ESPN NFL

BEREA, Ohio -- Former Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren admits that he still thinks about the outcome of Super Bowl XL. Seattle lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10, in a game filled with questionable calls that went against the Holmgren-led Seahawks.

More than four years later, referee Bill Leavy put Super Bowl XL back in the spotlight by recently admitting he blew some calls in the game. On Tuesday Holmgren, now president of the Cleveland Browns, reacted to the news.

"Of course I was disappointed at the time, and because it was the Super Bowl, I still think about it on occasion," Holmgren said. "But like anything in this business, if you let it linger it's going to have an adverse effect on what you do moving forward.

"We didn't play our best football that day. Had we played better and coached better, those calls might not have made a difference. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes, and you can't hold one person accountable for the final outcome of that game."

Several former Seahawks applauded Leavy's admission but said the loss still stings.

"On a whole, unless they're going to come out and say 'Hey, here's the trophy and here's your ring,' it's not going to make a difference," Browns quarterback and former Seahawk Seneca Wallace said.

Added former Seahawk Bobby Engram: "I hope [Leavy] feels better about himself. He's human and we all make mistakes. I'm sure he was trying his hardest, but it was difficult for us to overcome some of those missed calls."

Holmgren led two different franchises -- Seattle and Green Bay -- to Super Bowls and is now in his first year attempting to turn around the Browns, who finished 5-11 last season.

CLEVELAND -- The Browns held their team-wide scrimmage Saturday, where ESPN.com's AFC North blog caught up with former Seattle Seahawks Seneca Wallace and Bobby Engram to get their take on Super Bowl XL.

NFL referee Bill Leavy recently admitted he blew some calls in Pittsburgh's 21-10 victory against Seattle more than four years ago.

Here was their reaction:

Browns quarterback and former Seahawk Seneca Wallace:

"On a whole, unless they're going to come out and say 'Hey, here's the trophy and here's your ring,' it's not going to make a difference. But if we took care of what we were supposed to take care of in that game ... I think a lot of those calls wouldn't have made a difference. But it's good that he came out now and admitted that he blew some calls."

"We can only control what we can control. If the refs are going to make bad calls, they're going to make bad calls. We can dispute and argue them all we want. But at the end of the day [Pittsburgh] walked away with the trophy."

"[Mike Holmgren] wasn't happy at all. He's a very intense guy. From what I remembered, he was very upset with some of the calls that went on in that game."

Browns receiver and former Seahawk Bobby Engram:

"I hope he feels better about himself. He’s human and we all make mistakes. I’m sure he was trying his hardest, but it was difficult for us to overcome some of those missed calls.”

"We talked about it until we were blue in the face the first year after. To throw salt in that wound, I live in Pittsburgh and went to Penn State. Even the fans there, they knew. The fans knew me from Penn State, so they treat me a little differently. And when you talked to a majority of them, they say that they hated to see it go down like that. They saw it. Those calls were such momentum-changers. We kept battling and kept battling. But we could only overcome so much, especially when we didn’t play our best football that day."

"But I feel bad for the guy. These refs try hard and I respect what they do. It's not an easy job. It's a fast-paced game and a lot of big, strong guys are flying around. It's just unfortunate that he had a bad game in the Super Bowl."

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

• Safety Troy Polamalu looks healthy and ready to help the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense this year.

Morning take: When Polamalu is in the lineup, Pittsburgh's defense is arguably the NFL's best. He's the player offenses must watch at all times.

• Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington is participating in practice following knee surgery.

Morning take: Washington's potential return in Week 1 would help soften the blow of losing teammate Domonique Foxworth.

• With his contract done, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham is making up for lost time.

Morning take: The first-round pick will play in Sunday's Hall of Fame Game. So these next few days are important to get up to speed.

• At 37, receiver Bobby Engram believes he can help the Cleveland Browns.

Morning take: Engram recorded 94 receptions just three years ago, so maybe he has something left. But a 35-year-old quarterback (Jake Delhomme) throwing to a 37-year-old receiver (Engram) doesn't sound like a dependable formula.

Let's dig into our AFC North inbox.

Charlie from Brunswick, Ohio, writes: What are the odds that the Browns can pick up another veteran wide receiver before the season starts? While hopefully Bobby Engram strengthens the receiving corps, I'm betting the Browns will need more help then he can provide.

James Walker: The odds are slim of Cleveland making a significant veteran pickup before training camp. But if an injury occurs this summer, that opens the door for the Browns to look for more help. The only big name left on the market that I think can be of significant help is Terrell Owens. He could probably start for Cleveland right now, considering what it has on its roster. But the feeling I get is the Browns do not want to take in that type of big personality in their locker room when they know they’re rebuilding.

