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Are the Baltimore Ravens set on the offensive line?

That remains to be seen. The other teams in the division improved their offensive lines in the draft. The Steelers got the top-rated guard (David DeCastro) in the first round, the Bengals added the best run-blocking guard (Kevin Zeitler) and the Browns grabbed the best right tackle prospect (Mitchell Schwartz). The Ravens bring back four starters from a line that got better as the season progressed, but there's been a significant downgrade at one spot.

At left guard, the Ravens are going from a Pro Bowl player in Ben Grubbs to a lineman who played tackle in college (either Jah Reid or Kelechi Osemele). By looking at Baltimore's moves, it doesn't seem like the Ravens are sold on Reid, a third-round pick in 2011, starting there. After failing to keep Grubbs (who signed with New Orleans in free agency), Baltimore tried to lure free agent Evan Mathis away from the Eagles and then used a second-round pick on Osemele. The Ravens have had only one rookie start a full season on the offensive line in the previous four seasons (Michael Oher in 2009).

There are other issues on the line beyond left guard. The Ravens need left tackle Bryant McKinnie to lose weight and cut his sacks allowed (he led the team with 8.5). They need right tackle Oher to reduce his penalties (four for false starts and five for holding). And they need Matt Birk, 36, to continue his streak of 96 straight games played. While the offseason focus will remain on the contract status of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, the real storyline on offense entering the 2012 season is the state of Baltimore's line.

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

Bengals cornerback Nate Clements could be a candidate to get cut June 1 after the team drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy.

Clements is in the last year of his contract and has a cap number of $5.5 million this season ($4.3 million base, $1 million prorated bonus and $200,000 reporting bonus). In addition to drafting Kirkpatrick, the Bengals signed three cornerbacks (Adam Jones, Terence Newman and Jason Allen) in free agency.

Hensley's slant: I still see Clements with the Bengals this season. It doesn't look good that the Bengals used a first-round pick on a cornerback and signed all those veterans in free agency. But it's unknown whether Leon Hall (Achilles) will be ready to start the season and Clements is better than Jones, Newman and Allen. Head coach Marvin Lewis values Clements' leadership and the Bengals don't need to unload any contracts.

BROWNS: Linebacker Scott Fujita, who was suspended three games by the NFL for his participation in the Saints' bounty system, remains in the team's plans for 2012, according to head coach Pat Shurmur. In a statement issued by the Browns, Shurmur called Fujita "a valued member" of the Browns and said the team looked forward "to his participation in our offseason program and training camp." According to WKNR radio in Cleveland, Chris Gocong is expected to move to Fujita’s strongside spot and rookie fourth-round pick James-Michael Johnson could compete with Kaluka Maiava for the weakside job. In other news, the Browns were awarded punter Spencer Lanning off waivers from Jacksonville. An undrafted rookie last season, he was cut by the Bears before the season and signed with the Jaguars this offseason. Hensley's slant: Fujita is in the final year of his contract, so the Browns have to think about the future of that position. Maiava has the edge to win the job this season, but Johnson has a better shot at being the long-term answer at outside linebacker.

RAVENS: Second-round draft pick Kelechi Osemele primarily played left tackle at Iowa State, but he's focused on winning the spot at left guard. The Ravens currently have Jah Reid penciled in that spot. “I know there is a spot open," Osemele told the team's official website, "and honestly my goal is to come in there and try to take it." Hensley's slant: Every team in the division -- the Browns, Bengals and Steelers -- improved their offensive line either in free agency or the draft. The Ravens are taking a step back at left guard. They're going from a Pro Bowl player in Ben Grubbs to a converted tackle (either Osemele or Reid). Baltimore tried to fill that spot in free agency but it was unable to lure Evan Mathis away from the Eagles.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette points out that rookies have a history of starting on the Steelers' offensive line, such as Alan Faneca, Kendall Simmons, Marvel Smith, Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert. His projection on how the Steelers' starting line will look like: LT Mike Adams, LG Willie Colon, C Maurkice Pouncey, RG David DeCastro and RT Marcus Gilbert. In other news, the Steelers released two players from their offseason roster -- running back Chad Spann and cornerback Antonio Smith. Hensley's slant: The biggest concern is whether Colon can hold up for an entire season after being limited to one game over the past two years. The Steelers already gave Colon $3.8 million upfront when they restructured his contract, so they need to play him. Ramon Foster, a restricted free agent, would be the top backup at guard.

