ESPN NFL

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:

Browns general manager Tom Heckert said he's "100 percent" sure that defensive tackle Phil Taylor will play this season. Taylor underwent surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle Wednesday.

"I don't think there's any question about that," Heckert told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Monday night. "We think he'll probably be [ready by the] end of October, early November, but he'll definitely be back. [It's] six months at the most. That's being very, very cautious. He could be back earlier than that."

This timetable decreases the chances of the Browns adding a veteran defensive lineman. "We're really happy with the guys we have, especially the two guys we drafted [third-rounder John Hughes and sixth-rounder Billy Winn]," Heckert said.

Hensley's slant: Getting Taylor back at any point this season is a major plus for the Browns. Hughes and Winn are likely not ready to handle the challenges of starting a full season as rookies, and there is no veteran free agent who can significantly upgrade the position.

BENGALS: Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden shot down speculation that there are some in the Bengals organization who have their doubts about Andy Dalton’s upside and his arm strength limitations. "If there were reservations about Andy Dalton there would be a lot more quarterbacks here right now," Gruden told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We know and he knows he has to get better and he is chomping at the bit to get going. I have no reservations about his arm strength. I think he can do it all. If you can throw it 62, 63 yards, that is pretty strong. He does have a long way to go to get better. We’re not putting his jersey or shoes in Canton right now, but we have every reason to believe he will continue to improve.” Hensley's slant: Dalton doesn't have great arm strength, which is one of the reasons he fell into the second round last year. But Dalton succeeded last season because Gruden tailored the offense to Dalton's strengths and made him feel comfortable. Every quarterback has limitations, but it's the team's job to accentuate his strengths.

RAVENS: Safety Bernard Pollard is remaining supportive of Ed Reed, who indicated last week that he isn't committed to playing football right now. "This is a business, and Ed and I have had these talks before, but whatever he decides to do, we back him 100 percent," Pollard said, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. "The guy is a heck of a football player, he’s been a heck of a football player his whole career and for me it’s exciting playing with him. I guess I will put this out there: He better not leave me hanging so we’ll be alright.” Hensley's slant: Teammates, especially the defensive backs, have tremendous respect for Reed. But they understand there are some things you have to deal with when it comes to playing with him, whether it's his tendency to gamble during games and his constant wavering in the offseason.

STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said his relationship with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley is fine. There was drama this offseason when Roethlisberger and Haley didn't meet for two weeks after the Steelers hired Haley to replace Bruce Arians. “People blew it way out of proportion,” Roethlisberger told KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. “It’s something new, we’re getting to know each other … There’s no trouble between us at all. When you get a comfort level of like eight years of the same thing and then you change it, it’s just something different. So I’m not saying I don’t like the playbook or anything like that. Some of the concepts are awesome. It’s just getting an understanding of something new.” Hensley's slant: Roethlisberger will get a better feeling for Haley's new offense when he takes the field today for the start of OTAs. This offense will still be centered around Roethlisberger, but there will be a transition period after being in Arians' system for five years. That's why it would help if wide receiver Mike Wallace attended these workouts.

One week, Ben Roethlisberger is being given a diploma after graduating from college. The next, he's being handed a new playbook from offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

"I joke and say that my final paper for Miami on Tibet was a lot easier than the Rosetta Stone we're doing now here," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week.

The Steelers quarterback might have been showing off with the reference to the the ancient hieroglyphic stone (and not the computer software that helped swimmer Michael Phelps learn some words in Mandarin), but you get the point of the punchline. Based on what he's seen of Haley's complicated offense so far, Roethlisberger estimated it's 90 percent different than the one run by former Steelers coordinator Bruce Arians.

What should never change is the foundation of the Steelers' attack -- and that is Roethlisberger. Haley is the new playcaller, but this is still Roethlisberger's offense. As long as he's able to stand on two feet -- which has been a challenge at times after taking so many hits -- Roethlisberger should be slinging the ball 30 times per game to Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Heath Miller.

If the Steelers want a top-10 offense, they have to throw the ball. The three teams that averaged over 30 points per game last season were pass-first offenses that relied on the arms of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

If the Steelers want to remain an annual playoff contender, their offense has to revolve around Roethlisberger. The top five passing teams in the NFL last season -- New Orleans, New England, Green Bay, Detroit and New York Giants -- all advanced to the postseason and two of them met in the Super Bowl.

