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

• Today would have been the 28th birthday of former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry, who passed away in 2009.
• The Cleveland Browns fired their director of player development Jerry Butler.
• Will the lockout hurt the rookies of the Baltimore Ravens?
• Let's take an early look at former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca's case for the Hall of Fame.
• Here is a recap of this week's chat.

Nobody wants to hear what doctors discovered about the damage to the late Chris Henry's brain, but we all need to listen and re-consider the danger in the game of football, writes Johnette Howard for ESPN.

The idea that Henry was playing with brain damage that can only be diagnosed using brain tissue samples (which can't be culled until a person dies) ramped up concerns over how quickly athletes start to suffer from CTE -- and why they do.

Researchers say concussions aren't the only danger. Even the accumulation of lesser blows to the head -- the sort of contact that's intrinsic in football -- could be enough to eventually cause serious long-term brain damage. The threshold could be far lower than anyone previously thought.

That's a confounding dilemma for people who are trying to make organized football safe. If that's possible.

The Buffalo News has a 2010 preview of the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Mason believes that Terrell Owens could still be a factor on a contending team.

What would happen to the Ravens' defense if Ed Reed had to miss significant playing time?

Cincinnati Bengals

Late receiver Chris Henry has been identified by experts as the first player to have died with trauma-induced brain damage while still active in NFL.

Andre Caldwell isn't going to give up the No. 3 receiver spot without a fight.

Cleveland Browns

Eric Mangini singled out second-year receiver Brian Robiskie as being the most impressive player during organized team activities.

Former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards won't be suspended for punching a friend of LeBron James outside a Cleveland-area nightclub last October.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a suggested course Ben Roethlisberger should follow to best help the Steelers.

Doug Farrar suggests the Steelers should use the bunch formation to open up the running game.

Here are the latest happenings Monday in the AFC North:

• On a sad note, today would have been Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry's 27th birthday. Henry passed away last year.
• Scouts Inc. takes a look at Rashard Mendenhall of the Pittsburgh Steelers and other running backs.
• Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Demetrius Williams is showing improvement this offseason.
• Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert will be a guest speaker at the Akron Browns Backers banquet Monday.

It would have been easy for the Associated Press to select Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints, the Indianapolis Colts' Jim Caldwell or Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers as its 2009 Coach of the Year. All three led their teams to at least 13 victories and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

But unlike most awards, this year's voting went deeper than standings and statistics.

It was about tragedy and the ability to lead an entire organization through some of the toughest situations imaginable.

With those rare credentials, Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals was chosen as the AP 2009 Coach of the Year. No other coach faced such a difficult journey this season. Lewis' team finished with a 10-6 record, a playoff berth and an AFC North division title.

The passing of Vikki Zimmer, the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, and receiver Chris Henry about two months apart rocked the Bengals. The team also had families of several players affected by the tsunami in the Samoa Islands.

This year was so much more than injuries and X's and O's for Cincinnati.

The next step for the Bengals is to offer a contract extension to Lewis, who is entering the final year of his deal. In seven seasons, he has brought respectability back to a franchise that was a league-wide laughingstock the dozen years prior to his arrival.

Now the Bengals are looking up as they try to maintain their success from this past season.

"While we're proud of the season we had, we didn’t get beyond our first goal [of winning the AFC North]," Lewis said in a statement. "There is a lot more for us to accomplish in 2010."

Former Cincinnati sports reporter Bill Hemmer witnessed the glory years of the Bengals firsthand. He covered and traveled with the team from 1988 to 1992, which included two playoff berths and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Hemmer eventually left his hometown and today is a well-renowned news anchor for the Fox News Channel in New York. The Bengals will host the New York Jets in Saturday’s playoff game at 4:30 p.m.

The AFC North blog caught up with Hemmer to reflect on the Bengals and look ahead.

You covered the Bengals during their last great run. What are your memories from that experience?

Bill Hemmer: That was a great time in my life. You don’t realize it when you’re in the moment. But when you look back on it, I know how wonderful an experience that can be. I was a young man. I was 24 years old, and I had an opportunity in Cincinnati to go to the games and travel with the team and report on what they were doing. As a sports fan, born and raised in Cincinnati, I bleed orange and black for crying out loud. To be able to have that experience with the team you‘ve grown up to love, it was outstanding. I look back at those times with very fond memories. It took me to every stadium in the country and it put me up close with some guys, to this day, that I still respect. People like Boomer Esiason, Chris Collinsworth, Anthony Munoz and Sam Wyche. These guys are legends of the game. It’s amazing how many broadcasters that team produced. As a reporter covering that team back then, they were great for interviews.

The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since you covered them. What do you think happened to this organization?