---

Becky from Galloway, Ohio, writes: What is the status of the Marvin Lewis contract negotiations? Any chance it will get done before the season?

Walker: To my knowledge there hasn’t been a lot of movement lately. I don't want to speculate beyond that, because things can always change. I'm not sure if the Pittsburgh Steelers' three-year extension given to coach Mike Tomlin could spark things with Cincinnati or not.

---

Thomas from Charlottesville, Va., writes: How do you think a Cedric Benson suspension would change the Week 2 Bengals-Ravens match up?

Walker: If Benson is suspended, which hasn't been determined, I think it would impact the Bengals tremendously. He was the biggest part of Cincinnati’s offense last year. The Bengals will pass more this season, but two games against the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens to start the season would be very tough without Benson.

---

Ian Currie from Atlanta wants to know what rookie RB Jonathan Dwyer's role could be with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Walker: Ideally, Dwyer could step in and help in short yardage. That is an area the Steelers really struggled last year. In college at Georgia Tech, Dwyer was a strong runner. But Pittsburgh’s players haven’t put the pads on so that remains to be seen.

---

Zack from Bethlehem, Pa., wants to know why the Ravens and Steelers are signing rookies to three-year deals.

Walker: That's an interesting question, Zack. I haven't really thought much about it. But with the labor uncertainty teams may be looking into shorter deals just in the event the worst-case scenario plays out and there’s no football next year. The bigger the contract, the bigger the up-front signing bonuses, and that’s where players make a lot of their money.

---

Complaint department (Bengals edition)

What is going on in our AFC North community? There seems to be a lot of Bengal hatred lately in our division inbox. Did I miss something?

Jason from Cocoa, Fla., writes: James, I'm taking Flavor Flav's advice, and I don't believe the hype about the Bengals. They're a 6-10 team this year, 7-9 at best. They're coming of a division title, not a four-win record. So they're not sneaking up on anybody, and other teams will not look past them. We can all see that the schedule looks harder, but teams vary year to year, so that's all crap. Pittsburgh went 12-4 and won the championship with the toughest schedule, but laid an egg last year with a much easier draw - losing to inferior teams, such as the Bengals, twice. I'd appreciate it if you recognize me in January for knowing more about the Bengals than that one-trick pony who can't pronounce 85 in Spanish. Yes, that's one-trick, going deep. He's too scared to go over the middle, can't block for his RB's, and CAN'T get his team past the wild card.

Mike from Baltimore writes: I believe the Bengals overachieved last year. The Bengals were either in the game, or out of the game. But the Ravens were never out of any game last season. I believe the Bungals are more likely to pan out at 7 -9 than the Ravens are.

Jermaine B. from Baltimore writes: Why are people determined to label Carson Palmer as an "elite" QB? In six years as a starter he he's only made the playoffs twice & lost both games at home! And folks can [quit] the excuses about the teams around him. A TRULY "elite" QB elevates the players around him.

Ben from Groton, Conn., writes: Chad Ochocinco provided bulletin-board material all right--for a physical Steelers secondary. I hope he keeps talking when all those girls are in the playoffs and he's watching from the couch in January.

Denis from De Pere, Wis., writes: Dude has only broken the 100-yard barrier twice in 18 games against the Steelers. Keep talking, Chad. Keep talking.

Dennis F. from Alexandria, Va., writes: Funny the Bengals see the Steelers as their biggest rival. Too bad the Steelers don’t see it the same way. Sure they swept us last season. But when it comes to the Steelers our biggest rival is the Ravens.

James from Baltimore writes: JW, you said in the chat that the Bengals were the best team in the division last year. I think you're forgetting the last several games of last season. How can you not say the Ravens were ultimately the better team after they went into Foxborough and dismantled the Patriots while the Bengals sputtered against the Jets at home?

Adam B. from Apple Valley, Minn., writes: Chad Ochocinco recently complained that the Ravens are getting all of the offseason hype even though the Bengals are the defending AFC North champs. But I say the Ravens deserve it since they're 20-12 the last two years and have gone 3-2 in the playoffs despite all five games being on the road. While the Bengals have gone 14-17-1 in the same stretch and are 0-1 in the playoffs, despite the one game being at home.

Every year teams have tough decisions to make to trim their rosters to 53 players. Sometimes the coaching staff and front office can't agree on who stays and who goes, and the debates get pretty heated.

