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The offseason has just begun, but the coaching carousel has been spinning for all four teams in the AFC North.

Often the struggling teams make significant coaching changes, and that was the case with the Cincinnati Bengals (4-12) and Cleveland Browns (5-11). But playoff teams like the Baltimore Ravens (12-4) and even the Super Bowl runner-up Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) also experienced some turnover on their staff.

Here is a look at each change and what it means for the division:

Cleveland Browns

In: Head coach Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and a new staff.

Out: Former head coach Eric Mangini, former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

What happened? Mangini entered this past season on the hot seat and went 5-11 for the second consecutive year. There were a lot of philosophical differences between Mangini and Browns president Mike Holmgren. So when the team wasn't winning, it made for an easy decision to go in a different direction. Enter Shurmur, who was a surprise hire for Cleveland. Shurmur has no prior head-coaching experience and wasn't on the radar of other teams. The Browns have pretty much cleaned house and hired a new staff, which includes Jauron and veteran defensive assistant Ray Rhodes.

Analysis: Last year, Holmgren was dumbfounded by some of the things the Browns were doing, particularly on offense. But Holmgren and Shurmur share many of the same views, which will give Holmgren more say in what goes on, and I think being on the same page is important for any team. The Browns are one of the few teams this year that will change both their offense and defense. Cleveland will go to a West Coast offense under Shurmur, who did not hire an offensive coordinator and will call the plays. The Browns also will switch to a 4-3 defense, which is something they haven't run since 2004. Shurmur is taking on a lot of responsibility as a rookie head coach and de facto offensive coordinator, which raises some concerns. Cleveland hopes veteran coaches like Jauron and Rhodes will take care of the defense, giving Shurmur one less thing to worry about. In terms of personnel, the Browns have a lot of work to do. They need better receivers on offense if they plan to pass more and playmakers at defensive end to run a 4-3 scheme.

Cincinnati Bengals

In: Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, receivers coach James Urban.

Out: Former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, former receivers coach Mike Sheppard.

What happened? Changes were inevitable for Cincinnati's coaching staff this season. There was a lot of unrest among players internally who didn't like the scheme on offense. The Bengals entered the season with playoff aspirations but had an abysmal four-win campaign. Quarterback Carson Palmer was so unhappy that he demanded a trade after the season. Receivers Terrell Owens publicly criticized the coaching staff several times and starting tailback Cedric Benson said he was not returning if Bratkowski was still the offensive coordinator. Bratkowski was let go and later hired by the Atlanta Falcons, and Sheppard went to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gruden, a former UFL head coach and the brother of former NFL coach Jon Gruden, was hired as offensive coordinator, and Urban was hired as receivers coach from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Analysis: Cincinnati will be the second team in the division implementing a West Coast offense. Gruden also says he wants to make sure Cincinnati has a power running game, which is needed in this division. When the Bengals were at their best in 2009, they ran the football effectively and played tough defense. Cincinnati went away from that last year and had an awful season. How Gruden's offense translates from the UFL to the NFL remains to be seen. Cincinnati also has to handle a lot of personnel issues. Will Palmer retire? If so, who will be the new quarterback? Should the team trade Chad Ochocinco? Will Benson return? Cincinnati will have a very busy offseason trying to figure out these questions before putting together its new offense.

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The postseason scenarios in the AFC North are narrowing with just two weeks left in the regular season.

Here is what the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) and Baltimore Ravens (10-4) can clinch in Week 16.

Steelers can clinch the AFC North and first-round bye with:

• A PIT win and BAL loss

Ravens can clinch a playoff spot with:

• BAL win or tie vs. CLE
• KC loss + JAX loss or tie OR
• KC loss + IND loss or tie OR
• SD loss or tie + JAX loss or tie
• SD loss or tie + IND loss or tie

Pittsburgh is already in the playoffs via strength of victory tiebreaker.

