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The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't sound heartbroken when they learned that last year's starting cornerback William Gay had agreed to a two-year deal with Arizona, which continues to be Pittsburgh West.

"We always knew we could lose a guy like William," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We have three young guys in the mix. It doesn't stop us from addressing [cornerback] in the draft. It really doesn't alter any preparation at this point."

Even though Gay enjoyed a bounce-back season, he is really an average corner who projects to be the No. 3 for the Arizona Cardinals. Still, Gay started 15 games for the NFL's top-ranked defense. Whether the Steelers will be hurt by the loss of Gay depends on Keenan Lewis.

A third-round pick in 2009, the 25-year-old Lewis played on the team's nickel defense and is the leading candidate to replace Gay. Lewis, though, has only made one career start and will have to earn that spot.

He showed that he can be a playmaker, sealing last year's 13-9 victory at Kansas City with a leaping interception with 28 seconds remaining. But he has also been undisciplined, getting benched by coach Mike Tomlin in the 2010 preseason after he gave up an eight-yard catch to Brandon Lloyd and then proceeded to knee him.

Lewis will likely compete against second-year corner Cortez Allen, a fourth-round pick from a year ago. At this point, Allen is penciled in as the nickel back. If the Steelers don't draft an additional corner, they can re-sign veteran reserve Bryant McFadden, a starter from 2008 to 2010.

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

Steelers linebacker James Harrison was unapologetic for the hit that forced him to miss Monday night's loss to San Francisco, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"It happened, oh well," Harrison told the paper. "Deal with it. Move on. When it came down to it, my helmet hit his. Oh, well."

Harrison, who returned from his one-game suspension Tuesday, said he isn't concerned about the future ones.

"Nope, not worried about anything," Harrison said. "Can't see the future. I am not a fortune teller. I will deal with it as it comes."

Hensley's slant: It doesn't sound like Harrison received the NFL's message. If he gets flagged for another illegal hit, he is facing a suspension involving multiple games. Harrison is in a no-win situation when it comes to fighting the NFL.

BENGALS: There are other more complicated ways of the Bengals clinching a wild-card spot, but the most straightforward one is: The Bengals win out and the New York Jets lose at least once in their final two games (against the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins). According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, if the Bengals lose to Arizona on Saturday and the Jets win, the Bengals would need to beat the Ravens and have the Jets lose to the Dolphins. Both teams would be 9-7 in that scenario, but Bengals would win tiebreak based on better conference record. Hensley's slant: Looking at the Jets' last two games, they could easily lose to the Giants or at Miami. The Jets are 2-5 on the road this season. The biggest obstacle for the Bengals is the regular-season finale against the Ravens. Cincinnati is 0-6 against teams that currently have a winning record.

BROWNS: Running back Montario Hardesty is looking to end the season on a positive note after a calf injury has ruined most of it. Hardesty has carried the ball in one of the past seven games because of a calf injury. "I definitely want to finish out these two games strong," Hardesty said, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hensley's slant: Hardesty might be able to salvage some of the season, but it's probably too late to get rid of that injury-prone label. His inability to stay healthy combined with Peyton Hillis' expected exit is a major reason why the Browns are already being linked to Alabama running back Trent Richardson in the first round.

RAVENS: If Billy Cundiff can't kick Saturday because of a left calf injury, the Ravens will turn to veteran journeyman Shayne Graham, whom the team signed Wednesday. "If I'm asked to go out and play, then I go out and play and play my best to help these guys win," Graham said, via MASN Sports. "If it's for one week, it's for one week. If it's for two, it's two. If it takes more or less, that's really out of my hands. All I can do is line up and kick when they ask me to." Hensley's slant: The Ravens had to make contingency plans after Cundiff missed a 36-yard field goal Sunday, his ninth failed attempt of the season. But Baltimore had better hope Cundiff is healthy enough to kick in the playoffs. Graham missed both of his field goals, including a 28-yarder, in a playoff loss two years ago. That's a major reason why the Bengals didn't re-sign him.

The familiar sound of "Heeeap" -- which Ravens fans yelled after every Todd Heap catch -- might not be heard Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

A hamstring injury could prevent Heap from suiting up for the Cardinals in Baltimore, where he played for 10 seasons before getting cut in July. Heap has been sidelined for the past two games because of the injury.

"It’s honestly hard to say," Heap told ESPN.com's AFC North blog about the chances of him playing in his reunion game. "There are a lot of other injuries where I could say 100 percent I’m playing in this game. Hamstrings are a different issue. With these things, you just take it one day a time. As much as I’d want to say what’s exactly going to happen, I can’t say much more than that."

