Fine won't stop Peppers from hunting Romo

Let's go around the NFC North, where Jared Allen is no longer the only Pro Bowl-worthy defensive end ...

IN CHICAGO:

In his first game in the NFC North, Julius Peppers was credited with one tackle. But oh what an impact he's already made in the division. His one tackle was a sack, forced fumble and turnover that also knocked Lions franchise QB Matthew Stafford out for probably 6-8 weeks with a separated throwing shoulder.

Four days after that sack helped the Bears beat the Lions, the NFL fined Peppers $5,000 for an earlier play in which Peppers' hand accidently hit Stafford in the helmet.

"I'm not going to appeal that," Peppers said. "My hand got high. I'd do the same thing again. I'm coming around his body to swipe the ball, and my hand hit his head."

Beware, Tony Romo. The Bears play at Dallas on Sunday. In five games versus the Cowboys, Peppers has seven sacks, one interception and a forced fumble.

The Bears might not be all that good as a team yet. But Peppers is like a storm you can sense coming. He's due to arrive at Brett Favre's doorstep on Nov. 14.

IN DETROIT:

While Peppers was making that one big play at Soldier Field, Detroit's new defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch was playing play after play after ...

Vanden Bosch made 11 solo tackles, which is unheard of for a defensive end. I thought it looked like a special performance. Today, the Detroit News brings us this story to confirm that it was indeed a rare game.

Said Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham (still the best character in the history of HBO's Hard Knocks): "I've coached this game a long time and I've coached some really good players, a few of them are in the Hall of Fame. But Kyle is the best football player I've ever been around in my life. You can talk about stats and sacks, but put on the tape and watch that game. It was the most unbelievable effort I've seen in 30 years of coaching by any position player."

Wow. That's saying something.

IN GREEN BAY:

The Journal Sentinel takes a look at the apparent turnaround of inconsistent kicker Mason Crosby. Last season, Crosby had a stretch of at least one missed field goal in seven of eight games, including four consecutive games. His botched 34-yarder helped lose the Steelers game.

But after some soul searching and a decision to stop blaming his holder and snapper, Crosby had an unusually consistent training camp and opened the season by kicking a franchise-record 56-yard field goal at Philadelphia on Sunday.

I'd still take Longwell, but the Packers obviously become even more of a threat if they can develop some consistency at placekicker.

AND IN MINNESOTA:

Speaking of defensive ends, I spoke to Jared Allen for awhile on Wednesday. I asked him what's the one thing he'd do if he were named commissioner (I think it's doubtful that will happen).

"I'd change where you can hit the quarterback," said the man who has 72 career sacks. "I'd take the skirt off the quarterback."