CHICAGO - Injury-plagued running back Kevin Jones has been released by the Chicago Bears.

The pressure moves to the coaching staff after the Bears moved swiftly on the first day of free agency to bolster both sides of the ball.

The big headline was grabbing defensive end Julius Peppers, the marquee name in the free agent crop. The lack of a consistent pass rush attributed to the Bears' all around struggles in defending the pass last season.

General manager Jerry Angelo also signed running back Chester Taylor away from division-rival Minnesota. Taylor said he wasn't promised the starting job, but the Bears now have a much more formidable tandem along with Matt Forte'. Taylor, an excellent blocker and receiver, is considered one of the league's better third-down backs.

"I'm excited," Taylor said.

President Barack Obama has intensified his push to get his health care bill passed by the end of March .

One season after their fellow NFC North teams made the playoffs, Chicago and Detroit hit free agency hard.

We've had some early evening developments that merit a mention before morning:

• Minnesota re-signed cornerback Benny Sapp, its primary nickel back last season who also started seven games for in place of an injured Antoine Winfield. Sapp could figure as an Opening Day starter in 2010 if cornerback Cedric Griffin (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is not fully recovered. Sapp signed a two-year contract worth $4.2 million, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Chicago released running back Kevin Jones, a predictable outcome after the signing of free agent tailback Chester Taylor. Jones missed all of last season because of torn ankle ligaments.
• I hesitate to post this bit of information, for fear of Packer Nation reaction. But here goes: Green Bay signed free agent receiver Charles Dillon, who spent time in Indianapolis' 2008 training camp. Dillon played last year for Spokane of af2. (That's arena football for the uninitiated.)

Well. Not long after we asked our inaugural "Big Question," Minnesota took a step toward answering it. The Vikings scheduled a Thursday visit with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, indicating he is their top choice to replace Chester Taylor as Adrian Peterson's backup/third-down back.

We discussed Tomlinson's aptitude for the job in our previous post, but it bears repeating he is an excellent fit for the job so long as Peterson remains healthy over a 16-game season. But there is also a pesky little issue that will have to be cleared up in order for this to work.

You might recall that in September, Tomlinson said he resented an implication from Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown that Peterson was the better player. Here's what Tomlinson said:

"Jim Brown was telling Peterson he's the best runner he'd seen in a long time. I was sitting there reading it thinking, 'Wow.'

"The difference with me is you can put me out on that field and there will be nothing I can't do. I won't have to come off the field. Adrian has to come off sometimes on third down. Running routes, he's still not there yet. Great downhill runner, powerful, fast, all that stuff ...

"But anything on that field you want me to do -- throw it, block -- I can do it. That's what I pride myself on is not having any weaknesses. And that's what makes me the best back."

At the time, Minnesota coach Brad Childress responded by supporting Peterson.

"LaDainian is a hell of a back and he's entitled to his opinion," Childress said. "I'm going to tell you, my guy is the best football player in the National Football League and he's the best running back in the National Football League, and I believe that."

A lot has changed since Tomlinson made those statements, and I can't imagine he believes he is the better back after a humbling 2009 season. But to me, the Vikings must determine if Tomlinson is ready to subordinate his pride and accept a role secondary to Peterson. Last season, Taylor carried the ball 94 times, less than a third of Tomlinson's career average.

If Tomlinson is willing to accept that reduction, along with third-down responsibilities, this is a win-win situation for both sides.

A new Tuesday feature on the ESPN.com NFL blog network.

Is LaDainian Tomlinson the right fit to back up Adrian Peterson in Minnesota?

There has been a natural connecting of the dots between Minnesota coach Brad Childress and free agent Brian Westbrook, his former player in Philadelphia. But initial reports suggest the Vikings are focusing at least their initial investigation on Tomlinson to replace departed backup tailback Chester Taylor.

Although Tomlinson has had some nagging injuries in recent years, he has missed only three games in his career and in general has been more durable than Westbrook.

You wouldn't want Tomlinson as your feature back for an extended period, an issue the Vikings wouldn't have to deal with if Peterson makes it through the season healthy. If he's willing, Tomlinson would be a natural to fill the third-down role Taylor excelled in. Here's a portion of Scouts Inc.'s evaluation of Tomlinson prior to free agency:

Tomlinson is a nine-year veteran who has been playing with diminishing skills over the past few seasons. He still has enough physical tools to contribute in the league but not an impact ball carrier as he was early in his career. ... As a receiver, Tomlinson has always had good hands and is one of the more natural receiving backs in the league. Health and durability are concerns at this point because he has a lot of mileage on him.

Not sure about you, but I can’t wait to hear Robert De Niro say, “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”

And I’m not just saying that because De Niro is scheduled to play Vince Lombardi in a movie produced by the same parent company as the one that hosts this blog. ESPN Films’ "LOMBARDI" is scheduled for 2012 release, and De Niro will play the lead role. Here’s the full announcement.

The movie will mostly cover Lombardi’s tenure with the Packers, starting in 1959 and continuing through the Ice Bowl. Be there or be square.