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The first day of rookie minicamp was supposed to represent a new start with running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden getting on the field for the first time. Instead, the day was marred by the Cleveland Browns' continued run of bad luck.

Head coach Pat Shurmur announced that defensive tackle Phil Taylor would need surgery to repair a torn chest muscle and could miss the upcoming season.

"It was just one of those things that happens," Shurmur said Friday. But why does it always seem to happen to the Browns?

In May 2005, Kellen Winslow's season ended when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a motorcycle crash. In July 2006, LeCharles Bentley's season was done after he sustained an injury to his left knee on the first team drill of training camp. And middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson missed 26 games in 2009-10 because of two pectoral muscle injuries.

The latest rough turn of events occurred Thursday when Taylor injured himself. It didn't occur on the field and it wasn't the result of a hit. Taylor tore his left pectoral muscle while doing bench presses in the weight room.

Taylor posted this message on Twitter: "Just a bump in the road. Got [to] work hard and come back -- Strong."

Injuries aren't the only reason why the Browns have lost 117 games since returning to the league 11 seasons ago. The instability in the front office and coaching staff shows Cleveland has struggled to find and develop talent.

It just seems like the Browns are dealing with a setback even before the regular seasons begins. This time, the injury hurts an already weak spot on the Browns team.

Even with a run-stuffer like Taylor, the Browns gave up 147.4 yards on the ground per game last season, which was third-worst in the NFL and last in the AFC. In comparison, the Ravens (92.6 yards rushing allowed), Steelers (99.8) and Bengals (104.7) all ranked in the top 10 in run defense last season.

The likely replacement is rookie sixth-round draft pick Billy Winn. Third-round nose tackle John Hughes could also figure into the competition. The interesting part is Winn and Hughes are roommates.

"We've already started to create that little bond," Winn told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We're roommates so we've been doing a little chatting and going over the playbook. We'll help each other out and compete against each other and make each other better."

Another key defensive starter in the AFC North has gone down with an injury this offseason.

Browns defensive tackle Phillip Taylor injured his left pectoral muscle Thursday while lifting weights as part of the club’s offseason program, the team announced. This comes a little more than a week after Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs injured his Achilles tendon.

According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Taylor will have an MRI on Friday and visit a doctor on Monday. If the pectoral muscle is torn, Taylor would need surgery and likely be out four to six months, Schefter reported.

This is a familiar injury for the Browns. Middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson missed all of 2010 and most of 2009 with two different torn pectoral muscles.

Taylor, the 21st overall pick of the 2011 draft, started all 16 games as a rookie and finished seventh on the team with 59 tackles. He also recorded four sacks and a forced fumble.

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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 coaches met with the media Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. Here are five issues addressed by Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shumur and my reaction:

On whether Shumur wants running back by committee or a featured back: "I think you make the running back position a little bit what you have available to you. If you have one of those feature guys, I think he's out there quite a bit. I think it's fair to say in this league it's hard to play 16 games with just one guy. I think that position has gotten to where you need two and sometimes three guys to come in and be productive. That may be just the nature of where it's going in this league." Hensley's reaction: In other words, if the Browns draft Trent Richardson, they will have a featured back. If they are left with the likes of Cedric Benson, Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson, it will be a running back by committee.

On the Browns' wide receiver group: "First off, if we can get Greg [Little] to develop. He battled through last year and did some fine things. If we can get him to develop his consistency, which happens between Year 1 and 2. Jordan Norwood did some good things for us. Think for a moment about how you'd use the running backs, use a few of them. That would be the same at wide receiver. Josh Cribbs, I think of him as an outstanding special teams players that is a very productive receiver. It's proven he has some of his best games in our biggest games. Mo Massaquoi. He started the year with some nagging injuries and I think it affected him. Not that he didn't battle through, but it affected him. We couldn't see the best of Mo last year because of that. I'd like to sit down and see what Carlton Mitchell can bring to the table. Very fast and tall. He got in to games and made a couple of plays last year. We have to see if he can develop to the point of being a trustworthy guy." Hensley's reaction: This is a group filled with No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. If the Browns don't address this position in the first round, this will be among the worst wide receiver group in the NFL once again.