With training camp approximately two weeks away, here are eight AFC North players who could be heavily debated and on the roster bubble this summer:

1. Adam Jones, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Case for: There is no denying Jones' talent. The former first-round pick looked quick and athletic playing cornerback and returning kicks during last month's mandatory minicamp. What's interesting is Jones is still working himself back into football shape after sitting out the 2009 season. The Bengals lacked a reliable third cornerback to go with starters Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. So there is a role available.

Case against: Jones sat out last season for off-field reasons. He has said and done the right things so far in Cincinnati, but he's on a very short leash with the league office. One mishap and Jones could be off the team and out of the league for the rest of the year. But if he stays clear of trouble, he has enough ability to make the team and contribute.

Chances of making team: 80 percent

2. Matt Jones, WR, Bengals

Case for: Jones has good size and experience. The former first-round pick had 166 career receptions and 15 touchdowns during his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Outside of starters Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant, Cincinnati has a pretty young group of receivers. That could give Jones a chance to earn roster spot if he's polished enough to contribute now for the defending AFC North champs.

Case against: After sitting out all of 2009 because of off-field issues, Jones appears to have lost a step. This spring he hasn't looked nearly as explosive as the freakish athlete who impressed at the NFL combine in 2005. Similar to Adam Jones, it's possible that Matt Jones can regain some of his form in the process of a grueling training camp. Jones also has an inexpensive, team-friendly contract, which the Bengals can easily terminate if they don't like what they see.

Chances of making team: 40 percent

3. Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals

Case for: Despite a lack of production, Simpson has stuck around for two reasons: draft status and lack of receiver depth. It's hard for teams to give up on second-round picks. The Bengals invested a lot in Simpson and still want to get a return on their high pick, even if it means an extended wait. In the past, the Bengals haven't had a lot of receiver depth, which has allowed Simpson to make the 53-man roster. But that has changed this year, as Cincinnati's receiving corps has a lot of competition.

Case against: The Bengals appear tired of waiting on Simpson, who has one reception in two seasons. They drafted two rookie receivers to compete for roster spots, Jordan Shipley and Dezmon Briscoe. This is a make-or-break training camp for Simpson. He showed occasional flashes in practice but not nearly enough to earn the trust of the coaching staff when it matters in the regular season. Entering his third NFL season, there are no more excuses for Simpson not to produce.

Chances of making team: 50 percent

4. Demetrius Williams, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Case for: With his speed and athleticism, a case can be made that Williams potentially is Baltimore's most dangerous deep threat. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason are more savvy, consistent receivers, while Donte' Stallworth is trying to get his legs under him after sitting out a year. Williams has averaged an impressive 16 yards per catch in his career, including two touchdown receptions of 70 yards or more. There is an open role for someone to get deep in Baltimore's high-powered offense, and Williams has a chance to be that player.

Case against: Health has always been an issue for Williams. He has played in 16 games once in his four-year career. Baltimore has kept Williams because of his potential, but at some point the Ravens would like to see consistency. To do that, Williams must stay healthy to find a role on a Ravens team with very high expectations.

Chances of making team: 70 percent

5. John Beck, QB, Ravens

Case for: Beck knows offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's system well from their days together with the Miami Dolphins. Beck's future in Baltimore could come down to Troy Smith's situation. There have been rumors of interest in Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback injuries in training camp and preseason could also increase Smith's trade value this summer, which would gift wrap the No. 3 quarterback job for Beck.

Case against: If nothing happens on the trade front, the Ravens have an interesting decision to make between Smith and Beck. With Joe Flacco, Marc Bulger and Smith, Beck is probably the team's fourth quarterback right now, which naturally makes him the odd man out. If Smith is still on the roster, Beck will have to make up ground the old-fashioned way and outperform Smith in the preseason to win a roster spot.

Chances of making team: 40 percent

6. Bobby Engram, WR, Cleveland Browns

Case for: The Browns have little depth and little experience at receiver. Engram potentially could provide both. The 14-year veteran played for Cleveland president Mike Holmgren when both were with the Seattle Seahawks and knows what to expect. Engram recently had a big year in 2007, when he had 94 receptions for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns. He also can serve as a mentor to young receivers such as Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie.

Case against: It's questionable what Engram, 37, has left. Last season he had only five receptions in five games for the Kansas City Chiefs. Holmgren is hoping Engram has one more decent year left in him to help Cleveland's struggling offense, which finished last in the NFL in 2009. But if there's any team Engram can make this year, it's the Browns.

Chances of making team: 60 percent

7. James Davis, RB, Browns

Case for: Davis was arguably Cleveland's biggest rookie surprise last summer when he led the team in rushing during the preseason. But high expectations were crushed when a season-ending shoulder injury limited Davis to only two games. Now he's back for his second season and looks healthy.