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. broke down the top six needs remaining for each of the AFC North teams. You'll need an Insider subscription to view the entire post, but here's a glimpse of the top three needs:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Horton's top three needs: Cornerback, guard and safety.

Horton on cornerback: The starters in 2011 were Leon Hall, who will be coming off an Achilles injury, and 32-year-old Nate Clements. When Hall went down, Adam Jones filled in, but none of these three make you comfortable in man coverage. Newly acquired free agent Jason Allen will help, but there is a lot of work to be done here.

Hensley's comment: I wouldn't put cornerback as the top need because the Bengals added Allen and re-signed Jones. Allen is an upgrade over Kelly Jennings. Guard is the bigger concern. If the season started today, the Bengals' starting right guard would either be Otis Hudson, Clint Boling or Anthony Collins (who would shift over from tackle).

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Horton's top three needs: Quarterback, wide receiver and running back.

Horton on quarterback: Right now, their options at QB are starter Colt McCoy and veteran backup Seneca Wallace, but nobody expects it to stay that way. With two first-round draft picks, they will almost surely pick a QB with one of them.

Hensley's comment: You could make a strong argument that quarterback, wide receiver or running back should rank as the No. 1 need. My top need for Cleveland is right tackle. The Browns can at least start McCoy, Greg Little, Mohamed Massaquoi and Montario Hardesty at those other positions. Right tackle was a weak spot for the Browns last season with Tony Pashos and Artis Hicks, both of whom are now gone. The Browns' starting right tackle at this point is Oniel Cousins, a third-round bust from Baltimore.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Horton's three needs: Inside linebacker, left guard and safety.

Horton on inside linebacker: The Ray Lewis era will be ending soon, and the Ravens need to find his replacement. Jameel McClain was re-signed, and he can play inside or outside, but a three-down linebacker who can play solid pass defense is sorely needed.

Hensley's comment: Left guard is the biggest need on the team, and it's not even close. The Ravens couldn't keep Ben Grubbs and failed to sign Evan Mathis. The fallback option is Jah Reid, a backup offensive tackle last season. Going from a Pro Bowl guard (Grubbs) to a converted tackle (Reid) is a major step down.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Horton's top three needs: Offensive tackle/guard, nose tackle and running back.

Horton on offensive tackle/guard: Center Maurkice Pouncey is the only stable starter on this unit. Veteran tackle Max Starks is coming off an ACL injury and T Willie Colon can't stay healthy, though the coaches hope he can get through a full season at RT with young Marcus Gilbert moving from RT to LT. There is also a big hole at left guard. The Steelers need to get at least one, and maybe two, starters up front.

Hensley's comment: You can't really disagree with this assessment. Left guard Doug Legursky is a backup who performed admirably when Chris Kemoeatu was benched. Gilbert has a good chance of succeeding on the left side, but it's hard to depend on Colon at right tackle with his injury history. The Steelers' options are limited because there is no depth. Jonathan Scott, who has struggled mightily, is the top backup at tackle, and there's no reserves at guard with Trai Essex (free agent) and Jamon Meredith (not tendered as a restricted free agent) off on the roster.

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

The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks have made inquires about free-agent guard Eric Steinbach, sources told ESPNChicago.com. The site also reports that the Ravens might be interested in the former starting left guard for the Browns.

It's unclear if Steinbach will make any visits before the NFL draft at the end of the month as he continues to recover from a back injury that forced the guard to miss the entire 2011 season.

Steinbach, 32, started 124 games for the Bengals and Browns over the span of eight years, before undergoing a procedure that removed a disc fragment from his spinal nerve in August of last summer. He was cut by the Browns on March 14 after refusing to take a pay reduction.

Hensley's slant: The Ravens hinted they won't make any more free-agent moves until after the draft. So if the Ravens don't use a first- or second-round pick on a guard, they should make a call to Steinbach. The alternative is starting a backup offensive tackle (Jah Reid) at left guard.

BENGALS: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis sent a letter in support of Jerome Simpson to the judge before the free-agent wide receiver was sentenced to 15 days in jail for a drug-related charge, according to the Associated Press. Lewis said last month that the team is open to offering Simpson another contract despite his legal problems. The Bengals said in a statement after the hearing that they believe Simpson "has, and will continue to, deal accountably with the consequences of his actions." Hensley's slant: The chances of Simpson returning increased when the Bengals ignored the wide receiver position in free agency. Cincinnati had the cap room to upgrade over Simpson at the No. 2 spot, but the Bengals failed to add Robert Meachem or Mario Manningham.