There was talk this offseason that Pittsburgh needed to get back to "Steelers football" and run the ball more. But who said that -- Art Rooney II or Ray Lewis? Because taking the ball out of Roethlisberger's hands only helps the defense.

Haley has proven extremely adaptable in his last two NFL stops. As the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, he installed a run-heavy offense with running backs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. As the offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals, he put together a pass-happy attack with Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

It doesn't take an ESPN analyst like Trent Dilfer to realize that the Steelers' personnel resembles the Cardinals more than the Chiefs. The Steelers have one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and a handful of young receivers who can fly all over the field. Pittsburgh is also going to be without its starting running back (Rashard Mendenhall is recovering from knee surgery) and doesn't have a Pro Bowl fullback like Vonta Leach. There really should be no mystery in how the Steelers will attack defenses this year.

"Steelers fans and coach [Mike] Tomlin and the Rooneys apparently thought [Arians] was throwing the ball too much," Roethlisberger said last week. "But yesterday in Coach Haley's office, we were talking about using the no-huddle and throwing the ball and how much we have to use our weapons."

The Steelers have yet to line up as a full team this offseason, but you can imagine what they will look like on offense when they do. It should be three wide receivers split out wide and a single back behind Roethlisberger. The idea is to spread out defenses and keep them on their heels with the no huddle.

Haley won't be afraid to put the offense on the shoulders of Roethlisberger. He did it with Warner in Arizona. In 2008, the Cardinals had the highest called-pass percentage in the league at 66.1 percent, according to ESPN Stats & Information's Allison Loucks.

The Steelers were never that one-dimensional under Arians, although it seemed like it at times. Last season, the Steelers called passes (includes sacks and scrambles) on 58.7 percent of their plays , which was 11th in the NFL but still under the league average of 59.4 percent.

The change from Arians to Haley was more than retooling the scheme. It's about getting into the end zone. There was no excuse for the Steelers ranking 12th in scoring in 2009 and 2010. And there was really no excuse for them to rank 21st this past season. Pittsburgh averaged only 20.3 points per game in 2011 and scored more than 30 points just three times.

Haley has to know the pieces are in place for a top-notch offense. Roethlisberger, who threw for more than 4,000 yards in two of the past three seasons, is proof of that. He can go deep to Wallace, hit Brown over the middle or find Miller down the seam. There are more options with speedy Emmanuel Sanders and veteran Jerricho Cotchery.

Perhaps one tweak is getting Roethlisberger to get rid of the ball quicker. The Steelers already took steps to reduce the hits on the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback by drafting offensive linemen in the first two rounds. The biggest loss on offense, outside of Mendenhall, was the release and eventual retirement of wide receiver Hines Ward. However, that departure should allow Roethlisberger to take on a larger leadership role.

So, Roethlisberger's first challenge is to understand the "Rosetta Stone" playbook. His ultimate one is to take a good offense and make it a great one.

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

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the team isn't close to signing free-agent wide receiver Braylon Edwards, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

A move wouldn't happen until next month because Edwards is still rehabbing his knee. He is expected to be ready for training camp.

“We’re pretty full with players and we’ll keep seeing if there are guys who are released who can help us and make us competitive,” Lewis said. “We want to strike the balance with the young players too. I don’t want to fill up our 90 spots with all old players. We’ve got to have some young guys to help supplement the draft picks and so at the end of the day you have an opportunity of guys trending up. We don’t want to have too many guys on the other side of their careers.”

Lewis doesn't think Edwards would disrupt chemistry because the receivers room belongs to A.J. Green, adding "it's his offensive football team and he has come back with that attitude."

Hensley's slant: The Bengals have the cap room to take a chance on Edwards. Cincinnati needs a No. 2 wide receiver and a target with experience. No wide receiver on the team has more than 65 career receptions. Edwards has 341 catches (but just 15 last season) and has averaged 15.6 yards per reception for his seven-year career.

BROWNS: Phil Taylor's agent said the defensive tackle is remaining positive while awaiting results of the MRI. Taylor injured his pectoral muscle Thursday while lifting weights. "Phil is staying positive. He's got a great attitude," Peter Schaffer told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He'll either be 100 percent [when the results come in] or if he needs surgery, he'll come back 100 percent. Things happen. Phil is going to be fine either way. If he misses time, he'll come back strong." Hensley's slant: The surprise contributor of the 2012 draft could be defensive tackle Billy Winn, a sixth-round pick out of Boise State. He slid in the draft because of questionable work ethic, but his skills could make him the top candidate to fill in for Taylor.

