ESPN NFL

There is a reason the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have been able to win Super Bowls and have tremendous success coming out of the AFC North. Part of it is due to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals making poor personnel decisions.

On Thursday Football Outsiders provided its top 10 most disappointing free agents, and three on the list were from the NFL's two Ohio teams.

Coming in at No. 8 was Cleveland's infamous decision to sign receiver Andre Rison in 1995. At the time the Browns made Rison the highest-paid at his position by giving him a five-year, $17 million contract. Rison quickly became a bust in Cleveland and flamed out after one season.

No. 4 on the list was a more recent signing by the Browns. Last year Cleveland needed a quarterback and vastly overpaid for veteran Jake Delhomme, who was released by the Carolina Panthers due to poor performance. The Browns paid Delhomme $7 million last season to throw for just 872 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. By midseason, Delhomme was either injured or holding a clipboard for rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, and Delhomme likely will be released before Cleveland pays him another $5.4 million this season.

No. 3 on the list was the Cincinnati's signing of free-agent receiver Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract in 2010. Despite persistent knee problems the season before, Cincinnati's medical staff overlooked Bryant's issues and gave him $8 million up front in guaranteed money. But Bryant was never healthy enough to play football last year, and the Bengals cut their losses by releasing Bryant before the regular season. The Bengals essentially paid Bryant $8 million to never play a single down in Cincinnati.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: No. 31
Preseason Power Ranking: No. 12

Biggest surprise: It happened late in the season, but the light finally came on for receiver Jerome Simpson. The former second-round pick had been written off as a bust after nearly three years of not earning playing time. But after injuries to Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Simpson took advantage of his chance to finally crack the starting lineup. Simpson recorded back-to-back 100-yard games in the last two weeks of the regular season and earned the right to be part of Cincinnati's rebuilding efforts in 2011.

Biggest disappointment: Coming off an extremely disappointing year for the Bengals, it's hard to narrow this category to one player or coach. But considering the type of money that was invested in relation to production, the free-agent signing of receiver Antonio Bryant was the most disappointing move for the Bengals. Cincinnati gave Bryant a four-year, $28 million contract despite the fact that he was coming off a knee injury. Bryant's knee never healed properly, and the Bengals cut him before the start of the regular season. Cincinnati paid Bryant approximately $7 million and he never played a down for the team. The move forced the Bengals to spend an additional $2 million plus incentives on Owens, making it a $9 million mistake by the front office.

Biggest need: There will be a lot of changes in Cincinnati, and much depends on how the Bengals choose to rebuild the team. The way the roster is currently set up, I think the biggest need for Cincinnati is to get an elite pass-rusher. Rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap (9.5 sacks) helped fill that void in the second half of the season. But he will need help next season getting to the quarterback. If the Bengals do not re-sign tailback Cedric Benson or go in another direction at quarterback, those needs will take higher priority.

Team MVP: It's hard to pick an MVP on a four-win team, and if I didn't have to, I wouldn't. But since that's not the case, I'd go with Owens. Although he wasn't perfect, he led the team in receiving with 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns. He was really the only player who consistently produced for Cincinnati this year. Quarterback Carson Palmer, Benson and others had their moments, but they had a lot of bad games as well.

Free-agent watch: Cincinnati took care of its first free agent this week in head coach Marvin Lewis. He will return for his ninth season after signing an extension on Tuesday. Owens, Benson and cornerback Johnathan Joseph are some of the big free agents for Cincinnati. The Bengals also have to decide what to do with Ochocinco, who turns 33 this month and had his second bad season in three years.

It's been an eerily quiet week from "Bengaldom" in the AFC North blog. The Bengals are sputtering to a 2-3 start coming off the bye and has been a major disappointment thus far.

