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Competition is good

Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson can attest to the fact that the Packers’ Brady Poppinga, right, is a good linebacker. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson can attest to the fact that the Packers’ Brady Poppinga, right, is a good linebacker. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Brady Poppinga had the most to lose this season among Green Bay linebackers.

Green Bay signed free agent Brandon Chillar from the Rams to set up a tryout for Poppinga’s starting slot alongside defensive leaders Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.

Poppinga didn’t mind.

“I’m in a competition all the time. Everybody’s in a competition. Who here is not in a competition right now? If you’re denying, you’re lying,” Poppinga said.

Chillar, who signed a two-year deal worth as much as $5.4 million, said the organization let him know from the start it was Poppinga’s job to lose.

“They were straight up with me. Brady’s a good player, it’s his job. So I kind of thought this is where I’d be sitting,” Chillar said. “So, it’s just up to me to go out and make some plays, see what happens.”

The position battle highlights something more for the Packers, they’re deep at linebacker after being thin there last season, but defensive line is a growing concern because of injuries.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has already said he expects the defense to lead, and there’s a quiet confidence building in the locker room that Green Bay will finish much higher than last season when the Packers were the 11th-stingiest defense in the NFL, allowing 313.3 yards.

“Why not? The tools are in place, it’s a matter of going out there and doing it,” Poppinga said.

Favre has tired arm

Brett Favre said his rocket right arm feels “fatigued” – but not sore – during a break from his fifth day of practice with the New York Jets.

“My arm’s kind of dragging a little bit today,” the quarterback said. “It’s not really sore, but just fatigued. To be honest with you, I’m surprised that, I don’t want to say I feel good, that I’ve been able to make it through every practice so far.”

North America’s team?

The Cowboys can have the label of being “America’s Team.” The Buffalo Bills can go one better as far as punter Brian Moorman’s concerned: How about, “North America’s Team.”

“Somebody’s got to be North America’s team, right? It might as well be us,” Moorman said as the Bills prepare to open a five-year series of games in Toronto. The Bills’ version of “Northern Exposure” begins tonight, when they “host” the Pittsburgh Steelers at the downtown Rogers Centre. The game will be the first of an eight-game series (five regular season and three preseason), which runs through 2012, and will make the Bills the NFL’s first team to play regular-season games annually outside the United States.

Buffalo will open the regular-season part of the Toronto series on Dec. 7, when it faces AFC East rival Miami.

Around the league

New England signed veteran cornerback Ade Jimoh, who played four seasons with Washington after being signed in 2003 as a rookie free agent. He signed with Chicago in 2007, but was placed on the injured reserve list in November with a broken collarbone. … The Arizona Cardinals signed linebacker Brandon Moore to a one-year contract. The Cardinals released linebacker David Holloway to make room on the roster for the former San Francisco 49er. … The Denver Broncos addressed their injury-riddled defensive secondary by signing 13-year pro Tyrone Poole. To make room, the Broncos released fourth-year cornerback Christian Morton. Poole was cut by Houston last summer.