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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.

The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed Charlie Batch to a one-year deal on Monday, but this doesn't necessarily mean he will be the team's top backup in 2012.

There's still a sense that Byron Leftwich is still the favorite for that spot. But there's no guarantee that Leftwich is coming back. He reportedly has drawn interest from the Indianapolis Colts and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, although he remains unsigned.

Bringing back Batch is a logical move for the Steelers. He's been their decade-old security blanket when it comes to the backup quarterback position. When you need a spot starter, he won't single-handedly win you games but he won't make the glaring errors to lose them either.

If Leftwich goes elsewhere, the Steelers have Batch, who is 5-2 as a spot starter for the Steelers. If Leftwich returns to Pittsburgh, the Steelers get a quarterback who is five years younger than Batch and appears to be the preferred choice. Leftwich was supposed to start for the suspended Ben 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.

Even though Leftwich has major durability questions, you have to be equally unsure whether Batch can hold up for an extended period at his age. Last year, Batch looked solid in his only start, a 27-0 win over St. Louis, but he looked ragged in replacing Roethlisberger in the first meeting against Cleveland. The only quarterback from last year that is expected to move on is Dennis Dixon.

The backup quarterback position is the most critical No. 2 job on the Steelers, especially with the annual beating that Roethlisberger takes. Roethlisberger has managed one full season in his eight years in the NFL. The most games that Roethlisberger has missed in a season is four.

This is the latest in a series of moves by the Steelers to address their depth. Pittsburgh has signed tight end Leonard Pope, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and guard Trai Essex over the past week. Keeping Batch was the most important one considering the only other quarterbacks on the roster were Troy Smith and Jerrod Johnson.

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.

It's been assumed; the Steelers would eventually bring back Byron Leftwich to be their No. 2 quarterback. But it looks like Pittsburgh might need a backup plan at backup quarterback.

The Colts are interested in signing Leftwich to tutor the No. 1 overall pick (we all know it's going to be Andrew Luck) in Bruce Arians' system, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Leftwich worked under Arians, the current Colts offensive coordinator, for three seasons when they both were in Pittsburgh.

Leftwich would be the Steelers' top choice to back up Ben Roethlisberger. He 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.

This was an unexpected move because the Colts addressed their backup quarterback spot less than two weeks ago, when they traded for Drew Stanton.

The Steelers won't look to the other quarterbacks on the roster -- Troy Smith and Jerrod Johnson -- to back up Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh can always turn back to their reliable option, the 37-year-old Charlie Batch. He is 5-2 as a spot starter since joining the Steelers in 2003.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that the team is interested in bringing in a young quarterback this offseason, too.

"I think that's why we signed the guys we are working with in the offseason that's coming up here in a few weeks, in Jerrod Johnson and Troy Smith," Tomlin said at last week's owners meetings. "But we could add to that, be it the draft or free agency. We are going through that right now from a preparation standpoint."

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Cincinnati Bengals

Key additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, S Reggie Nelson, G Travelle Wharton, CB Jason Allen, CB Adam Jones, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Derrick Harvey

Key losses: DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), G Nate Livings (Cowboys), G Mike McGlynn (Colts), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Grade after first wave of free agency: B. The Bengals were the most active team in the division and they should have been. Cincinnati entered free agency with more than $50 million in salary-cap space, which was more than the rest of the AFC North combined. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

The prize of the Bengals' signings is running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is an improvement over Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis isn't known for breaking long gains, but he is a force in the red zone and has never fumbled in the NFL. Wharton is a step up from Nate Livings at left guard because he is a strong run-blocker who will open holes inside. The biggest losses came on the defensive line, where Cincinnati will miss Frostee Rucker on run defense and Jonathan Fanene in the pass rush.

What’s next: The Bengals can still close the gap between the Ravens and Steelers because they have two first-round picks in the draft (No. 17 overall, which came from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade, and No. 21). Even with the signing of Wharton, Cincinnati needs a right guard and could have a shot at the top interior offensive lineman coming out of college. Stanford's David DeCastro is one of the safest picks in the draft and would start immediately for the Bengals.

