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Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall vowed to play this season and didn't rule out being ready for the Sept. 9 season opener in Denver.

“There’s always the possibility,” Mendenhall told Pittsburgh reporters, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’ll be back at some point. It’s just a matter of what point that is.”

Mendenhall, who tore the ACL in his right knee on Jan. 1, is entering the final year of his contract. Asked if there was any chance he wouldn't play in 2012, Mendenhall said, “I don’t see that happening at all.”

Hensley's slant: There's really no chance that Mendenhall will be ready for the season opener. Even if he tried, he wouldn't be effective. The presumed timetable is putting him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) and seeing if he can play after six weeks. Mendenhall wants to play as soon as possible because he doesn't want to go into free agency with teams questioning his health.

BENGALS: With the Bengals seeking a replacement for safety Chris Crocker, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has joked that they'll be the first team in history to play with three corners. Former Bengals defensive back Artrell Hawkins says don't laugh. "A lot of these guys are interchangeable and Marvin (Lewis) has moved more that way," Hawkins told the team's official website. "It's a matter of getting value with one guy at a couple of spots. It's like a defensive tackle playing fullback on the goal line. It's harder to game plan for and in this day and age, it's the more you do, the more you stay around. Because other teams have been successful that have tried it, other teams are willing to try it." Hensley's slant: The biggest question mark on defense remains safety. If they did go with three corners, Jason Allen does have experience at safety. But most expect the Bengals to go with Taylor Mays.

BROWNS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto thinks the Browns should keep Colt McCoy as the primary backup to Brandon Weeden. "If there is a choice between a 31-year-old (Seneca) Wallace making $3 million a year and McCoy at $550,000 -- remember, these contracts are not guaranteed -- why not go with McCoy?," Pluto wrote. "He is younger, cheaper and far more likely to take a step forward in his career than Wallace. If McCoy is smart, he will 'compete' for the starting job, embrace the backup role if that's his assignment, and the Browns would be wise to give him the chance to do so." Hensley's slant: As regular readers of the blog know, I've been saying the Browns should go with McCoy as the backup since the Browns drafted Weeden.

RAVENS: Linebacker Terrell Suggs is expected to start rehabbing his Achilles injury in mid-June ... Rookie second-round pick Courtney Upshaw was working at Jarret Johnson's linebacker spot, and Paul Kruger was filling in at Suggs' position. ... Rookie second-round pick Kelechi Osemele worked at left guard with the first-team offense. Hensley's slant: Osemele still has to work on his technique in switching from college tackle to NFL guard. But he definitely looks the part. At 6-foot-5, 333 pounds, Osemele is a space-eater on the interior.

A respected committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton and Matt Williamson -- got together to look into the crystal ball and produce the NFL Future Power Rankings .

The projection is for the 2015 season and takes into account five factors: roster (32.5 percent), quarterback (17.5 percent), draft (15 percent), front office (15 percent) and coaching (20 percent).

You'll need an Insider subscription to see the entire post, but here's the AFC North portion of it:

5. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Williamson: The "Steeler Way" has been working extremely well for a long time, as Pittsburgh's front office evaluates college talent and its own players as well as any team in the league. They are exceptional.

Hensley: The key was the Steelers using their top two picks on offensive linemen. As long as Ben Roethlisberger is protected and stays healthy, the Steelers will be among the top teams in the NFL.

10. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Kiper: No team consistently delivers as much value. Ozzie Newsome is a Hall of Famer … in the front office, too. The Ravens face some big personnel losses on defense coming soon, but few are better equipped to move on.

Hensley: The biggest question mark facing the Ravens by 2015 is how do they replace the leadership of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Baltimore needs its offense to become the dominant unit in order for the Ravens to be a top-10 team at this point.

11. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Dilfer: Andy Dalton quietly had an exceptionally good rookie season. Only Cam Newton diminished it. He has maintained a mature approach that we saw when he was at TCU; he gets deep into his reads, has an accurate arm and should continue to get better. If they can run it a little better, this offense will take a big leap.

Hensley: The Bengals have certainly set themselves up with two really strong drafts. The key is developing this talent and making sure these young players reach their potential. Cincinnati could be the most complete team in the division by 2015, with the emphasis on could.

32. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Williamson: Color me skeptical of the Browns' front office -- and this organization isn't exactly patient. Cleveland's front office is now directly tied to Brandon Weeden's future success. I can't say that is the perfect position to be in.

Hensley: With the exception of Trent Richardson, this team lacks playmakers. That's a rough spot to be in when you play defenses like the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals. And don't forget that Weeden will turn 32 during the 2015 season.

The AFC North blog will take a look at the top five division players at a position each day this week. This is a projection for the 2012 season, so predicted progress and decline has been factored into the rankings.

Today, it's a look at the offensive linemen. I know they're being short-changed by having the centers, guards and tackles all lumped into one blog, but that's how we're going to fit all of the offensive rankings in for the week.

1. Joe Thomas, Browns offensive tackle: He's the most talented lineman in the division and he'll be motivated after a below-average season, at least by Thomas' standards. He allowed a career-low 3.5 sacks, according to Pro Football Weekly, but he was flagged a career-worst six times for false starts. When Thomas is on top of his game, few can beat him.

2. Marshal Yanda, Ravens guard: He was the best right guard in football and he continues to get better each season. What you admire about Yanda is his ability to fight through numerous injuries while allowing few sacks (two last season).

3. Andrew Whitworth, Bengals offensive tackle: Playing in the same division with Thomas often overshadows Whitworth's effectiveness. He's become just as important for the Bengals off the field as a team leader.

4. Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers center: There's no question that Pouncey is the most gifted center in the league. But injuries continue to stop him from reaching his full potential.

5. David DeCastro, Steelers guard: I know, putting a rookie in the top five seems absurd. But it's not too far out of the box when you consider he's the best guard to come out of the draft since Steve Hutchinson in 2001.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Billy Cundiff is trying to do what Scott Norwood and Gary Anderson failed to do -- remain confident after a monumental missed kick.

Cundiff said his confidence is "as high as it's ever been" four months removed from hooking a last-minute, 32-yard field goal that would've tied the AFC Championship Game in New England. NFL history says that will be tough to do.

After Norwood missed a 47-yarder that would've won the Super Bowl in January 1991, he struggled with a career-worst 62.1 success rate the next season and was out of football in 1992. After Anderson missed a game-clinching, 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of the 1998 NFC Championship Game, he hit a career-low 63.3 percent of his field goals the next season.

So, why is Cundiff so confident? He points out two facts: that was his only miss in the playoffs for the Ravens (he had hit his previous 11 field goals) and he had been perfect in the fourth quarter all season (6-for-6 in the regular season).

"The situation was pretty unique," Cundiff said of the miss that sailed wide right with 11 seconds remaining. "I will learn what I can from it and keep my confidence high."

Cundiff hasn't had to hide or wear any disguises when he goes out in public in Baltimore. In fact, he was stopped by a cashier at Fresh Market Tuesday night who, instead of blaming him, suggested the coach should've called a timeout before the miss.

"[The response has] actually been really positive, to be perfectly honest with you," Cundiff said. "What's in the past is in the past. If you don't win the Super Bowl in this league, what you do really doesn't matter for the most part. You can take your stats and compare it against other people. If you're not helping your team win the big one, everybody is back to the drawing board the next year."

Cundiff's fall has been a dramatic one. He signed a five-year, $14.7 million contract after being a Pro Bowl kicker in 2010. He had connected on a career-best 26 field goals and set a team record with 44 touchbacks that season. Then, last season, he struggled with 10 missed field goals, all of which came on the road.

What topped off a season to forget was the miss in the AFC Championship Game, a kick that would've sent the game into overtime.

Cundiff said he didn't seek out Norwood or Anderson for advice.

"I wasn't looking for consoling. I wasn't looking for counseling," he said. "For me, it was one of those things where you meet it head on and move on."

Cundiff acknowledged he did receive help from a sports psychologist that he's seen since 2007, when he was out of the league.

"He's not there as a shrink. He's not there to analyze my emotions," Cundiff said. "He was one of the guys who was a big influence on me when I was out of football. We were constantly going on what I could improve on. When I got back into football, I was more mentally strong and that carried into the last couple of seasons. What happened in New England is what happened in New England. You move on and it doesn't change any of my preparation."