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

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Mitch Stringer/US PresswireRay Rice rushed for 153 yards in Sunday's win over the Saints.
• Baltimore Ravens tailback Ray Rice entered Week 15 with fewer than 20 carries in each of his previous five games. But it appears that helped Rice, as he showed he had fresh legs in late December. Rice looked energized and was ready for the heavy workload in a 30-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. He rushed for a season-high 153 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. He also led the team in receiving with five catches for 80 yards. It was a throwback performance for Rice, who put up these kind of numbers more often last season when the Ravens didn't have as many weapons. But getting the ball back in Rice's hands should continue to be a focal point for Baltimore's offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
• If the season ended today, the Ravens (10-4) would travel to face the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) in the playoffs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Despite Indianapolis' record, we like Baltimore's chances better against any other playoff contender. The Colts have been an awful matchup for the Ravens. Quarterback Peyton Manning is 8-2 in his career against Baltimore, including Indianapolis' playoff win last season. The Kansas City Chiefs or Jacksonville Jaguars would be easier playoff opponents.
• We received a lot of emails regarding Carson Palmer's future since the AFC North blog reported the quarterback would not accept a pay cut to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. Although there are no guarantees, it does increase the possibility that Palmer will wear another uniform next season. We came up with several logical destinations for Palmer. The Oakland Raiders, where former Bengals assistant Hue Jackson is the offensive coordinator, could be one option. The San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals are teams that could be searching for quarterback help. It's very early, however. The Bengals may choose to pay Palmer $11.5 million and make him one of the NFL's highest-paid players next season. But investing that much in a struggling quarterback is very risky.
• The Bengals did a smart thing by giving young, unproven players meaningful reps in their 19-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Tailback Bernard Scott (eight carries, 40 yards) and receivers Andre Caldwell (four catches, 89 yards) and Jerome Simpson (two catches, 30 yards) contributed, as Cincinnati tries to figure out who stays and who goes this offseason. Caldwell was particularly impressive. After Terrell Owens (knee) went down, Caldwell led Cincinnati in receiving and made big receptions, including a well-designed 53-yard screen pass.
• Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy reached a contract escalator Sunday. McCoy needed to play 35 percent of Cleveland's offensive snaps this year -- which is the equivalent of 5.6 games -- for his fourth-year salary to increase from approximately $500,000 to $1.15 million. That's a $650,000 raise. McCoy made his sixth start against the Bengals and will remain Cleveland's starter the rest of the season. Considering McCoy was not expected to play this season, it's an unexpected accomplishment for the third-round pick.
• Here are several additional things I learned about the Browns: McCoy has nice touch and a good play-action fake, Pro Bowl kick returner Josh Cribbs is more hurt than he's letting on, and John St. Clair is not the answer at right tackle.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the New York Jets likely ensures Pittsburgh won't have the option to rest starters in Week 17. Baltimore and Pittsburgh (10-4) share the same record, but the Steelers own the tiebreaker. The Steelers host the Carolina Panthers (2-12) and the Ravens travel to face the Browns (5-9) in Week 16. Both 10-win teams are favored, which would set up a division race down to the final weekend.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 14 in the AFC North:

• Let's start with a prediction: We fully expect the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) to have their Week 16 Sunday night game against the San Diego Chargers (7-6) "flexed" to an earlier time. The game, which is in danger of a blackout in Cincinnati, has no business on prime-time television with the way the Bengals are playing. They have lost an NFL-high 10 games in a row and there are much better matchups in Week 16. Potential replacements are the New York Jets (9-4) against the Chicago Bears (9-4) and the New York Giants (8-4) against the Green Bay Packers (8-5). (Update: Bengals flexed.)
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AP Photo/Don WrightTerrell Owens hasn't been pleased with the Bengals' play calling the past two weeks.
• We agree with veteran receiver Terrell Owens that Cincinnati's offense has become too predictable. Owens, who has played for four other teams and in some good offenses throughout his career, lashed out at the Bengals' play calling for the second straight week. After a good first drive by the Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers caught on to what Cincinnati was trying to accomplish. As Owens mentioned afterward, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski didn't make proper adjustments at halftime and, as a result, the game quickly got out of hand.
• The Steelers (10-3) are in great position to land the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. But it's unlikely they will catch the New England Patriots (11-2) for the top seed. Pittsburgh is one game behind New England. But the Patriots hold the head-to-head advantage, so it's essentially a two-game lead with three games left. On the flip side, the Steelers own a two-game lead over the two other division leaders -- the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) and Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) -- with three games remaining. The biggest threat to Pittsburgh's second seed is the Baltimore Ravens (8-4), who can get within a game by beating the Houston Texans on Monday night. (Create your own scenarios with our NFL Playoff Machine.)
• Three Steelers defenders have scored TDs this season, and the team is 2-0 in those games. In addition to Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and safety Troy Polamalu, defensive end Brett Keisel scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year. That prompted Keisel to take a jab Sunday at his other eight defensive starters without touchdowns. "What's taking them so long [to score]?" Keisel said, laughing.
• Ravens Pro Bowl tailback Ray Rice is on a seven-game drought without posting 100 yards rushing. "Monday Night Football" would be a perfect time to snap that streak. Rice last eclipsed the 100-yard mark with a 133-yard effort on Oct. 10 against the Denver Broncos. Rice hasn't had 20 or more carries in the past month, and got only nine carries last week in a loss to Pittsburgh. Here are five more things to watch tonight for the Ravens.
• The Cleveland Browns (5-8) project to win just six games this season after Sunday's ugly loss to the lowly Buffalo Bills. Cleveland plays three division games to end the season: at Cincinnati (2-11), vs. Baltimore (8-4) and vs. Pittsburgh (10-3). There are a lot of questions about the future of Browns coach Eric Mangini, who went 5-11 last year. A 6-10 record won't look good on his résumé, which means Mangini probably must pull off major upsets down the stretch to impress Cleveland president Mike Holmgren.
• Finally, we'd like to give a special "Seven-step drop" congrats to Browns tailback Peyton Hillis, who eclipsed the 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career. Hillis has been, by far, Cleveland's MVP this season. He has had fumbling issues, which showed up again in the loss to Buffalo. But the Browns may only have had one or two wins this year if they had not the offseason trade with Denver to get Hillis for quarterback Brady Quinn.

Thursday's win by the Indianapolis Colts (7-6) was a major blow to the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) clinching a postseason berth in Week 14.

Pittsburgh entered the week with five ways to earn a playoff spot. But the Colts' 30-28 win over the Titans eliminated four of those options.

Here is an updated version of the only way the Steelers can now clinch an early playoff berth Sunday:

1. Pittsburgh wins + Jacksonville loss or tie + New England win or tie + Miami Dolphins loss or tie.

As far as opponents, the Jaguars (7-5) host the Oakland Raiders (6-6), the Patriots (10-2) travel to play the Chicago Bears (9-3) and the Dolphins (6-6) play New York Jets (9-3) on the road.

» NFC Decisive Moments: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Despite lacking Pro Bowl-caliber talent, the Cleveland Browns' defense has played tough, fundamentally sound football most of this season. That is why it was surprising to see everything break down during the worst possible time in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cleveland held a three-point lead in the fourth quarter. Jacksonville (six turnovers) was sloppy all game but outplayed the Browns in the final two minutes. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew ignited the Jaguars late with a 75-yard screen pass, which is this week's decisive moment in the AFC North.

Jones-Drew caught the ball on the right side, dodged several would-be tacklers and reversed field to the left for an impressive 75-yard reception. It is, by far, the longest reception of Jones-Drew's career. The only thing that prevented a 76-yard touchdown was Cleveland rookie cornerback Joe Haden's hustle to catch Jones-Drew from behind. The running back would later score on a 1-yard touchdown run that put Jacksonville (6-4) ahead for good.

It would be unfair to say Cleveland (3-7) lost this game on one play, particularly when the defense forced turnover after turnover but the offense failed to capitalize. In a league in which so many games come down to the fourth quarter, Cleveland's defense had a late lapse in execution and Jacksonville took advantage.

The Cleveland Browns haven't ruled out rookie quarterback Colt McCoy (ankle) for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, but his status remains "up in the air" this week, a source told ESPN.com's AFC North blog.