On whether a rookie could start at right tackle: "I think he could. I think you'd expect him to play in a way [right guard Jason] Pinkston did last year. Again, we're talking about a guy that needs to improve. But he went in and probably performed at a higher level than I expected." Hensley's reaction: The Browns could get value on an offensive tackle early in the second round. The name that is getting thrown around is Mississippi's Bobby Massie.

On why the run defense failed despite good play from both defensive tackles and middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson: "Stopping the run is gap control. The ball can go a lot of different places, regardless of where it starts. We need to do a better job of making sure we secure the other places, as well. I think some of the areas we're very good in is preventing the good, and that is the essence of good defense. That's what you're looking to do." Hensley's reaction: The Browns made some strides in their run defense when they signed free agent Frostee Rucker. Upgrading at outside linebacker would also help a defense that allowed 147 yards rushing per game.

On if there is any decision that Shurmur regrets as a first-year head coach: "One regret? Oh boy. I'd have to put a little thought into that. I've obviously thought about a lot of things. There's some things that I'll never do again, but I'll keep those things private." Hensley's reaction: Here's hoping that pitch play to Armond Smith on fourth-and-one is among those things that Shurmur will never do again. What would be on everyone else's list on this topic?

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

The agent for guard Ben Grubbs said he had a "positive" meeting with Ravens officials at the NFL combine, but the sides aren't close to reaching a deal. Free agency will begin in two weeks.

“He’s in the prime of his career and may or may not have another opportunity to sign another significant contract. He needs to be sure that he explores all his options," agent Pat Dye told the Baltimore Sun. "He loves it there [in Baltimore] and would welcome being back there, but anything that the Ravens present him, we would have to evaluate it in the context of what the market might bear to him."

Dye added, "Is that to say something might not happen before free agency starts? No, that’s not to say that at all. I would expect that we would be talking in the near future, but I don’t think a [deal] is imminent at this point.”

The Ravens have made it clear that they want to keep Grubbs. Head coach John Harbaugh recently said the team is "offering a lot of money" to the 2007 first-round pick.

“They expressed a very strong interest in having him back,” Dye said. “They gave us some definitive parameters that would reflect that they have a very strong interest.”

Hensley's slant: The Ravens should tell Grubbs that their offer gets pulled if he tests the free-agent market. That way, he would have to decide whether to take the Ravens' deal or risk getting less in free agency. Grubbs should get more money in free agency considering there are a lot of teams looking for guards this offseason: the Bears, Cowboys, Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs, Panthers, Colts and Titans.

BENGALS: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis isn't confident that the team can find a top cornerback beyond the first round. “There’s research that says the best starting corners are first-round picks,” Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Year after year if you had 70 corners the best ones and almost all of them are going to be first-round guys.” The two cornerbacks linked to the Bengals in the first round are North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick. Hensley's slant: This isn't a surprise because the Bengals have always put a high priority on cornerbacks. They drafted Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph in the first round, so the Bengals likely will target another one this year because Hall is recovering from an Achilles injury and Nate Clements is entering his 12th season. There is a solid chance that Cincinnati will draft the second-best corner in the draft with one of its two first-round picks.

BROWNS: Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson earned his new contract through durability and determination. "Bottom line, he had a very, very good year on a very, very bad team. Not easy to do," Pluto wrote. "That's why it was good news to see him sign a new 5-year, $42.5 million deal ($19 million guaranteed) with the Browns. At first, that seemed a lot of money for a linebacker who will be 29 in September, a linebacker who played only six games in the previous two seasons. But Jackson proved himself in 2011, staying healthy and seemingly never even being tired." Hensley's slant: A day after Jackson signed his deal, linebacker Ahmad Brooks agreed to a six-year, $44.5 million contract with the 49ers that includes $17.5 million guaranteed. Does that make you feel better or worse about Jackson's deal?

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette doesn't think wide receiver Mike Wallace is going anywhere as a restricted free agent. "Why would another team pay all that money in order to convince him to sign and give their first-round pick to the Steelers?," Bouchette wrote. "Baltimore has practically announced it won't sign him and Cincinnati needs something else. That leaves New England and San Francisco? With the new rookie wage scale, those first-rounders became more valuable, too." Hensley's slant: The Ravens are out, and the Bengals would surprise me at this point, too. But I wouldn't rule out teams desperate for a deep threat like the Patriots and 49ers. New England coach Bill Belichick is always thinking outside the box.