Cundiff added, "If anything, it shows I've got the confidence to keep going. I'm standing here. The team doesn't have [any other kicker] here. The team believes in me. The coach has been really positive with me throughout the whole offseason. Now, it's just a matter of continuing to get better."

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes Ed Reed will play despite recent comments that suggest the Pro Bowl safety is wavering.

"Ed is a guy that I really trust and I really care about and believe in," Harbaugh said after Wednesday's workout. "There's been no indication that he's not going to play as far as I'm concerned. I don't worry about Ed. He's a mature guy. He's a superstar. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer. He's a leader. We're counting on Ed being here."

Reed was among a handful of veterans who didn't attend Wednesday's voluntary practice.

He created a stir last week when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year." Reed later clarified his comments, saying he plans on playing in 2012 and possibly beyond.

In trying to interpret Reed's comments, Harbaugh said he believes Reed was talking about not being committed to the offseason workouts.

"He's got a lot of things going on and he's working on personal things," Harbaugh said. "I guarantee he's training. I guarantee he's preparing for the season. That's just Ed."

There are a handful of key starters who will be trying to come back from injury during training camp or at some point during the regular season. But which player will rebound to have the best season?

Leon Hall, Bengals cornerback: Cincinnati's top cover guy hasn't been cleared for offseason training activities after tearing his left Achilles on Nov. 13. It's uncertain whether he'll be ready for the season opener, which is why the Bengals drafted a cornerback in the first round and added three veteran cornerbacks in free agency.

Casey Hampton, Steelers nose tackle: The 34-year-old lineman had knee surgery in late January, but there is some hope that the five-time Pro Bowl player will be able to play at the start of the season. Hampton took a $2 million pay cut in order to stay with the team for another season.

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers running back: He's a near certainty to begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale. The team indicated that it won't be counting on its leading rusher this season, but he is motivated to return going into the last year of his contract.

Terrell Suggs, Ravens linebacker: The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year underwent surgery on his partially torn Achilles on May 8. The most likely timetable has Suggs returning following the Week 8 bye to play the Browns on Nov. 4.

Phil Taylor, Browns defensive tackle: General manager Tom Heckert said this week that Taylor will definitely return this year after having surgery on a torn chest muscle May 16. Taylor, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, could return by the end of October.

Go ahead and register your vote, or let me know what you think in the comments section below.

I'm headed out to the Baltimore Ravens' organized team activities (a long word for voluntary minicamp). The coaches and players will be coming off the field around 1:30 p.m., so I have to push back our weekly chat to Thursday at 2 p.m.

This will be the first time that reporters will see the Ravens full team on the field since that AFC championship debacle. My guess is this workout will go smoother because Lee Evans is no longer on the team and Billy Cundiff only misses field goals outside the state of Maryland.

I have trips planned to see the minicamps for the Browns, Steelers and Bengals in June.

The "SportsCenter" special on the AFC North ended with some interesting predictions for the division standings.

The Baltimore Ravens were selected by Herm Edwards and Marcellus Wiley to repeat as division champions, and all three analysts have the Steelers finishing third. In the 10-year history of the AFC North, Pittsburgh has ended the season in third place only three times (2003, 2006 and 2009).

Here's a recap of the predictions:

Herm Edwards: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Browns. "There's a lot of change in Pittsburgh right now and I'm sorry, Cleveland, that's where you sit."

Bill Polian: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers and Browns. "I believe the Bengals, because they've had such a great offseason, will win the division. The Ravens will be a close second and be reckoned with in the playoffs."

Marcellus Wiley: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Browns. "[The Bengals] will have the same record as the Steelers but they win the tiebreaker because it sounds like heresy to say the Steelers are third in their division. [They're] followed by an improved Cleveland Browns team."

Unlike the other all-time great safety in the division, the Steelers' Troy Polamalu is committed to playing this season. But Polamalu did acknowledge to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he thinks of the end of his career "all the time."

"People have asked me how many years do you think you can play? My reaction is always, when you live day to day, it's hard to talk years," he said. "It's always been my mantra in life, whether it was my first year as a rookie or year 10, I just live day to day."