BH: I have a nephew. He’s 19. He’s going to the game on Saturday, because I got him some tickets. He’s a huge fan and since he’s been alive this is the second winning season he’s ever seen. Where would we be without suffering, I think Bruce Springsteen once said. What’s gone wrong? Everything. They’ve had management issues. They’ve had coaching issues. They’ve had personnel issues. In recent years they’ve had horrific injuries. Things like David Pollack. You draft a kid out of Georgia, he’s so promising, and he breaks his neck the third game of his career. And Odell Thurman, those two guys in my mind could have battled for rookie defensive player of the year. After only a couple games I thought they were that good. But Thurman had his off-field problems and he’s done. If you think about the events they’ve gone through this past year with Mike Zimmer’s wife dying and Chris Henry dies. You wonder if the team is cursed. Well, here is what I think the strategy is, because I’ve studied this team and watched how management makes decisions. This is my opinion, but if you look at their Super Bowl appearance of ‘81-‘82, they tried to blast off and they finally did. Then they go back in a lull. Maybe it’s to save money or turn the payroll. I’m not sure. Then they build up again and they explode in ‘88-‘89. They tried to do it again in the ‘90s but they failed at it. And here they are almost 20 years later and they got a shot.

You now live and work in New York. How confident are Jets fans after last week’s 37-0 drubbing?

BH: I have got to tell you, I work in a building with thousands of employees. I think everyone in the building knows I’m a Cincinnati fan, and they have let me have it all week long. I tell them, ‘Good luck, and here’s to a great game this weekend.’ In Bengal Nation we are raised to be humble.

What are your thoughts on the Chris Henry story and how sports sometimes converges with hard news?

BH: I’m a big believer that sports sometimes is a reflection of our society, be it good or bad. I’m one of the guys in the newsroom who will always argues to have highlights on the National Championship Game thrown into the newscast. I lose more of those arguments than I win. But there is a reason why 80,000 people are jammed into a stadium. There is a reason why you can get eight million people to watch a football game on a Sunday night. There is a reason why 50 million people watch the Super Bowl on television in this country alone. There is a fan base for that, and for that reason I’m convinced that the audience is there. But we work in a news business. So I lose a lot of those arguments. But I think you can make the case that many things that happen, especially on the professional level, are a reflection of society.

What’s your prediction for the Jets and Bengals?

BH: I can’t go there. But I will predict a very well-played football game. I think it will be solid on both sides of the football. I think fans and viewers across the country are in for a treat. I think what happened Sunday night was an aberration. I’m praying that I’m right with that calculation. But if anything it was a wake-up call to make sure those guys are focused. I believe the Bengals, when they’ve been forced to concentrate and forced to focus, have played extraordinarily well. I hope that’s the case Saturday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the funeral of Chris Henry.

After a 3-1 week in the division, here is how the AFC North fared in ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings:

Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)

Last week: No. 7

Current ranking: No. 7

Analysis: The Bengals didn't budge after a strong showing on the road in defeat to the San Diego Chargers. Cincinnati lost, 27-24, thanks to a last-second field goal by Nate Kaeding. Even more impressive is the Bengals were playing with heavy hearts following last week’s passing of receiver Chris Henry. Cincinnati has lost two in a row, but there is no reason to panic. The Bengals can clinch a playoff spot and the AFC North division with a win Sunday over the lowly Kansas City Chiefs (3-11).

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Last week: No. 12

Current ranking: No. 11

Analysis: The Ravens are starting to put everything together on both sides of the football, and it’s coming at the right time. After two straight wins over the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, Baltimore comes in at No. 11 this week. The Ravens are back to playing playoff-style football. They are running the ball well, passing with efficiency, and playing great defense. If the Ravens stick to this formula, they could be a problem for the rest of the league down the stretch.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Last week: No. 19

Current ranking: No. 15

Analysis: The Steelers broke a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion with a last-second win over the Green Bay Packers. The victory moved the Steelers up four spots this week to No. 15. The fourth-quarter defense once again was a major concern for Pittsburgh. But the Steelers’ offense was tremendous with 537 total yards. Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes are on thin ice. But to have a pulse after losing five straight is the best the Steelers can ask for at this point in the season.

Cleveland Browns (3-11)

Last week: No. 29

Current ranking: No. 28

Analysis: The Browns continue to take baby steps up ESPN.com’s Power Rankings. Cleveland moved up one spot to No. 28 this week after winning its second game in a row against the Chiefs. It was the Browns' first two-game winning streak of the year. This is decent progress considering the Browns recently spent five straight weeks rated No. 32. With Mike Holmgren taking over as the team’s president, it will be important for everyone involved with the Browns to finish strong. Holmgren will be watching closely to see who he wants to keep for 2010.

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

• Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes a look at the playoff scenarios for the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7).

Morning take: The team has no business thinking about the postseason with the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) coming to town. But I'm sure projections are fun for Steeler Nation.

• Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun is reporting free-agent cornerback Corey Ivy plans to take a physical with the Ravens.

Morning take: With the secondary ailing, many in Baltimore are clamoring for the team to sign another former Raven in Chris McAlister. Would Ravens fans settle for Ivy instead?

• John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes the Bengals seek peace Tuesday in attending the funeral of Chris Henry.

Morning take: This has been a really tough week for Cincinnati, and today's trip to the New Orleans area is another chapter in that journey.

• Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says new Browns president Mike Holmgren's first decision should be what to do with coach Eric Mangini.

Morning take: I also expect this to be at the top of Holmgren's list. Look for him to spend a lot of time with the coaching staff in the next two weeks to do his own evaluations.

Here are seven notes and observations from an interesting Week 15 in the AFC North:

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James Lang/US PresswireDemetrius Williams had four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win.
• A lot of great things came out of the Baltimore Ravens’ 31-7 blowout of the Chicago Bears. But one underlying positive that could help the team down the stretch was the play of receiver Demetrius Williams, who has been M.I.A. for the past two seasons. Williams caught four passes for 71 yards Sunday. He made a beautiful, athletic touchdown catch in the end zone that reminded everyone why the Ravens (8-6) keep banking on Williams’ potential. The Ravens hope that performance is the start of more production from Williams.
• In terms of negatives, Baltimore’s secondary is hurting heading into a big rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7). Rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb tore his ACL Sunday and is done for the year. Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed (foot, groin) has been in and out of the lineup, and starting cornerback Fabian Washington already is lost for the season. The Ravens have struggled in the secondary all year, and these injuries only make things more difficult.
• The Steelers need help from the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4). Win or lose this weekend, the Steelers do not own the tiebreaker over the Ravens. So Pittsburgh's best hope is for the Denver Broncos (8-6) to falter. The Steelers beat the Broncos in Denver, 28-10, on Nov. 9 and own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
• Pittsburgh left tackle Max Starks had his hands full with Green Bay Packers rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. Sunday. Matthews is a tremendous player and may be the NFL's top defensive rookie, but I had expected Starks to utilize his size and veteran savvy. Instead, Matthews looked like a veteran and beat Starks numerous times with his quickness. The rookie had two sacks and another one negated by a booth review.
• Here is an AFC North blog prediction: Don’t be surprised if Jim Zorn lands with the Cleveland Browns in some capacity next year. Yes, Zorn is currently the head coach of the Washington Redskins. But it's the worst-kept secret in the league that he’s on the outs and Washington is eyeing Mike Shanahan. With Mike Holmgren expected to take over the Browns this week, Zorn could be among the first people he recruits in the offseason, most likely as a quarterbacks coach, which is Zorn's specialty. Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn has been through a lot of adversity and transition already in his young career. So Quinn could use a steady hand.
• The Cincinnati Bengals (9-5) responded well during their 27-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers (11-3), despite the tragic passing last week of receiver Chris Henry. San Diego has just about wrapped up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, but the Chargers lost to or struggled against every AFC North team this season. If Cincinnati gets another shot at San Diego in the playoffs, which is very possible, the Bengals should feel confident about this favorable matchup.
• This is a big week for Bengals tailback Larry Johnson. Cincinnati will play host to Johnson's former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the past seven years of his career. Johnson was released by Kansas City last month on bad terms after making controversial statements about the team and media. It will be interesting to see if Johnson acknowledges the revenge angle or downplays it. But rest assured, he wants to run hard against his former team.

The Cincinnati Bengals deserve praise for their solid showing, in the midst of tragedy, during a 27-24 defeat to the San Diego Chargers.

The Bengals took the field just three days after the passing of teammate Chris Henry and nearly pulled off a big win under very tough circumstances. But Nate Kaeding's late field goal was the difference for San Diego.

In the standings this was a huge loss for Cincinnati (9-5). The Bengals could not make up ground on the Chargers (11-3) and missed a golden opportunity to take control of the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye.

It's also Cincinnati's first two-game losing skid of the season at a time when most teams would prefer to be playing their best football. Back-to-back losses to San Diego and the Minnesota Vikings are nothing to be ashamed of. But winning one of those games would have been a huge confidence boost for the playoff-bound Bengals.

And, yes, Cincinnati will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The question is how much damage will the Bengals do once they get there?

After losing to San Diego, the Bengals will have to prove themselves early in the postseason, starting in the wild-card round in January.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:

Ravens in control: The Baltimore Ravens are thanking the Indianapolis Colts this week for giving them possession of the final wild-card spot. Indianapolis’ 35-31 victory Thursday over the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7) moved Baltimore (7-6) into the final AFC wild-card spot with three games left. They begin their final push Sunday in Baltimore against the Chicago Bears (5-8). The time on the game was moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. After that, they have road games against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7) and Oakland Raiders (4-9).