The second first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver or a cornerback. The Bengals surprisingly didn't add a free-agent wide receiver to pair with A.J. Green. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill or Baylor's Kendall Wright should be available in the bottom third of the draft. Another need is cornerback because Cincinnati could use an eventual replacement for Nate Clements, who is entering his 12th season. Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, the second best corner in the draft, has a chance of sliding to the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

Key additions: DE Frostee Rucker, LB D'Qwell Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson, DE Juqua Parker

Key losses: RB Peyton Hillis (Chiefs), S Mike Adams (Broncos), G Eric Steinbach, OT Tony Pashos

Grade after first wave of free agency: C. Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were building this team through the draft and they weren't joking. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right tackle. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. Blame the Washington Redskins. The Browns attempted to move up in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, and the Rams instead traded the second overall pick to the Redskins. Cleveland reportedly pursued wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, and both took high-priced deals from Washington.

The Browns provided more help to the defense in free agency. Frostee Rucker will make an impact in stopping the run, which was the biggest weakness on the NFL's 10th-ranked defense. Juqua Parker, who has 31.5 sacks over the past six seasons, will team with Jabaal Sheard to give Cleveland a strong rush coming off both edges. The Browns didn't try to keep Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams from going elsewhere.

What’s next: Offense, offense and offense. Did I mention offense? The Browns need a quarterback but there's no one worthy of the fourth overall pick. Cleveland could trade down to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or wait until the second round for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The big decision comes if the Browns stay put at No. 4. Cleveland's choices are Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Browns could use either one because they don't have a starting running back or a No. 1 wide receiver.

Cleveland has a second first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. The Browns need to target a wide receiver (if they don't take one earlier in the first round), right tackle or outside linebacker with the 22nd overall pick. Baylor receiver Wright, Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie and Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David have been linked to Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens

Key additions: C Matt Birk, ILB Jameel McClain, OLB Brendon Ayanbadejo, CB Corey Graham, S Sean Considine

Key losses: G Ben Grubbs (Saints), OLB Jarret Johnson (Chargers), DE Cory Redding (Colts) and CB Domonique Foxworth

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. It was a rough start to free agency for Baltimore, which didn't sign any of its first three visits (guard Evan Mathis, defensive end Mark Anderson and receiver-returner Ted Ginn Jr.). The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

Baltimore was able to keep two free-agent starters, Matt Birk and Jameel McClain, and boost a struggling special-teams group that allowed three touchdowns last season. The Ravens signed Cory Graham, a Pro Bowl special-teams player from the Bears; Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special-teams standout; and Sean Considine, who played special teams for three seasons under John Harbaugh in Philadelphia.

What’s next: The Ravens' biggest need is at left guard, but there might not be one that warrants being taken at No. 29. Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz's stock has slipped recently even though he can play guard right away before switching to center in future seasons. It's hard to pin down a player for Baltimore, which can go in a lot of different directions in the first round.

The Ravens could take the best wide receiver available (especially if he's a returner) because they need a third target who can eventually take Anquan Boldin's starting spot. They could take a safety because Ed Reed turns 34 at the start of the season and Bernard Pollard is a free agent next year. And they could take an offensive tackle because they don't have a reliable backup and Bryant McKinnie is a free agent in 2013.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key additions: None

Key losses: CB William Gay (Cardinals), LB James Farrior, NT Chris Hoke, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Aaron Smith, WR Hines Ward

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. It's been a quiet free-agency period so far for the Steelers. Then again, it's usually quiet for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. The only team that consistently does less than the Steelers in free agency is the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've lost only two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership. Injuries would force young players to step up into starting roles.

What’s next: There are question marks at running back, guard, inside linebacker, nose tackle and cornerback. Despite all of those needs, the consensus has been Pittsburgh will draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower if he's available at No. 24. He has a great combination of size and speed and excelled in a 3-4 defense in college. It seems like Hightower would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.

There's no chance that Memphis' Dontari Poe falls to the Steelers, but there some quality nose tackles in the draft. Those who should be available after the first round are: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) and Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). The Steelers likely will become active later in free agency, especially in retaining their own players. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, running back Mewelde Moore and quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch could potentially return to the team.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

QUARTERBACKS

1. STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger remains the best quarterback in the division, and it's still not even close. Despite three injuries (sprained foot, broken right thumb and high ankle sprain), he threw 400 more yards than any other quarterback in the AFC North. Roethlisberger's highlights were throwing five touchdowns against Tennessee, out-dueling Tom Brady and beating Cleveland in the first meeting on one leg. He was the true most valuable player on the Steelers, even though Antonio Brown was named that by his teammates. When Roethlisberger hurt his ankle in early December, the Steelers offense was never the same. With a healthy Roethlisberger, the Steelers don't lose at Denver in the playoffs. In Charlie Batch's only start, the 37-year-old backup completed 15 of 22 passes for 208 yards against the Rams. What could change: The Steelers have to make a decision at backup quarterback. Batch, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon are all unrestricted free agents. Leftwich is the favorite to get the No. 2 job.

