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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."

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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.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has "a shot" to play against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin told reporters.

It's a good sign for the Steelers that Roethlisberger would be available if they needed him, but there really is no decision when it comes to the quarterback and his high ankle sprain. The Steelers need to sit Roethlisberger for the regular-season finale.

There is a chance that Sunday's game might be a critical one for the Steelers. If Pittsburgh wins and Baltimore loses, the Steelers would win the AFC North and clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

But that's an "if." The Steelers, who have already locked up a playoff berth, can guarantee Roethlisberger a bye this week by resting him.

Sitting Roethlisberger isn't waving the white flag and conceding the division to Baltimore. The Steelers beat the Rams and the NFL's 32nd-ranked run defense by handing the ball off to Rashard Mendenhall. They could use the same game plan against the Browns and the league's 30th-ranked run defense.

Plus, backup quarterback Charlie Batch was extremely effective in his game-manager role.

"I thought he did some really good things," Tomlin said of Batch. "[But] his performance has no bearing on how we go about making the decisions that are right for us this week. A lot of the decisions center around Roethlisberger's health."

The best decision that would improve Roethlisberger's health heading into the postseason is to rest him.

A look at how the quarterbacks around the division fared Saturday:

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Stats: 18-for-31 for 154 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Saturday vs. Cardinals: Dalton had one of his best starts this year, completing 15 of 22 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. But he couldn't carry that over in what became one of his least productive finishes this year. In the second half, Dalton was 3 of 9 for 18 yards. It marked the fourth game in five weeks that he didn't throw an interception.

QBR: 70.9 (No. 8 among quarterbacks this week)

Grade: B-minus

Seneca Wallace, Cleveland Browns

Stats: 19-for-33 for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Saturday at Ravens: Wallace proved why he is a career backup in the NFL. A poor third-down pass in Ravens territory cost Cleveland a field goal in the first quarter. Wallace then called a running play in the red zone with 11 seconds left in the first half and no timeouts. That cost the Browns another field goal. Those were two huge mistakes considering the Browns lost by six points.

QBR: 34.9 (25th)

Grade: D

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Stats: 11-for-24 for 132 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Saturday vs. Browns: Flacco made two great throws in the first half, both of which resulted in touchdowns. He put the ball in the right spot on a 5-yard pass in the end zone to Ed Dickson and showed good touch when he dropped the ball into the hands of Ray Rice on a 42-yard touchdown. Three drops in the second half hurt Flacco's overall numbers. He also had a 33-yard scramble.

QBR: 75.2 (6th)

Grade: B

Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 15-for-22 for 208 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

Saturday vs. Rams: Batch exceeded expectations in his first start since October 2010. He nearly had a 47-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace until it got overturned by replay (it resulted in a 46-yard pass to the 1-yard line). Batch, who wasn't sacked, showed some elusiveness for a 37-year-old backup when he escaped two rushes to complete passes. His one interception came when wide receiver Antonio Brown slipped.

QBR: 51.9 (15th)

Grade: B-plus

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

The Ravens are dealing with significant injuries to four starters as well as kicker Billy Cundiff heading into their important regular-season finale at Cincinnati.

Right guard Marshal Yanda (bruised ribs and thigh), cornerback Cary Williams (concussion), defensive end Cory Redding (ankle) and Cundiff (left calf) will likely be questionable for Sunday. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (knee) has already been ruled out after having knee surgery last week.

Baltimore, which also placed wide receiver-kick returner David Reed (torn ACL) on injured reserve, doesn't have any plans to sign a free-agent wide receiver.

"There's really not a lot of guys out there," coach John Harbaugh said, via The Baltimore Sun. "If anything, people have been signing guys off their practice squads for about the last six weeks very aggressively. Unless a name comes before us, which we have not seen yet, I'd say that's probably not going to happen."

The Ravens will make a determination later in the week whether they will stick with Shayne Graham or go back to Cundiff, who was inactive last Saturday. Graham kicked two field goals from beyond 40 yards in the 20-14 win over Cleveland.

"We're not going to carry two kickers into the game if Billy's kicking," Harbaugh said.

Hensley's slant: The biggest concern is Yanda, who has been labeled as "very questionable" by The Sun. The Ravens' offensive line struggled mightily early in the season when left guard Ben Grubbs missed multiple weeks with a toe injury and was replaced by Andre Gurode. There could be similar problems going forward without Yanda, who is the team's best offensive lineman.

BENGALS: In an effort to sell out Sunday's game against the Ravens, the Bengals have begun a "buy one, get one free" promotion for season-ticket holders. The deal could get extended to the general public by the end of the week. According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the team moved 2,000 tickets in the first couple of hours Monday. “I think people that haven’t seen us play in person will have a good time,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “It will be a good football game. We are playing a very good football team.” Hensley's slant: Say what you want about the organization, but the Bengals are showing initiative in trying to sell out this game and avoid another blackout. This is a bigger gesture than many think. The Bengals still have to pick up 34 percent of the visiting team's share on the free tickets, which means paying out $22 for each $65 ticket (the cheapest one available) that's given away.

