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This week marks the return of the "Hope and Concern" series in the AFC North blog. But this time, we will examine certain positions.

On Thursday we start with the much-maligned Cleveland Browns receivers.

Biggest reason for hope: West Coast offense

It's hard to describe the style of offense the Browns were running the past two seasons under former head coach Eric Mangini and former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Archaic and simplistic are some words that come to mind. Cleveland's passing game was very conservative and it was a big reason why president Mike Holmgren made the coaching change to an offensive mind in Pat Shurmur. The Browns believe running a better system -- in this case the West Coast offense -- will make Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie better players. Neither starter could get open consistently, but better routes and play-calling might help this upcoming season. The West Coast offense also plays much better to quarterback Colt McCoy's biggest strength, which is his accuracy.

Biggest reason for concern: Lack of athleticism

The Browns are one of the slowest teams in the NFL, and it shows in their receiving corps. Neither Massaquoi nor Robiskie is considered a speed burner who can get behind the defense. That makes it easy for opponents to defend Cleveland's offense and stack the line of scrimmage against standout running back Peyton Hillis. In my opinion, the ceilings for Massaquoi and Robiskie are not very high. Although the pair certainly can play better and work on consistency, what we've seen from them athletically the past two seasons is pretty much what the Browns have. It would help if Cleveland found a legitimate No. 1 receiver to take the pressure off Robiskie and Massaquoi. The Browns are high on second-round pick Greg Little, who could help but might need time to develop after missing all of 2010 via suspension. Little is not a deep threat, but he's big enough and athletic enough to fight defenders for jump balls and can break tackles after the catch. Little potentially could bring the type of athleticism to the offense Robiskie and Massaquoi both lack.

It's everyone's favorite time again!

Let's update the AFC North rankings for offensive coordinators. These four men are always among the least popular coaches in the division. But with Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll both fired, our community now has some fresh meat to devour this upcoming season.

Here are the AFC North blog's OC rankings for June:

1. Bruce Arians

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Skinny: Arians has been a lighting rod in Pittsburgh for several years. Some say he passes too much. Some say the Steelers' offense looks too disorganized at times. But the Steelers were No. 14 in total offense in 2010 and have been to two Super Bowls the past three years with Arians calling the shots. As long as the team is yielding those kind of results, I will continue to stay off the "bash Bruce Arians" bandwagon that seems to be very popular in Pittsburgh.

2. Cam Cameron

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Skinny: Despite Baltimore winning 12 games, Cameron had a tough year on offense that involved chemistry and consistency issues. Baltimore had the talent but was never able to put it together and finished 22nd in total offense. That is unacceptable for a team that is deep at receiver, tight end and running back. Offensive line issues also hurt, but Cameron and the Ravens failed to make the proper adjustments. This is a big year for both Cameron and quarterback Joe Flacco.

3. Pat Shurmur

Team: Cleveland Browns

Skinny: Shurmur was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams before taking over as head coach and offensive coordinator of the Browns. His unit in St. Louis was ranked No. 26 in 2010. So Shurmur definitely has a lot to prove, especially in this defensive-minded division. Shurmur's specialty is the West Coast offense and developing quarterbacks, and much of his success will depend on how well Colt McCoy plays in his second season. But the Browns don't have much to work with at receiver, which is a major concern.

4. Jay Gruden

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Skinny: Gruden also has a lot to prove and will try to bring his version of the West Coast offense from the UFL to Cincinnati. Gruden says he wants a power running game, which is a good idea if rookie second-round pick Andy Dalton is the starting quarterback. Fortunately for Gruden, he is taking over an offense that has some young weapons, which include back-to-back first-round picks in receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

When healthy, Cleveland Browns receiver and former Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs is one of the most dynamic players in the AFC North division. But the league's recent ruling to move kickoffs to the 35-yard line will increase touchbacks and take away Cribbs' biggest contribution to the team.

Now the Browns are forced to find ways to get Cribbs more involved next season. Here are three suggestions:

1. Short passes and screens in the West Coast offense

Analysis: One of the biggest criticisms of former head coach Eric Mangini and former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was their lack of creativity in using Cribbs. Outside of the Wildcat formation, which we will get to later, Cleveland didn't find enough ways to put the ball in Cribbs' hands. Rookie head coach Pat Shurmur will install a West Coast offense in Cleveland this season, which should provide more chances for Cribbs. Shorter timing routes are a staple in the West Coast offense. Slants and screens are two ways to quickly get Cribbs the ball and provide opportunities for him to break tackles in the open field.