While some might say it's not a surprise that Heap is injured, he actually played full 16-game seasons in six of his nine years as a full-time starter and started 13 games in his final season with the Ravens.

Heap said there's "no question" that it would be difficult for him to miss this game. A first-round draft pick by the Ravens in 2001, he finished his career as the franchise's all-time leader in touchdown catches (41) and second in receptions (467) and receiving yards (5,492). Heap was the Ravens' most consistent receiver in an unsettled decade (he caught passes from nine starting quarterbacks).

"This is definitely a different game," Heap said. "I’ve seen a lot of guys go through this. For me, it’s a place I’ve been for 10 years and obviously a lot of great people from Baltimore that influenced me for good. From that standpoint, it will be very different for me."

Heap still sounds like he hasn't gotten over the shock from his departure from the Ravens in July. The Ravens released Heap on July 28 to create $4.6 million in cap room. He signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Cardinals three days later and the Ravens, who had expressed interest in re-signing him, didn't have the cap space to make a counteroffer.

"In my mind, I could honestly say I felt like I was going to end my career there," Heap said. "That’s what I planned on and thought about. I really didn’t think about anything else. It all hit me so quick and it’s a whirlwind. You have to make decisions for me and my family. You make those decisions and you don’t look back. That’s how I’ve always done things in my life."

Heap has already had one reunion of sorts this season. When he joined Arizona, he became teammates with former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter. In September 2004, Heap was shoved to the ground by Porter after the obviously injured tight end lined up so the Ravens could spike the ball without having to use a timeout.

All has been forgotten, according to Heap. The players put the incident behind them after talking about it years ago and it hasn't been brought up in conversation this year.

"He’s one of those guys that you absolutely hate when he’s on the other team. When he’s on your team, you absolutely love him," Heap said. "He’s got that personality. Obviously, I’ve gotten past all the things that happened when we played him and the Steelers. I can honestly say he’s a guy you want on your side."

In four games this season, Heap has caught 13 passes for 150 yards. Ed Dickson, his replacement in Baltimore, is third on the team with 22 receptions for 223 yards and one touchdown.

Heap has watched the Ravens this season when they've been on national television.

"It’s funny because I’ll sit there and knowing the offense and rooting for all of the guys, it’s a surreal feeling to watch a game when you’re removed from them," he said. "You can basically commentate the game from an outsider perspective because you know everything that is going on."

Heap keeps in contact with some of his teammates and talks regularly with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

"I’m sure we’ll talk this week, but probably not as much about the game," Heap said. "I’ll probably throw him a little jab to get him off his game. We both know each other too well. I know the competitor he is. We’ve been around each other long enough that he’s going to want to be at the top of his game, and I’m going to try to do the same."

AccuScore, the prediction machine, has the Steelers winning 69 percent of the time in Arizona in its simulations because of their pressure on quarterback Kevin Kolb.

According to the popular "Madden NFL 12" video game, Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green is expected to have a pretty good season.

Green, the No. 4 overall pick, earned a respectable 80 rating by EA Sports, which was the fourth-highest ranking for first-year players. Only Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (82), Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Marcell Dareus (82) and New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara (81) received better ratings.

The Bengals expect Green to be a franchise cornerstone and replace veteran receiver Chad Ochocinco in Jay Gruden's West Coast offense.

"Madden NFL 12" will be released next month.

I recall a moment with newly retired guard Alan Faneca in August 2008 while covering a preseason game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.

It was a crazy day because the Jets had just signed quarterback Brett Favre. Despite being an AFC North writer based in Cleveland, my entire purpose at the preseason game was to document Favre's arrival to the Jets.

In the process of doing that, I interviewed Faneca after the game to get his take on all the attention that Favre was bringing to the team.

"It was definitely a different game day than normal," Faneca said. "You wake up, and everybody is talking about you on the news. Being a night game, you have nothing to do but watch what's on the TV in the room and you get caught up to date."

After our Favre chat, I asked Faneca how he was fitting in with the Jets. He said it would take him some time getting used to a new environment. At heart, Faneca was a Pittsburgh Steeler, and that was his first game in a different uniform.

That offseason, Faneca was disappointed the Steelers didn't offer him a contract extension. At the time, Pittsburgh did not want to overspend for an offensive lineman who was over 30, despite Faneca coming off another Pro Bowl season in 2007.