RAVENS: Fellow cornerback Lardarius Webb has high expectations for Jimmy Smith, last year's first-round pick. Smith's rookie season was thrown off course after he basically missed the first five games of the season with an ankle injury.“He can make a huge step,” Webb told the team's official website. “With his talent, his knowledge, I think he’s going to be a Pro Bowl corner coming up next year.” Hensley's slant: It was only last month when Webb said he wanted to be better than Darrelle Revis, so he obviously likes to think big. But as I said at that time, Smith has a chance to be better than Webb this season. Smith has the size and speed to be a shutdown cornerback.

STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he majored in education at Miami (Ohio) because he wanted to teach and coach. He received his degree last weekend. “I still may want to coach, still like to be a coach," he told the paper. "I wouldn’t rule teaching out, but I’d say it’s unlikely.’’ As the Post-Gazette pointed out, Roethlisberger would have to serve as a student-teacher if he wanted to teach. Hensley's slant: Just imagine the pressure on the quarterback for the team Roethlisberger would be coaching. You see the Super Bowl rings when Roethlisberger is holding the play-calling sheet, and you know you can't leave the game unless you have two or three broken bones. Those are some high standards to meet.

While Ben Roethlisberger didn't accuse the 49ers of putting a bounty on him, the Steelers quarterback did suggest that San Francisco was targeting his injured ankle.

When asked about the last time he felt a team was going after his knees, ankles or head, Roethlisberger said on "The Dan Patrick Show," via Comcast SportsNet Bay Area: "Um, wow, that's tough. I don't really complain about that stuff, either. But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra ... "

Roethlisberger added, "Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bulls-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them."

I attended that Dec. 20 game in San Francisco and don't remember anything close to a cheap shot on Roethlisberger in that game. The 49ers weren't penalized or fined for any illegal hits in that game.

My thorough colleague from the NFC West, Mike Sando, went even further. In his blog post on this subject, he reviewed every Pittsburgh offensive play from that game and saw nothing that bordered on dirty play. Roethlisberger was hit eight times by the 49ers, and Sando said defenders didn't twist the quarterback's lower body or roll onto his sprained ankle. So, unless the 49ers went after Roethlisberger when the lights went out at Candlestick Park that night, it's difficult to figure out what Roethlisberger was talking about when he said "there were some things going on."

If Roethlisberger did suspect the 49ers were going after his ankle, this is another reason why he shouldn't have been allowed to finish the game. Roethlisberger was still on the field late in the fourth quarter when the Steelers trailed by 17 points. I questioned the decision that night on exposing him to further injury. I really question it now after hearing Roethlisberger's concerns.

Roethlisberger said after that game that he didn't hurt his ankle more by playing in that game. He did, however, miss the next game against St. Louis, which was played five days later (it was a Christmas Eve game that followed a Monday night one).

He never mentioned any questionable hits in his press conference following the 20-3 loss in December, when reporters repeatedly asked him about his injured ankle. He seemed frustrated but not angry after a performance that included three interceptions and a fourth-quarter fumble. "I was probably the best 49er tonight," Roethlisberger said after the game.

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

When Browns running back Trent Richardson reports to rookie minicamp Friday, the first-round pick wants one less thing to worry about -- his contract.

Richardson said signing was his top priority and hears it's "really close to being done."

"I want it done by [Thursday], because I want to get everything done with," Richardson told 92.3 FM The Fan in Cleveland. "I'm here to play football, and I'm here to win."

Richardson seems motivated to prove he's worthy of being the third overall pick in the draft.

"People have made comments about me being an ordinary running back," Richardson said, referring to comments made by Jim Brown on draft day. "As of now, I haven't been in the league, so I do have to make a name for myself."

Hensley's slant: While the Browns say they won't hand the starting job to quarterback Brandon Weeden, team officials have made it clear that Richardson will carry a lot of the weight of the offense this year. The stat that jumps out to me is Richardson scored 24 touchdowns last season at Alabama. That's four more than what the Browns' offense scored in 2011.

BENGALS: When the Bengals begin their rookie minicamp Friday, they will take a look at a couple of wide receivers who went undrafted but bring a lot of speed. Connecticut's Kashif Moore ran the 40-yard dash art the NFL combine in 4.42 seconds, and New Mexico State's Taveon Rogers was timed at 4.33 seconds at his pro day in March. "The more [speed] you can get, the better; let's see it," Cincinnati wide receiver coach James Urban told the team's official website. Hensley's slant: It will be difficult for any of the undrafted rookie receivers to make the Bengals this season. They don't have a clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver as of yet, but they have plenty of depth at that position with A.J. Green, Jordan Shipley, Andrew Hawkins, Brandon Tate, Ryan Whalen, Armon Binns along with draft picks Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones.