The Browns are banking D'Qwell Jackson is past his injury problems, signing the middle linebacker to a five-year, $42.5 million deal that includes $19 million in guaranteed money and roster bonuses, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

This could be a calculated risk, depending on how the Browns protected themselves in the contract in light of Jackson's medical history. But it's a risk, nonetheless. The Browns gave a five-year contract to a player who got on the field for a total of six games in 2009 and 2010 because of two separate pectoral injuries.

The smart play would have been to use the franchise tag on Jackson. Cleveland couldn't let Jackson get away, because it has no one on the roster who could replace his 158 tackles from last season. It would have been pricey to use the tag on him ($8.8 million), but the Browns could have bought another year to see if he could stay healthy for another full season before giving him a multiyear deal.

Jackson, who turns 29 in the first month of the 2012 season, was the runner-up for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After missing the 26 games previous to last season, he finished second in the NFL in tackles -- 58 more than anyone else in the AFC North.

There has been speculation that the Browns are considering putting the franchise tag on either running back Peyton Hillis or kicker Phil Dawson. I could understand Dawson, not Hillis. Why put the $7.7 million franchise tag on Hillis when you could get him at half that price in free agency?

The Browns used the tag on Dawson last season, and it didn't affect his production. He converted 24 of 29 field goal attempts, and two of those misses were the result of bad snaps. He also hit seven field goals of 50 yards or longer, and no one in the NFL had more from that distance this past season. The Browns could find another strong-legged kicker, but it will be hard to find one as adept in tough, lakefront conditions late in the season.

A quick look at what's happening around the AFC North as the NFL combine continues in Indianapolis. I will provide my take on many of these issues and topics in the days to come, but I wanted to pass along the information.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Coach Marvin Lewis did seem troubled over the latest off-the-field incident involving middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge at a Cincinnati bar. Maualuga is the fourth Bengals player since July to have a legal issue, joining wide receiver Jerome Simpson, cornerback Adam Jones and running back Cedric Benson. “There’s a concern," Lewis told reporters at the NFL combine, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "What [Maualuga] does away from football is important. He has to make good choices and decisions.”
• Benson is not expected to be re-signed by the Bengals, and Lewis' comments about the running back didn't change that perception. As the team website points out, it sounded like Lewis was giving Benson a lifetime achievement award instead of a new contract. “I think we want to improve our running game and if it includes Ced, it includes Ced," Lewis said. "We need to have more explosive running plays. Ced has had a fine career. He’s a physical player and been a big part of our success.”
• Lewis provided encouraging news on two players who are coming off season-ending injuries. Cornerback Leon Hall (Achilles) is ahead of schedule, and wide receiver Jordan Shipley (knee) continues to make “significant progress," Lewis said.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

• Coach Pat Shurmur reiterated the Browns want to re-sign starting middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Shurmur said the team hasn't made a decision whether it will place a franchise tag on Jackson, although the Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported last week that the Browns plan to do so. "We're going to be willing to use [the franchise tag]," Shurmur said. "As you go through signing our free agents, then we'll see what's the best place to use that tag."
• In injury updates, Shurmur said left guard Eric Steinbach is progressing from a season-ending back injury but he didn't commit to the left guard as a starter, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Jason Pinkston, who replaced Steinbach at left guard, will not move to tackle and will continue to develop at the guard position, according to Shurmur.
• Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar attended the combine, but not in an official capacity, a team spokesman told the Akron Beacon Journal.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Coach John Harbaugh once again expressed confidence about holding onto Ben Grubbs, saying he's "pretty optimistic" about re-signing the Pro Bowl left guard. “I hope that’s not misplaced," Harbaugh said, via the Baltimore Sun. "We’re in the process of negotiating. We’re committed, [owner Steve Bisciotti’s] committed to offering him a really great number. Hey, the market dictates [it], and Ben has to make those kinds of decisions, and you’re really happy for guys. He’s had a great career. He’s had a great number of years here. He’s earned the right to take a look for his family. One thing we’re not doing, we’re not giving him a low number. We’re doing everything we can to try to keep him in Baltimore.”
• In injury news, wide receiver Torrey Smith had surgery to repair a double sports hernia, and cornerback Cary Williams had hip surgery. Both are expected to be ready for training camp.
• Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the team isn't looking to add a free-agent running back to replace the retired Ricky Williams. He indicated that Anthony Allen, a seventh-round pick from a year ago, will be given the first shot at the backup running back job. The team would add a free agent during training camp if Allen struggles to secure that spot, Newsome said.
• Newsome is happy the team was able to keep director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, who turned down the chance to interview for the general manager positions with the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts. "I think it was very important because of the continuity that allows the organization to maintain people and have the process remain the same," Newsome said, via ESPN Chicago. "It was kind of like Scott Pioli remaining in New England for all those years with Bill [Belichick]. All it does is make you stronger. I'm very thankful that Eric decided to stay."