2. Smart, selective use of the Wildcat

Analysis: The Browns had a nice find in 2009 with using Cribbs in the Wildcat. But Cleveland eventually made it too big a part of its offense and defenses became more accustomed to shutting it down. The formation can still be effective if used more selectively. Injuries hurt Cribbs last season, but he can be very effective moving the chains when healthy. If the play calling also improves, Cleveland likely will get better results with Cribbs in this formation in 2011.

3. More opportunities in the slot

Analysis: Cleveland's receiving corps is not very deep or talented. That is why the Browns should give Cribbs more plays in the slot next season. Quick outs, bubble screens and reverses are just three easy options Cleveland would have with Cribbs from the slot. Each would allow him to make his yards running after the catch, which is his best asset. Cribbs is not a polished receiver. But Shurmur and his staff will have a chance to coach around his weaknesses and utilize his strengths.

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)

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with former University of Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple to be the team's quarterbacks coach, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The Browns have been in discussions with Whipple for a couple of weeks, but it was assumed he was up for the team's vacant offensive coordinator position.

It turns out, Schefter writes Cleveland is not likely to fill that position and is comfortable going forward with head coach Pat Shurmur calling the plays and Whipple working closely with rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. Whipple spent three seasons (2004-2006) with the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching Ben Roethlisberger.

Not hiring an offensive coordinator would be an interesting decision for the Browns. Shurmur, a former offensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams, obviously will be very hands-on with the offense. But the head coach also has to oversee the entire 53-man roster.

Cleveland's offense was ranked No. 29 last season under former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The Browns need significant upgrades at wide receiver, the right side of the offensive line and perhaps depth at running back.

We touched on this earlier, but the Cleveland Browns officially named Dick Jauron defensive coordinator Friday evening. Jauron, who was most recently a secondary coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, is another person who has ties to Browns general manager Tom Heckert and president Mike Holmgren.

Jauron also comes to Cleveland with plenty of coaching experience at various levels, including two stints as head coach in Buffalo and Chicago, which I think is important. The Browns hired first-time head coach Pat Shurmur earlier this month and inexperienced head coaches have not worked out well in Cleveland. With Holmgren, Jauron and perhaps another veteran assistant, the team could have enough quality experience to make it work.

The role as defensive coordinator will be important in Cleveland. Shurmur is running the offense and calling the plays, which is partly the reason the Browns have yet to find a new offensive coordinator to replace Brian Daboll. But the Browns defense will be run by Jauron.

Cleveland needs to make several upgrades via the draft and free agency and decide if it wants to switch to a 4-3 defense in 2011. Jauron will inherit some talented young players such as rookie cornerback Joe Haden and first-year safety T.J. Ward.

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

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco tweeted that he would enjoy playing for the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick.

Morning take: Ochocinco is under contract for 2011, but do not rule out the possibility of a trade or him being released. It appears Ochocinco's mind is already thinking of playing elsewhere.

• How do you fix the Baltimore Ravens?

Morning take: There are a few areas to upgrade, such as right tackle. But the biggest priority will be keeping their own free agents, particularly Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.

• Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark is stepping up his game in the playoffs.

Morning take: Playing next to Troy Polamalu means Clark will get very little credit. But his pick of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was a huge play last week.

• How will former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll do in the same job with the Miami Dolphins?

Morning take: Daboll didn't do well in Cleveland, especially with in-game adjustments. But to be fair, he also didn't have much offensive talent to work with.

Here are the latest happenings Monday evening in the AFC North:

• The Cleveland Browns will talk to former University of Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt about joining the staff as defensive coordinator.
  
• Former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was hired for the same post with the Miami Dolphins.
• Speaking of offensive coordinators, Cam Cameron of the Baltimore Ravens will be back next season.
  
• Here is a cool story on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel's beard.
• Former Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick David Pollack, who suffered a career-ending neck injury, is enjoying his second career in radio and television.

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

• Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs seems to be relishing the role as villain during Ravens-Steelers week.

Morning take: Someone had to do it. In previous years you had Joey Porter and Bart Scott. This year Suggs has taken over the infamous role.

• No matter how you cut it, Saturday's playoff game is going to hurt the Ravens and Steelers.

Morning take: I mentioned earlier in the week that it's debatable whether either team will have something left for the next round. But both clubs are going in pretty healthy.