RAVENS: Newly signed defensive tackle Ryan McBean told the team's official website that he's grateful for another chance and put a positive spin on the three-game suspension that he received for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. “It gives me time to get myself ready and focus on improving my craft," McBean said. "Whatever aches and pains I have, maybe those three weeks will help me heal whatever it is. Whatever the situation is, I’ll use that time to get better.” Hensley's slant: It was a low-risk move by the Ravens, who need experienced depth on the defensive line. According to the Carroll County (Md.) Times, McBean signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal that includes no signing bonus. That means the three-game suspension will cost him a little over $200,000.

STEELERS: Fourth-round pick nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu heard a familiar voice when he answered the phone the other day. It was Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. "I answered the phone and I didn't know what number it was," Ta'amu told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I answered it and was kind of star struck. I tried to play it cool. You hear his voice and you remember those Head & Shoulders commercials." Hensley's slant: It's says a lot about the locker room when veterans reach out to the rookies. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger called first-round pick David DeCastro to congratulate him after being drafted. But DeCastro made the mistake of thinking Roethlisberger was the team's travel coordinator setting up his flight to Pittsburgh.

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

The Baltimore Ravens met with free-agent wide receiver Jacoby Jones on Sunday, according to the NFL Network.

Jones, 27, has also visited with the Carolina Panthers since being released by the Houston Texans on May 1. He was due $3 million this season.

A third-round pick in 2007, Jones caught 31 passes for 512 yards and two touchdowns last season. He was also Houston's punt returner and averaged 10.2 yards on 179 career returns for the Texans. A fumbled punt by Jones set up a Baltimore touchdown in the playoffs last season.

Hensley's slant: I can see the Ravens being very interested in Jones. The Ravens have been looking at wide receivers who can also be the team's primary returner, so Jones fits their profile. Baltimore needs a third receiver behind Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. The team has also been searching for someone to take the punt return duties away from cornerback Lardarius Webb.

BENGALS: Linebacker Keith Rivers filed a grievance against the team last year, seeking his salary after being sidelined all last season with a wrist injury, according to National Football Post. The Bengals eventually traded Rivers to the New York Giants on April 11 for a fifth-round pick. Rivers, a former first-round pick, had surgery on his wrist near the end of the lockout last summer, and the Bengals thought he could have had it earlier in the offseason. The team put him on the non-football injury list, which meant Cincinnati got to withhold River's salary. Hensley's slant: These hard feelings represent another reason the Bengals were motivated to move Rivers. Cincinnati used that fifth-round pick from the Giants on Boise State safety George Iloka.

BROWNS: Two college defensive coordinators who beat new Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden say he got rattled when pressured. "He got quick feet. He got nervous," Iowa State defensive coordinator Wally Burnham told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He really threw the ball away in a hurry. I'm not saying he was scared, he just wanted to get the ball out to his hot receiver." Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables echoed that sentiment. "The challenge in the NFL," he said, "will be when the pocket's collapsing." Hensley's slant: In two games against those coordinators, Weeden combined for five touchdowns and six interceptions. But these comments aren't exactly a news flash. The biggest challenge for all rookie quarterbacks is adjusting to the increased pass rush and the smaller throwing windows to receivers.

STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger graduated from Miami (Ohio) about nine years after leaving for the NFL, and I'll give my take on that accomplishment later today. Pittsburgh also signed two of its nine draft picks during its weekend rookie camp, the team announced. The Steelers reached four-year agreements with nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu (fourth round) and running back Chris Rainey (fifth round). Hensley's slant: Take notice to the fact that these rookies are getting signed to four-year deals and not three-year ones. Under the new CBA, rookies who are drafted receive four-year contracts (teams can exercise a fifth-year option for players selected in the first round). That means drafted rookies will no longer become restricted free agents, like Mike Wallace, because they'll still be under contract.

The NFL is a passing league now, but the most of the AFC North apparently hasn't received that memo.

The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all ranked 19th or worse in passing last season. What have they done to improve that? Nothing really.

No division team signed a big-name receiver in free agency. No one drafted a wide receiver in the first couple rounds of the draft. It's like the AFC North collectively rolled up their sleeves and went to work on their running games this offseason.