Faneca joined the Jets and made two more Pro Bowls. He also started all 16 games last season for the Arizona Cardinals and registered nine Pro Bowls total in his tremendous career.

Faneca was one of the most dominant and durable offensive linemen in the past decade and will be most remembered for his 10-year stint with the Steelers, with whom he won his only Super Bowl after the 2005 season. Faneca probably could have played another season or two but felt it was better to go out healthy and on his own terms, which was a good move.

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

• Retired NFL quarterback Kurt Warner says his former team -- the Arizona Cardinals -- would be a good fit for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Morning take: The rumor mill will only increase now that the Bengals drafted TCU's Andy Dalton. Arizona could be one of several interested teams, but only if the Bengals give into Palmer's trade demands.

• Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith believes he's the best corner in this year's draft.

Morning take: Smith already has to prove he can stay out of trouble, and now he's putting pressure on himself on the field. Arizona rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson should be pretty good. So Smith is setting the bar high.

• Pittsburgh Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall removed one of his controversial tweets involving 9/11 from his Twitter account.

Morning take: Mendenhall was likely advised to take the tweet down in an effort to calm the situation. But at some point he should address this issue head-on.

• The Cleveland Browns have to make the most of their blockbuster trade with the Atlanta Falcons.

Morning take: Most applauded the move, but the key is for the Browns to hit on the additional picks. Defensive tackle Phil Taylor has to pan out this year, as well as Cleveland's two first-round picks in 2012 to take the next step.

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

• New Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Jordan Cameron showed off his athleticism in an entertaining video with NBA star Blake Griffin.

Morning take: Basketball has translated well for NFL tight ends, as evident by former hoop stars Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez. Cameron is raw but it's clear he has some ability.

• Speaking of Jordans, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jordan Palmer doesn't want to be written off yet. He wants to compete for a starting job with new draft pick Andy Dalton.

Morning take: Credit the enthusiasm, but it's clear the Bengals don’t have a lot of confidence in Jordan Palmer as a starting quarterback. Competition or no competition, the Bengals drafted Dalton to win the job.

• The Baltimore Sun reports the Ravens will not pursue tampering charges against the Arizona Cardinals for their reported "understanding" with pending free-agent quarterback Marc Bulger.

Morning take: Most tampering cases are difficult to prove, but this is especially true during a lockout. Is it me, or is Baltimore getting hit right now from all different directions?

• Will the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft class provide an immediate impact?

Morning take: Backup roles are likely, and that's usually how it works in Pittsburgh. But an injury or two could force some of its rookies into starting roles. So they have to stay ready.

The Baltimore Ravens are looking for big playmakers at receiver. The Cincinnati Bengals are going through a youth movement at the position, and the Cleveland Browns need legitimate threats for quarterback Colt McCoy any way they can get them.

Could former University of Pittsburgh receiver Jonathan Baldwin be the answer?

While first-round locks A.J. Green and Julio Jones get most of the pre-draft hype, Baldwin joins an athletic group of receiving prospects that includes Kentucky's Randall Cobb and Maryland's Torrey Smith. Each of the aforementioned trio is vying to be the next receiver off the board behind Green and Jones.

Baldwin is 6-foot-4, weighs 224 pounds, jumped 42 inches at the combine and can run. He has drawn comparisons to fellow Pittsburgh alum Larry Fitzgerald, whom Baldwin has worked with leading up to the draft.

Could the Ravens, Bengals or Browns use a Fitzgerald-type of playmaker on offense? Absolutely. All three division teams and the neighboring Steelers attended Baldwin's pro day at the University of Pittsburgh last month.

Baldwin caught 110 passes for 1,933 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final two seasons with the Panthers. Baldwin's abilities combined with playing a position of need make him a potential candidate for the AFC North in this month's draft.

Baldwin grew up in Aliquippa, Pa., a hotbed for football talent. He's the latest prospect to come out of a city that was also once home to Darrelle Revis, Ty Law and Sean Gilbert. According to Baldwin, regularly seeing and hearing about those players growing up provided motivation to work harder.

In addition to working with Fitzgerald, Baldwin also has used his hometown connections to get plenty of one-on-one time with Revis, the Jets' Pro Bowl cornerback.

"He's helped me a lot. He pushed me hard," Baldwin said of Revis. "It's just a lot of things I learned from him, such as different ways to beat press coverage. He's the best press corner in the NFL, I feel. He also told me things that he knows when a guy runs a certain route, because he does this or he does that, so I would know not to do that against defensive backs. ... It just makes it a lot better when you have the best defensive back in the National Football League giving you advice."