• Will the Cincinnati Bengals draft an elite player with the No. 4 overall pick?

Morning take: This is a good opportunity for Cincinnati. But the last time the Bengals had a high pick, they took Andre Smith No. 6 overall when everyone (including the AFC North blog) warned them not to.

• Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is in talks with the Miami Dolphins for an assistant job.

Morning take: Daboll, who is still under contract, will be released once the Browns hire their new head coach. Reportedly Pat Shurmur could be named as early as this week.

CLEVELAND -- Just as last season's December surge played a major role in Browns head coach Eric Mangini retaining his job, this year's December swoon could lead to his downfall.

With Mangini on the hot seat, the Browns (5-10) lost 20-10 Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland's third straight loss. Mangini is 10-21 in two seasons in Cleveland and 2-9 against AFC North foes, a mark this struggling franchise must turn around if it's ever to be a contender.

But as I watched Cleveland closely against the Ravens, the big question that kept running through my head was: "What was Mike Holmgren thinking?" The Browns' president is getting paid a lot of money to bring a winner to Cleveland. He put his trust in this Browns coaching staff this season despite many philosophical differences. More specifically:

• What was Holmgren thinking as the coaching staff cost the team crucial points for the second straight week with poor clock management at the end of the first half?
• What was Holmgren thinking after a poorly executed onside kick failed at the start the third quarter led to a quick touchdown by Baltimore?
• What was Holmgren thinking as the Browns continued to play ultraconservatively to try to keep the game close instead of playing to win?
• What was Holmgren thinking as he watched rookie Colt McCoy -- Holmgren's personal choice at quarterback -- run a porous offense with questionable play calling?

These are all things to ponder over the next few weeks as Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert evaluate Mangini and his coaching staff. To avoid back-to-back 11-loss seasons, the Browns must beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) next Sunday in Cleveland.

With the 2010 season virtually over, expect a lot of speculation about Cleveland's direction in 2011 heading into the regular-season finale.

"The coaches, their job is on the line but so is the players'," said Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, who could be in for his third regime change in five seasons. "Whenever you have a losing season, everybody gets evaluated from the top down. So players are playing for their jobs, they're playing for their pride, they're playing for the name on the back of their jersey and they're playing for that helmet."

Mangini had to demonstrate progress after last season's 5-11 record. But despite wins against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on the road and the heavily favored New England Patriots at home, the Browns have not shown enough improvement in 2010.

"You're judged in this league by how many wins you produce," Browns linebacker and team captain David Bowens said. "That's how people hold you accountable. We just haven't been able to win the close games. Not to say all of our losses have been close."

Cleveland's performance against Baltimore was a comedy of errors.

In addition to four turnovers, the Browns clumsily alternated between gimmicky and conservative play, never finding the right formula. As a result, the Browns were beating and tricking themselves while the Ravens took advantage and clinched a playoff berth.

The blunders started late in the second quarter. Down 13-7, the Browns took their time on offense during the final two minutes when a touchdown would have given them a halftime lead. Instead, Cleveland looked dazed, didn't use its timeouts and ran too much time off the clock. The mismanagement forced the Browns to kick a field goal on third down.

"I thought we would have three shots at the end zone. The plays ended up ... taking longer," Mangini explained.

Cleveland began the second half with a feeble onside kick attempt that rolled out of bounds. The Saints used the strategy successfully in Super Bowl XVIV against the Colts, but the Browns merely gave Baltimore great field position. Taking advantage of the short field, the Ravens took a 10-point lead they never relinquished three plays later.

"To go get that touchdown was big," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

McCoy had his worst day (149 yards, three interceptions) as a pro. But keep in mind, Holmgren drafted him to run a West Coast offense, not the conservative scheme Mangini is using. It's a scheme that has produced 14 points or fewer seven times this season.

But McCoy made enough plays this season to show Holmgren that the rookie quarterback has enough talent to cultivate. Will Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll be the right people to get the most out of McCoy, Cleveland's offense and the team as a whole?