Every big move in this division has been another step toward old-school football, where you pound the ball instead of pass it:

• The prize of the Bengals' free-agency period was running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and the team's second first-round pick Kevin Zeitler was the best run-blocking guard of the draft.

• The Browns used the third overall pick on Alabama's Trent Richardson, the highest a running back has gone in the draft since Reggie Bush in 2006.

• The Ravens put a $7.7 million franchise tag on running back Ray Rice, which is one season removed from Baltimore making Vonta Leach the highest-paid fullback in the league.

• Even the Pittsburgh Steelers have hinted at becoming a more balanced offense under new coordinator Todd Haley.

Teams have to run the ball to be successful in the AFC North, especially when the weather turns ugly late in the season. This is the only division in football that doesn't have a dome stadium or a warm-weather city like Miami or San Diego in it. Last season, the three AFC North teams that went to the playoffs combined for a 33-9 record (.785) when running the ball at least 20 times, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The problem is, recent NFL history says you win Super Bowls by throwing the ball, not handing it off. The last three Super Bowl champions -- the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and New York Giants -- all ranked in the top five in passing. While the Steelers finished 10th in passing, the others in the division -- the Ravens (19th), Bengals (20th) and Browns (24th) -- are severely lagging behind.

Baltimore and Cincinnati believe they have their franchise quarterbacks. Joe Flacco guided the Ravens to the playoffs for four straight seasons, and Andy Dalton made the Pro Bowl last season as a rookie. The Browns just invested the 22nd overall pick in Oklahoma State Brandon Weeden.

For the offenses to take that next step, they need wide receivers. The Bengals didn't re-sign two of their top three receivers (Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell). The Ravens only had two wide receivers catch more than four passes. And the Browns led the NFL in dropped passes.

Still, the AFC North teams ignored the position this offseason. There were no visits from Vincent Jackson, Robert Meachem, Pierre Garcon, Brandon Lloyd, Reggie Wayne and Mario Manningham in free agency. The draft featured Baylor's Kendall Wright, Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill and LSU's Rueben Randle getting taken elsewhere. Only one receiver signed with a division team -- the Bengals' Mohamed Sanu -- in the first two days of the draft.

How will the passing improve in this division when no one added a major weapon at wide receiver?

“The receivers, what will make them look good, is if they catch the ball better than they caught it last year,” Browns president Mike Holmgren said. “We dropped way too many balls and that wasn’t the quarterbacks’ fault. I don’t care if we bring back Otto Graham, the receivers have to catch the ball. They will be better, for a lot of reasons."

Holmgren added, “That’s why no one is in a panic about how the draft went as far as how our receivers went. We will not drop the ball like we dropped it last year. We will have a running game to go with our passing game. Those things by themselves it will be better.”

This isn't to say the division is totally bare at wide receiver. Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace and Cincinnati's A.J. Green are Pro Bowl players. Baltimore's Torrey Smith showed flashes of greatness. And Cleveland's Greg Little had his moments.

Still, the Ravens don't have a proven No. 3 wide receiver. The Bengals don't know who will step up to be the No. 2 one. And the Browns are wondering who will be the primary target.

The Steelers are the class of the division in terms of passing offense. They have a strong-armed quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger along with two playmakers at wide receiver in Wallace and Antonio Brown. But Pittsburgh could be facing decisions at the wide receiver position, too. Wallace is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and Brown will become one in 2014.

But this offseason was all about the Ravens, Bengals and Browns playing catch-up. Instead, the teams let the opportunities slip through their fingers.

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

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave a thumbs-up to the team using its first two draft picks on offensive linemen.

Pittsburgh drafted guard David DeCastro in the first round and offensive tackle Mike Adams in the second round. Roethlisberger said the team kept him "in the loop a little bit" about the selections.

"I'm excited,'' Roethlisberger told the Altoona (Pa.) Mirror before the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "You know, at least on paper, it looks awesome. But, you never know until you take the field and the bullets start flying.

Hensley's slant: There's a good reason for Roethlisberger's excitement. He has ranked in the top five in getting sacked for five of the past six seasons. The only time he didn't was 2010, the year he was suspended for four games. It was clear that the Steelers' draft focus was protecting Roethlisberger.

BENGALS: Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict was disappointed that he didn't get drafted but it apparently didn't hurt his confidence level. “I know that I’m a first-, second-round pick and the Bengals got a steal in the draft because nobody drafted me," Burfict told the Arizona State Press. Hensley's slant: Burfict was once considered a first-round prospect until maturity concerns and a terrible NFL combine performance caused him to plummet down draft boards. In previous years, the Bengals might have used a draft pick on a player with maturity issues like Burfict. Signing him as an undrafted free agent is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Bengals, who are thin at linebacker.