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Major changes are unlikely to occur to the Steelers' offense under new coordinator Todd Haley, according to general manager Kevin Colbert. The biggest reason is it's tough to do so when the team has been successful and is bringing most of the same personnel back. "So, it's hard to come in and drastically change your philosophy because of the group of players that you have," Colbert said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You can't overhaul a whole roster. Nor are we looking to because this group of players has been very successful."
• The hope is that the high-ankle sprains that have hampered Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey the past two years are in the past. "The reports we got and the last time we saw him, he was progressing just fine," Colbert said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "High-ankle sprains, they're a different injury and then when you re-injure it sometimes you've got to do some procedures to shore that joint up."
• A Cleveland-based reporter asked Colbert if the team had reached a "breaking point" with linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended last season after he knocked out Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. "No. Absolutely not," Colbert said. "James Harrison is a great player. He tries to play within the rules. Sometimes, the penalty is unavoidable, and he ends up getting a suspension out of it. He served his time. We've all moved on. We know James Harrison plays the game very hard. He plays it within the rules the best he can. Sometimes, circumstances happen in the course of a game, and you have to live with the consequences. But in no way are we ever going to be disappointed with that player."

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

If the Browns don't have to use the franchise tag on linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, a candidate to get it next is running back Peyton Hillis, according to the Plain Dealer of Cleveland.

The paper continues to report that the team intends to place the tag on Jackson. But, if the sides can reach a long-term deal, the Browns can use it on Hillis or kicker Phil Dawson, according to the Plain Dealer.

Hillis had a disappointing season to finish off the final year of his contract, totaling 717 yards and three touchdowns. That was a major dropoff from 2010, when he produced 1,654 yards and 13 touchdowns.

According to the Plain Dealer, the Browns are interested in bringing back Hillis. "I really liked what I saw when he was in there playing healthy," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said.

Hensley's slant: While using the franchise tag on Jackson is a smart move, it would be a crazy one to put the tag on Hillis. I've long said that the Browns need to part ways with Hillis after a troubling season last year. But, even if you want Hillis back, you can't think it's the right move to put the franchise tag on him. It will cost the Browns $7.7 million for one year. Cleveland can let Hillis become a free agent and sign him back for less than that. It would be a classic case of overspending.

BENGALS: Cincinnati hired longtime offensive line guru Jim McNally as a consultant. He coached 15 of his 28 NFL seasons in Cincinnati from 1980-94 and developed Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Muñoz during a stretch that included two trips to the Super Bowl. His job is to help the Bengals a couple of days during offseason camps and training camp while focusing on film work. "It's a fresh set of eyes from afar that can look at our team and other teams and offer valuable insights," offensive line coach Paul Alexander told the team's web site. "I'm excited about it. We're talking about the guy that taught me pro football." Hensley's slant: The Bengals are making some strong additions after filling the openings on the coaching staff, hiring McNally and Hue Jackson. If everything goes according to plan, McNally will be helping Alexander coach two new guards on the Bengals offensive line. That was the weakest position on the Bengals last season.