The Browns -- who have lost to the Bills, Bengals and Ravens in the past three weeks -- went backward as the season went on. That probably gives you plenty of insight into what Holmgren is thinking.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Here are five nuggets of knowledge about Week 16:

Fiery Joe: What's gotten into Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco lately? Flacco, who earned the nickname "Joe Cool" to describe his temperament, has been very fiery. In the past few weeks, Flacco has argued with officials and gotten into a heated exchange with veteran receiver Derrick Mason on the sidelines. In his third season, Flacco is playing well and showing more emotion than ever, and it's part of his evolution as an offensive leader in Baltimore. Is this a good thing? "I think so," Ravens defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs said in a conference call this week. "We have a very loose locker room, and it's good to see Joe have a little bit of fire to him."

Stopping the run: Ravens running back Ray Rice is coming off his most complete game of the season with 233 total yards and two touchdowns. He will present a stiff challenge for the Cleveland Browns' run defense, which has struggled. The Browns have been pushed around at the line of scrimmage the past two weeks, allowing 380 rushing yards in losses to the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland has been a tough team all season, but you have to wonder if that toughness is starting to fade down the stretch.

Third-down woes: Another reason Cleveland's defense is wearing down: The offense can't move the chains. In the past three games, the Browns are an abysmal 6-for-32 (18.7 percent) on third-down conversions. Cleveland cannot sustain long drives and, even after getting turnovers, usually settles for a field goal or quickly gives the ball back to the other team. Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is on the hot seat after not being able to get his group going all year.

Young receivers: With Terrell Owens (knee) on injured reserve and Chad Ochocinco (ankle) ailing, expect to see a lot more from third-year Bengals receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell. They were taken in the second and third rounds, respectively, in 2008 and projected to be major contributors by now. But opportunities and production have been sparse. Simpson and Caldwell got extended playing time last week against the Browns, combining for six receptions for 129 yards. Both are auditioning for bigger roles in 2011.

Extended rest: After picking up a 27-3 victory against the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers get 10 days to rest for their regular-season finale against Cleveland on Jan. 2. Pittsburgh will look to avenge last year's 13-6 loss in Cleveland, which helped keep the Steelers out of the playoffs. The game will be meaningful for Pittsburgh in the standings if Baltimore beats the Browns on Sunday.

Let's dig into the weekend mailbag.

Bengals fan from Sardinia, Ohio, writes: With Brett Favre retiring and Tarvaris Jackson in his last year, do you think the Minnesota Vikings would be willing to trade for Carson Palmer? If so what kind of compensation do you think they would get?

Walker: The trade market for Palmer is going to be interesting because he makes $11.5 million next year. Any team willing to trade for Palmer has to pay him like an elite quarterback when that's no longer the case. The AFC North blog reported Saturday that Palmer would not accept a pay cut this offseason to stay with the rebuilding Bengals (2-11). That could increase Palmer's chances of a trade or release from Cincinnati. But the Bengals also have to be careful. If word gets out that Cincinnati is willing to release Palmer to avoid paying that high salary, teams could simply wait for the quarterback to become available and negotiate a lower salary as a free agent. That way teams won't give the Bengals any compensation.

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Hank from Westbrook, ME, writes: Do you see the Bengals giving Bernard Scott more playing time in the last three games?

Walker: Scott only got four carries last week, so it's hard to say. But I agree the Bengals should use Scott more down the stretch. In all likelihood, starting running back Cedric Benson will not return to Cincinnati. I'm not sure Scott can be a feature back, but the Bengals need to find out what his strengths are. Scott is averaging 4.8 yards per carry this season.

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Jon Teams from Barboursville, W.Va., writes: What is the deal with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians? Why has he not tried to utilize the run more?

Walker: It's a combination of having various injuries on the offensive line and having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back under center. Pittsburgh ran the ball best when it had to. For the first month of the season, tailback Rashard Mendenhall was the only consistent offensive threat the team had. The Steelers were also healthy up front. Now the entire playbook is available with Roethlisberger and they pass a lot more, and the offensive line isn't healthy and blocking as well.

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Peter from Virginia writes: Which offense is in more disarray at this point: Steelers or New York Jets?

Walker: The Steelers are having offensive line issues and the Jets are having quarterback issues. Both can really stall an offense. But it's harder to overcome poor quarterback play. So I would say the Jets have bigger issues at the moment.

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Will from Alexandria, Va., writes: What do you think about the Steelers' chances in the playoffs? Do you think they can beat the New England Patriots?

Walker: I think the Steelers' chances are much better if they don't play the Patriots. Otherwise, the Steelers have as good a chance as anyone if they can get healthy.

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Adam Gardner from Bel Air, Md., writes: Do you think Joe Flacco will ever become the Ravens' team leader, call audibles, and be up there with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady?