McCoy sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns aren't expected to make a firm decision on the rookie third-round draft pick until the end of the week.

McCoy started the past five games for Cleveland (3-7) and went 2-3 in that span. If he cannot play against the Panthers (1-9), the Browns will have to turn to either Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme. Both veteran quarterbacks also suffered ankle sprains that sidelined them this season.

Here are some thoughts on the Jacksonville Jaguars' 24-20 come-from-behind win against the Cleveland Browns:

What it means: The Browns once again fail to handle expectations after getting a lot of press for playing tough against the NFL's elite. Cleveland generated some buzz with big wins over New Orleans and New England. But to truly take the next step, the Browns have to beat teams like Jacksonville. In the end, the Browns are just 3-7 and chances look slim to finish at .500 this season.

What I liked: I liked that the Browns forced six turnovers to give their offense a chance to score points. Cleveland's defense faltered down the stretch and will get some blame for the late collapse. But overall the Browns did their job defensively most of the game. Cleveland running back Peyton Hills also did a good job of catching the ball out of the backfield with a team-high 95-yards and a touchdown.

What I didn't like: The Browns' offense only got into the end zone once and their running game surprisingly was non-existent. It was a major reason why Cleveland couldn't hold the lead. Jacksonville kept turning over the football but it also held Hillis to 48 rushing yards on 23 carries (2.3 yards per attempt) to get more chances. A few extra plays by the Browns offensively would have sealed this one. But it's a good lesson for a young team trying to learn how to win consistently.

What's next: This loss kills a lot of momentum for the Browns, but they have a chance to get back on the winning track against the lowly Carolina Panthers (1-9). Cleveland, which has a two-game losing streak, has its easy portion of the schedule coming up and needs to collect as many victories as possible.

Here is the final injury report for Week 11 in the AFC North:

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) at Carolina Panthers (1-8)

Ravens

Out: S Tom Zbikowski (foot)

Questionable: G Chris Chester (illness)

Probable: LB Tavares Gooden (head), TE Todd Heap (chest)

Panthers

Out: QB Jimmy Clausen (concussion), S Marcus Hudson (ankle), WR Brandon LaFell (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (concussion), RB Tyrell Sutton (ankle), G Travelle Wharton (toe)

Probable: LB Jon Beason (knee), DE Greg Hardy (concussion), LB Nic Harris (knee), DE Charles Johnson (hip)

Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)

Browns

Out: LB Scott Fujita (knee)

Questionable: S Mike Adams (abdomen), CB Sheldon Brown (shoulder), DE Kenyon Coleman (knee), WR Joshua Cribbs (foot), QB Jake Delhomme (ankle), DT Shaun Rogers (ankle), LB Matt Roth (illness), G Eric Steinbach (calf), G Floyd Womack (knee)

Probable: LB Eric Barton (thigh), LB Marcus Benard (illness)

Jaguars

Doubtful: WR Mike Sims-Walker (ankle)

Probable: DT Tyson Alualu (knee), LB Justin Durant (shin), DE Jeremy Mincey (hand)

Buffalo Bills (1-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-7)

Bills

Out: DE Spencer Johnson (hamstring), LB Shawne Merriman (calf, achilles), RB C.J. Spiller (hamstring)

Questionable: G Cord Howard (shoulder), RB Corey McIntyre (ankle), DT Kyle Williams (hamstring)

Probable: T Demetrius Bell (knee), G Eric Wood (fibula)

Bengals

Out: DE Jonathan Fanene (hamstring), DE Antwan Odom (wrist), T Andre Smith (foot), CB Morgan Trent (knee)

Doubtful: DT Tank Johnson (knee), DE Frostee Rucker (knee)

Questionable: RB Cedric Benson (foot), S Chris Crocker (calf), LB Rey Maualuga (thigh)

Probable: CB Brandon Ghee (groin), CB Johnathan Joseph (neck), S Chinedum Ndukwe (thigh), WR Chad Ochocinco (shoulder), QB Carson Palmer (right shoulder)

Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Raiders

Out: WR Chaz Schilens (knee)

Questionable: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle), DT John Henderson (foot), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring), TE Zach Miller (foot)

Steelers

Out: S Will Allen (concussion), DE Aaron Smith (triceps)

Questionable: DE Brett Keisel (hamstring)

Probable: CB Crezdon Butler (quad), G Chris Kemoeatu (ankle), S Troy Polamalu (achilles), LB Lawrence Timmons (hip), WR Hines Ward (concussion)

Jenny Dell goes inside the numbers for this week's Browns-Jaguars game.

