The Dallas Cowboys will have two key defensive pieces on the field Sunday as Rolando McClain and Jeremy Mincey are both active versus the Green Bay Packers.

Veteran defenders Tommy Kelly, Will Smith and James Anderson are no longer New England Patriots as of Monday. Will they find a new landing spot?

Jerod Mayo missed 10 games in 2013. The linebacker's return can't be understated for the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick went so far as to say the team revolves around Mayo's leadership.

Jurrell Casey had been having a good season, but it hadn't necessarily translated to fantasy production. But as Marcas Grant writes, that's all starting to change.

Von Miller led the Denver Broncos' defensive turnaround last season. Even with a six-game suspension, he gets the edge in our outside linebacker rankings.

Gil Brandt runs through each new head coach's chances to make the playoffs in 2013. Will Marc Trestman buck the odds by leading Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears to the promised land?

With training camp just around the corner, Gregg Rosenthal breaks down the top competitions, highlighted by the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback derby between Michael Vick and Nick Foles.

Salary-cap relief is coming on June 2 for 10 teams that released players with a post-June 1 designation. For veteran free agents such as John Abraham, it might lead to a better market for their services.

Elliot Harrison says the equation is simple: The Chicago Bears need linebacker help, and Manti Te'o is a good linebacker. Check out every NFC North team's draft outlook in this divisional primer.

The Chicago Bears made a calculated football decision to move on from Brian Urlacher. The linebacker's departure still has team chairman George McCaskey feeling "heartbroken."

After starting 15 games at middle linebacker for the New York Giants last season, Chase Blackburn is signing on with the Carolina Panthers.

The Chicago Bears continue to rebuild their depleted linebacker corps, bringing in former Carolina Panthers veteran James Anderson to help fill the void.

No one will out-spend the Miami Dolphins, who signed Mike Wallace. But does winning the title of "Offseason Champ" really help? Gregg Rosenthal reviews the biggest spenders of years past.

The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns spent a lot, but did they spend wisely? Gregg Rosenthal breaks down Day 1 of free agency, from the cuts and non-trades to the best and worst signings.

James Anderson benefited from signing a bloated contract during former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney's tenure, but the linebacker's tenure with the team is over.

Around The League's Gregg Rosenthal ranks this year's free-agent linebacker crop, from the Baltimore Ravens' Dannell Ellerbe to the Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher.

Could the Carolina Panthers cut running back DeAngelo Williams? New general manager Dave Gettleman won't say, but admits "decisions have to be made" to get under the salary cap.

Gregg Rosenthal looks at possible salary-cap casualty candidates in the NFC, from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Many fans might not know the name Sean Lee, but Marcas Grant writes that if you play in a fantasy football league with individual defensive players, it's a name you should learn.