2. RAVENS: The biggest frustration for the Ravens is that Joe Flacco can look like a championship quarterback one week and a confused one the next. Another uneven season included four games with 300 or more yards passing and seven with less than 200 yards passing. When Flacco was at his best, he threw three touchdowns in the first quarter at St. Louis, delivered a last-minute comeback at Pittsburgh and completed 79 percent of his passes in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati. His biggest moment came in the AFC championship game in New England where he threw the winning touchdown that sent the Ravens to the Super Bowl ... until the ball was stripped from Lee Evans. Rookie backup Tyrod Taylor threw one pass. What could change: The size of Flacco's contract. The Ravens have made it a priority to sign Flacco, who is entering the final year of his contract, to an extension. It should get done before the end of August because both sides don't want this issue to hang over their heads entering the regular season.

3. BENGALS: Andy Dalton was the best rookie quarterback in the AFC and would've been the top one in the NFL if not for that quarterback named Cam. A second-round pick in 2011, Dalton became the only rookie in NFL history to throw for 20 or more touchdowns passes while winning eight or more games as a starting quarterback. The most impressive part of Dalton's game is his anticipation. He gets rid of the ball before the wide receiver gets out of his break, which is quite a feat for a first-year passer. His biggest challenge is overcoming the best defenses in the division. In four games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Dalton had an 0-4 record with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Against the rest of the NFL, he was 9-3 with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Backup Bruce Gradkowski replaced an injured Dalton in the season opener and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in rallying the Bengals to a 27-17 victory at Cleveland. What could change: The playbook is set to expand for Dalton in his second season. Dalton will progress as long as the Bengals improve his supporting cast. They need to upgrade the No. 2 wide receiver spot and find a more consistent starting running back.

4. BROWNS: No one questions Colt McCoy's leadership or toughness. It's his arm strength, accuracy, recognition of blitzes and ability to make plays in the pocket that are the question marks. You can argue that he doesn't have playmakers in the passing game and the Browns receivers were tied for the NFL lead in dropped passes. While all of that is correct, it's also true that McCoy is limited as a quarterback no matter who the Browns put around him. In his first full season as a starter, McCoy ranked 27th in completion percentage (57.2), 25th in passing yards per game (210.2), 33rd in yards per attempt (5.9), 27th in passer rating (74.6) and 25th in QBR (39.8). His season ended with a concussion that resulted in a vicious hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Backup Seneca Wallace isn't the answer. He is 1-6 in seven starts for the Browns. Wallace didn't look like an experienced backup with his poor clock management at the end of the first half in Baltimore. What could change: The Browns need to find a franchise quarterback, whether it's signing Matt Flynn in free agency or trading up to draft Robert Griffin III, which is what I endorse. The fallback option is keeping McCoy as the starter for another season.

Feb. 20: Special teams; Feb. 21: Defensive line; Feb. 23: Linebackers; Feb. 24: Defensive backs; Feb. 27: Offensive line; Feb. 28: Wide receivers; Feb. 29: Tight ends; March 1: Running backs.

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

Head coach Pat Shurmur said the Browns are "open to anything" when asked about trading up to the Rams' No. 2 spot.

"Yeah, we’re willing [to trade]," Shurmur said Thursday at the NFL combine, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "With two first-round picks, we have flexibility. We can just stand pat and take two really fine players [in the first round], guys that we would hope to be starters for us. Having two first-round picks, you have flexibility if you want to do something.”

The Browns would presumably trade up from fourth overall to select Robert Griffin III. The team is scheduled to meet with the Baylor quarterback tonight.

“We try to find out as much as we can about the player,” Shurmur said. “How smart he is, how well he might learn, how he might react to adversity.”

Browns general manager Tom Heckert will miss the combine with an illness, which is not considered serious, a source told the Plain Dealer of Cleveland. He will participate in some player interviews via Skype.