The AFC North went winless. But the AFC North blog was .500 during a tough Week 10 for the division.

It's just a matter of time before we get on a nice run -- and this could be the week. Here are our picks for Week 11 (all times are ET):

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) at Carolina Panthers (1-8), Sunday 1 p.m.

Skinny: It's a bit unfair to give Baltimore a mini-bye week to prepare for struggling Carolina, which has major injuries at quarterback and running back.

Pick: Ravens, 26-7

Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3), Sunday at 1 p.m.

Skinny: This is a scary game for the struggling Steelers, who is 1-2 in their past three games. Pittsburgh has trouble with great passing teams, but Oakland isn't one of them.

Pick: Steelers, 23-13

Buffalo Bills (1-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-7), Sunday at 1 p.m.

Skinny: Although people in Cincinnati won't get to see it, the Bengals will break their NFL-high six-game losing streak.

Pick: Bengals, 20-17

Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4), Sunday at 1 p.m.

Skinny: This is one of the toughest games to pick this week. I like the way both teams are playing, but I give the slight edge to the Browns.

Pick: Browns, 21-20

Last week: 2-2

Overall: 18-12

Comment: Did I really pick the AFC North to go 4-0 this weekend? Uh oh.

In one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, one thing is clear in the AFC North: Pass defense is the division's Achilles' heel.

An 0-4 Week 10 highlighted the AFC North's secondary woes. Whether it was Tom Brady picking apart the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roddy White running circles around the Baltimore Ravens, or Santonio Holmes zipping by the Cleveland Browns in overtime, it was an ugly week for defensive backs in the division.

Can anything be done about the AFC North's flimsy pass defense? We teamed with Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson to diagnose the problem and offer some solutions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Total defense: No. 9

Pass defense: No. 26

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "All their cornerbacks are mid-round picks, and that's what they do. They bring in mid-round corners and spend first-round picks on other positions and groom them for a year or two. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks play a lot of 'off coverage,' and a team like New England can exploit that. The Patriots took what they gave them with short and intermediate passes, and it's a really bad fit for the Steelers. They've been successful giving you a lot of the smaller stuff. But what worries me is the pass rush has fallen off a little bit." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Pittsburgh has by far the NFL's best run defense at 63.2 yards per game. At the beginning of the season, opponents were banging their heads against the wall trying to establish the run in the first half, and that played right into Pittsburgh's hands. Now teams have adjusted and determined it's better to throw for 5-7 yards on first and second down instead of trying to get it on the ground. This is where the Steelers have to adjust. More press coverage would help. Although that's not Pittsburgh's identity, mixing in cornerbacks playing closer to the line of scrimmage could reduce the short and intermediate passes against its defense. Also, taking a look at young cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and/or Crezdon Butler may not be a bad idea in sub packages, where William Gay has really struggled.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Total defense: No. 10

Pass defense: No. 13

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "They have very average corners, and I think they only have one pass-rusher. They need a LaMarr Woodley-James Harrison pairing. The Ravens have Terrell Suggs, but they don't have the other guy. They drafted Sergio Kindle and he got hurt, obviously. Baltimore has one pass-rusher who is very good, but you can take Suggs away by chipping him or keeping your better players on him. So, to me, they need either one better corner or a better pass-rusher. But with the combination Baltimore has now, it's going to be a liability." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Don't be fooled by Baltimore's No. 13 ranking. The Ravens were No. 1 against the pass through the first several games, which is an indication of how much they are struggling. As Williamson mentioned, the Ravens are in a tough spot. Baltimore says it has four or five starting-caliber cornerbacks, but none is playing like a No. 1 corner. I don't like the musical chairs Baltimore is playing with Lardarius Webb, Fabian Washington, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr. The Ravens need to pick who they believe are their two best players and go with them. Being shuffled in and out of the lineup has seemingly thrown everyone off rhythm and perhaps made each cornerback unsure of his role in the defense. Suggs had his first multi-sack game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, and that could go a long way to helping the pass rush. Getting safety Ed Reed 100 percent healthy as well will be a major boost. There is hope for this pass defense despite a midseason slump.

Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Total defense: No. 24

Pass defense: No. 23

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think the Browns are a well-coached defense. They are physical in the front seven and obviously want to stop the run first. But the Joe Hadens of the world, and Eric Wright and T.J. Ward are working to get better. So I tend to think inexperience is the issue as opposed to these guys just can't get it done. In the case with Baltimore and the Steelers, and lately with the Browns, if you're going to game plan against these defenses, you're going to throw." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Indeed, the blitz-heavy Browns are being tested through the air and giving up too many big pass plays. That is a major reason they are 3-6. Wright has been the biggest culprit and admitted as much to the media this week. But Cleveland plays hard on defense. The Browns' secondary simply needs experience and to avoid mistakes at the worst possible times, such as overtime last week against the New York Jets. Haden, Cleveland's first-round pick, is starting to improve, and it's time to insert him into the starting lineup permanently. With Sheldon Brown (shoulder) injured, Haden could start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-7)

Total defense: No. 15

Pass defense: No. 12

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think they're weak at safety, but they're very strong at corner. I also thought Adam Jones looked great when he played. It looked like he was coming back to form [before a season-ending neck injury]. But injuries have taken a toll, and the pass rush is worse than people even realize. I think that deserves a lot of blame. They don't have anybody exceeding expectations as a pass-rusher. I know Carlos Dunlap got a lot more snaps this past week, and it may be time to see what he has. For Michael Johnson and a lot of those young guys, it may be time to put those guys in." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: I have the least amount of worries about the Bengals' pass defense. It still has the highest rating in the division despite the worst pass rush. Health has been an issue, too. If cornerback Johnathan Joseph and veteran safety Chris Crocker can remain in the lineup the rest of the season, that's two starters who will provide stability. The pass rush looks pretty hopeless, and I don't see much potential to improve. With the exception of Dunlap, who is very raw, there isn't a natural pass-rusher on the Bengals' defense. That should be a major priority in next year's draft. Cincinnati showed signs of playing good pass defense last week against the Indianapolis Colts, and it needs to build off that. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had some trouble against this secondary, and that's a good sign.

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) receiver Hines Ward (concussion) says he will play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders (5-4).

Morning take: Pittsburgh's offense didn’t look the same in the first half when Ward went down against the New England Patriots. It's no surprise Ward aims to return for this big game.

• Is the Baltimore Ravens' (6-3) pass defense worse with safety Ed Reed?

Morning take: Statistically, Baltimore has allowed more passing yards since Reed's return, but it doesn't make sense to say the Ravens are worse. Reed's presence forces opponents to plan against him, and Reed already contributed three interceptions.

• What will the Cincinnati Bengals (2-7) do at kicker?

Morning take: Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer lists Matt Stover and Shaun Suisham as early favorites. I'm not sure Stover would come back to a losing team, but Pittsburgh may be a consideration.

• The Cleveland Browns (3-6) continue to show heart this season.

Morning take: Cleveland could have been a factor had it not blown some early games. But the Browns have to settle for being a spoiler, starting Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4).

Could you imagine Ben Roethlisberger in a Cleveland Browns uniform?

How about the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks or Oakland Raiders?

The Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers need quarterbacks, too. What about them?

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers have shopped Roethlisberger to all of the above.

The idea of trading Roethlisberger has gained a lot of steam with the NFL draft just one day away. When asked about it on a conference call Wednesday, Steelers president Art Rooney II avoided the topic.

"We really can't answer any questions about trades, particularly this time of year," Rooney said. "We go into every draft with the idea we’re going to do anything we can to make our team a better football team. So we just have to stick with that and not discuss trades in advance."