RAVENS: CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg says the Ravens shouldn't use the franchise tag on guard Ben Grubbs even if they sign running back Ray Rice to a new contract. Bringing back Grubbs via the tag is “unrealistic” because the cost is too high, according to Eisenberg. “While Grubbs mans one of football’s lower-paying positions, his tag price for 2012 [boosted by big contracts given to tackles] would be $9.4 million – way more than any team would pay for a guard,” Eisenberg wrote. “The Ravens might still figure out a way to keep all three [Rice, Grubbs and quarterback Joe Flacco], but tagging Grubbs isn't going to happen." Hensley's slant: The odds are against the Ravens using the tag on Grubbs because it is cost prohibitive, especially after the Ravens gave guard Marshal Yanda a deal last year that averaged a little more than $6 million per season. But I wouldn't close the door on this possibility completely. If the Ravens have the cap room to spare, they might put the tag on Grubbs because it's a one-year commitment. It would be a classic case of overspending like the Browns with Hillis (see the lead item above), but the Ravens would be overspending on a player who is coming off a Pro Bowl season and has a track record of being consistent.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette says that getting another first-round pick might benefit the Steelers more than keeping wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Steelers would get a first-round pick as compensation if they put a first-round tender on Wallace and don't match an offer sheet from another team for the restricted free agent. "If someone else signs Wallace and they let him go, the Steelers could draft both an offensive and defensive lineman on the first round," Bouchette wrote. "They would still have two good receivers in Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders to build around, and save a whole lot under the salary cap. It doesn’t sound so bad to me." Hensley's slant: The Steelers need Wallace more than an additional first-round pick (which likely will be one of the last ones in the first round). Pittsburgh has to be unsure if Brown, who benefited greatly last season from defenses double-teaming Wallace, can be the No. 1 target. And the Steelers can't rely on the frequently injured Sanders to be the No. 2 receiver. Letting Wallace go would increase the chances of re-signing Jerricho Cotchery and keeping Hines Ward for veteran depth.

The Ravens' Ray Rice is the top running back in this free-agent class. He's among the top three or four running backs in the NFL today.

But Rice is no Adrian Peterson and he shouldn't be seeking the seven-year, $100 million deal (including $36 million guaranteed) given to the Minnesota Vikings running back. If the SI.com report is accurate that Rice wants Peterson-type money, Rice will be disappointed because the Ravens won't be giving him anything close to that.

The Ravens will almost certainly place the franchise tag on Rice this year for $7.7 million, which is really a bargain when you consider Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson will get $8.8 million under the tag. In fact, the Ravens would probably prefer to use the tag on Rice for two years (which would cost them an estimated total of $17 million) before giving him a Peterson-type deal.

I'm not trying to slight Rice because he was the most valuable player in the AFC North last season. Over the past two seasons (including playoffs), the Ravens are 21-2 (.913) when Rice gets at least 20 touches. Rice also produced an NFL-best 2,068 total yards and set a team record with 15 touchdowns. He became the second player in NFL history to produce multiple seasons of 1,000 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving (Marshall Faulk was the other). Basically, Rice is really, really good.

But the Ravens are more willing to invest a long-term deal in Joe Flacco than Rice because NFL running backs haven't proven to be durable. The more realistic deal that Rice should be targeting is the one given to the Titans' Chris Johnson, who reportedly signed for $53.5 million over four years.

The Ravens' free agents are setting their sights high this offseason. It was last week when agent Joe Linta said Flacco has to be considered a top-five quarterback based on wins. Today, it's Rice wanting Peterson-type money. Who's next? Ben Grubbs?

There's no question that the Ravens want to keep Rice, who turned 25 in January. They're just not going to overpay to do so.

The Browns are going to put the franchise tag on D'Qwell Jackson if they can't reach a multi-year contract with the middle linebacker, a league source told the Plain Dealer.

This is the right move. Jackson was the second-best player on the Browns defense last season behind cornerback Joe Haden. He is the established leader on a young and promising front seven. Cleveland couldn't risk Jackson going elsewhere. There is no one on the team who could account for Jackson's 158 tackles.

This is also a very smart move. The Browns really shouldn't even be talking about a long-term deal with Jackson. Given his injury history, Cleveland should keep the tag on Jackson for this season.

If Jackson proves he can stay healthy in 2012, the Browns should give him a multi-year contract. If injuries shorten his season again, the Browns aren't on the hook beyond this year.