It's fair to say that Polamalu, who turned 31, has fewer years ahead in his playing career than behind him. But that won't impact this season. The fact that Polamalu was there for voluntary workouts will.

Polamalu usually skips these practices because he prefers working out with his trainer in Los Angeles. He said he chose to come this year "for obvious reasons."

"We had a lot of our major leadership leave, people that we count on," he said. "I think it's nice for the younger guys to see a familiar face, and, honestly, to get myself better."

This older Polamalu might think of retirement more, but he is also more mature and responsible. He understands the effect of losing the likes of James Farrior, Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke on defense. He understands that the Steelers need him in Pittsburgh and not on the West Coast.

General manager Kevin Colbert said at the NFL owners meetings that he couldn't identify who would become the new leaders on this team. "We're looking for that right now," he said.

Well, the Steelers looked at one when they saw Polamalu entering team headquarters for a workout in May.

Here are some more links to headlines in the division:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals' cornerback competition is one battle to watch during offseason workouts.

Bengals cornerback Adam Jones remembers former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, who died of an apparent heart attack.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is fighting to restore his reputation.

Rookie defensive lineman John Hughes is OK with his first full-team offseason workout.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Head coach John Harbaugh will be honored by the U.S. Army after today's practice.

Here are 11 players to watch at the Ravens' offseason workouts this week.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic says quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs to get over how the team treated him this offseason.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Nearly a month after the Browns drafted quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round, Colt McCoy didn't complain about his likely fate and remained a team player.

"This is the card that's been dealt," said McCoy, who took the first snaps in team drills Tuesday. "I can just say that I'm working as hard as I can. You never know what to expect. One of my favorite quotes by the NAVY Seals is, 'The only easy day was yesterday.' That's just kind of how I have to live right now."

He said he has not asked to be traded because "they told me I had a chance to compete."

"I don't want this to be a situation where it's me vs. him or him vs. me," McCoy said. "I want it to be a situation of -- and I think we can all agree to this -- let's help our team the most. Let's make it about the Cleveland Browns being a great football team next year. And if that's the case, I'm all in."

Hensley's slant: Many are predicting that the Browns will still try to trade McCoy or ultimately release him before the season starts. Based on his comments, McCoy won't be a distraction as a backup. Last season would become an even bigger wasted year if the Browns parted ways with McCoy.

BENGALS: Andy Dalton didn't bristle at speculation that there are members within the organization concerned about his arm strength. “I’m comfortable with it. Everyone knows what they are going to get out of me,” Dalton told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I don’t think it held us back last year and I don’t think it is going to hold me back in my career. Arm strength is one thing, there’s a lot to throwing. It’s timing, consistency and making sure everyone is on the same page. I’m going to keep working but I don’t think arm strength is an issue.” Hensley's slant: Dalton ranked third in the AFC North as far as arm strength last season but finished tied for eighth in the NFL with 10 completions over 40 yards. Sometimes your arm looks better when you're throwing to playmakers like A.J. Green.

RAVENS: Quarterback Joe Flacco is planning to attend the team's offseason workouts despite not having a new contract. Flacco is entering the final year of his deal and could have opted to skip the voluntary practices as a protest. “It’s always fun to get back to doing what you love,” Flacco told the team's official website. “It’s good for the young guys. I think every little bit helps.” Hensley's slant: The real test of Flacco's "love" for the game would come next offseason if he doesn't have a new deal and the Ravens decide to put the franchise tag on him. I still wouldn't be surprised if Flacco chose to miss some practices in early June this year. His first child is expected to be born around that time.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook said it's no big deal that wide receiver Mike Wallace is missing offseason workouts and expects the restricted free agent to attend training camp. "Don't believe those who say Wallace will be unhappy, moody, even disruptive if he has to play the season under the tender," Cook wrote. "He's not that much of a fool. He will be playing for big money in his next contract. He has to play well to get it. Teammate LaMarr Woodley should be his inspiration. He was in the same situation as Wallace in 2010, had a great season and signed a six-year, $61.5 million deal before last season." Hensley's slant: It would be beneficial for Wallace to be in Pittsburgh to learn Todd Haley's new offense, but it's not essential. It would be more important for Wallace to be here if the Steelers were changing quarterbacks instead of coordinators. Whenever he returns, whether it's the start of training camp or the middle of it, he will still have the same chemistry with Roethlisberger.