Hensley's slant: I believe if the Browns want to move up to draft RG3, the Rams would be willing to make that trade because they would only fall back to the fourth overall pick. The top wide receiver (Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon) or offensive tackle (USC's Matt Kalil) will be available at No. 4 for St. Louis, which needs help at both positions. If the Browns are sold on RG3 as their franchise quarterback, this trade would be a win-win for both teams.

BENGALS: The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy doesn't think it makes sense for the Bengals to sign Mike Wallace to an offer sheet if the Steelers wide receiver is given a first-round tender. Some of his reasons are: Wallace doesn't fit Jay Gruden's offense, the Bengals need a possession receiver instead of a speedy one and the team loves to hang onto draft picks. "Plus Andy Dalton is not the type of quarterback where you want to be consistently taking deep shots downfield," Reedy wrote. Hensley's slant: Maybe it's me but you adjust your offense if you get a chance at Wallace and have a huge amount of salary-cap room to make that move. Yes, the Bengals would get more value with a receiver like Robert Meachem or Mario Manningham. But you really don't have to worry about value when you're $60 million under the cap. You get the best player. Still, the likelihood of the Bengals extending an offer sheet to Wallace and giving up a first-round pick isn't great because the Bengals historically don't go after high-priced players.

RAVENS: The Ravens are scheduled to meet with the agents for quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice at the NFL combine, according to the Carroll County Times. Team officials will sit down with Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, on Saturday afternoon and meet with Rice's agent, Todd France, this week. “With Joe, we’re just going to sit down and start grinding out a contract and terms,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said during the Ravens' season-ending news conference. “I think he’s going to be extremely successful, I think he’s going to have rings. He’s got 10 years of his prime to show it. We believe in him. We believe he is getting stronger mentally and smarter with the ball.” Hensley's slant: These are simply introductory meetings, so there's nothing to get excited about. I see the Ravens making Rice play under the franchise tag for this season and signing Flacco to a contract extension right before the start of training camp. It would be shocking if either long-term deal gets done before the start of free agency.

STEELERS: General manager Kevin Colbert told Pittsburgh reporters at the NFL combine (via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) that the Steelers want to re-sign veteran backup quarterbacks Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich. Batch was the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger after Leftwich went down with a season-ending arm injury in the preseason. Colbert, though, said he expects reserve quarterback Dennis Dixon to go elsewhere when he hits free agency on March 13. "I don't think the league has seen the best of Dennis Dixon only because he's behind a great quarterback, and he's been held back by some injuries," Colbert said. Hensley's slant: As long as Leftwich stays healthy, he should get the backup job over Batch. Backup quarterback is an important job for the Steelers because Roethlisberger hasn't played a full season since 2008, missing six games the past three seasons (four due to an NFL suspension).

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

The Bengals have given permission to the Dolphins to speak to secondary coach Kevin Coyle about Miami's defensive coordinator job, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Coyle is expected to meet with the Dolphins this week in Miami, The Enquirer reported.

He is considered the top in-house choice to become Cincinnati's defensive coordinator if Mike Zimmer left for a head-coaching opening. Zimmer is in the running for the jobs in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said he is in the process of putting together a list of potential candidates at the Senior Bowl to fill Coyle's position.

“This is my chance to come down here and have one-stop shopping and talk to people about different people I know,” Lewis told The Enquirer.

Hensley's slant: It looks like the Bengals expect to keep Zimmer and lose Coyle if you connect the dots. The Bengals denied Coyle permission to talk to the Eagles last season about their defensive coordinator position. So, by granting him permission this year, it says that Cincinnati believes Zimmer will stay. The Bengals wouldn't want to put themselves in a position where they would lose both Zimmer and Coyle in the same offseason.

BROWNS: To no one's surprise, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto says the Browns are looking to get a fast receiver this offseason. "There were no other receivers to take any attention away from the rookie [Greg Little]," Pluto wrote. "The Browns want to add a speed receiver. If they do, Little should be position for a strong second season." Hensley's slant: If the Browns are looking for top-end speed at wide receiver, they won't be selecting one with the fourth overall pick. The best receivers in this draft class -- Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd and Alshon Jeffery -- are considered playmakers but not the top burners at the position. Kendall Wright has elite speed and could be available when the Browns make their second selection in the first round at No. 22 (this pick came from Atlanta in the draft-day trade for Julio Jones).

