Yahoo Sports 
- The Canadian Press
Bob Avellini, quarterback who teamed with Walter Payton to lead Bears to 1977 playoffs, dies at 70
CHICAGO (AP) — Bob Avellini, the former Chicago quarterback who teamed with Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton to lead the Bears to the 1977 playoffs, has died. He was 70. The Bears said Saturday that Avellini died after a battle with cancer. The team did not say when he died. Avellini and Payton had the finest seasons of their careers in 1977, when Chicago and the Minnesota Vikings each went 9-5 in the NFC North. Minnesota won the division, while Chicago earned a wild-card playoff berth. T
Minnesota Draft Picks
J.J.
McCarthy
1
Rnd
10
Pk
QB
Position
- Draft Grade: B+
- Pre-Draft Rank: 29
- School: Michigan
- Height: 6' 3"
- Weight: 202
Expert Commentary
Getting the quarterback without having to move up too far in the draft is a solid result for the Vikings. It may not be the quarterback they originally wanted, but it's still a solid prospect to build around and he's walking into a great situation.
Dallas
Turner
1
Rnd
17
Pk
LB
Position
- Draft Grade: B+
- Pre-Draft Rank: 14
- School: Alabama
- Height: 6' 3"
- Weight: 247
Expert Commentary
Turner’s draft slide officially comes to an end with the Vikings trading up to get him in an effort to replace Danielle Hunter. Turner isn’t a finished product, but he’s a rugged defender that managed to run a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He’s got the potential to be a dynamite edge defender in the NFL.
Khyree
Jackson
4
Rnd
8
Pk
DB
Position
- School: Oregon
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 194
Walter
Rouse
6
Rnd
1
Pk
OL
Position
- School: Oklahoma
- Height: 6' 6"
- Weight: 313
Will
Reichard
6
Rnd
27
Pk
K
Position
- School: Alabama
- Height: 6' 1"
- Weight: 190
Michael
Jurgens
7
Rnd
10
Pk
OL
Position
- School: Wake Forest
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 311
Levi Drake
Rodriguez
7
Rnd
12
Pk
DT
Position
- School: Texas A&M-Commerce
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 290
NFC North Standings
| W | L | T | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 | |
| 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |
| 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | |
| 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
- x
- - Clinched Playoff Spot
- y
- - Clinched Division