BROWNS: LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne made a pre-draft visit to the Browns on Thursday, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Claiborne made headlines this week when it was reported that he scored 4 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test. "At the end of the day I will be a top 10 pick," Claiborne posted on his Twitter account, which has since been switched to private. "You guys don't no me #Top10." Hensley's slant: I still see the Browns taking running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick and it has nothing to do with Claiborne's test score. The Browns, who averaged 13.6 points per game last season, need an offensive playmaker and not the best defensive player in the draft.

STEELERS: Restricted free-agent guard Ramon Foster has signed his tender, according to a report from ESPN Radio in St. Louis. Foster received the low tender ($1.26 million), which meant the Steelers wouldn't have received any compensation if they refused to match an offer sheet. Entering his fourth season with Pittsburgh, Foster is expected to remain the team's starting right guard. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2013. Hensley's slant: Foster was surprisingly serviceable at right guard last season. If the Steelers draft an interior lineman, they should replace left guard Doug Legursky, whose best position is center.

No team has taken more hits than the Ravens since free agency began two weeks ago.

Baltimore watched a Pro Bowl offensive lineman (guard Ben Grubbs), perhaps their grittiest player on defense (linebacker Jarret Johnson), and an underrated role player (defensive end Cory Redding) go elsewhere and has yet to sign anyone to replace them.

There's no question that the Ravens are among the biggest losers after the first wave of free agency. But it's debatable how much ground the AFC North champions have lost to the Steelers, Bengals and Browns.

At this point in the offseason, the Ravens remain the team to beat in the division. I'm not saying that. The Ravens' history is.

There should be serious concerns about Baltimore's holes at left guard, outside linebacker and defensive end. There should be doubts whether Baltimore can reach the playoffs for a fifth straight season. The Ravens' rebuttal is, look at last year.

It was eight months ago when the Ravens entered training camp without the two leading receivers in franchise history (Derrick Mason and Todd Heap were released) and an eight-year starter at nose tackle (Kelly Gregg). Baltimore also went through the preseason with its two projected starting cornerbacks (Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr) sidelined by injuries.

The situation in 2011 was far more dire than the one facing the Ravens right now. Team officials, though, didn't share the panic of their fan base.

The Ravens are more like a college team than an NFL one in how they handle personnel. When they lose someone in free agency, they act like the player graduated and they plug in another one of general manager Ozzie Newsome's recruits, eh, I mean draft picks.

Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith (second-round pick) replaced Mason. Second-year tight end Ed Dickson (third round) stepped in for Heap. Second-year nose tackle Terrence Cody (second round) moved into Gregg's spot. And Lardarius Webb (third round) and Cary Williams (signed off the Titans' practice squad) became the surprising starters at cornerback.

Before the 2010 season, you could have made a sound argument why the Ravens would miss the postseason. By the end of it, Baltimore was one pass away from advancing to the Super Bowl.

It certainly helped the Ravens in last year's playoffs that Peyton Manning didn't play and Ben Roethlisberger was banged up. Still, the Ravens swept the division and made it to the AFC Championship Game after making changes at eight starting spots.

There aren't as many questions as last year, but perhaps the question marks loom bigger.

They need Art Jones or Pernell McPhee to start at defensive end. Both exceeded expectations in backup roles, but can either one start?

"Those two guys are excited," coach John Harbaugh said. "They're disappointed to see Cory go. They learned so much from Cory. Cory was such a great mentor for those guys. I talked to Pernell on the phone and I've seen Art here twice in the last couple weeks. I could hear Pernell smile and I could see Art smile."

They need Paul Kruger to start at outside linebacker. Kruger made an impact in the pass rush, but is he strong enough to stop the run?

"When we lost Jarret, I went back and watched all of Paul’s tape," Harbaugh said. "I watched every one of his plays from last year, just to try and get a feel just for whether or not we’d be comfortable with him in there. He did a nice job in coverage, he set the edge well. Obviously, he’s a very good pass-rusher. I believe Paul can do it. I think he will do it."

They need Jah Reid to possibly start at left guard. Reid practiced at guard last year, but can the converted offensive tackle really make the switch?