Jackson reportedly is seeking a five-year deal. That's risky at this point for the Browns. Five years? This is the same player who got on the field for a total of six games in 2009 and 2010.

This isn't a knock on Jackson because he excelled last season when few expected him to ever play again. His comeback story was one of the best in the NFL this past season. He finished second in the NFL in tackles, and no one had more defensive fumble recoveries in the AFC than him.

I still considered the chances of the Browns using the franchise tag as slim. My reasoning was the cost of the tag, which is projected to be $8.8 million. That's money you give pass rushers, not inside linebackers.

The Browns have around $21 million in salary-cap space. That means the franchise tag on Jackson will eat up for more than 40 percent of that.

So, keeping Jackson is the right move. The only way it's a wrong move is if it limits what the Browns can do in free agency.

It became a busy Friday afternoon with news breaking about Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and former Raiders coach Hue Jackson.

The Browns will put the franchise tag on D'Qwell Jackson if they are unable to reach a multi-year deal, a league source told The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The window for putting the franchise tag on players begins Monday and ends March 5. The team and Jackson have begun negotiations.

In other AFC North news, the Bengals announced they have hired Hue Jackson as an assistant coach. According to the team, Jackson will assist in coaching the defensive backs and special teams.

"Hue is a tremendous addition to our staff," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. "I relied on Hue greatly when he was with us [in 2004-06], and his success overall in the NFL, including being selected for a head coaching position, is well documented. He has expertise in all aspects of the game, and we are fortunate to have obtained his services."

I will post my takes on D'Qwell Jackson and Hue Jackson shortly.

A look at potential franchise tag targets for each of the AFC North teams. The window for tagging players opens Monday and closes March 5.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Browns have only used the franchise tag once since their return to the league in 1999. It came last year when Cleveland put the tag on kicker Phil Dawson, who had been seeking a long-term contract instead.

While the odds of the Browns using the franchise tag are considered slim, here are the options:

Top candidate: D'Qwell Jackson, middle linebacker. The Browns don't want to lose Jackson, the NFL's second-leading tackler. But they might not want to commit to him long-term considering his medical history. Before this season, he had missed the previous 26 games due to two separate pectoral injuries. That's why the franchise tag makes a lot of sense for Jackson. The problem is, the franchise tag for linebackers takes into account all linebackers, including the pricey pass-rushers. To keep Jackson, the tag will cost the Browns around $9 million. Jackson said last month that he is open to playing under the tag, and he should be for that weekly $529,000 check. It just seems unlikely that the Browns would pay that amount of money to retain him for one year.

Dark horse: Phil Dawson, kicker. This could be the only way the Browns keep the most consistent offensive weapon from last year. Dawson's wife and three kids lived in Austin, Texas, last season and he might not want to be away from them for another season. The Browns used the tag on Dawson last season and it didn't affect his production. He converted 24-of-29 field goal attempts, and two of those misses were the result of bad snaps. He also hit seven field goals of 50 yards or longer, and no one in the NFL had more from that distance this year. The Browns could find another strong-legged kicker, but it will be hard to find one as adept in tough lakefront conditions late in the season.

When the 2012 began, the AFC North represented two extremes in terms of the salary cap. The Cincinnati Bengals had the league's best cap situation ($44 million under), and the Pittsburgh Steelers had the worst ($25 million over).

The Steelers, though, have made significant progress this month to get under the cap. Pittsburgh restructured the contracts of linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, creating $11.6 million in cap room. The Steelers also freed up $3.5 million in cap space by cutting cornerback Bryant McFadden and wide receiver Arnaz Battle. Those four moves represented a total of $15.1 million in cap room.

There's still plenty of work remaining for the Steelers, who are now a projected $10 million over the cap. Here are five players whose 2012 salaries account for $17.4 million, which makes them candidates to get restructured or released: nose tackle Casey Hampton ($4.8 million), wide receiver Hines Ward ($4 million), guard Chris Kemoeatu ($3.5 million), linebacker Larry Foote ($3 million) and defensive end Aaron Smith ($2.1 million). Some of that cap space will go to wide receiver Mike Wallace, a restricted free agent who will get a first-round tender ($2.7 million).