But it's no secret we hold everyone accountable in our community, and Bengals fans were among the most vocal this offseason coming off a division title and a playoff appearance. So here is a recap of their recent the trash-talking:

• Nosker987 writes: Bengals are the team to beat this year. Nobody can stop the combination of T.O., Ocho, Antonio Bryant, Bubba and Shipley. We're going to go 6-0 in our division this year and we’re going to win the Super Bowl. Darrelle Revis can't stop us this year. That's a guarantee.
• Who Dey Warrior writes: Scared of the Bengals! We can all see it and it's okay to be afraid of the upstart Bengals roster who is finally not afraid to lump up the division's aging bullies. The Bengals are the new bullies of the AFC NORTH. SAY UNCLE...SAY UNCLE!
• Sportsfan2305 writes: Call me a homer and this is actually the first homerish statement I have made this year but I see NO reason why the Bengals can't be 6-1 or even 7-0 going into Monday Night Football against the Steelers in Week 9.
• Jungle Boys 09 writes: For a life long Bengal fan, it's pretty freaking cool. This season the Bengals will go much deeper in the playoffs and maybe even the Super Bowl.
• DVanderpool99 writes: Steelers have ZERO chance against the Bengals this year. Browns don't either, and I couldn't care less about the Ravens.
• JMoney5985 writes: All you non-Bengal AFC North fans are just haters. Don't be mad, 6-0 baby. You want the divisional title come get some. It really just boils down to Cincinnati and Baltimore. As for Pittsburgh and Cleveland, better luck next year.
• Bgehrum writes: Look at all these haters. The only way we can make the idiots shut their mouths is go out and win it all! So keep talking people and hating on our Bengals.
• Kenneth378 writes: I love the fact that other people who follow other teams in the division or other teams in general have to say something negative about the Bengals every chance they get. Why is that boys and girls? Because they are scared of what the Cincinnati Bengals can possibly do this year.
• Back2jungle2 writes: I agree with [Chad Ochocinco]. Who [cares] about the Steelers! They won't do anything this year.
• More from Jungle Boys 09: Antonio Bryant is hurt but he'll come around.
• More from Who Dey Warrior: 2009 is the year the Bengals became a TEAM, and 2010 the year they become WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Remember the offseason?

Let's see what's in the weekend mailbag.

Brian from Conshohocken, Pa., writes: How much more will RB James Davis be a factor in the Browns' offense with Montario Hardesty's knee injury?

James Walker: Hardesty's season-ending injury took Davis off the bubble. But Hardesty's role in the offense would have been bigger. They are two different running backs. Hardesty had the talent to be an every-down back who eventually could have pushed for a starting job. Davis is more of a change-of-pace back who will get significantly less playing time. The Browns will still run the ball well this year, but Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis will get the majority of the carries.

---

Eric from Princeton, N.J., wants to know if the Cleveland Browns will be interested in former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Antonio Bryant.

Walker: I don't foresee any interest in Bryant from the Browns or anyone else until he gets healthy. The fact the Bengals completely gave up on him indicates it could be a while before Bryant sees the field again.

---

Eric from Chicago writes: With the recent release of Bryant, will the Bengals sign another wide receiver or are they set with the group they have?

Walker: The Bengals are set. Even after Bryant's release, they still have tough decisions at the position. The team has to choose between Matt Jones, Jerome Simpson, Maurice Purify and Dezmon Briscoe. Cincinnati can only keep one (maybe two) from this group. But the team doesn't need to look outside for additional help.

---

Richard from Beijing writes: Is there some particular reason the Ravens are grabbing up former University of Maryland cornerbacks?

Walker: Some of it is coincidence. Domonique Foxworth was a free agent and Josh Wilson were available via trade at the right time for Baltimore. But the Ravens naturally have a good relationship with the University of Maryland, because of the location. It's nearby, easy to scout, and many of their players grew up in Ravens' territory and know about the team.

---

Lenny from Hollywood, Md., writes: Random question but do you think Jamal Lewis is a Hall of Famer?

Walker: I don't have a vote, so I usually avoid these questions. But an educated guess is Lewis doesn't get in. It still shouldn’t take away from a great career.

---

Comment and complaint department

We have plenty of comments and complaints from our community this week.

Jay from Dublin, Ohio, writes: James, no way the Steelers go 1-3 without Big Ben. The Steelers defense is loaded and will help grind out a close game with Atlanta. Remember without Troy Polamalu and Big Ben we had the Ravens beat in Baltimore. Worst-case scenario is 2-2, and I wouldn't count us out against Tennessee. I am not convinced Vince Young is the real deal, and we know Chris Johnson isn't going to run on the Steelers’ D.

Will from Nashville, Tenn., writes: I feel like the Steelers as an organization should uphold the six-game suspension. It would be a good message to send players and fans that their standards are higher than what the league imposes. It also says that appropriate punishment for personal mistakes is more important than playing time and a winning season. Current good behavior should not be able to make up for previous appalling actions.

