman and offensive coordinator/line coach Aaron Kromer. Apparently, they aren’t stopping there though!

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that league sources are telling them that the team will hire Joe DeCamillis as their assistant head coach/special teams coach, formerly of of the Cowboys, to replace the departing Dave Toub.

Incoming Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer has a way of seeing eye to eye with players.

DeCamillis was one of the “lucky 13″ to interview for the head coaching job, which lends credence to some people’s belief that Emery was using his head coaching search to scout other positions within the organization.

Speaking of Dave Toub, he had some thoughts on Jay Cutler and his leadership skills, according to ESPN Chicago.

Dan Shanoff of USA Today wonders if, given the fact that new head coach Marc Trestman tutored him before the 2010 draft, Tim Tebow may end up as a Chicago Bear. I, however, think Dan is talking crazy. Tim Tebow talked to Mike McCarthy once at an NFL event — he’s going to the Packers! Tim Tebow is from Florida — he’s going to Jacksonville! Tim Tebow likes rain — he’s Seattle-bound!

Honestly, if he tutored him, he knows how bad on an NFL quarterback he’d make, so I think it’s even less likely Tebow ends up in Chicago now.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Free Press passes along that running back Joique Bell has some history with newly hired running backs coach Curtis Modkins.

The two met a couple of years ago on the Bills when Modkins was a coordinator and Bell was new to the league. Bell remembers him fondly:

That was my first year, so he taught me a lot. I remember calling him after the draft, after I got picked up, and I was really eager to get started. He was able to kind of calm me down and say don’t worry about it. That’s the kind of guy he is. He wants you to feel comfortable. You play a lot better when you’re comfortable.

It also notes they worked quite on bit on pass protection and pass catching when they were together, so Bell’s roles as the team’s third-down back should be safe.

Good news, Lions fans! Mlive.com reports that, even though wide receiver Calvin Johnson has backed out of the Pro Bowl, they’ll still have a player representing them in the game.

The NFC team will be coached by members of the Green Bay Packers coaching staff and they’ve selected Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach to participate in the game. Jason Hanson, the team’s kicker, certainly agrees with the choice:

Don is a huge part of my success and a significant part of our kicking game. He is as accurate and consistent as there is in the league. With the field goal process, it all starts with him. He works hard and takes great pride in what he does. This is a great honor for him and is well deserved.

Green Bay Packers

The Journal Sentinel warns that, although Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy expressed that he expects defensive coordinator Dom Capers back next year, it’s not exactly a done deal.

Detroit Lions running bell Joique Bell is ecstatic to be reunited with incoming running backs coach Curtis Modkins.

It notes that they two met Wednesday to go over the season and that McCarthy had already met with defensive players privately to get their takes on the season. The article points at that McCarthy was definitely looking to “see if there were any hints that Capers was no longer the man for the job.”

The author also discusses how it took McCarthy a week to fire previous defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and looks at potential replacements on their current staff, should Capers be fired.

ESPN Wisconsin reports that the Green Bay Packers’ cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt believes that the team will have so many options at cornerback next season, Tramon Williams may have to compete for a job with Sam Shields, Davon House and Casey Hayward.

Minnesota Vikings

Because one wedding isn’t expensive enough, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder and his new wife, the former Samantha Steele, plan to have a second ceremony in Arizona.

The StarTribune’s Access Vikings article takes an early look at the Vikings outlook for 2013. They break it down into three sections:

• “Get Excited” discusses the fact that the team can get energized and build off their 2012 success.
• “Keep an eye on” focuses on what general manager Rick Spielman may do in free agency and the draft.
• “Reason for worry” ends the article on a slighly down note, pointing out that their 2012 success may not translate into a positive 2013. The NFC North is chock full of talented teams, so it’ll be tough sledding.

In probably the most important story of the day, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder and his wife Samantha Steele are planning another wedding this April. The two were quickly married in Wisconsin earlier this year.

Sorry, Minnesota, this one’s going to be in Arizona.

The newly minted Mrs. Christian Ponder posted this photo on Twitter with the one-word caption: “Marriage.” Piece of an advice from an old veteran of the honorable institution of holy matrimony: Do your laundry more than once a month.