Case against: Cleveland's situation at running back is very crowded. One of the best things Holmgren and new general manager Tom Heckert did this offseason was put together a solid group of rushers. The Browns traded up to draft tailback Montario Hardesty in the second round and got Peyton Hillis from the Denver Broncos in the Brady Quinn trade. Last year's leading rusher, Jerome Harrison, also returns to make for a versatile group of ball carriers. All three running backs are ahead of Davis on the depth chart. So barring injury, Davis looks like a strong candidate for the practice squad.

Chances of making team: 35 percent

8. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Case for: Despite being a sixth-round pick, Dwyer has a chance to contribute early for the Steelers. He displayed strong legs and good power in college, and that could translate into a short-yardage option for Pittsburgh. The Steelers struggled in the red zone and in short-yardage situations. If Dwyer proves he can move the chains, that would be more than enough to earn a roster spot.

Case against: Although the Steelers may end up with a bargain, no team is afraid to put a sixth-round pick on the practice squad. Dwyer played in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, which means he may need some time to learn a pro-style offense. But Dwyer could pan out in a limited role.

Chances of making team: 75 percent

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

• Head coach Mike Tomlin says he's fine, despite the offseason turmoil surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Morning take: Tomlin has the right, even-keeled mentality to handle all the curveballs thrown his way. But winning games without star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger remains a major challenge.

• Is Baltimore Ravens third-year quarterback Joe Flacco due for a breakout season?

Morning take: All the pieces are in place for Flacco to be successful. He is a good fantasy sleeper for 2010, as well.

• Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco gave his take on the LeBron James hoopla.

Morning take: Both stars had their own television shows this offseason. In fact, Ochocinco has another one starting up this Sunday.

• Meanwhile Ochocinco's good friend, free-agent receiver Terrell Owens, is still looking for a job.

Morning take: It will be interesting to see where Owens ends up. The Browns desperately need receivers. I'm not sure if Owens is a good fit in Cleveland, but is the recently-acquired Bobby Engram a better option?

Offensive coordinators Bruce Arians, Cam Cameron, Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll have something in common: They're lightning rods for fans throughout the AFC North.

They are among the most talked about assistants in the division, and in many ways it's a very tough spot to be in. When things go right, the players executed. But when things go wrong, it's the offensive coordinators who get blamed for poor play calling. All four face different challenges in 2010.

Here's a look at the coordinators for each team:

Offensive coordinator: Bruce Arians

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 7

Biggest challenge: The start of the season will be trying for the Steelers as star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serves his conditional six-game suspension. With good behavior Roethlisberger could return after four games, which is the expected outcome. But Pittsburgh has had the luxury of Roethlisberger making magic out of broken plays and will need to be more structured and conventional to win during the first month of the season. Expect Arians to earn his money trying to scheme without his best offensive player.

Biggest strength: Even with the trade of Santonio Holmes, the Steelers still have a good group of veteran skill players. Hines Ward is coming off another 1,000-yard season, Heath Miller is the top tight end in the division, and tailback Rashard Mendenhall is a budding talent. Also look out for second-year receiver Mike Wallace. The NFL game didn't seem too big for him as a rookie, and Wallace seems primed to break out in his first year as a starter.

Biggest weakness: For Pittsburgh, it's scoring touchdowns. Despite a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, the Steelers averaged 23 points per game last season. That's not a bad number, but you would expect more points with the amount of yards Arians' unit produced last year. The offensive line struggled mightily in the red zone, and Willie Colon's season-ending Achilles injury doesn't help. Mendenhall also needs to get better at getting the tough yards, especially with Roethlisberger not in the fold early.

Forecast: I don't have particularly high hopes for Pittsburgh's offense with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon under center. Teams will stack the box against Mendenhall until Pittsburgh proves it can pass. The offensive line also has questions. But once Roethlisberger comes back, this unit is talented enough to get hot in the second half of the season. But will it be too late?

Offensive coordinator: Bob Bratkowski

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 24

Biggest challenge: The biggest hurdle facing Bratkowski and the Bengals' offense is creating balance. It was very one-dimensional last year, particularly late in the season. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco, there were no legitimate threats in the passing game. As a result, Cincinnati overhauled its offense via the draft and free agency by adding receivers Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Biggest strength: Despite the flashy additions in the passing game, the running game remains the most proven commodity for Cincinnati. Cedric Benson is coming off a career year and his first 1,000-yard season, and Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard are decent backup options. The Bengals' offensive line also is very good at controlling and moving the line of scrimmage. But the unit wasn't as solid in pass protection for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Biggest weakness: Right now the biggest question for Cincinnati's offense is at fullback. The Bengals have finally moved forward without Jeremi Johnson, who was constantly battling weight problems. Now the unproven Fui Vakapuna looks like the early favorite to win the job. Look for Cincinnati to run a lot of multiple-receiver and tight end sets this year. So the fullback position may not be as important.