In the latest mock draft from ESPN's Todd McShay, Baldwin is the fourth receiver taken in the middle of the second round, behind Green, Jones and Cobb. Here is a summary of Scouts Inc.'s pre-draft report on Baldwin:

"Elite [ball skills]. Displays natural and strong hands and catches the ball away from his frame. Body control is excellent and can make tough catch outside of frame look easy. At his best catching the ball up high where he can use his long arms and ability to elevate. Tracks the deep ball effortlessly and will cause matchup problems in one-on-one jump ball situations. Flashes ability to pull in acrobatic one-handed catch."

According to Kevin Weidl of Scouts Inc., Baldwin must continue working on his route-running at the pro level. But Baldwin's physical tools are impressive.

"There's no one like him, I would say outside of A.J. Green, who tracks the deep ball better than him," Weidl said. "Baldwin and Green are at another level in this class in terms of going down the field, tracking, adjusting and playing the ball. He can be a mismatch down the field."

Baldwin honed much of his big-play ability from playing basketball since the fourth grade. He had early aspirations of playing in the NBA and was a very good hoops prospect in high school. In fact, Baldwin played in all-star games against current pro players such as Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, Memphis guard O.J. Mayo and San Antonio Spurs forward Dejuan Blair.

"I used to do some pretty sick dunks when I played," Baldwin said.

Baldwin started playing football in the ninth grade, which is when his focus began to shift. But you can still see his basketball skills translate to the gridiron. Baldwin often grabs the ball over defenders at its highest point, a coveted skill in the NFL. Now Baldwin is trying to prove through workouts and interviews that he can be a slam-dunk prospect.

"The process is very unique and I'm enjoying it," Baldwin said. "I'm going to different visits to talk to different guys and different coaching staffs to let them know me and understand me better."

Baldwin doesn't have any elaborate draft plans. He will stay home in Aliquippa with his family and wait for his name to be called.

Whether an AFC North team turns in a card with Baldwin's name on it remains to be seen. But it appears the Ravens, Browns and Bengals could use a player such as Baldwin.

ESPN.com's NFL team is doing something innovative this offseason. For the first time, we are compiling positional Power Rankings, similar to how we rank teams on an annual basis.

Readers will get our take on the best of the best at each position, which is sure to fuel debate. Our first installment Tuesday involved ranking the top 10 receivers in the NFL.

The AFC North was the only division that did not get a single player on this list. That brings us to this question: Is Mike Wallace a top 10 receiver?

Wallace, who caught 60 passes for 1,257 yards in 2010, finished No. 12 in the voting. I did not vote for him in the top 10.

As I explained in the Power Rankings piece, Wallace has just one year as a starter and still has to improve in certain areas before he's considered an elite receiver. His route-running on short and intermediate passes is getting better, but it's nowhere near some of the best at his position.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin use to label Wallace a "one-trick pony," and after this season Tomlin said at the Super Bowl that Wallace now has "one and a half tricks." I think that's an accurate assessment from Pittsburgh's coach of where Wallace stands right now.

All of the receivers in the top 10 -- led by Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals and Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions -- are more polished than Wallace. But once Wallace adds more routine plays to his deep speed, which could happen as early as this upcoming season, he could be among the NFL's top receivers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers hired a familiar name to join their coaching staff on Monday. The team announced former five-time Pro Bowler Carnell Lake will coach Pittsburgh's defensive backs this upcoming season.

Former Steelers assistant Ray Horton recently was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as their new defensive coordinator, leaving Pittsburgh's position vacant. This will be Lake's first NFL coaching gig. He played for the Steelers from 1989-98 and coached defensive backs for one season at UCLA in 2009.

Pittsburgh held the NFL's No. 2 defense, but the pass defense was inconsistent at times. The Steelers are also thin at cornerback and have a big pending free agent this year in Ike Taylor.

Thanks to Carson Palmer, there is a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati's $100 million quarterback wants out in the worst way and has threatened to retire if he doesn't get his wish.

Palmer's stern demands have put the Bengals in a huge bind this offseason, as the franchise now scrambles to find contingency plans in the event Palmer stays true to his word. Not only that, Cincinnati is coming off a disappointing 4-12 season and has plenty of needs throughout its roster.

Bengals ownership has held firm in saying it will not trade Palmer, leaving both parties at a stalemate. But there are many wrinkles to this saga that have yet to unfold.