Rhonda Pierce from Illinois writes: I am Pittsburgh born and bred. I love my Steelers, but Ben's suspension should not have been reduced. His success and our franchise's history and image mandated that Ben demonstrate more responsibility and appreciation for the team and city. His behavior has forever tarnished the gold in the Black and Gold dynasty. I believe Leftwich's injury played a role in the Roger Goodell's decision, because not enough time has elapsed for the commissioner to know if Ben has really changed. How will he conduct himself in the offseason is the question? More than one "sexual" incident is more than one too many.

Zack from Middletown, Conn., writes: You know what I like about other fans in the AFC North? The way Ravens fans think Tom Zbikowski will step in for a Hall of Famer and there will be no drop off; the way Steeler fans think that Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon are actually quality QBs; and the way Browns fans think that Jake Delhomme is actually good. Bengals may have their issues. But they aren't replacing Pro Bowl [level] talent with guys who are washed up and were never that good in the first place. All they've done is add young talent and veterans for depth without losing key pieces.

Luke from Cincinnati writes: Why can't my Bengals get any love? I understand the Ravens and Steelers are great, but c'mon! We bring back basically everyone on a top five defense that's only going to get better and have appeared to strike gold with Adam Jones at the nickel. And on offense we add Jordan Shipley and T.O. to surround Carson Palmer with a great receiving core AND a great running game. This is the same team that swept the division last year, and were going to be even better this year!

Jason Myers from Baltimore writes: Hey, JW! How come you never point out the obvious to Bengals fans? They're always commenting about how they swept the division last year and that they're the defending AFC North champs. But it seems that they forget how they got bounced in the first round of the playoffs last year. Will you please tell them to win a playoff game first and then they can talk a little trash. I mean, seriously, as a Ravens fan I don't care if the Bengals sweep us every year as long as we continue to win in the playoffs and they continue to be...well...the Bengals.

Ben from Pensacola, Fla., writes: What is it about the Ravens' offense that is so stacked? Joe Flacco hasn't been anything better than solid and has been flat-out terrible in the clutch (especially in the playoffs). Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason are a good possession duo, but neither screams downfield threat. Mark Clayton and Donte' Stallworth have never done anything worth noting on the field and, frankly. aren't good players. Todd Heap is still a nice TE but the rest of the group are rookies. There's a very good stable of RBs but you can't give them all the ball or even have them all on the field at one time. Two strong possession WRs and a TE to go with a good running game isn't a stacked offense. Talk about overhyped.

Shaneeka from High Point, N.C., writes: Hey James, you want to know why Ravens fans are not allowing the teams recent record vs. division rivals to rain on the teams Super Bowl hopes? It’s because the Ravens have been to the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years, including back to back trips. So the Ravens poor showing vs. division rivals have not cost them playoff berths and once the playoffs start, as the Cards showed in 2008 and the Jets last season, it’s anyways game. So, no we don’t care about Carson Palmer's winning record vs. the Ravens, nor do we care that the team has only beaten Pittsburgh once in two years. Neither of them kept the team out of the postseason. To think that it would now is pushing it considering the Bengals history and all the drama Pittsburgh has gone through this offseason.

Kovacs from Santa Monica writes: We knew the Browns would have a tandem backfield, it just looks like a different tandem. I do think Peyton Hillis should start. He's endeared himself to the team and is great out of the backfield. He also seems like a guy that you'd love to get going early with his physicality to wear a defense down. Then bring in Jerome Harrison to gash a defense with his speed late in the game.

AFC North Homer of the Week

Darryl from Oakland, Calif., writes: I'd rather have Dennis Dixon than Matt Ryan. I know you disagree, but I'll check back after Week 4.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tells Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he intends to train in Pittsburgh during his conditional six-game suspension.

Morning take: It's probably best that Roethlisberger stays in town and keeps his focus on football. The most important thing for him is to stay sharp and in shape.

• Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times shares some insight on the Baltimore Ravens' trade for former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson.

Morning take: I like this move. It improves the secondary and doesn't require another player (Willis McGahee?), which hurts depth elsewhere. Wilson will help immediately, and Seattle gets a conditional draft pick.

• Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports Bengals coach Marvin Lewis defends his team's medical staff after a bad week involving former players Antonio Bryant and Rashad Jeanty.

Morning take: This is a smart move by Lewis, because the Bengals cannot afford to lose the trust and confidence of their players.

• Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal takes a look at Sports Illustrated's 5-11 prediction for the Cleveland Browns.

Morning take: The Browns won five games last year with less talent. But the AFC North will be brutal this year.

The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly wasted $8 million dollars this year on injured receiver Antonio Bryant, who never played a down and was cut after five months with the team. The move was strange, considering the Bengals' reputation as a frugal organization.

With that said, here are the top 10 ways Cincinnati could better spend $8 million:

10. Sign two backup quarterbacks, a kicker and fullback

9. Extend Cedric Benson's contract

8. Overhaul the Bengals' medical department

7. Provide a signing bonus for Johnathan Joseph

6. Give raises to assistant coaches

5. Build an indoor practice facility

4. Hire scouts

3. Hire a general manager

2. Extend Marvin Lewis' contract

1. Give $8 million back to Hamilton County

With the preseason coming to a close this week, here are seven notes and observations on the AFC North:

• Are the Pittsburgh Steelers lacking discipline? Their first-team defense uncharacteristically had four personal fouls Sunday in a 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. Two were by second-year cornerback Keenan Lewis, who was subsequently benched and earned a spot in coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse. Lewis also made a bad situation worse by reportedly punching through a glass sign after the game. If you add cornerback Ike Taylor's fight last week against the New York Giants that cost him $10,000, Pittsburgh is having problems keeping its cool lately.
[+] Enlarge
Ron Chenoy/US PresswireJames Farrior lost his helmet during a play in Sunday night's game.
• I'm noticing an unusual amount of players losing their helmets this preseason. The two most high-profile occurrences were with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Sunday with Steelers linebacker James Farrior. Both players suffered cuts to the head and were knocked out of the game. These are not isolated incidents. I've seen several preseason games this summer where helmets are dangerously flying off at an alarming rate.
• Baltimore's pass protection is not as sharp as expected. The Giants recorded five total sacks against the Ravens Saturday and the pocket overall wasn't consistently solid. At times, it was miscommunications. Other times New York simply outplayed Baltimore up front. We're not convinced Tony Moll is the answer at right tackle. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck had his way with Moll on several occasions. Baltimore tackles Oniel Cousins and/or Jared Gaither need to get healthy quickly.
• We liked what we saw from Haruki Nakamura covering receivers in the slot. For a safety, he has pretty quick feet to keep up with receivers and make plays on the ball. Nakamura is considered an experiment in the slot until Baltimore's secondary gets healthy. But based on his performance, it's looking pretty good so far.
• The Cleveland Browns have an update on safety Nick Sorensen. The bad news is he suffered a concussion Saturday against the Detroit Lions. But the good news is he is improving. Sorensen was not at practice Monday, and according to Browns coach Eric Mangini he will be resting for "a while."
• Speaking of Mangini, this will be his first year putting together a 53-man roster with new president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. Cleveland currently has a mix of players leftover from the previous Mangini-George Kokinis regime and the new Holmgren-Heckert regime, setting up an interesting dynamic this week. Mangini will have his input and opinion on who stays and who goes, but Heckert and Holmgren will have the final say.
• Cincinnati's receiver position is somewhat clearer now with Antonio Bryant's release. Cincinnati has a lot of depth at receiver, where six (maybe seven) could make the team. Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell are four locks. But at least two roster spots remain open for receivers Quan Cosby, Jerome Simpson, Matt Jones and Dezmon Briscoe. An educated guess is Cosby is in, making it a three-way tossup between Simpson, Jones and Briscoe.

The Cincinnati Bengals cut their roster to the mandatory 75 players by making two moves Monday.

Cincinnati released fifth-year linebacker Rashad Jeanty in the "waived/failed physical" category. The Bengals also placed safety Tom Nelson on the physically unable to perform list, which makes him eligible to return in Week 7.

Cincinnati made its biggest cut Sunday by releasing receiver Antonio Bryant, who signed a four-year, $28 million contract in March.

Here are the most interesting stories Monday in the AFC North:

• Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme has eased concerns with his quality play in the preseason.

Morning take: Delhomme has been decisive and accurate, completing 79.2 percent of his passes in three exhibition games. You never want to overrate the preseason, but this is a good sign.

• Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis made a bad performance worse by punching and shattering a glass sign after Sunday night's preseason loss to the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: Keenan, meet Mike Tomlin's doghouse. Our advice is to get out of it as soon as possible.

• Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers laughing at the Cincinnati Bengals for signing receiver Antonio Bryant?

Morning take: The Bucs have that right after Cincinnati made a strange sign-and-release deal that cost the team $8 million. The Bucs were aware of Bryant's knee problems, and the Bengals seemed to ignore it.

• The competition between Baltimore Ravens kickers Shayne Graham and Billy Cundiff is going down to the wire.

Morning take: Both kickers have done well this preseason. The final exhibition game will be the deciding battle.

How do you explain signing a major free agent and then cutting him before he plays a game?

In one word: strange.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been known to do odd things with personnel over the years. But signing receiver Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract in March and releasing him five months later before the regular season is near the top of the list.

There were red flags with this signing from the beginning.

Bryant had offseason knee surgery and never looked right in minicamp. I covered Bryant in 2005 when he played with the Cleveland Browns and remembered thinking at the time that something wasn't right. He didn't look nearly as explosive.

It turns out Bryant's knee never healed properly. The Bengals rested him during a portion of minicamp and were very cautious with him during training camp. Then the organization got eerily quiet when questioned about Bryant's progress -- more red flags -- and the rumors began to swirl.

Cincinnati ended speculation by cutting ties with Bryant on Sunday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, $8 million of Bryant's contract is guaranteed. Between Bryant and Laveranues Coles, the Bengals have wasted a lot of money at wide receiver. Both signed $28 million contracts and neither lasted more than a year in Cincinnati.

But the Bengals were fortunate in several ways.

First, Cincinnati will not take a salary cap hit because it's an uncapped year. An educated guess is the Bengals may have stuck with Bryant to see how he recovers had there been a stiff cap hit for the life of the contract.

Second, signing Terrell Owens and drafting Jordan Shipley made Bryant expendable. Both receivers have looked superior to what Bryant showed in Cincinnati with a bad knee.

Owens' and Shipley's production will likely make Cincinnati forget about Bryant. But that doesn't make Bryant's signing and quick release this year any less strange.

The Cincinnati Bengals released receiver Antonio Bryant on Sunday.

Bryant was a major disappointment after signing a four-year, $28 million contract this offseason, and he never played a game for Cincinnati. We will have more on this breaking news coming up in the AFC North blog.

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:

• After being demoted to backup center this week, veteran Justin Hartwig is concerned about his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Morning take: The writing was on the wall when the Steelers used a first-round pick at Hartwig's position. With Maurkice Pouncey getting rave reviews, Hartwig’s best chance for playing time might be to try right guard.

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Antonio Bryant is holding out hope, despite his knee injury.

Morning take: There is a lot of speculation about whether Bryant will be released. With no salary cap this year, the Bengals have more freedom to pull off a drastic and surprising move.

• Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is confident he can overcome his pectoral injury.

Morning take: Jackson received another scare after having last season end with the same ailment. But this one isn't nearly as serious.

• It's been a smooth transition for Marc Bulger, who fits in well as the Baltimore Ravens' No. 2 quarterback.

Morning take: Bulger gives the Ravens good insurance in case something happens to Joe Flacco. So far this looks like a smart decision by Baltimore.

The 2010 NFL season is heating up as we get closer to the regular season.

Therefore, here is another preseason edition of the "Seven-step drop."