BROWNS: Head coach Pat Shurmur hasn't ruled out quarterback Colt McCoy for Sunday's game against the Steelers. McCoy, who has missed the past two games since suffering a concussion in the previous meeting with Pittsburgh, hasn't yet been cleared to practice, but Shurmur said Monday (via The Cleveland Plain Dealer) that if he's able to practice on Wednesday "there's a chance he can play." Shurmur, though, wouldn't commit to McCoy even if he is cleared by the medical staff. Hensley's slant: This shouldn't even be an issue this week. McCoy should be ruled out now. There's nothing to gain for him to go against the NFL's top-ranked defense and have a reunion with James Harrison. The Browns have to be careful with how they handle McCoy because the NFL Players Association is still deciding whether to file a grievance against the team.

STEELERS: Backup quarterback Charlie Batch told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he doesn't know whether he'll start his second straight game for the injured Ben Roethlisberger (high ankle sprain). "Ben might say, 'I need some reps before we head into the playoffs,'" Batch said. "It is up to Coach [Mike] Tomlin and Ben to make that decision. Coach might say, 'Let's what wait 'til Thursday or Friday to allow Ben to make the decision whether or not to start.'" Hensley's slant: Like McCoy's situation, this should be an easy decision. Roethlisberger shouldn't play. The Steelers beat the Rams by running the ball against the NFL's 32nd-run defense. They can do the same against the Browns, whose run defense is ranked 30th. It's uncertain whether Pittsburgh will get a bye for the playoffs, but the Steelers can make sure Roethlisberger gets another week of rest before the postseason begins.

Thoughts on the Steelers' 27-0 win over the Rams:

What it means: By routing the Rams (2-13), the Steelers (11-4) kept their hopes of an AFC North title alive and secured no worse than the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. Pittsburgh still needs the Ravens to lose in next weekend's regular-season finale to have any shot at the division title and a top-two seed. It was the Steelers' fifth win in six games.

No Roethlisberger, no sweat: The Steelers kept injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) active in case of an emergency, but there was nothing to worry about in this one. Charlie Batch was 15-of-22 for 208 yards in a workmanlike fill-in performance. His 46-yard pass to Mike Wallace in the fourth quarter set up a touchdown to increase the lead to 20-0 and essentially sealed the win.

Pound and ground: As expected, the Steelers hammered the NFL's worst run defense by gaining 169 yards on the ground on 28 attempts. Rashard Mendenhall recorded his second 100-yard game of the season with 116 yards and one touchdown. He almost had 100 yards by halftime. Mendenhall's longest run was 52 yards.

Dominating defense: The Steelers delivered their second shutout of the season and both times came against an NFC West team at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh limited the NFL's lowest scoring team to 232 yards. This was the second time in December that the Rams got shut out. The defense sacked Kellen Clemens three times.

Quiet yet impressive: Antonio Brown was a non-factor in the game with three catches for 34 yards. But Brown set a new franchise record with 2,048 all-purpose yards on the season. The second-year wide receiver broke the record of Barry Foster, who had 2,034 yards in 1992.

What's next: The Steelers wrap up the regular season at the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh beat the Browns, 14-3, earlier this month.

Here's your game-day warm-up:

Week 16 in the AFC North will be remembered for backup quarterbacks.

Half of the division will be starting them: Charlie Batch goes for the Steelers and Seneca Wallace is starting for the Browns. And the other half will be facing a backup quarterback: the Ravens' Joe Flacco battles Wallace and the Bengals' Andy Dalton goes against the Cardinals' John Skelton. Batch and Steelers will also play a backup in the Rams' Kellen Clemens.

Here are some quarterback notes, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

• BENGALS: Dalton needs two touchdown passes to join Peyton Manning (1998), Charlie Conerly (1948) and Dan Marino (1983) are the only rookies with 20 or more.
• BROWNS: In three games against the Ravens, Wallace has completed 20 of 27 passes (74.1 percent) for one touchdown and no interceptions for a 99.0 rating.
• RAVENS: Flacco is 7-0 against the Browns and has completed 112 of 174 passes (64.4 pct.) for eight touchdowns and three interceptions for a 97.3 rating.
• STEELERS: Batch is 4-2 as a spot starter since joining the Steelers in 2003. His last start was Sept. 26, 2010, when three of his 12 completions went for touchdowns.

Note: There won't be the usual Saturday mailbag because of games being played today. It will return next Saturday.

Here are the major injuries in the division and what they mean:

BENGALS: WR Andre Caldwell (groin, doubtful) isn't expected to play after missing practice all week. Andrew Hawkins and Ryan Whalen will replace Caldwell in the slot. Eight others are probable, including WR A.J. Green (shoulder). RT Andre Smith (ankle) will start after missing two games.

BROWNS: QB Colt McCoy (head) is out and won't make the trip to Baltimore. Seneca Wallace will start for the second straight week. Four starters are questionable: WR Josh Cribbs (groin), CB Joe Haden (thigh), Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) and RT Tony Pashos (ankle). All practiced Friday and are expected to play.

RAVENS: WR Anquan Boldin (knee) is out for at least the next two games. Lee Evans will start with rookie Torrey Smith. K Billy Cundiff (left calf) is doubtful, which means Shayne Graham will kick for the Ravens. DE Cory Redding (ankle, questionable) is expected to play.

STEELERS: QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) is listed as questionable but he reportedly won't play. Charlie Batch is expected to start. Pro Bowl C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) is out again and will be replaced by Doug Legursky. LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) is questionable after being limited the past two days in practice. He sat out Wednesday's practice. WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot) is out after not practicing Friday.