With that in mind, here are five questions and answers on Cincinnati's quarterback issue:

Question No. 1: Who is currently on the roster?

Answer: For years, the Bengals have put off drafting an eventual successor at quarterback, and the team is now paying for it with Palmer's surprising threat to retire. Cincinnati's in-house options aren't very good. Carson Palmer's younger brother, Jordan Palmer, is the No. 2 quarterback on the roster. The four-year veteran has seen limited action in four career games and has a 34.4 passer rating. Jordan Palmer is trying to take a leadership role in Cincinnati and rally the receivers to work out together in the offseason. Second-year quarterback Dan LeFevour, No. 3 on the depth chart, is unproven. The Bengals picked up LeFevour off waivers from the Chicago Bears as a rookie last September. Neither quarterback is starting material and it would be surprising if Cincinnati starts next season with either player under center.

Question No. 2: What is available via trade or through free agency?

Answer: Although the Bengals traditionally aren't major players in free agency or the trade market, Cincinnati must an exception if the team wants an experienced quarterback to replace Palmer. As far as trades, Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles would be a solid fit for the Bengals. He's young, has some starting experience and is well-versed in the West Coast offense, which Cincinnati is implementing under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. Kolb is a backup in Philadelphia to Michael Vick, who was an MVP candidate last season. So for the right price, the Eagles could listen. Other options include Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, who are both on the outs with their teams. The Titans, in fact, could be a good landing spot for Palmer if the Bengals are willing to move him. (We will get to that later.) The free-agent market is thinner. But an interesting option, at least in the short term, could be Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo has expressed interest in re-signing Fitzpatrick (3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns) after a career year. But the Bills are also could draft their long-term solution at quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick. Fitzpatrick was Palmer's backup in Cincinnati in 2008.

Question No. 3: Who is available in the draft?

Answer: This is the safest route for the Bengals to grab "Palmer insurance." With labor uncertainty, there will no be trades or player movement until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. But there is guaranteed to be an NFL draft at the end of April. Cincinnati would be wise to grab one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. The Bengals have the No. 4 overall pick and could have a shot at top quarterback prospects Cam Newton of Auburn and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert. But investing such a high pick at quarterback when the team is still unsure about Palmer's future may not be the best route. A quality prospect at the position likely would be available at the top of the second round. Quarterbacks such as Ryan Mallett of Arkansas, Christian Ponder of Florida State and Andy Dalton of TCU could be possibilities there. Mallett showed great throwing ability at the combine but has some off-the-field concerns. But the Bengals have typically gone after those types of players in the past.

Question No. 4: What is Palmer's trade value?

Answer: Palmer is a 31-year-old quarterback whose best years are behind him, but he still has value. He put up a lot of yards (3,970) but not a lot of wins (four) last season. He also tied a career high with 20 interceptions, although some were the result of receivers freelancing and running their own routes. When looking at trade value, you have to examine recent examples. Last year the Eagles traded McNabb to Washington for a second-round pick and a future third- or fourth-round pick, which was conditional. This type of deal seems on par with what the Bengals could receive. Teams just don't give up first-round picks anymore because they're too valuable. So for a veteran such as Palmer, the Bengals could probably land a second-rounder and another pick or two in the middle rounds. Cincinnati also wouldn't have to worry about the $50 million owed to Palmer over the next years. If the Bengals try to call Palmer's bluff and he retires, they get nothing.

Question No. 5: Which teams are potential trade partners?

Answer: Palmer still has a few good years left and could be a solid quarterback in a winning situation. About a third of the league has questions at quarterback. But that doesn't mean every team is a good fit for Palmer. He doesn't want to be part of another long rebuilding process, which is what's going on in Cincinnati. So the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders would be ideal landing spots for Palmer, who could be the missing piece to turning these teams into playoff contenders. Other teams with quarterback needs, such as Buffalo and the Arizona Cardinals, have a lot more work to do and are in the same spot as Cincinnati. So Palmer probably would be less interested. All of this is contingent, of course, on the Bengals' willingness to trade Palmer.

Considering all of these factors, Palmer vs. the Bengals is undoubtedly a must-watch situation this offseason.

The offseason has just begun, but the coaching carousel has been spinning for all four teams in the AFC North.

Often the struggling teams make significant coaching changes, and that was the case with the Cincinnati Bengals (4-12) and Cleveland Browns (5-11). But playoff teams like the Baltimore Ravens (12-4) and even the Super Bowl runner-up Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) also experienced some turnover on their staff.