• As the Antonio Bryant saga continues, here is another question that hasn't been addressed: How did Bryant pass the Cincinnati Bengals' physical in the first place? Teams often require thorough medical checks before making large investments in players. Bryant obviously convinced the Bengals his knee will be fine to the point where the team felt comfortable giving him a four-year, $28 million contract. But with rumors circulating that he might never see the field for Cincinnati, the Bengals’ medical staff deserves a lot of blame for this current debacle.
• An interesting comment from our recent interview with Baltimore Ravens kicker and former Bengal Shayne Graham was in regards to Baltimore’s training facilities. Although he didn’t mention his former team, Graham’s immense praise of Baltimore’s facilities could be viewed as an indirect jab at the Bengals. Recently we reported one point of contention between Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and ownership was the lack of an indoor practice facility.
• The AFC North blog predicts this will be the year Isaac "Redzone" Redman makes the Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-man roster.For the past two seasons, the former undrafted tailback has taken advantage of limited opportunities. Although he’s somewhat of a cult favorite in Pittsburgh, he remains an unknown in NFL circles, and the Steelers were fortunate to be able to hide Redman on their practice squad. But if Redman continues to lead the team in rushing this preseason, which he’s currently doing, chances are another team will notice if he’s on the practice squad. So far in camp, Redman is still the team’s best short-yardage option.
• Here is something to keep in mind about Pittsburgh's quarterback race: If Dennis Dixon is the starter, the Steelers have to make a lot of changes to their offense.The playbook and scheme were built around franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Dixon, with his penchant for scrambling, is a different quarterback, which makes it challenging for the other 10 players to adjust. The Steelers want Dixon to stay in the pocket more after his first read, but that’s not the type of quarterback he is at this stage. But there might have to be some concessions on both sides to make Dixon fit if he wins the job.
• It remains to be seen if the Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the division, but they are certainly the biggest. The Ravens are impressively large when you watch them in practice, particularly on the offensive and defensive line. The Ravens have always invested a lot of resources in winning games in the trenches, and this year is no different.
• I'm intrigued to see rookie quarterbacks Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams and Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns go head-to-head Saturday. Both players were college rivals and highly-touted entering the draft. Now they are considered the long-term solutions at quarterback for their respective franchises. But perhaps the biggest difference is money. Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick, got an immense contract for six years and $78 million, with $50 million guaranteed. McCoy, a third-round pick, signed a four-year, $5 million deal with the Browns.
• It was a tough break for undrafted rookie receiver Johnathan Haggerty, who was put on injured reserve this week.He suffered an undisclosed injury and will be out for the season. Haggerty, from Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State, came out of nowhere and was one of Cleveland’s surprise players this offseason. He had a legit chance to make the team considering the Browns’ lack of depth at receiver. But injuries derailed what could have been a good training camp story.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday in the AFC North:

• After getting zero snaps in the preseason opener, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play in Saturday's exhibition against the New York Giants.

Morning take: Roethlisberger needs his reps, too. So this is a good decision. He will be away from the team for at least a month once the regular season starts.

• The time may be now for the Baltimore Ravens.

Morning take: They have the talent, depth and a great coaching staff. Barring injury, the Ravens have a lot of key ingredients for a deep postseason run.

• The mystery continues over the severity of Cincinnati Bengals receiver Antonio Bryant's knee injury.

Morning take: Until the Bengals and/or Bryant come clean, there will be plenty of speculation. The latest, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network, is Cincinnati might seek an injury settlement.

• Cleveland Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward promises to be a quick learner.

Morning take: Ward is doing fine so far. But since he's expected to play a major role in Cleveland's defense, a lot is expected of him.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 11

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Cincinnati Bengals are now the hunted, and they believe they have enough talent to prove last year's AFC North division title was no fluke.

It has been 28 years since the Bengals last posted back-to-back winning seasons. But coming off a playoff appearance and new offseason additions, this is the deepest and most talented group Marvin Lewis has coached in eight seasons.

Cincinnati's six-win improvement was one of the biggest jumps in the NFL last season. On paper, this year's team looks even better, although the Bengals have to prove they can handle a brutal first-place schedule.

"Nobody is really sleeping on you. Everybody knows that you can play," Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers said of the upcoming season. "So we have to make sure we come out swinging, because teams are going to come out swinging against us."

Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco said it would be a "shame" if Cincinnati doesn't win the Super Bowl. That's one example of how high expectations are for the Bengals, who have to address several key issues this summer if they want to make a playoff run.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can the Bengals improve their passing game? Cincinnati's passing offense was a disappointment last season, particularly late in the year. The Bengals aggressively attacked the problem by adding new weapons such as first-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham and receivers Terrell Owens, Antonio Bryant and Jordan Shipley.

As a result, Cincinnati could have as many as three new receivers in the top four of its rotation to join Ochocinco. And Gresham is projected to start at tight end for the Bengals, surrounding Carson Palmer with enough weapons to make any quarterback happy.

"In the grand scheme of things, we're very explosive," Palmer said.

The chemistry between Palmer and Owens is still a work in progress. The difference between Palmer's comfort level with Owens versus his comfort level with Ochocinco, whom Palmer has worked with for eight years, was noticeable in camp.

The deep ball disappeared from Cincinnati's offense during the second half of last season. But with Owens (Batman?) taking some of the pressure off Ochocinco (Robin?), and added receiver depth, expect more fireworks this year.