In memory of Henry: The Cincinnati Bengals are dedicating the remainder of the season to former receiver Chris Henry, who died Thursday following a domestic incident with his fiancée. The Bengals (9-4) will wear No. 15 helmet decals when they take the field this weekend against the San Diego Chargers (10-3). The winner of this game has the inside track to securing the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Unknown replacement: Unless you watched HBO’s "Hard Knocks" series this summer, most fans are not familiar with Bengals safety Tom Nelson. The undrafted rookie was impressive in training camp and will get his first career start against San Diego. Veteran starting safety Chris Crocker re-injured his ankle in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to be sidelined two to three weeks. Nelson draws a tough assignment right away with San Diego, which has an explosive receiving corps and one of the NFL’s top tight ends in Antonio Gates. Nelson has 12 tackles and one interception this season.

Battle of 3-4 defenses: Sunday’s game between the Steelers (6-7) and Green Bay Packers (9-4) will have an AFC North feel as both teams play 3-4 defenses. The Packers, who are playing the scheme for the first time under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers, are actually ranked slightly ahead of Pittsburgh in total defense at No. 2. The Steelers are No. 4. Three of the four teams in the AFC North play a 3-4 scheme, with the only exception being the Bengals.

Going for two: It's been more than a year since the Cleveland Browns (2-11) won two games in a row. But they have a good chance to pull off the feat Sunday against the equally bad Kansas City Chiefs (3-10). The Browns, who beat the rival Steelers last week, last won two straight from Sept. 28-Oct. 13, 2008 (A bye week was in between the two victories). A win at Kansas City could end that lengthy drought and also give first-year coach Eric Mangini his first winning streak with the team.

Here are the most interesting stories in the AFC North:

• The playoffs hopes of the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7) improved Thursday night as the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7), 35-31.

Morning take: The Jags no longer control their own destiny in the AFC wild-card race. That opens the door for several teams, including two within the division.

• Meanwhile, the Ravens are 11-4 at M&T Bank Stadium in two years under head coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore hosts the Chicago Bears (5-8) Sunday.

Morning take: The Bears are struggling. So the Ravens need to take advantage of their schedule and get another key victory at home.

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco wants to wear No. 15 Sunday against the San Diego Chargers in memory of former teammate Chris Henry, who passed away this week.

Morning take: It's a noble idea, but the NFL won’t allow it. I’m guessing the officials wouldn’t let Ochocinco take the field even if he tried it.

• At 2-11, will the Cleveland Browns send anyone to the Pro Bowl?

Morning take: Return specialist Joshua Cribbs and left tackle Joe Thomas are the two biggest names. But wins attract attention, so there's a good chance Cleveland is shut out this year.

Here are some additional links you should check about Thursday's passing of Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry:

• Joe Reedy from the Cincinnati Enquirer has more reaction from the team.
• Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com writes Henry's run to daylight was cut short.
• Scott Priestle of Cnati.com says the Bengals' resolve will be tested once again.
• Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun writes former teammate and current Ravens receiver Kelley Washington is shocked by the news.
  
• Don Banks of SportsIllustrated.com says Cincinnati suffered another loss during a winning season.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Chris Henry caught two touchdown passes last year for the Cincinnati Bengals. Both of them were thrown by Ryan Fitzpatrick.

A few hours after Henry died Thursday morning, Fitzpatrick stood at his stall in the Buffalo Bills' locker room and tried to comprehend that his former teammate was gone.

"I'm still trying to grasp what really happened because it's such tough news and a shock to hear," Fitzpatrick said.

"It was very sad. Tragic news."

Henry died of injuries suffered Wednesday near Charlotte, N.C. He fell out of a pickup truck during what police have called a domestic dispute with his fiancée. Henry was 26.

"It definitely makes you stop and think," Fitzpatrick said. "Everybody in this locker room is affected by it, even the guys that didn't know Chris on a personal level. When the news broke, everybody was gathered around the TV, watching.

"It's always something you never want to see happen, especially somebody in the NFL brotherhood. It affects everybody more than people realize."

Henry wasn't with the team because he's on injured reserve with a broken arm.

The Bengals extended a second chance to Henry, who they released before the 2008 season after he'd been arrested a fifth time and a judge called him "a one-man crime wave."

"I think for the guys that know him, it's very different than the public perception of him," Fitzpatrick said. "The trouble that he got in the past and all that, everybody knows that he's a great guy. He really had his share of problems but really got his life on track.

"Obviously, everybody's hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his fiancée, his kids. It was really tough news."

Fitzpatrick said he will remember Henry's immense talent and recalled Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer used to call Henry "the next Randy Moss."

"The way he played on the football field, the passion that he played with, how much he loved the game and really the chance that the Bengals gave him because they knew what kind of person that he was and the talent he possessed," Fitzpatrick said.