Here is a look at each change and what it means for the division:

Cleveland Browns

In: Head coach Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and a new staff.

Out: Former head coach Eric Mangini, former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

What happened? Mangini entered this past season on the hot seat and went 5-11 for the second consecutive year. There were a lot of philosophical differences between Mangini and Browns president Mike Holmgren. So when the team wasn't winning, it made for an easy decision to go in a different direction. Enter Shurmur, who was a surprise hire for Cleveland. Shurmur has no prior head-coaching experience and wasn't on the radar of other teams. The Browns have pretty much cleaned house and hired a new staff, which includes Jauron and veteran defensive assistant Ray Rhodes.

Analysis: Last year, Holmgren was dumbfounded by some of the things the Browns were doing, particularly on offense. But Holmgren and Shurmur share many of the same views, which will give Holmgren more say in what goes on, and I think being on the same page is important for any team. The Browns are one of the few teams this year that will change both their offense and defense. Cleveland will go to a West Coast offense under Shurmur, who did not hire an offensive coordinator and will call the plays. The Browns also will switch to a 4-3 defense, which is something they haven't run since 2004. Shurmur is taking on a lot of responsibility as a rookie head coach and de facto offensive coordinator, which raises some concerns. Cleveland hopes veteran coaches like Jauron and Rhodes will take care of the defense, giving Shurmur one less thing to worry about. In terms of personnel, the Browns have a lot of work to do. They need better receivers on offense if they plan to pass more and playmakers at defensive end to run a 4-3 scheme.

Cincinnati Bengals

In: Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, receivers coach James Urban.

Out: Former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, former receivers coach Mike Sheppard.

What happened? Changes were inevitable for Cincinnati's coaching staff this season. There was a lot of unrest among players internally who didn't like the scheme on offense. The Bengals entered the season with playoff aspirations but had an abysmal four-win campaign. Quarterback Carson Palmer was so unhappy that he demanded a trade after the season. Receivers Terrell Owens publicly criticized the coaching staff several times and starting tailback Cedric Benson said he was not returning if Bratkowski was still the offensive coordinator. Bratkowski was let go and later hired by the Atlanta Falcons, and Sheppard went to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gruden, a former UFL head coach and the brother of former NFL coach Jon Gruden, was hired as offensive coordinator, and Urban was hired as receivers coach from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Analysis: Cincinnati will be the second team in the division implementing a West Coast offense. Gruden also says he wants to make sure Cincinnati has a power running game, which is needed in this division. When the Bengals were at their best in 2009, they ran the football effectively and played tough defense. Cincinnati went away from that last year and had an awful season. How Gruden's offense translates from the UFL to the NFL remains to be seen. Cincinnati also has to handle a lot of personnel issues. Will Palmer retire? If so, who will be the new quarterback? Should the team trade Chad Ochocinco? Will Benson return? Cincinnati will have a very busy offseason trying to figure out these questions before putting together its new offense.

(Read full post)

As expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost defensive backs coach Ray Horton to the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has pursued Horton following Super Bowl XLV and announced Wednesday that he will become the team's new defensive coordinator.

There was speculation the Cardinals and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, a former Pittsburgh assistant, would go after defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau or linebackers coach Keith Bulter, but neither were leaving the Steelers. Butler is considered the top in-house candidate to replace LeBeau if he retires.

Horton will look to bring Pittsburgh's aggressive style to Arizona and did a solid job coaching players such as safety Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. The Steelers were No. 2 in total defense last season.

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

• The Baltimore Ravens could be in the market this offseason for a backup quarterback to starter Joe Flacco.

Morning take: Pending free agent Marc Bulger may get an opportunity to play elsewhere next season. I think the Ravens need a veteran backup to Flacco, though, as opposed to a rookie from the draft.

• The Arizona Cardinals are pursuing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton.

Morning take: The Steelers are bound to lose someone from their top-flight coaching staff, and it appears Horton may be that person. He's the favorite for Arizona's defensive coordinator opening.

• Here is another mock draft for the Cleveland Browns and the rest of the division.

Morning take: I don't agree with a lot of these AFC North picks. But click the link and formulate your opinion.

• How will the Cincinnati Bengals' new offense impact young receiver Jerome Simpson?

Morning take: This is an interesting question, because everyone in Cincy will go through an adjustment period. Simpson was just catching on after three years and now has to start anew.