"What I want the focal point of this team to be is I want the offense to be our strength again," Ochocinco said this week. "I think the defense has sort of taken over the outlook as the strength of the team. I want our receiving corps and the rest of our offense to be that strength, that backbone of this team."

2. Will the Bengals' defense generate a pass rush? The Bengals were the fourth-best defense in the NFL last season. But one area where they can improve is getting to the quarterback.

Cincinnati had 34 sacks last year, which was middle of the pack at No. 16. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has made it a priority to dial up new and better ways to increase the sack numbers.

The healthy return of starting defensive end Antwan Odom should help. He was the team's top pass-rusher last season until he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. The Bengals also have young, athletic players who could see playing time in passing situations such as linebacker Michael Johnson and rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

3. Who’s the kicker? Kickers aren't important until you need them. The Bengals know that all too well after their experience with Shayne Graham, who had a knack for missing field goals in key moments.

This summer there is an interesting competition going between journeyman kickers Dave Rayner and Mike Nugent. The two have played for a combined eight teams in their NFL careers.

Nugent is hurt this week, which may have allowed Rayner to take a slight lead. But Rayner has had his ups and downs as well. Earlier this week he made all six of his field-goal attempts, but on Wednesday Rayner was 5-for-8. He missed two 50-yard attempts that were very wide left.

Expect this competition to be settled during the preseason.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

He is not the biggest player or the fastest, but there is something about Shipley that continues to stand out in camp. He has even caught the attention of Ochocinco, who said early that the rookie has potential.

Shipley seems at home in the slot. He has a knack for getting open and has sure hands and good ball security in traffic once the catch is made. The Bengals are very deep at receiver this year, so it's questionable how big a role Shipley could have. But for now he's making the most of his opportunities.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Former first-round pick Matt Jones seems to be falling behind daily in an effort to earn a roster spot. Once a big athlete with freakish speed, Jones clearly has lost a couple of steps after taking a year away from football.

Jones also suffered a foot injury recently, which hasn't helped his case. Ochocinco, Owens, Bryant, Shipley and Andre Caldwell probably will take up five slots at the receiver position. That leaves only one or two more roster spots for Jones and several other receivers to compete for. Do not be surprised if Jones doesn't make the cut.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Despite signing just before camp, Owens arrived in very good shape. He still has to learn the offense, but Owens has shown some flashes of what he can do. On Wednesday night, Palmer connected deep with Owens, who beat cornerback Leon Hall, streaking down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. The play was one of the highlights of camp thus far.
• Bryant continues to rehab his knee. He participated in the first day of camp but has missed every practice since. The Bengals signed Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract but he hasn't looked explosive as he continues to heal from offseason knee surgery. The team is hoping he continues to progress.
• Watch out for second-year running back Bernard Scott. He is my sleeper pick for the Bengals this season. Scott has a chance to contribute both as Cedric Benson's backup as well as a kick returner. With increased opportunities, Scott should have increased production.
• Adam Jones should help the Bengals in some capacity this year. His technique as a cornerback still needs improvement, but he is competing hard in practice and his physical abilities are still apparent. Jones also looks natural as a kick returner and could be an early favorite to win punt and/or kickoff return duties.
• Although none of the injuries is major, the Bengals have been banged up this week. Fullback Fui Vakapuna hurt his shoulder and missed practice time. Dunlap suffered a concussion. Linebacker Rey Maualuga injured his hamstring and cornerback Johnathan Joseph also had a thigh injury.
• The Bengals don't have a lot of depth at fullback, but the position might not be as important as it once was. Cincinnati's offensive personnel dictates the team will run a lot of three-wide receiver and two-tight end sets. In both instances, the fullback will be taken off the field.
• I have not been impressed with Cincinnati's pass protection early in camp. You cannot see everything, because players cannot touch the quarterback. But the number of defenders getting in the passing lanes has been noticeable. That will be something to keep an eye on in the preseason.
• I'll exit with a prediction: I have a sneaky feeling the Bengals will keep only two quarterbacks this season. Cincinnati has waves and waves of players at other positions, and cutting the No. 3 quarterback -- most likely Jordan Palmer -- is one way the Bengals can save a roster spot to retain an extra receiver, defensive back or linebacker. Carson Palmer and J.T. O'Sullivan would be the team's quarterbacks, while the Bengals could always add Jordan Palmer or someone else down the road in the event of an emergency.