BROWNS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw thinks the Browns should part ways with quarterback Colt McCoy after drafting Brandon Weeden in the first round. "The Browns can't be expected to win immediately with Weeden under center in the West Coast offense, particularly since he's unaccustomed to both -- being under center and the West Coast offense," Shaw wrote. "The last thing Weeden needs is dealing with McCoy's incumbency in a sentimental football city housing convincing arguments claiming he never really got a chance." Hensley's slant: The Browns don't have the luxury right now to make football decisions based on public relations. The team must believe McCoy is a better quarterback than Seneca Wallace or else it wouldn't have started McCoy last season. That's why the smart decision is to keep McCoy as the backup to Weeden.

RAVENS: The Ravens' draft board got uncharacteristically wiped out, according to the team's official website. By the end of the three-day event, all but three of the team's top 150 players were selected. And Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta said those three remaining players had medical concerns. “Things don’t always happen the way you want them to,” DeCosta said. “Some drafts, every player that you want kind of comes to you, and then other drafts – this year comes to mind; 2010 was very similar to this year -- sometimes you just get wiped out. You have four players, and all of a sudden, boom they are gone.” Hensley's slant: The Ravens' 2010 draft won't go down as one of their best, but the team did find productive players in nose tackle Terrence Cody and tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta and defensive tackle Art Jones. That's also the draft where Baltimore gambled on linebacker Sergio Kindle, who had several pre-draft red flags. He has yet to contribute since fracturing his skull in 2010 when he fell down two flights of stairs.

While most of the attention focused on the Steelers getting the best guard available (Stanford's David DeCastro), they quietly made an important addition even before the draft began. Pittsburgh agreed to terms on a one-year deal with quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Bringing back Charlie Batch less than two weeks ago was an insurance policy if the Steelers couldn't keep Leftwich. Now, Leftwich is the favorite to be the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger, as long as he remains healthy. He has started 49 games and passed for 10,260 yards and 58 touchdowns.

Leftwich, 32, is five years younger than Batch, and is a more viable option to lead an offense if Roethlisberger went down for an extended period. The Steelers have always preferred Leftwich to Batch. Leftwich was supposed to start for the suspended Roethlisberger in 2010, but he hurt his knee in the final preseason game. He was also projected to be the team's No. 2 quarterback last season before breaking his arm in the preseason.

The Steelers now have five quarterbacks on the roster: Roethlisberger, Leftwich, Batch, former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, and Jerrod Johnson. Striking a deal with Leftwich decreases the chances of Pittsburgh drafting a quarterback in the later rounds.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Colt McCoy era is over. A new one -- make that older one -- began Thursday night when the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick.

The Browns have gone from a weak-armed quarterback to a geriatric one by NFL standards. At 28 years, 195 days, Weeden is the oldest player ever to be taken in the first round of the Common Draft era, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Weeden is only two years younger than Ben Roethlisberger. He's one year older than Brady Quinn, the last quarterback taken by the Browns in the first round.

Drafting running back Trent Richardson in the first round was a no-brainer. And, even though I think Weeden can be a quality starter in this league, taking him in the first round makes little sense for a team that is not a quarterback away from contending for a Super Bowl.

The Browns have too many other needs on offense to reach for a failed minor-league pitcher. The Cleveland front office believes it found a franchise quarterback in Weeden, but you have to wonder who is going to block for him at right tackle and who is going to catch the long passes from Weeden's big arm. The Browns are right that Weeden will be an upgrade over McCoy. But, like McCoy, he might have trouble reaching that potential with the holes surrounding him.

In a span of a few hours, the Dawg Pound went from high-fiving over the selection of Richardson to scratching their heads over Weeden.

Why didn't the Browns take a wide receiver like Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill? Why didn't Cleveland pick up Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff or Stanford guard David DeCastro? Why did a rebuilding franchise select an older quarterback?

"We went through the process of evaluating him, we became very fond of him," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "We all did, from Randy [Lerner, owner] to Mike [Holmgren, team president] to Tom [Heckert, general manager] to myself. I came away saying this is a guy we'd like to have on our team. That's where we're at right now."

It was interesting that Shurmur pointed out that the owner had input on this decision. The pressure is on, and the clock is ticking.