RAVENS: A team source told The Baltimore Sun that no coaches have been dismissed yet, but that could happen in the next two to three weeks. The source indicated many offensive coaches were told they had to get to the Super Bowl to avoid possible dismissal and that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has not been told whether he will return next season. According to The Sun, Cameron drew criticism from team officials for throwing the ball to receiver Lee Evans in the end zone late in the game instead of to other prominent receivers. Hensley's slant: Beyond the results, what hurts Cameron is his relationship with quarterback Joe Flacco. There's been speculation for years that Cameron and Flacco don't see eye to eye when it comes to the offense. If the Ravens had to make a choice between the two, they would go with Flacco, who is expected to receive a contract extension this offseason.

STEELERS: Head coach Mike Tomlin is facing some issues at the quarterback position, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The primary backup job will be given to either Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch, both of whom are unrestricted free agents in March. Dennis Dixon is expected to go someplace where he can be the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback. Hensley's slant: Batch is 3-1 when he's had to fill in for starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the favorite to become the backup is Leftwich. The Steelers brought back Leftwich on a draft-day trade in 2010 for a reason. He would have served as the No. 2 quarterback this season if he didn't break his left arm in the preseason.

The Steelers signed former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith on Friday, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

This is an interesting addition but not likely a significant one. Even though the Steelers' quarterback group could undergo change, Smith would be fighting for the No. 3 job.

Pittsburgh's top two backups this season, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon, are both free agents. Dixon presumably will go elsewhere and the 37-year-old Batch might not return.

Byron Leftwich, who is also a free agent, is expected to re-sign and become the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger. Leftwich broke his arm in the preseason and spent the entire regular season on injured reserve.

That's why Smith's best shot at sticking with the Steelers is winning the third-string job. Smith, a Heisman Trophy winner who was with the Ravens from 2007 to 2009, spent last season with the United Football League's Omaha Nighthawks. He failed to establish himself as an NFL starting quarterback because he struggles with accuracy.

The NFL preseason will conclude Thursday night for the AFC North division.

Here are four things to watch in the final preseason games:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers' backup quarterbacks

Analysis: Pittsburgh's backup quarterback position is wide open because Byron Leftwich is out for the season with a broken arm. Veteran Charlie Batch and the younger Dennis Dixon will battle it out tonight against the Carolina Panthers. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin decided to sit starter Ben Roethlisberger so the team can better evaluate Batch and Dixon. The player who performs the best against the Panthers probably will go into the regular season one play away from seeing the field.

2. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton

Analysis: The early reviews haven't been pretty for Dalton. ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton recently ranked the rookie second-round pick dead last among starting NFL quarterbacks. Dalton has been up and down this preseason. The good news is he's coming off a solid outing in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. He threw for 130 yards and a touchdown. Dalton needs to carry that momentum into tonight's game against Indianapolis. This is the final tuneup before the regular-season opener against Cleveland.

3. Baltimore Ravens' offensive line

Analysis: Baltimore's offensive line has struggled with a lot of moving parts this preseason. This final preseason game is a chance for the unit to jell one last time before the Ravens' regular-season opener against Pittsburgh. Although nothing is official, there's a chance starting center Matt Birk and new left tackle Bryant McKinnie could make their 2011 debuts against the Atlanta Falcons. Birk is coming off knee surgery and McKinnie is still working his way back into football shape. If at least one of these players gets reps Thursday, that would mark progress.

4. Cleveland Browns' left guard

Analysis: The left side of Cleveland's offensive line was once the biggest strength of the team before Eric Steinbach's season-ending back injury. Now, the Browns have a huge hole at left guard next to perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Rookie fifth-round pick Jason Pinkston will get the first crack at replacing Steinbach. Oniel Cousins and John Greco are two more possibilities. Keep a close eye on this group Thursday against the Chicago Bears. The Browns hope to have their answer at left guard before Week 1.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were the last AFC North team to complete Week 3 of the preseason on Saturday night.

Here are some observations:

Steelers 34, Falcons 16

The Good

• Receiver Antonio Brown continues to be Pittsburgh's star of the preseason. The second-year standout lit up Atlanta with four catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Brown's two scores were for 77 and 44 yards. Brown had a huge reception in last season's playoffs to help Pittsburgh beat the Baltimore Ravens. He is carrying that momentum and confidence into this season. After Saturday's stellar performance, Brown likely has the edge over veteran Jerricho Cotchery to become Pittsburgh's No. 3 receiver.
• Pittsburgh backup cornerback Crezdon Butler showed playmaking ability against Atlanta. Butler returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter. Butler was also active. He led the Steelers with nine tackles and made a big impression. He could be one of Pittsburgh's top reserves in the secondary.