Forecast: The Bengals will rely on a lot of new parts, including Bryant, Gresham and Shipley. But if a majority of these options pan out, Cincinnati could be a dangerous unit. Benson's off-field issues may be something to watch in case a suspension is looming. But other than that, expect Bratkowski and the Bengals to be much better than last year's No. 24 ranking.

Offensive coordinator: Cam Cameron

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 13

Biggest challenge: Managing egos will be a unique challenge for Cameron. With the exception of quarterback Joe Flacco, every starting skill player for Baltimore has been to the Pro Bowl. That's a lot of talent and a lot of players who want the ball. Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Le'Ron McClain, Todd Heap and Willis McGahee all feel they can help the team win. But there will be weeks when Cameron must tell Boldin he's a decoy and games when Rice will get only 10 carries. How will they react? Winning solves a lot of problems. But if this team experiences a significant losing streak, look out.

Biggest strength: Versatility is something that Baltimore's offense has lacked in the past. But that's no longer the case. The Ravens should be able to win games on the ground and through the air this year, which was the goal this offseason for general manager Ozzie Newsome. Boldin's acquisition was huge for the passing game, and Rice still hasn't reached his ceiling as an NFL running back. Cameron believes Baltimore has the potential to be a top-five scoring offense, and on paper there's no reason to doubt that.

Biggest weakness: There aren't many weaknesses on this unit. But if I had to nitpick, Baltimore's depth on the offensive line isn't the greatest. Injuries happen all the time in the trenches. An injury at offensive tackle to Michael Oher or Jared Gaither, for example, would result in a significant drop-off in talent.

Forecast: There is a lot of preseason hype surrounding the Ravens, and the offense shares those extremely high expectations. This unit has talent, depth and a developing third-year quarterback in Flacco, who, if healthy, should put up career-best numbers this season. As long as Cameron can get everyone to play nice and share the football, this offense should be one of the NFL's most effective units.

Offensive coordinator: Brian Daboll

Team: Cleveland Browns

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 32

Biggest challenge: The Browns do not have a lot of talent to work with offensively. During Cleveland's four-game winning streak to end last season, Daboll had to get by with a lot of running and Wildcat formations with Josh Cribbs. Much of Cleveland's success will hinge on veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had more than twice as many interceptions (18) last year than touchdowns (eight). If Daboll can get a bounce-back season out of Delhomme, that will be a good starting point for Cleveland's offense to improve.

Biggest strength: The left side of the offensive line is one of the NFL's best. Joe Thomas is considered by many to be the best left tackle in football, and Eric Steinbach has been a quality guard for years. Cleveland also hit in last year's draft with first-round pick Alex Mack, who appears to be one of the league's up-and-coming centers. This trio provides some stability to an otherwise unstable offense.

Biggest weakness: Cleveland's offense has several holes but the biggest is at wide receiver. Mohamed Massaquoi had a decent rookie year, but he's likely not ready to be a No. 1 receiver. Brian Robiskie had a good offseason but remains unproven, and Chansi Stuckey isn't a game-breaker. The Browns this week also added veteran Bobby Engram, who turned 37 this year. A case can be made that this is the worst group of receivers in the league.

Forecast: The Browns were ranked last in '09, so there's nowhere to go but up. There are a lot of question marks, and I don't see enough upgrades across the board to be optimistic about this unit. Whether Delhomme at this stage of his career is an upgrade over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson also remains to be seen.

After months of speculation, the Cleveland Browns finally added a veteran wide receiver.

Cleveland signed 14-year vet Bobby Engram on Thursday, the team announced. Engram was originally a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1996 and also played with the Seattle Seahawks (2001-08) and Kansas City Chiefs (2009).

Engram spent time in Seattle with current Browns president Mike Holmgren, which likely had something to do with the signing.

Cleveland's inexperience at receiver is one of the team's biggest weaknesses entering training camp. The team seemed confident this spring in second-year receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie but still appeared interested in adding a veteran.

Engram has 650 career receptions.

ESPN.com's James Walker and Mike Sando addressed several subjects in a NFL Insider segment this afternoon. They hit on Aaron Rodgers, Bobby Engram, Chad Pennington, Aaron Smith and Byron Leftwich.