At his age, Weeden has to start immediately. There's no time to let him sit and learn. And, because of his age, the expectation is to win immediately.

Browns officials shrugged off Weeden's age as being an issue. The number they concentrated on is 22, which is Weeden's wins in 25 starts in college.

"We feel like the kid's a winner," Shurmur said. "I wasn't concerned about his age."

The arrival of Weeden could mean the end of McCoy's days in Cleveland. The Browns gave McCoy a major vote of no confidence when they aggressively tried to trade up for Robert Griffin III last month.

The question now isn't whether McCoy will compete for the job. It's whether McCoy will even be on this team. Heckert didn't deny the possibility that the Browns could trade McCoy this weekend.

"To be honest, we haven't thought about that. We really haven't," Heckert said. "That's something we'll talk about tonight and tomorrow."

If it wasn't for Weeden's age, he would have been a top-10 pick. He has a strong arm. He's got a quick release. He is a hard worker. He is a respected leader.

There's a good chance that Weeden will be a productive quarterback and might end the string of other "franchise" quarterbacks like Tim Couch, Derek Anderson and Quinn. The problem is, teams draft quarterbacks in the first round to be the starter for the next decade. The odds are against that with Weeden, who will turn 30 in October next year.

The Browns have done such a great job in rebuilding the defense in the past two drafts that you want to give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll do the same on offense. When it came time for the Browns to pick at No. 22, Heckert said there was no decision to make especially after Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright was drafted by Tennessee at No. 20.

"Brandon was by far the best player for us," Heckert said. "There wasn't really even an afterthought. As soon as a couple of guys went, we knew we were going to take him."

Weeden might have been the best player available at that point. He was just not the right player for the Browns.

A judge dismissed an assault charge against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga on Thursday after learning the dispute was settled in mediation.

Maualuga might not get off as easy from the NFL, and he really shouldn't based on the league's history with repeat offenders. In February 2010, two years before this latest incident, he pleaded guilty to drunken driving but he successfully won his appeal of a one-game suspension.

Avoiding a suspension will be tougher this time and it doesn't matter that he avoided conviction. In fact, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ben Roethlisberger two years ago when the Steelers quarterback wasn't arrested or charged with a crime.

For Maualuga, he was charged with misdemeanor assault after an employee at a downtown bar told police that the middle linebacker punched him in the face. The judge dismissed the case after neither Maualuga nor the bar employee wanted to pursue the matter. In the eyes of the law, this case never happened. The NFL, however, knows it did.

Breakdown: Don't play that lack-of-respect card this year, Who Dey nation. After not making a prime-time appearance last season, the Bengals were rewarded with three after a surprising run to the playoffs. The last time the Bengals had more prime-time games was 2007, when they had four.

Cincinnati opens the season on Monday night at Baltimore, plays at home in a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 21 and has a Thursday night game at Philadelphia on Dec. 13. The most shocking part of the Bengals' schedule is that the return of Carson Palmer to Paul Brown Stadium on Nov. 25 isn't on national television.

The Bengals will find out where they stand in the AFC North early -- four division games are in the first seven weeks of the season. Cincinnati then goes nine weeks without facing an AFC North team until it finishes at Pittsburgh and home against Baltimore.

Complaint department: There really isn't much to complain about. Four of the Bengals' first six games are on the road. But that could also be considered the easy part of the schedule, with only one of those road games against a playoff team from last season. After playing at Baltimore, the Bengals travel to Washington, Jacksonville and Cleveland.

Sellout streak?: It's no secret that the Bengals have had trouble selling tickets. Only two home games last season weren't blacked out (and one was the result of a "buy one, get one free" promotion). But there's no excuse for a lack of sellouts this year. The Bengals have a three-game home stretch in the middle of the season when Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning come to town. If the Bengals can't pack the stadium for those games, there's a major problem in Cincinnati.

Bengals Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10, at Baltimore, 7:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13, at Philadelphia, 8:20 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Baltimore, 1:00 PM

The Baltimore Ravens are among three teams interested in Steelers free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Rams and Denver Broncos are also in the running for Dixon, who is not expected to return to Pittsburgh.

The Ravens have been inconsistent in how they've addressed the backup quarterback position recently. In 2010, Baltimore spent $3.8 million on Marc Bulger to have veteran insurance behind Joe Flacco. In 2011, the Ravens went with rookie sixth-round pick Tyrod Taylor.