The Ravens started the offseason in the middle of the pack as far as the salary cap ($8.5 million under). The retirement of running back Ricky Williams gives Baltimore $1.5 million in additional room. The Ravens will get nearly $19 million under the cap when they cut cornerback Domonique Foxworth ($5.6 million salary in 2012) and wide receiver Lee Evans ($3.2 million salary in 2012).

But a chunk of that cap space is expected to go to running back Ray Rice when they put the franchise tag on him. The franchise tag for running backs is expected to be $8 million this year. Baltimore is expected to place a first-round tender ($2.7 million) on their top restricted free agent, cornerback Lardarius Webb.

Like the Bengals, the Browns are among the teams with the most cap room. Cleveland is projected to be $21 million under the cap, which gives it freedom to be active in free agency. The Browns can spend on outside talent because they only have three of their starters heading to free agency (running back Peyton Hillis, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and safety Mike Adams, in addition to kicker Phil Dawson).

For the Bengals, they once again have plenty of cap room entering free agency. Cincinnati has seven of its starters entering free agency, but the Bengals are looking to upgrade at a lot of those spots on offense: wide receiver, running back and both guard positions.

It's time to unveil the defense for my All-AFC North team, which is based on performance this season, and not past reputation. There were many difficult decisions, and there should be. All four defenses in the division finished in the top 10 (Pittsburgh was No. 1, Baltimore was No. 3, Cincinnati was No. 7 and Cleveland was No. 10).

The All-AFC North team will wrap up tomorrow with offense. Of course, tell me who I left off, who should have been on and any other opinions in the comments section below.

Defensive end: Carlos Dunlap, Bengals. Tough call over Pittsburgh's Brett Keisel. Before being slowed by a hamstring injury, Dunlap was getting to the quarterback like no other defensive end in the division. Despite missing four games, he recorded 4.5 sacks and led the Bengals with 27 quarterback pressures, which was four more than anyone else on the team.

Nose tackle/defensive tackle: Haloti Ngata, Ravens. He didn't seem as dominant as last year, but it's hard to argue his impact. Ngata finished with five sacks, five batted-down passes, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was a cog in the middle for the NFL's second-ranked run defense and he returned a fumble 28 yards for his first career touchdown in Week 3. Some would go with Casey Hampton, but he slipped at the age of 34 and so did the Steelers' run defense, which gave up 33 percent more yards rushing than a year ago.

Defensive tackle: Geno Atkins, Bengals. While the Bengals' run defense faltered in the second half of the season, their front four pressured the quarterback like no other in the AFC North and perhaps the league. And Atkins was a huge part of that by collapsing the pocket up the middle. He tied Oakland's Tommy Kelly for sacks by an interior lineman in the NFL with 7.5. He is the first Bengals interior lineman to top the team in sacks since 1996, when Dan Wilkinson led with 6.5.

Outside linebacker: Terrell Suggs, Ravens. He was the best defensive player in the division and arguably the best in the NFL this season. Suggs made an impact all over the field, becoming the only NFL player this season to finish with at least five sacks, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles. Critics would argue that his production came in three games (season opener against Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Indianapolis), where he totaled nine sacks and six forced fumbles.

Inside linebacker: D'Qwell Jackson, Browns. The comeback player in the division, Jackson finished second in the NFL with 158 tackles. That's 58 more tackles than anyone else in the AFC North. This is after Jackson missed the previous 26 games due to two separate pectoral injuries. He also tied for the AFC lead with three defensive fumble recoveries.

Inside linebacker: Ray Lewis, Ravens. There's no doubt that Lewis isn't the same player that he was five years ago and he had trouble getting off blocks after returning from a toe injury. But there's not a better run stopper in the division. With Lewis as the leading tackler, the Ravens finished tied for first in fewest rushing yards per carry (3.5) and second in fewest rushing yards per game (92.5).

Outside linebacker: James Harrison, Steelers. Many would consider nine sacks (which tied for tops on the Steelers) and two forced fumbles a solid season. But Harrison did this after having two back surgeries in March, missing four games with a fractured orbital bone near his right eye and getting suspended one game following his infamous hit on Colt McCoy. Harrison's ability to get to the quarterback was a big reason Pittsburgh finished No. 1 in the NFL in pass defense.