"I would say right now, today, he’s the left guard," Harbaugh said. "He’s got to earn that spot but we’ll be continuing to look for players. Our goal would be to put the five best offensive linemen on the field. Jah, certainly, I’d like to see him be one of those guys, but it’s up to him to earn that spot.”

Honestly, I could see a couple of these situations not working out. The Ravens might end up really missing Grubbs and Johnson. But I also had my doubts that Torrey Smith and Cary Williams would work out as starters last season, too.

Like the Steelers, Packers and Giants, the Ravens are known for making more shrewd free-agent moves than splashy ones. Baltimore can still improve its team with late additions like they did with Bernard Pollard and Bryant McKinnie last season. The Ravens can also address some of these holes in the draft.

It's been a rough start to free agency for the Ravens. But they're used to it by now. They lose in March and win in January. Until that track record changes, it's tough to bet against them.

“Obviously, we’ve been very patient and we’ve been working, trying to do things that will put us in position to make our team better,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re kind of methodical in our approach. We want to make smart decisions, we want to make wise decisions."

The AFC coaches met with the media today at the NFL owners meetings. Here are the top five issues addressed by Ravens coach John Harbaugh (via the Baltimore Sun) and my reaction:

On bringing in competition for kicker Billy Cundiff: “If we can get a kicker that is capable of competing with Billy, we’ll do it. Do you have to draft a guy? Is there a free agent? Is there a guy that will be on the street. That’s kind of hard to determine. We want competition for pretty much every position. I say that so I’m not ruling anything out, but Billy is our kicker." Hensley's reaction: The Ravens simply can't give the job back to Cundiff after he missed the game-tying field goal in the AFC Championship Game -- and missed it badly. His struggles go beyond hooking one critical kick. After a Pro Bowl season in 2010, Cundiff missed 10 field goal attempts in 2011, all of which came on the road. Harbaugh needs to bring in competition even if it's Shayne Graham again.

On the importance of upgrading the offensive line: “I think we have to upgrade the offensive line. I don’t even know if we have a full complement of linemen to be on our 53-man roster right now. We don’t have our five starters set. We have guys where [you say], ‘Can they play a position or not?’ We’re talking about Jah [Reid]. Can he play left guard? The thing I’ve learned over the years in Philadelphia and everywhere else, it starts with the offensive line on offense." Hensley's reaction: The left guard position is the biggest hole on the team. I still think they look to the draft to fill this spot and use Reid as a fallback option.

On whether Ray Rice will hold out to protest the franchise tag: "I don’t know what their strategy will be, if they feel like they even need a strategy. That kind of goes back to the agent more than the player. But Ray Rice is a man. He loves football. He wants to be in there with his teammates. I’m hoping he’ll be there from Day 1. I would expect him to be there from Day 1. But if he’s not, I’m not going to hold it against him as a coach. We just need the best Ray Rice that’s possible for the first game.” Hensley's reaction: Even if Rice holds out, there shouldn't be any concern about his conditioning. He's as dedicated to the weight room during the offseason as he is during the season. Rice will be ready for the season opener.

On linebacker Paul Kruger: “I think Paul is probably the leading candidate for the SAM linebacker job. I could very definitely see him doing that. When we lost Jarret [Johnson], I went back and watched all of Paul’s tape. I watched every one of his plays from last year, just to try and get a feel just for whether or not we’d be comfortable with him in there. He did a nice job in coverage, he set the edge well. Obviously, he’s a very good pass-rusher. I believe Paul can do it. I think he will do it. I talked to him on the phone. He’s committed to doing it. It means everything to him." Hensley's reaction: It's been a struggle for the Ravens to find a position for Kruger, who has bounced every year from linebacker to defensive end to linebacker again. I think he can handle the linebacker position on passing downs, whether it's rushing the passer or playing in coverage. His biggest challenge will be stopping the run.

On adding a kick returner: “We definitely think we could add a returner. Not to say that we don’t have guys in-house that could do it because we do. But we want to put some competition in there. We tried to do it in the offseason and it hasn’t worked out so far. We’ll keep trying and the draft is certainly a big part of that.” Hensley's reaction: The Ravens missed their opportunity when they let Ted Ginn Jr. leave without a contract, but they weren't the only ones (the Lions and Vikings did also). It seems like the Ravens aren't comfortable going with Lardarius Webb on punt returns and turnover-prone David Reed on kickoffs.