One reason why the Ravens could go with Bulger in 2010 was the uncapped year, but it's definitely a major philosophical switch to go from a playoff-tested quarterback in Bulger to a raw prospect like Taylor. Of course, Baltimore hasn't needed a backup, because Flacco has never missed a start in his four-year career (64 straight, the third-longest current streak in the NFL). But the Ravens' playoff chances would get decimated if Flacco got hurt, and the team had to turn to Taylor for an extended period.

Dixon, 27, the No. 3 quarterback last season for Pittsburgh, has made three career starts in his four seasons with the Steelers. He has a 2-1 record, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dixon's first start came against the Ravens in 2009, when his interception in overtime set up the winning field goal.

Here are the backup quarterback situations for the rest of the AFC North:

BENGALS: Cincinnati is set with journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. When Andy Dalton was hurt in last year's season opener, Gradkowski rallied the Bengals to a 27-17 win at Cleveland.

BROWNS: At this point, the Browns are going with Seneca Wallace, the team's backup for the past two seasons. But the depth chart could get moved around if Cleveland drafts a quarterback in the early rounds. If the Browns don't take a quarterback, Wallace won't be competing with Colt McCoy for the starting job, the team said.

STEELERS: Besides Ben Roethlisberger, the only quarterbacks on the roster are Troy Smith and Jerrod Johnson. The Steelers likely will bring back Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch. The favorite to return is Leftwich, who reportedly drew interest from the Colts.

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

Ben Roethlisberger knows firsthand the power of Tebow-mania. It was three months ago when he watched fans go crazy in Denver after Tim Tebow threw the winning touchdown pass in overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.

So, when does Roethlisberger think Jets fans will begin chanting Tebow's name?

“First preseason game,” Roethlisberger told the New York Post last week.

Leading up to the playoff game against the Broncos, Roethlisberger expressed sympathy for Tebow because he is always in the spotlight. Now, Roethlisberger is feeling bad for Jets starter Mark Sanchez after Tebow was traded from Denver to New York.

"It's going to be tough," Roethlisberger said at the unveiling of the new Nike uniforms. “[Tebow is] going to be the most popular guy in the city."

Hensley's slant: Speaking of backups, Roethlisberger still doesn't exactly have one. The talk of Byron Leftwich re-joining Bruce Arians with the Colts has quieted down. Perhaps Arians wasn't as persuasive as everyone expected. If the money is close, my prediction is Leftwich will come back to the Steelers.

BENGALS: The team's biggest needs heading into the draft are wide receiver, guard and cornerback. As the team's official website pointed out, taking a guard or wide receiver doesn't follow a trend. The Bengals have never drafted a guard in the first round, and they have selected only one wide receiver (A.J. Green) the first round during the Marvin Lewis era. Hensley's slant: I would be surprised if the Bengals didn't take a guard in the first round. If Stanford's David DeCastro falls to the Bengals at No. 17, it will be difficult for Cincinnati to pass on him. Georgia's Cordy Glenn would be a candidate for the Bengals' second first-round pick (No. 21).

BROWNS: Only three of the Browns' 83 draft picks from 1999 to 2008 remain with the team, according to the Canton Repository. Some of the first-round picks who had short runs with the Browns include: quarterback Tim Couch, running back William Green, center Jeff Faine, tight end Kellen Winslow, wide receiver Braylon Edwards and quarterback Brady Quinn. The lack of success in the draft has translated to a lack of success on the field. The Browns are 18-46 in the past four seasons. Hensley's slant: In two drafts with general manager Tom Heckert, the Browns have found some picks to stick, especially on defense. Taking cornerback Joe Haden, safety T.J. Ward, defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard in the first two rounds has started a strong foundation for the future. Now, Heckert has to start adding stronger pieces to the offense.

RAVENS: Lardarius Webb told the Baltimore Sun that he considers himself one of the top five corners in the NFL, but he realizes that he needs to prove it for an extended period to be placed in the same class as Darrelle Revis and Champ Bailey. “There are plenty of things that I can do better,” Webb said. “I can be an All Pro. I can make the Pro Bowl. I can get nine [interceptions]. There are a lot of things that I can do to improve my game. Money doesn’t change what I want to be in life. I want to go to Canton. I want to be the best to ever play cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.” Hensley's slant: No one should take anything away from Webb, who had an outstanding season last year. He didn't allow a touchdown and made eight interceptions (including three in the postseason). Still, Jimmy Smith should emerge as the No. 1 corner on the Ravens if he reaches his potential over the next season or two.