Walker: I never understood the expectations for Flacco to become Manning or Brady, who are two future Hall of Famers. I think Flacco is doing fine at this stage of his career. He has three playoff wins and is having a solid third season statistically. Ray Lewis is the leader of the Ravens, and that won't change until he retires. Flacco, for now, can just play well down the stretch and lead by example.

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Brandon Crawford from Sykesville, Md., writes: With the Ravens really struggling on the offensive line, how much of this can you contribute to the loss of offensive tackle Jared Gaither?

Walker: That's a good question, Brandon. I almost forgot about Gaither, because he hasn't been available to the team all season. Gaither can be solid when he wants to be and could've helped Baltimore this year. But too often the Ravens had to stay on top of Gaither, and that gets tiring for an organization. He lost too much weight in the offseason and subsequently got hurt, and I think that was the final straw. Gaither is no longer a good fit with Baltimore, and I don't expect him to return next year.

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B. Susi from Orlando, Fla., writes: I know you like the Troy Reed and now the Heath Heap mash-up. But what about the terror that would be James Lewis? Now THAT would be a terrifying linebacker.

Walker: Wow, B. Susi. That's an automatic Hall of Famer. The only weakness I can think of would be...long snapping???

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Troy Reed from Walkerville, AFCN, writes: Okay, I will admit it: Troy Polamalu is better than both me and Ed Reed.

Walker: What?!? No way. Please read this tweet explaining your greatness. Neither Polamalu nor Reed could do that alone. Only you can, Troy Reed. You're the best safety in NFL history!

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Matt writes: Can you please comment on Brian Daboll and his status as the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator?

Walker: Sure, Matt. Daboll is in major trouble. A lot has been written about Eric Mangini's future because he's the head coach. But I think the verdict is pretty much in on Daboll. The offense hasn't made any progress in two years, and it has to be driving offensive guru and Browns president Mike Holmgren crazy. I think Cleveland's failure to develop second-round picks Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie also reflects poorly on Daboll.

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Becky from Galloway, Ohio, writes: I was wondering why in December the "Battle for Ohio" between the Bengals vs. Browns couldn’t be played in The Shoe [at Ohio State]. It would be a sellout. Even if OSU got a million both teams would still make a tidy sum. I work with a number of Bengals and Browns fans. and we would all go no matter cost of tickets.

Walker: Interesting idea, Becky. But there are a couple of issues I see with this from the NFL's perspective. For starters, one team would be losing a home game every year. Would it be fair for the Browns or Bengals to play just seven annual home games and one at a neutral site, while other teams get eight? Also, home teams make a lot of money off concessions, parking and other things during the game-day experience. That's not something the Browns or Bengals would want to give up to Ohio State.

Comment and complaint department

Ken from Long Beach, Calif., writes: As terrible as the Oakland Raiders have been the past few seasons I would gladly trade ownership with them. Living in L.A. I have seen the freak show that is Al Davis, but one thing remains certain about him; he wants to win. I am not sure I can say that about Mike Brown. I love my Bengals but I can't wait for L.A. to get a team so I can file my fan free agency and get the heck out of Mike Brown's land of despair.

Jacob from Cincy writes: I watched DeSean Jackson take a 10-yard pass 91 yards to the house, I thought back to how we passed him up in the draft and how the guy we passed him up for has been inactive all season. Where would the Bengals be if they drafted Jackson over Jerome Simpson?

Walker: Jacob, Simpson would probably play like Jackson in Philly and Jackson would be a bust in Cincy. Just kidding. It would have made a big difference in Cincinnati's offense. Ken, so many Bengals fans are at the end of their rope. I've held firm in saying it's good fandom to stick with your team. The Bengals haven't had back-to-back winning seasons in 28 years. Why leave now?

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Joe from Cincinnati writes: "Cleveland Browns (5-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-11), Sunday at 1 p.m. Blasik's comment: The Bengals have better personnel than the Browns, and Colt McCoy will be a little rusty coming back. As much as I love to see the Bungles lose, this streak has to end sometime, right? Walker's score: Bengals, 17-16" -- I feel all Bengals fans knew, or at least had a sneaking suspicion, that you hate the Bengals and were extremely biased against them. But your stating how much you love to see them lose makes it woefully apparent.

