Jan 1, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) celebrates his first sack of the game against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Continuing our look at the top players in the division, we focus on the defensive line, where the Vikings place 2 in the top 5, which is 2 more than the Packers…

1. Jared Allen – Vikings

A few naysayers will argue that Allen padded his sack stats by feasting on terrible offensive tackles. But those of us who actually paid attention realize what a great all-around season he had in 2011, not just against J’Marcus Webb but all opponents. He disrupts offensive game plans all by himself, drawing double-teams, TE chips and forcing quarterbacks to roll away. When the Vikings need a big play to stop a drive, Jared (or Gerald as he is sometimes known) is about the only guy they can count on to consistently make it. I shudder to think how abysmal the Vikings’ defense would’ve been last year without his superhuman efforts.

2. Ndamukong Suh – Lions

He had a bit of a down year last year on the stat sheet, but I seriously doubt that will be repeated in 2012. When he’s not stomping people’s heads or getting busted for speeding, Suh is one of the most dominating forces in the league (but still a nice soft-spoken individual). According to Pro Football Focus he applied more pressure than any defensive tackle in the NFL last year, and that was even with a suspension costing him two games.

3. Julius Peppers – Bears

Peppers was all banged up last year and still managed to post a double-digit sack season (with a little help from that feeble old wreck Donovan McNabb). Every year you think guys like Peppers and Urlacher and Briggs are going to finally fade into the sunset and every year they pull themselves together for one last stand. 2012 could be the last stand of last stands for these guys as a unit so I’m guessing Peppers will be in full warrior mode once again.

4. Cliff Avril – Lions

He had a huge season in 2011 and is in line for a large pay raise. Were his 2011 totals flukey? Possibly. Will he likely tail off production-wise in 2012? Probably. But you can’t ignore what a disruptive force Avril was for the Lions last year (just ask Phil Loadholt), and as a result of that one brilliant season, he deserves a spot on this list.

5. Kevin Williams – Vikings

Slow starts have become an annual rite for Williams, who last year was hampered even more than usual by having to finally serve his StarCaps suspension. I’m not counting on Williams bucking that trend and starting fast this year, but I am counting on him finishing strong like always. When the wonks count up his numbers at season’s end he’ll be rated among the top interior linemen like every other year. And despite that production, many fans will gripe that he’s overrated. If this was Twitter I’d drop an “smh.”

Other guys to watch: Brian Robison – Vikings; Kyle Vanden Bosch – Lions; Israel Idonije – Bears; Nick Fairley (especially if you’re the police) – Lions

Oh and there was one Packer D-lineman who made an impact last year. Good, um, dancing.

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Jan 1, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s take a quick spin around the rest of the NFC North and see what the Vikings’ divisional rivals have been up to while we’ve been celebrating the passage of the stadium bill:

The Bears have been busy locking up their draft picks. #19 overall pick Shea McClellin signed on Friday for $7.2 million in guaranteed money and is now expected to compete for a spot at defensive end. In other Bears-related happenings, ESPN Chicago reports that new receiver Alshon Jeffery – a guy many Viking fans had their eyes on during the lead-up to the draft – will play in the slot at least initially, with Brandon Marshall and Devin Hester lining up as the primary outside receivers. Speaking of Hester, new OC Mike Tice says he wants to use the speedy receiver “creatively.” We know Mike Tice is very creative, especially when it comes to getting rid of excess Super Bowl tickets.

Like the Bears, the Packers have been busily engaged signing their 2012 rookies. OLB Nick Perry, a guy the Packers hope will become a beast of a pass rusher, was inked to a four year deal with a team-held fifth year option. The Packers also signed cornerback Casey Hayward to a four year deal and will now hope Hayward develops enough to allow aging Charles Woodson to shift to safety.

As for the Lions…it appears Ndamukong Suh will be starring on a new Fox reality dating show called “The Choice.” Other male “contestants” on the show include Warren Sapp, Rob Gronkowski and The Situation. You know how everyone in Detroit is always saying Suh is very mild-mannered and soft-spoken and shy? Obviously, that’s true.

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Thanks to the NFL’s possible over-reaction to Suh’s actions, the Vikings now won’t have to face the Lions’ all-world defensive tackle when the two teams square off December 11th at Ford Field (aka the Vikings’ home away from home). Not only is Christian Ponder happy about this, but so are all Vikings offensive linemen who now won’t have to worry about protecting their limbs while they’re on the ground.  (more…)