Cornerback: Lardarius Webb, Ravens. If you didn't know what a great season Webb was having, you did in the postseason when he picked off three passes. He led the division with five interceptions and 20 passes defensed. Not bad for a defender that everyone projected to be a nickelback this season. The Ravens also gave up the fewest touchdown passes this season (11).

Cornerback: Joe Haden, Browns. Haden was the headliner for the NFL's second-ranked pass defense and has the potential to be a shutdown corner. He finished sixth in the league (and second in the AFC North) with 19 passes defensed this season. Haden had three games this year with at least three pass breakups, including a career-high five in the season opener against Cincinnati. There were some slips, such as allowing a game-turning catch to A.J. Green and a game-sealing touchdown to Antonio Brown. Haden barely edged out Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor for this spot.

Strong safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers. This wasn't his finest season, but Polamalu was a major presence on the NFL's top-ranked defense. Always lurking around the line of scrimmage, he finished third on the team with 91 tackles to go along with two interceptions and one sack. His best game came in the last one of the regular season, when his interception set up the game's only touchdown and his sack came from him breaking through the line after perfectly timing the snap.

Free safety: Ryan Clark, Steelers. The obvious choice would be Ed Reed. But even Reed would acknowledge that he struggled for most of the season. He managed three interceptions, his fewest for a 16-game season, and missed tackles toward the end of the season because of a shoulder injury. Clark enjoyed the best season of his 10-year career, leading the NFL's top-ranked defense with 100 tackles. That also ranked second in the AFC North. If you questioned Clark's impact, look at how the Steelers fared without him in Denver, when he had to sit out the playoff game because of a blood condition.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: No. 28
Preseason Power Ranking: No. 29

Biggest surprise: Cleveland changed defensive coordinators last offseason, going from the maverick ways of Rob Ryan to the calming influence of Dick Jauron. The style changed as well, from Ryan's frenetic schemes to Jauron's emphasis on fundamentals. The result: the Browns went from the 22nd-ranked defense in 2010 to the 10th-ranked this year. The yards and points went down and the sacks went up. The Browns allowed just 307 points this season, which is their lowest figure since allowing 301 in 2005. In Cleveland's four wins, the defense allowed an average of 12 points.

Biggest disappointment: Peyton Hillis went from being on the cover of the Madden video game to being the perfect example of what not to do in a contract season. The running back's frustrations over the lack of a new deal spilled onto the playing field, where his total yards dropped 56 percent from a year ago (1,654 to 717). It became a soap opera with Hillis this season when he missed a game on the advice of his agent because of strep throat, failed to show up for a scheduled appearance at a Halloween party for children, and got married in Arkansas instead of getting treatment at the Browns facility for his injured hamstring. It would be surprising to see the Browns invest a contract in Hillis after this year's antics.

Biggest need: The Browns desperately need offensive playmakers and lots of them. Their list includes: a strong-armed quarterback, a No. 1 receiver, a game-breaking running back and a big-play threat at tight end. It's easy to see why the Browns scored the third-fewest points in the NFL (13.6 points per game) under first-year coach Pat Shurmur. Cleveland produced only six pass plays for more than 40 yards (third-fewest in the league) and one run for that same distance. It seemed like the Browns ended up with more concussions than touchdowns this season.

Team MVP: The backbone of the NFL's second-ranked passing defense was cornerback Joe Haden. It was a breakout year for the seventh overall pick of the 2010 draft. He finished sixth in passes defensed and has the potential to be a shutdown corner. He didn't have an interception, but that will come if the Browns can increase the pressure on quarterbacks. Some would argue that linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is the Browns' MVP because he finished second in the NFL in tackles. But Cleveland allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league, which is a reflection of the middle linebacker.

Big decision: Look for the Browns to add a quarterback in the draft or free agency after Shumur said Colt McCoy will have to win the job next season. In his first full season as the starter, McCoy ranked 26th in completion percentage (57.2), 25th in passing yards per game (210.2), 32nd in yards per attempt (5.9) and 25th in passer rating (74.6). Some argue that McCoy's statistics are low because the Browns are tied for the most drops in the NFL (33), according to ESPN Stats & Information, and have struggled to protect him. Others say McCoy isn't a starting quarterback at this level because he lacks arm strength.