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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

What They're Saying: NFC North Rivals

View images from Thursday at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Vikings are one of 32 teams combing the NFL Scouting Combine looking for the next wave of talent to inject into their franchise.

While Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and Head Coach Mike Zimmer have met with the media to give updates on the purple and gold, so too have Minnesota's biggest rivals.

Here's a quick rundown on what the three other NFC North teams are talking about in Indianapolis.

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Green Bay Packers

The Vikings ended Green Bay's four-year run as division champions by winning the regular-season finale at Lambeau Field.

The Packers, who went 10-6, were without wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the entire 2015 season because of an ACL injury.

Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson said Nelson has been hard at work to return from his preseason injury.

"I've seen him around the building," Thompson said. "He's around the building a lot of the time. I mean literally all the time.

"He's a workout, rehab freak like you would imagine, any of you guys who have been around him," he added. "That was a hard thing for him to do sitting out the season, but he looks great."

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Detroit Lions

As expected, Detroit General Manager Bob Quinn was asked about wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is contemplating retirement.

Quinn, who is in his first season in charge of the Lions, said Detroit hasn't given Johnson a deadline to make a decision.

"I did speak to Calvin. I'm not going to go into any details on what we talked about and there is no update on his status as of right now," Quinn said.

He later added: "I don't have any expectations. We had a good conversation. He didn't tell me if he was leaning one way or another. We're giving him time to

make that decision."

The 30-year-old Johnson has 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns over his nine-year career.

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Chicago Bears

The Bears appear to be moving on from running back Matt Forte, who has rushed for 8,602 yards and 45 touchdowns over an eight-year career in Chicago.

Bears Head Coach John Fox said the decision to cut ties with Forte wasn't an easy one.

What allowed us to make that decision, albeit a very difficult decision, was the confidence we had in our younger RBs," Fox said. "I think any time a guy with Matt Forte's reputation, what he's been through with the organization, such a great, great pro, was for us in just the one year we had him and has been for a long time, it's never, never an easy decision. But at the end of the day, I think it was best

for him — the timing — and best for us."

Fox said the majority of the carries could go to Ka'Deem Carey, who rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns last season.

"The way he carries his pads … we're here and sometimes a lot gets put into height, weight, speed, 40, and a lot of times it's hard to measure what's behind that left nipple and between your ears," Fox said. " I think he's a guy that after contact is pretty special. Something that sticks out for me, I enjoy watching him run, even looking at some cut-ups recently, there were a few of those, a couple in St. Louis that I recall."

"Meeting with Matt, I don't think Matt's football is over. I think that's part of the reason we were pretty early and honest with him about

moving forward. I think it helps him and I think Matt Forte will play more football. We wanted to give him that opportunity."

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