Walker: Joe, when did I change my name to Amanda Blasik? We had a guest predict games this week. Please read the blog again. Also, for those who think I'm too harsh on the Bengals, read last year's coverage. For those who think I'm a Bengals homer, read this year's coverage.

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David from Fontainebleau, France, writes: I think it is incredibly unlikely that the Panthers take Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick of the draft as you suggested they would. They just picked Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike this year. Three picks on the QB position in two drafts? I don't see it happening.

Walker: David, it's probably too early to predict the top of the draft board, but keep in mind that Clausen was a second-rounder and Pike was a sixth-rounder. Clausen hasn't showed anything for the 1-12 Panthers to get a vote of confidence for next year. Carolina also will have a new coaching staff in 2011 that's not tied to these draft picks, and a new coach always has the tendency to bring in his own players. I wouldn't rule it out.

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Barry Veet from Hazleton, Pa., writes: Just wanted to tell you in my fantasy football playoffs this week I was down 61 points with only Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson left. I came back and was up 1.6 points until Schaub threw that INT in OT. Talk about an unbelievable heartbreak, losing by .4 after an improbable comeback.

Walker: Tough way to end your season, Barry. I assume Ravens cornerback Josh Wilson probably isn't your favorite player.

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Will from Nashville, Tenn., writes: Hey, James. Thanks for not posting that comment comparing the Bengals and the Heat until after the Heat went on a seven-game winning streak and making me look like a fool for the question. At 9-8 when I did post the comment, the Heat were a little more disappointing and it maybe would have drawn a little better comparison to the Bengals. Way to show some respect to a loyal reader.

Walker: You are correct, Will, and my apologies. We get a lot of questions in our inbox and sometimes we can't always get to them immediately. By the time I got to yours, it was outdated.

AFC North Homer of the Week

We didn't have a strong batch of homer comments this week (good job, everyone). So we had to dig deep and find one of the runners-up from last week.

Enjoy.

Andy from Canada writes: Hey, James. Longtime reader and much respect. I am driving down to Buffalo regardless of weather for the game this weekend and Peyton Hillis will break 200 yards rushing. Post me if I'm right, and post me if I'm wrong. I have faith. Thanks.

Walker: Andy, Hillis did get 108 rushing yards. But I'm sure you didn't anticipate his three fumbles. Nonetheless, Hillis is having a great year.

If you have any additional questions, comments or complaints, please send them to our AFC North inbox.

BEREA, Ohio -- It felt as if there was a changing of the guard at the Cleveland Browns' training facility this week. After talking it over with president Mike Holmgren and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Browns head coach Eric Mangini named rookie quarterback Colt McCoy the starter for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Mangini gushed about McCoy's work ethic, quick learning curve and how the rookie wouldn't accept it when everyone in the organization -- from Holmgren on down -- said they didn't plan for McCoy to see the field this year. Instead, McCoy is projected to play eight games, which is half of the Browns' season.

McCoy landed his initial opportunity through injury, but he's regaining the starting job with solid play in five starts. He threw for 975 yards, completed 63.8 percent of his passes and had an 85.3 passer rating. The rookie proved to be the best quarterback on the roster and essentially forced the team into this decision.

"I wasn't really looking at this as just being the case where we're throwing a young guy in to see whether or not a young guy can do it," Mangini said. "I think Colt really did a good job with the opportunities that he had. I think he's earned the chance to play these three games."

Is McCoy the long-term solution in Cleveland? It's too early to tell.

But the Browns (5-8) and the rest of the NFL are about to learn a lot more about McCoy in the next three games against AFC North opponents. The first test is Sunday, a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) and then there's back-to-back home games against the playoff-bound Baltimore Ravens (9-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3).

The training wheels are officially off for McCoy.

"It's no landmark day," McCoy said Thursday. "Today is the day that I know I'm the starter and I have to go out and play. I have to go out and get better and I have to go out and help us win."

McCoy's play down the stretch will affect a lot with the Browns, starting with the NFL draft. Quarterback is the league's most important position, and Cleveland has lacked stability there since returning to the NFL in 1999.

A lot of quarterbacks have passed through Cleveland's revolving door, including Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and now Jake Delhomme. Poor quarterback play is one of the biggest reasons Cleveland has just one playoff appearance in more than a decade.

McCoy showed promise, going 2-3 in five starts. But five games do not make a solid season. Three more contests will provide a half-season's worth of film to evaluate the rookie.

