ESPN NFL

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 running back.

1. Ray Rice, Ravens: He's been the NFL's most consistent all-around running back over the past three seasons. Since 2009, Rice has produced at least 1,700 total yards. Last year, he led the AFC North in rushing (1,364 yards) and receptions (76). Rice isn't just the best running back in the AFC North. He's the best in the AFC.

2. Trent Richardson, Browns: The third overall pick in the draft will have the same impact on the running game as last year's top rookie in the division, the Bengals' A.J. Green, had on the passing game. He could have a bigger immediate impact than Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. There's not another back in this division who can match Richardson's combination of power and elusiveness.

3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals: The replacement for Cedric Benson upgrades the Bengals in the red zone and in ball security. He led the Patriots with 24 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he has never fumbled in his four seasons. The biggest question is whether he'll improve his 3.7-yard per carry average from last year.

4. Isaac Redman, Steelers: This is Redman's prime opportunity to show he can be a featured back with Rashard Mendenhall recovering from ACL surgery. Redman ran for 121 yards in the playoff loss at Denver and he's averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his two-year career. But, in 36 career games (including playoffs), Redman has had double-digit carries in just four of them.

5. Vonta Leach, Ravens: He has the best résumé of any NFL fullback the past two seasons. One year after blocking for the NFL rushing champion, Leach paved the way for the league's No. 2 rusher in Rice this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Ravens averaged 91.4 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry on runs during the regular season when Leach was the lead blocker. Baltimore also scored 14 touchdowns running behind Leach.

Just a reminder that the AFC North blog's weekly chat was moved to Thursday. It's going to kick off at 2 p.m. ET, so clear your meeting schedule or take a late lunch to join us. As always, it's never too early to post your questions. So put in your best query or two about the Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers.

Remember, you can follow me on Twitter at @afc_north and @jamisonhensley and on Facebook.

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Steelers in 2012.

Dream scenario (13-3): Losing a handful of veterans this offseason won't impact the Steelers' play on the field. The Steelers show last year's division champion (the Ravens) and the division's upstart team (the Bengals) that they still own the division as long as Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and the defense is at full strength. A return trip to the Super Bowl would follow their pattern (Pittsburgh went in the 2008 and 2010 seasons).

Roethlisberger thrives in Todd Haley's offense much like Kurt Warner did. The biggest change is a quicker release, which will allow Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to show off their elusiveness and make yards after the catch. The offensive line becomes the best in the AFC North with center Maurkice Pouncey staying healthy, right tackle Marcus Gilbert continuing to develop and rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams living up to expectations.

The Steelers' pass rush is even stronger this season because James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley will be on the field together for more than a handful of games this year. The run defense is bolstered by the return of nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is able to start the season despite having knee surgery in January. The combination of Larry Foote and Stevenson Sylvester makes up for the loss of inside linebacker James Farrior.

Nightmare scenario (7-9): Pittsburgh underestimates the loss of leadership after parting ways with Farrior, Hines Ward, Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke. The Steelers also struggle more than expected with the injuries to Hampton and running back Rashard Mendenhall (knee surgery in January). It's tough to win in one of the top divisions in football when you're not at full strength.

The key to any Steelers season is the health of Roethlisberger. While the Steelers' offensive line has the potential to rank among the best, this year could be a transitional one as well. Roethlisberger could take a good number of hits behind a line that starts two rookies and moves tackle Willie Colon to guard. Losing Roethlisberger will result in a losing season. Pittsburgh would then have to depend more on a running game without Mendenhall. Isaac Redman has shown flashes, but he is a question mark as a featured back.

Defensively, the run defense becomes vulnerable in the middle with the injury to Hampton and the loss of Farrior. Hampton starts the season on the physically unable to perform list, and Steve McLendon and rookie Alameda Ta'amu can't fill the void. The pass defense takes a step back if one of the young cornerbacks (Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown) can't replace William Gay.

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.

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.

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.