Here's your Saturday morning Wake-up Call:

Hines Ward's retirement press conference showed that the veteran wide receiver and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were "not chummy," which is how the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette described the relationship.

Bouchette points out that Ward mentioned two quarterbacks -- Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox -- at his press conference Wednesday but he didn't bring up Roethlisberger. And there were a handful of teammates that attended the press conference, but Roethlisberger wasn't amount them.

"Should we draw any conclusions from this. Yes, that the two former teammates were not chummy," Bouchette wrote. "Roethlisberger took the high road when he told me after Ward’s release by the Steelers that the so-called animosity between them was blown out of proportion. Not all teammates are chummy."

Hensley's slant: Roethlisberger and Ward are a good example that quarterbacks and wide receivers don't need to be best buddies to be successful. But they do need to trust one another on the field. And it was evident that Roethlisberger could trust Ward to catch the ball in critical situations and fight for first downs.

BENGALS: Jamaal Anderson is joining the Bengals, the free-agent defensive end posted on Twitter. "I'm excited to say I'm starting a new chapter in my career with the Cincinnati Bengals! Shout out to the WhoDeyNation," Anderson tweeted Friday. Anderson started his first three seasons for the Falcons before becoming part of the Colts' rotation last season. Hensley's slant: The Bengals reached agreements Friday with two defensive ends who were picked eighth overall in their draft class -- Anderson (2007) and Derrick Harvey (2008). Who's next? Greg Ellis? On a serious note, Anderson brings versatility to the Bengals. He played defensive end and tackle last season for the Colts.

BROWNS: The repairs at Cleveland Browns Stadium have been stalled by a court challenge from the low-bidder who was passed over for the work. The Browns, who lease the city-owned stadium, want to refurbish seats and fix concrete before a Kenny Chesney concert July 29. Hensley's slant: Yes, it was a slow end of the week for the Browns in free agency. Actually, the court needs to find some way to repair the Browns' offense as well.

RAVENS: Coach John Harbaugh said it's "definitely a possibility" that backup offensive tackle Jah Reid could replace Ben Grubbs at left guard. "I would say right now, today, he’s the left guard," Harbaugh said, via the Baltimore Sun. "He’s got to earn that spot but we’ll be continuing to look for players. Our goal would be to put the five best offensive linemen on the field. Jah, certainly, I’d like to see him be one of those guys, but it’s up to him to earn that spot.” Hensley's slant: Going from a Pro Bowl guard in Grubbs to a converted one in Reid is a step backward. I still see this as the Ravens' last resort if they can't find a better solution in free agency or the draft.

The Ravens' inability to sign free-agent guard Evan Mathis is another blow to the AFC North champions in the first week of free agency. Mathis passed on an offer made by the Ravens Friday and re-signed with the Eagles for a maximum of $31 million over five years (including $7 million guaranteed).

Baltimore's first and best option was retaining Ben Grubbs, the second-best guard in free agency. But he signed with the New Orleans Saints for a five-year, $36 million deal that included a $10 million signing bonus -- a deal that was just slightly better than the one given to the Ravens' Marshal Yanda (which was what many presumed the Ravens offered).

The Ravens' second choice was going after Mathis, the third-best guard on the free-agent market. Baltimore officials flew him in for a visit and even took him out for dinner. In the end, it looks like Mathis wanted to return to the Eagles all along and was using the Ravens as a bargaining chip.

Now, left guard is the biggest hole on the Ravens team. The Ravens have options, but all of them are a clear downgrade from Grubbs and Mathis.

In terms of free agency, the Ravens could sign either a veteran cast-off like Eric Steinbach or Robert Gallery, or pursue someone younger like Chilo Rachal, who lost his starting job in San Francisco after a solid 2010 season. Another potential fit would be Kyle Kosier, who is reportedly getting cut by the Cowboys. Kosier is 33 and has had some injury issues, but he's been described as the leader of the Cowboys' offensive line.

As far as the draft, Baltimore can take Wisconsin's Peter Konz in the first round. He's the top-rated center coming out of college but he can play guard, too. This might be an opportunity for Konz to learn beside Matt Birk for a season or two before moving over to center.

If the Ravens want to promote from within, the talked-about scenario is switching tackle Jah Reid, a third-round pick last year, to guard. But this would represent the fall-back for Baltimore.

The Ravens lost free-agent guard Ben Grubbs, who signed a five-year, $36 million deal with the New Orleans Saints that included a $10 million signing bonus (according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter).