"The No. 1 goal of the Cleveland Browns right now has to be finding out what they have in McCoy," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "They like what they've seen from him, but can he be the guy? Or do the Browns need to draft a guy or bring in a free agent? I think the Browns need to have a clear picture of that going into the offseason."

The Browns also need to find out whether McCoy can play in inclement weather. Garcia, Frye and Quinn didn't have the arm strength to throw against the heavy winds that come off Lake Erie in Browns Stadium during the winter.

McCoy's biggest asset is his accuracy, not arm strength, which raised some red flags when the Browns drafted the University of Texas product in the third round. McCoy didn't see a lot of bad weather as a four-year starter in the Big 12.

"I've played in the snow and wind in Kansas a couple times. I've played in Nebraska," McCoy explained. "We had some real wet games back home [in Austin]."

McCoy believes playing in bad weather is more mental than physical. But when he was pressed by the media this week regarding his arm strength, a confident McCoy fired back.

"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" McCoy scoffed.

Running the carousel in the AFC North also will be a great learning tool for McCoy. If Cleveland is to turn the franchise around and make a run at the postseason, it first has to win within the division.

The past three seasons the Browns are just 3-12 against AFC North opponents. It's a major reason former head coach Romeo Crennel was fired in Cleveland and Mangini is currently on the hot seat. If McCoy can get hot and pick up two or three wins against Cleveland's biggest rivals, everyone in the organization looks better heading into the offseason.

It's obvious the Browns have a lot riding on McCoy's performance in these final three games.

Here are the latest happenings Wednesday evening in the AFC North:

• Veteran receiver Derrick Mason didn't back down from his critical comments towards the Baltimore Ravens' offense.
• Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis dodged the question when asked about possible interest in coaching at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Is Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll doing a "fantastic job" this season?
  
• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expects to play this week and says his sprained foot and surgically-repaired nose is getting better.

It's been nearly three weeks since we last updated our AFC North offensive coordinator rankings.

Here is how we currently rank the four lightning rods in the division:

1. Cam Cameron, Baltimore Ravens

Previous ranking: No. 1

Analysis: Cameron is getting heat again in Baltimore. But by a significant margin, the Ravens have the highest-ranked offense in the division and are No. 14 overall in the NFL. The next closest team is the Steelers, who are No. 21. But there were increased expectations for Baltimore's offense that haven't been met so far. The Ravens have the talent to be a top-10 offense, but inconsistency has plagued this group. There are weeks Baltimore is capable of scoring 37 points and other weeks it only scores 10 points. There seems to be frustration in the locker room developing from the offense's lack of production, which is why Baltimore needs to continue to win games to keep everyone happy.

2. Bruce Arians, Pittsburgh Steelers

Previous ranking: No. 2

Analysis: Arians also gets a lot of heat in Pittsburgh, but he's doing enough to win games. The Steelers are 9-3 and in control of the AFC North, in part, due to some timely scores by Arians' offense, particularly in the fourth quarters and in overtime. Pittsburgh's No. 21 ranking is a bit deceiving because the offense didn't get many yards in the first month of the season without franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was suspended. Despite plenty of injuries on the offensive line, the Steelers are No. 10 in rushing at 120 yards per game.

3. Bob Bratkowski, Cincinnati Bengals

Previous ranking: No. 4

Analysis: Bratkowski is out of the basement of our offensive coordinator rankings, as his No. 22-ranked offense has been able to score in recent weeks. Although it hasn't translated to victories, the Bengals have scored 30 or more points in two of the past three games, which is a feat no other AFC North team has accomplished. Still, this offense has virtually ignored the running game all season and could use more creativity to create mismatches. Even receiver Terrell Owens ripped the play calling after the loss to the New Orleans Saints.

4. Brian Daboll, Cleveland Browns

Previous ranking: No. 3

Analysis: The Browns are No. 27 in total offense and would be nowhere this year without the running game led by tailback Peyton Hillis. But when teams gear up to stop Hillis, Daboll seems to have trouble making the proper adjustments. Cleveland's offense does have some imagination at times and is 4-2 in its last six games despite a revolving door at quarterback. But there are no excuses for the amount of times the Browns have been shut down in long stretches of games this season. Cleveland's defense also is forcing turnovers and doing all it can to give the offense a short field, and too often Daboll's group can't do anything with it. There's also some blame on the coaching staff for failing to develop receivers and second-round draft picks Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi this year. Both have been major disappointments in their second year.