The latest out of the NFC North..
- Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is ready to talk extension with the team, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Rudolph, who signed a four-year, $3.9 million rookie contract in 2011, would become a free agent after next season if no extension can be reached by then. He missed the final eight games of 2013 because of a fractured left foot but he’s totally healthy heading into the 2014 campaign.
- The end might be near for Chad Greenway‘s time with the Vikings, but the team still values him, writes Dave Campbell of the Associated Press. The veteran linebacker restructured his contract this offseason, taking a $1MM pay cut in exchange for a fully guaranteed $5.5MM salary. Greenway will be a free agent after the season and if he doesn’t get back to his Pro Bowl form, he could wind up elsewhere.
- It may or may not be related to the Bears‘ signing of Jimmy Clausen, but Jordan Palmer didn’t participate in Tuesday’s OTAs, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Jerron Johnson ran the No. 2 offense for the Bears in his stead.
- The Bears are high on Clausen’s intelligence and mechanics, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. They also believe that the Notre Dame product showed mental toughness by dealing with his struggles in Carolina and the drafting of Cam Newton.