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So it looks like I zigged this week when I should have zagged on the eligibility of three former UCLA players for NFC North offseason work. As it turns out, running back Johnathan Franklin, offensive lineman Jeff Baca and punter Jeff Locke are eli...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Conventional wisdom suggests Monday could be the day the Minnesota Vikings part ways with punter Chris Kluwe. As we've discussed, the Vikings made UCLA punter Jeff Locke their fifth-round draft pick last month. Te...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Last month, Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was asked if veteran punter Chris Kluwe would be with the team in 2013. Spielman wouldn't answer. Kluwe has the highest gross average (44.4 yards) in team h...

About six weeks ago, I referred to Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe as a "fortunate NFL employee." You don't have to spend much time around football coaches to know that many resent when players draw off-field attention to themselves. Fair or not...

Regular readers know we typically note the NFL's weekly awards only if there is a particularly interesting hook to them, and I think we have one here as Week 2 transitions into Week 3. Green Bay Packers punter Tim Masthay was named the NFC's Special ...

GREEN BAY Wis. -- Actually, the Green Bay Packers lead the Chicago Bears by a score of 13-0. I really only have one thing to say about the first half of this game. The highest-rated passer in this game is Packers punter Tim Masthay, whose shove...

We're Black and Blue All Over: One potentially significant injury that has fallen under the radar, at least on this blog, is the hip flexor suffered Saturday night by Chicago Bears punter Adam Podlesh. The injury is to Podlesh's left (non-kicking)...

Reviewing Saturday's action at Soldier Field: Chicago Bears 33, Washington Redskins 31 Preseason record: 1-1 Of interest: On an overall positive night for the Bears, three players encountered injuries worth monitoring. Punter Adam Podlesh su...

We're Black and Blue All Over: The Green Bay Packers are continuing to chip away at the iceberg, as we say. Earlier this month, they locked up punter Tim Masthay with a long-term contract extension. And late Monday night, they agreed to terms with...

CHICAGO -- The Detroit Lions will have a new punter for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. Ryan Donahue was deactivated before the game because of his strained right quadriceps. As expected, newcomer Robert Malone will punt and hold for plac...

We'll flesh these situations out once we hear from the respective coaches, so for now let's just update you on two important developments Friday morning in the NFC North: The Detroit Lions signed punter Robert Malone, an indication that incumbent...

Barring a last-minute change this weekend, the Chicago Bears won't be the only NFC North team with a new punter in 2011. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press is reporting the Detroit Lions will release veteran Nick Harris and install rookie Ryan...

So the Chicago Bears have swapped punters and overhauled their tight end position but have yet to make any improvements to their offensive line. Dan of Monroe, La., speaks for many of you: "What in the world are the Bears doing? Jay Cutler is goi...

Chicago Bears fans understandably are pining for an infusion of free agent offensive linemen. I think that will come in the next day or so. In the meantime, the Bears took care of the roster hole created when they decided to move on from veteran punt...

The departure of longtime Chicago Bears punter Brad Maynard has revealed some previously unknown (at least to me) animosity behind the team's special teams juggernaut and led to a surprising public rebuke of highly-regarded special teams coordinator ...

We're only a few hours into the NFL's post-lockout world, but we're already getting answers to some key personnel questions we spent the offseason discussing. MaynardHere is one of the first. ESPNChicago.com cousin Jeff Dickerson has confirmed the...