Morning take: Mendenhall has illness

October, 16, 2009
10/16/09
8:21
AM ET
By James Walker | ESPN.com

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:
  • Pittsburgh Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall missed Thursday’s practice with an illness, leaving his status up in the air for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Morning take: Willie Parker (toe) is healthy again and appears to be ready to take a bulk of the carries if Mendenhall can’t go. We will know more about Mendenhall's status when the injury report comes out Friday evening.
  • Speaking of the Browns, return specialist Joshua Cribbs reportedly wants a trade if he cannot get a new deal.
Morning take: Barring a tremendous offer, the Browns don't seem interested in moving Cribbs by next week’s trade deadline. He’s too valuable and too much of a bargain.
Morning take: He’s leading the league in rushing when recently nobody wanted him. Benson’s candidacy looks pretty strong.
  • Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson will be a huge test for the defense of the Baltimore Ravens.
Morning take: Baltimore has faced the league’s top two rushers in a seven-day span with Benson and Peterson. Will the Ravens develop a new streak of keeping rushers under 100 yards?

James Walker | email

NFL
  • ESPN AFC East Blogger
  • Joined ESPN in 2008
  • A Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami
Tags:

Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Joshua Cribbs, Cedric Benson, Willie Parker, AFC North, Adrian Peterson, Rashard Mendenhall

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Jamison Hensley
Jamison Hensley

Hensley joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he lives in the Baltimore area with his wife.

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