That means Baltimore can't allow Eagles guard Evan Mathis to leave its team facility without a signed contract today. There are other guards available like Steve Hutchinson and Robert Gallery, but Mathis is the best immediate answer to losing Grubbs.

If the Ravens can't sign Mathis, there would be a major drop-off on the interior of the offensive line. Baltimore has other options, such as drafting Wisconsin center Peter Konz in the first round and playing him at guard for a season, or moving offensive tackle Jah Reid to left guard. But Mathis represents the best choice in terms of experience and powerful run-blocking.

As far as Grubbs, it looks like his move to the Saints is a no-brainer. He signs a deal that is slightly better than the one signed last summer by the Ravens' Marshal Yanda (five years, $32.5 million with a $10 million signing bonus) and joins another Super Bowl contender. It does make you wonder whether the Ravens, who attempted to keep Grubbs from becoming a free agent, offered him the same deal as Yanda. And, if the Ravens did make that offer, why didn't Grubbs take it?

The free-agent market for guards could set up like dominoes this year. The Saints lose the best free-agent guard (Carl Nicks) and signed the second-best one (Grubbs). The Ravens lose the second-best one and now have the third-best inside their building.

I assumed, like many did, that guard Ben Grubbs was a certainty to leave the Ravens as a free agent. Not anymore.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh told a Baltimore radio station that the team will aggressively attempt to keep the 2007 first-round pick.

“We’ve offered -- I don’t know if we’ve offered it yet -- but we're in negotiations of offering a lot of money," Harbaugh said last night, via the Ravens' website. “We’re going to really make a run at Ben.”

This is both the most surprising and best move that the Ravens could make. I'm not a fan of putting a lot of money into one position, and the Ravens gave guard Marshal Yanda a five-year, $32.5 million deal seven months ago.

So, why should the Ravens give another guard a sizable contract? Look at the alternatives. There has been talk about the Ravens moving Jah Reid to Grubbs' left guard spot. Shifting a second-year backup tackle to fill the void of a Pro Bowl player is a major step down. If the Ravens look to free agency, they could end up with someone like an aging Bobbie Williams.

The only reason why this would be a bad move is if a Grubbs deal hampers what the Ravens can do in free agency. Baltimore can fill the starting spots of free-agent linebackers Jarret Johnson and Jameel McClain from within or the draft, but it should address wide receiver and backup running back in free agency.

The value of Grubbs increased significantly last season. When he missed six games with a toe injury, the Ravens offensive line struggled without him. Baltimore has seen what it's like to play without Grubbs, and it wasn't pretty.

When Harbaugh says the Ravens are offering "a lot of money," that offer had better match the one given to Yanda at the very minimum. There is no way that Grubbs will take anything less than what Yanda received, and that means an average of $6.5 million and a $10 million signing bonus.

Harbaugh said Grubbs and Yanda are as good a tandem as any in the NFL, and “we’re going to pay Ben as such.”

“He’ll just have to make a decision like all the guys do,” Harbaugh said. “You know, to do that now or to go ahead and take it out to free agency and take it out to the market and see if he can get even more than that. That’s a decision he’s going to have to make with his agent, but I know Ben wants to be here, he’s told me that numerous times.”

And, if Grubbs doesn't accept the Ravens' offer?

"Then we’re just going to have to move on and kind of rebuild the offensive line a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “But hopefully we’ll be able to deal with Ben.”

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

The Steelers released cornerback Bryant McFadden and special teams player Arnaz Battle, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

These moves freed up $3.5 million in salary-cap room. McFadden played six of his seven NFL seasons for the Steelers, and Battle joined Pittsburgh in 2010.

Pittsburgh officially announced the signing of safety Myron Rolle, who was a 2008 Rhodes Scholar. He had been on the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2010 and in their training camp last summer.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams requested permission to speak to Steelers director of administration Omar Khan for their general manager position, sources told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Khan, the team's salary-cap manager and chief contract negotiator, has been with the Steelers since 2000. He was a finalist in the Seattle Seahawks' general manager search two years ago.