The Bad

• Steelers backup quarterback Byron Leftwich broke his arm Saturday and reportedly could miss the entire season. Leftwich had a good chance to be Pittsburgh's No. 2 quarterback. Now, that job goes to Dennis Dixon and reduces his chance for a trade. The biggest goal of the preseason is to prevent injuries. Leftwich and top cornerback Ike Taylor (broken thumb) suffered big injuries in two of Pittsburgh's three preseason games.
• Pittsburgh’s first-team defense gave up chunks of yards to Falcons No. 1 receiver Roddy White. He recorded eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers didn't make any significant upgrades to the secondary in the offseason and teams will continue to attack Pittsburgh through the air this season.

For weeks, many wondered which two quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers would keep once starter Ben Roethlisberger returned from his four-game suspension.

On Saturday, the Steelers made their decision.

Pittsburgh announced it placed quarterback Dennis Dixon (knee) on injured reserve, which means the team will go with Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich as its three quarterbacks for the remainder of the 2010 season. The Steelers also signed defensive tackle Steve McLendon.

Dixon was hurt in the Steelers' Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans. His recovery was projected to take about six weeks, which was enough to convince the Steelers (3-0) to move on this year with three healthier quarterbacks.

Batch's recent play also didn't hurt. He threw for three touchdowns in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dixon finished the year throwing for 254 yards and one interception in two starts. A former fifth-round pick, Dixon will be a restricted free agent after this season.

PITTSBURGH -- With future Hall of Famer Brett Favre on a bye week, the NFL's oldest starting quarterback will be wearing black and gold Sunday.

"It's a blessing, I feel," Steelers 24-year-old receiver Mike Wallace said of 35-year-old teammate Charlie Batch. "Anytime you can be the oldest guy out there, that means you've been doing this well for a long time. If I was one of the oldest guys, I'd be happy and proud of it."

Coming off a three-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Batch aims to put together an encore performance Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) in the NFL's best rivalry. With franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrapping up his four-game suspension, this will likely be Batch's final start of the season. He wants to make it memorable.

It's been business as usual this week for undefeated Pittsburgh (3-0), the No. 1 team in ESPN.com's latest Power Rankings. Unlike Week 1 when Dixon was the starter, there weren't questions in the locker room about inexperience and how much the offense changes with a new quarterback.

Batch, a 13-year pro who is 4-1 as a starter in Pittsburgh, runs the Steelers' offense how the coaching staff wants. He stays in the pocket, is quick and decisive with the football, and only runs when necessary.

The athletic Dixon had problems with the latter, and even Roethlisberger could learn from Batch about making quicker decisions and not holding onto the football. Batch wasn't sacked last week against Tampa Bay. But he also produced the longest run of his career against the Bucs for 24 yards, which should give Baltimore another thing to worry about.

"I got the wheels," Batch warned while laughing Wednesday. "But I didn't even think about it. It was second nature. I saw things open up and I was trying to get the first down and all of a sudden I felt I could get more yardage. I think it caught [receiver Antwaan] Randle El off guard, because he was still running his route instead of looking at the football, and I passed the line of scrimmage 5 yards ago."

A win always helps, but Steelers teammates say they have a great confidence in Batch, the oldest Steeler and one of the team's bigger jokesters.

"He plays all day, and I can't ever believe anything he says," said Wallace, who caught two of Batch's touchdowns last week. "I have to watch him. He's one of biggest [pranksters] on the team. So I have to watch my back around Chuck."

Playing against the Ravens' defense will be no laughing matter.

Batch, a native of suburban Pittsburgh, faces a Baltimore defense ranked No. 1, allowing just 244.3 yards per game. The Ravens also are No. 1 against the pass at 116.7 yards per game.

Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals could not produce a touchdown against Baltimore. In Week 3, Seneca Wallace and the Cleveland Browns (0-3) had moderate success that Batch could build on. Wallace completed 18 of 24 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown, and Cleveland's running game amassed 173 yards.

Pittsburgh's 31 offensive points under Batch last week were the most the team has scored in 2010. Tailback Rashard Mendenhall (143 yards rushing) was solid against Tampa, and Batch wants to keep that momentum going.