How realistic the possibility of shipping Roethlisberger out of Pittsburgh remains a subject of debate. Some teams like Buffalo and St. Louis have reportedly dropped out of the running. ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando doesn't feel the 49ers or Seahawks are good fits, either.

For a vast majority of teams, there is too much baggage that comes with acquiring Roethlisberger. For starters, he's about to serve a suspension for up to six games. Second, Roethlisberger is still under contract for the $102 million deal he signed in 2008. And third, he has yet to prove he can stay out of trouble.

On top of that, we haven't even discussed the public relations hit for any team willing to make a quarterback with two sexual assault allegations in less than a year the new face of its franchise.

It's not likely Pittsburgh can get a top-10 pick under those circumstances. That's an extremely tough sell unless the Steelers are willing to significantly lower their expectations. In that case AFC West blogger Bill Williamson believes Oakland might be an option. Tim Graham in the AFC East also feels Buffalo is a possibility if the team is willing to base a trade strictly on football ability. Bills GM Buddy Nix denies talking to the Steelers.

But the chances of any team ignoring Roethlisberger's off-the-field problems to trade a high draft pick are slim. That's the only reason Pittsburgh reportedly is shopping him in the first place.

If the Steelers were completely fed up with Roethlisberger's antics, they could sell him at all cost -- pennies on the dollar -- like they did with former receiver Santonio Holmes. Pittsburgh acquired just a fifth-round pick from the New York Jets for Holmes in an effort to get the wide receiver out of town as quickly as possible.

Yet it's doubtful the Steelers will take the same approach with Roethlisberger. Elite quarterbacks don't grow on trees, especially ones with two Super Bowl rings, and Pittsburgh wouldn't part with that unless it feels it can get equal value.

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

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each week leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: History in that spot.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns hold the highest slot in the AFC North, the No. 7 overall pick. With the type of money that's involved, this pick has to be a franchise player or it could set back an offense or defense. For example, the Minnesota Vikings selected running back Adrian Peterson at No. 7 in 2007 and he put the entire franchise on his back. But recent busts such as receiver Troy Williamson (2005) and safety Michael Huff (2006) haven't done enough to warrant the high pick. Either way, Cleveland has to be prepared to dole out a large contract. Last year's No. 7 pick -- Oakland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey -- received a five-year deal worth a maximum of $38.25 million. So expect the Browns to be paying this year's No. 7 pick upwards of $40 million this summer.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh has the No. 18 slot this year. The Steelers could take advantage of getting a very good player in what's considered a deep draft. In the past five years, this pick has been hit or miss. Quality players such as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (2008) and Cincinnati cornerback Leon Hall (2007) were added to the AFC North from this spot. But there were also a pair of recent misses with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter (2006) and defensive end Erasmus James of Minnesota (2005). Last year the Denver Broncos selected Robert Ayers, who had a fairly uneventful rookie year.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati has the No. 21 pick, where the last two years offensive linemen have done pretty well. The Browns took center Alex Mack in 2009 and the Atlanta Falcons selected offensive tackle Sam Baker in 2008. Both players fit right in with their respective teams. But the previous three years were all misses for first-rounders. The Jacksonville Jaguars missed twice with this pick with safety Reggie Nelson (2007) and receiver Matt Jones (2005), who was out of football last season and signed with Cincinnati in February. New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney, who was taken in 2006, has been decent but not great.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens hold the No. 25 overall pick, where there has been plenty of recent success. The group includes a Super Bowl MVP (Santonio Holmes), a starting quarterback (Jason Campbell), a one-time Pro Bowl linebacker (Jon Beason) and two good young cornerbacks (Mike Jenkins and Vontae Davis). If the Ravens have this type of success with the No. 25 pick this year, it will be a good draft day for Baltimore. The Ravens have thrived picking players late in the first round in the past. Great players such as Ed Reed (No. 24), Ray Lewis (No. 26), and most recently Michael Oher (No. 23) have all come toward the end of the opening round.