The AFC North blog will take a look at the top five division players at a position each day this week. This is a projection for the 2012 season, so predicted progress and decline has been factored into the rankings. The next position is the tight ends.

1. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals: He led AFC North tight ends in receptions (56) and touchdown catches (six) last season. Still, there's a sense he is being underused at a time when five tight ends caught at least 79 passes last season.

2. Ed Dickson, Ravens: He's got everything you want in a tight end: size, speed and athleticism. The next step is his consistency. He caught fewer than three passes in half of his games last season.

3. Heath Miller, Steelers: He's still the most complete tight end in the division. But he turns 30 during the season, and you wonder whether he'll give the Steelers more than 50 catches and two touchdowns like he's done the past two seasons.

4. Dennis Pitta, Ravens: He quietly made a big impact for the Ravens, ranking second on the team with 17 catches on third down last season. The Ravens don't have a tight end combination like the Patriots, but Dickson-Pitta is a solid one.

5. Evan Moore, Browns: The Browns might not need a tight end to block as much this season with Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle. And, with Ben Watson nearing the end of his career after three concussions in 2011, this could be a breakout year for Moore.

One of the units that should significantly improve this year is the Cincinnati Bengals' ground attack.

Last season, the Bengals were the NFL's sixth-worst run offense in terms of yards per carry. Cincinnati especially struggled in running up the middle, where the Bengals ranked 30th in yards per carry (3.3).

There was an emphasis by the Bengals to upgrade this area in free agency and the draft. Cincinnati beefed up the interior of the offensive line by signing free agent Travelle Wharton and drafting Kevin Zeitler in the first round. The Bengals' top signing in free agency was running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is a significant improvement in short yardage and ball security.

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita vowed to clear his name from the Saints' bounty scandal, but he won't say to what extent he'll go to do so.

I believe Fujita when he says he is more concerned about this black mark on his name. A three-game suspension doesn't affect a 10-year veteran as much as what an incident like this can do to his reputation.

Fujita is a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee. He was a proponent of stronger rules in dealing with concussions after Colt McCoy's incident last year. This suspension makes him look like a hypocrite.

The strongest course of action is to follow former teammate Jonathan Vilma, who has sued NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for defamation. Fujita wouldn't say whether he plans to do this.

“Jonathan Vilma is incredibly bright,” Fujita told reporters after the Browns' first full-team workout Tuesday. “He’s a man of very high character, and he’s got a lot of pride. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. I’m proud to call him a friend. I wish him the best in whatever he wants to do.”

The NFL charged Fujita with pledging “a significant amount of money” which was used for cart-offs and knockouts on plays “during which an opposing player was injured.” He was suspended for three games, which will cost him cost him about $645,000 and much more.

“Listen, my reputation is a lot more valuable to me than three game checks,” Fujita said. “My track record speaks for itself.”

No one doubts Mike Wallace's speed on the field. But the key to his season is how quick he is off of it.

Wallace, the team's leading receiver, skipped the team's first practice of the offseason and has yet to sign his $2.7 restricted free-agent tender. He isn't expected to attend any of the offseason workouts and could miss the start of training camp to protest the lack of a long-term deal.

This wouldn't be a problem in most offseasons. This one is different for the Steelers because it's the first with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

According to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there is a 90 percent change from Bruce Arians' offense to this year's one. That's why it would be good -- although not necessary -- for Wallace to be in Pittsburgh to learn the new playbook.

My guess is it won't hurt Wallace too much. His favorite route is still the one where he runs straight down the field and beats the cornerback in a foot race. And it would be more important for Wallace to be here if the Steelers were changing quarterbacks instead of coordinators. Whenever he returns, whether it's the start of training camp or the middle of it, he will still have the same chemistry with Roethlisberger.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the current situation a little "short-term misery." Just don't expect it to be a long-term problem that extends to the regular season.