"We felt offensively we were letting this team down," he said. "We were winning in other phases, especially with the defense. But we weren't holding up our end."

Lately, the Ravens have caught a couple breaks in this rivalry.

After losing three straight to Pittsburgh in this series, this will be the second time in three games Baltimore faces the Steelers without Roethlisberger. In Week 12 last season, Baltimore beat the Dixon-led Steelers in overtime, 20-17. But the Ravens say they will not overlook Batch on Sunday.

"It's different when you’re going against a backup that might be a young guy or a rookie, like most backups," Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "The fact he's been in the league for a long time, he's a veteran guy, he's got a lot of starts under his belt. So you can't look at him the same as you would a guy out of college or something like that."

During his weekly news conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin named Charlie Batch the starter for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

This wasn't a surprise after Batch threw three touchdown passes in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Byron Leftwich also continues to work his way back from a knee injury and will likely dress for the second straight week.

Sunday's game against Baltimore (2-1) will mark the final game for Pittsburgh (3-0) without franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. The Steelers have a bye week after playing the Ravens and will return to the field Oct. 17 against the Cleveland Browns (0-3).

TAMPA, Fla. -- Charlie Batch is like an old, dependable car that collects dust in your garage -- it's rarely used, but it's good to know it's there whenever you need it.

Sometimes you start it up and take the car around the block for old-time's sake, like the Steelers did with Batch in the preseason. Other times, the luxury vehicle (Ben Roethlisberger) and second (Byron Leftwich) and third cars (Dennis Dixon) must go in the shop for unexpected repairs.

But there's always Batch, the Pittsburgh-area product who's been through the ups and downs and runs the offense well when you hand him the keys.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh turned the ignition and revved up the 35-year-old quarterback once again, and he responded with his best performance as a Steeler. Batch completed 12 of 17 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-13 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Batch was the only healthy quarterback on Pittsburgh's roster and improved to 4-1 as a starter for the Steelers. Batch also threw two interceptions but helped Pittsburgh improve to 3-0 without Roethlisberger.

"Hats off to a lot of people, but you really got to tip a hat to Charlie Batch," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "What he was able to do for us today, he played like a veteran and the guy hasn't had many opportunities, not only in recent years, but recent days, weeks or months."

Batch was mostly an afterthought with Tomlin and Pittsburgh's coaching this offseason. With Roethlisberger due to serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Leftwich and Dixon competed for the starting job and took the majority of repetitions in minicamp, training camp and preseason. Roethlisberger also needed playing time to prepare for his eventual return.

According to Batch, he understood it was a unique situation. So he did a lot of individual work on the sideline and after practice to get time with receivers that he couldn't get time with in practice. Batch said he was "absolutely" disappointed he was never included in the quarterback derby, but he didn't say anything to the team.

"I always wanted to put my hat in the ring," Batch said candidly. "For me, I didn't get that opportunity early ... But things happened and here I am with that opportunity, and I had to make the most of it."

Steelers veteran Hines Ward, who caught one of Batch's touchdown throws, was impressed with all the things the quarterback has had to overcome.

"It's just amazing," Ward said. "I'm just happy for him, and I think he got a game ball. He came in and finally got a week's worth of preparation with the guys."

Batch has always played well in short stints in Pittsburgh, which begs the question: Why didn't he get a chance to compete in the first place?

Tomlin, with his team sitting at 3-0, said now isn't the time to second-guess.

"I don't get do-overs; I don't live in that world," Tomlin said bluntly. "I will let you guys (the media) talk about that."

When it comes to Batch, Tomlin added that "good things usually happen to those kind of people." Batch did things the Steeler way: He worked hard, never complained, and was ready when it was time to step up.

With Leftwich still working his way back from a knee injury and Batch playing well, Batch shouldn't get overlooked a second time. He deserves to start for Pittsburgh in a big rivalry game next week against the Baltimore Ravens (2-1).

"One thing I wanted to do is go out here and put it on tape to put the pressure on Coach Tomlin to make a tough decision for next week," Batch said. "Because I still want to be out there again, even though Byron is going to be healthy. I felt that I kind of made my case."

Eventually, the Steelers will go back to driving their luxury car Oct. 17 when Roethlisberger returns. But the 35-year old classic will be waiting in the garage, ready to perform.