AFC North Top 25: 24th-ranked player
July, 10, 2012
7/10/12
9:00
AM ET
By
Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com
The AFC North blog is continuing its series on the top 25 players in the division with No. 24:
T.J. WARD
Browns safety
WardWhy Ward is ranked 24th: It was a tough call on whether the division's third-best safety was Ward, the Steelers' Ryan Clark or the Bengals' Reggie Nelson. While Clark is established and Nelson enjoyed a career year in 2011, Ward is primed to have a breakout season. He was considered among the NFL's top 10 safeties in the first half of last season before a sprained right foot sidelined him for the final eight games. The 2010 second-round pick has fully recovered and should be even better in his third season. Ward believes he will be more prepared for this campaign than any previous one (he was a rookie in 2010 and was hurt by the lockout in 2011). A player who loves physical contact, Ward should make a strong impact on the Browns' porous run defense even though he might not match his 123 tackles from his rookie season.
T.J. WARD
Browns safety
- ESPN AFC North Blogger
- A University of Maryland graduate
- Lives in the Baltimore area with his wife
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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 and son.
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