BENGALS: The Bengals dropped to 10th in the AFC this season with 22 takeaways. Their 10 interceptions were the fewest in coach Marvin Lewis' nine seasons in Cincinnati. "If there’s one thing we have to get … figure out a way to create more. Teams that create the most turnovers play in this game," Lewis told the team's website while at the Super Bowl. "More recently we have declined [in interceptions] and we have to find out why. We play more man concepts. That is part of it. We started very good and then we hit a lull. You have to look at that but conceptually that’s the difference." Hensley's slant: That was the biggest season-long weakness for a defense that consistently overachieved. How important are turnovers? Like Lewis said, you just need to look at the two teams who played in the Super Bowl. New England led the AFC with 34 takeaways, and the New York Giants were fourth in the NFC with 31.

BROWNS: Quarterback Colt McCoy was medically cleared from a head injury that sidelined him for the final three games last year, team president Mike Holmgren told ESPN 850 WKNR-AM in Cleveland (via the Akron Beacon Journal). "He passed all his tests and he’s feeling fine," Holmgren said. "He has no residual effects from the play. I know no one will work harder this off season than Colt McCoy. So I’m happy we got through all that and he’s fine and he appears to be.” Hensley's slant: Now, the only question that remains at quarterback is who will be competing against McCoy for the starting job. At this point, it would be a letdown if the Browns failed to draft Baylor's Robert Griffin III or sign Matt Flynn in free agency.

RAVENS: The team's website speculated that offensive tackle Jah Reid might shift to left guard if Ben Grubbs leaves in free agency. Reid, a third-round pick from a year ago, was drafted to be the team's future right tackle. "The thing that Steve [Bisciotti, team owner] pushed John [Harbaugh] and I the last couple of years is, ‘Don’t be afraid to play young players,’” general manager Ozzie Newsome said when asked about the potential position change. “We’ve had Jah now for a year, and now we’ve got him for a full offseason ... so John and I are not afraid.” Hensley's slant: The Ravens need to make contingency plans because it appears that the odds are against Grubbs returning. Replacing a Pro Bowl guard with a converted tackle seems like a major step backward to me. Baltimore would be better off adding a stop-gap veteran guard if it can't draft a quality one in the first three rounds.

The Baltimore Ravens got help on the offensive line by agreeing to a two-year contract with former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie on Tuesday.

Here are several thoughts on the move:

• The first thought is concerning McKinnie's health. He was released by the Vikings after reportedly weighing nearly 400 pounds. I assume McKinnie is closer to playing shape now. Otherwise, the Ravens would not have signed him. But conditioning is something to watch early in the season.
• Baltimore has a decision to make with McKinnie and current left tackle Michael Oher. McKinnie has played left tackle his entire career. But his conditioning is in question, he's on a new team, and he has to learn a new offense in about two weeks. All of these factors could make it risky to ask McKinnie to protect quarterback Joe Flacco's blind side in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If McKinnie becomes a quick study, the Ravens could make the switch. Oher is much better at right tackle.
• This move reminds me of Baltimore's decision in 2008 to sign veteran offensive tackle Willie Anderson. McKinnie, who will be 32 next month, is not the long-term solution. But the Ravens are trying to make a Super Bowl run this year and McKinnie could be a good short-term rental. Anderson gave the Ravens one good year in 2008 at age 33 before retiring. Baltimore advanced to the AFC title game that season.
• Finally, the Ravens realized they couldn't go into the season starting a rookie offensive tackle. Third-round pick Jah Reid might eventually become a good player. But he needs to work on several things before he becomes a full-time starter. Yes, McKinnie's conditioning and work ethic are risks. But at least the Ravens know McKinnie can perform in the NFL at a high level.

Baltimore Ravens 2011 third-round pick Jah Reid made his first NFL start last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens are hoping the rookie can be the answer at right tackle.

The AFC North blog studied film of Reid's first half with the starting offense. Points were awarded or deducted on a three-point scale for each play.

Here is what we found:

Ravens' first series

• Baltimore lines up in the I-formation. The Ravens call a power run play behind the left guard and left tackle. Reid is away from the play but makes a decent block against Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson. (+1 point)
• Quick throw to Anquan Boldin results in a gain of three yards. Reid makes good contact again with Jackson but only had to pass protect for a second. (+1 point)
• Chiefs bring the blitz on third down. Reid correctly picks up the outside linebacker and quarterback Joe Flacco connects with receiver Lee Evans on a slant for the first down. (+2 points)
• Ravens run another power running play, this time on the right side. Reid holds his block pretty well against Jackson. But the play doesn't go anywhere. (+1 point)
• On second down, Flacco drops back and the pocket collapses quickly. Reid gets beat by Jackson but Flacco escapes and finds tailback Ray Rice for a first down. Good play but poor blocking. (-2 points)
• Baltimore gives the ball back to Rice up the middle. Reid holds his block against Jackson until the end of the run. Good base and leg drive by Reid. (+1 point)
• Ravens set up the deep pass with a nice play-action fake. Reid helps sell the play, but Flacco overthrows Boldin. (+1 point)
• Chiefs bring a safety blitz that Reid misses. The safety runs by Reid but Flacco quickly finds Boldin in open space for 24 yards. (-1 point)
• In the shotgun, Kansas City brings three rushers. Reid combines with right guard Oniel Cousins to block Jackson on an incomplete pass. (+1 point)
• Reid gets help and double-teams Jackson again during an incomplete pass. (+1 point)
• Reid holds his block on an incomplete pass on third down. Ravens kick field goal. Pretty good first drive for Reid. (+1 point)

Grade for drive: +7 points

Ravens' second series

• The Ravens run tailback Ricky Williams behind Reid for three yards. Reid gets his first pancake block on Jackson. (+3 points)
• Baltimore runs Williams again on the right side but Reid whiffs on his block. (-2 points)
• In the shotgun, the Ravens run Williams for the third straight time. This time the play goes left for a short gain and Reid fails to keep his feet. (-2 points)

Grade for drive: -1 point

Ravens' third series

• Reid continues to have his way with Jackson in the running game. He blocks Jackson well on the back side for a solid gain by Rice. (+2 points)
• Flacco throws a quick pass over the middle to tight end Ed Dickson. Reid holds his ground against Jackson. End of the first quarter. (+1 point)
• Reid gets off the line well and blocks Jackson on a running play to the left. I'm impressed with Reid’s strength. (+1 point)
• Reid holds his block again on the backside during a Rice run for a first down. (+1 point)
• Chiefs bring the outside linebacker and Reid doesn't get to the spot quick enough. The defender barely misses the sack. Flacco rushes and throws an incomplete pass. (-2 points)
• Reid holds his block against Jackson well but pass protection eventually breaks down. Flacco throws the ball incomplete. (+1 point)
• Reid does his assignment on another incomplete pass on third down. (+1 point)

Grade for drive: +5 points

Ravens' fourth series

• Reid helps sell another good play-action fake. But the pass is incomplete. (+1 point)
• Kansas City brings the outside linebacker again and Reid misses his assignment. Flacco still completes a short pass. (-2 points)
• Flacco connects with Evans for a first down. Reid does a good job holding off the edge rusher on third down. (+1 point)
• Reid gets beat on a swim move by Jackson, who pressures Flacco to get rid of the ball for a short gain. (-2 points)
• Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher blitzes and beats Reid. Williams helps Reid with a chip block before another incompletion. (-2 points)
• Chiefs bring the house on third down. Reid seems confused on which defender to pick up and Flacco gets hit. Blitz recognition is not Reid's strong suit. (-3 points)

Grade for drive: -7 points

Ravens' fifth series

• Reid blocks well on a running play up the middle for Rice. (+1 point)
• After a few missed assignments the previous drive, Reid gets help from fullback Vonta Leach, who chip-blocks a defender on an incomplete pass. (+1 point)
• Reid holds his ground on a nice, 43-yard pass from Flacco to Evans. (+2 points)
• Reid correctly picks up the inside guy on a blitz. Flacco connects with tight end Dennis Pitta. (+2 points)
• Ravens are going heavy on the pass. Reid stands up his man during a pass to Leach, who bulls over a defender and loses his helmet. (+1 point)
• On Baltimore's best running play of the game, Rice gets the ball up the middle, cuts right and runs for a 26-yard touchdown. Reid does a great job on the back side to seal his block and allow Rice to change directions. (+3 points)

Grade for drive: +10 points

Reid's first-half grade: +14 points

AFC North blog analysis: I was encouraged by Reid's potential. He helped his standing with last week's performance. Reid has a strong base and positions himself well in the running game. He's still raw in pass protection. Reid doesn't have quick feet and struggles with blitz recognition. But he should pick up blitzes better with experience. It remains to be seen if Reid will be ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. But Reid already appears to be a better option than Cousins at right tackle.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns will continue their preseason games Friday night. Baltimore will host the Kansas City Chiefs, while Cleveland hosts the Detroit Lions.

Here are a pair of storylines for each AFC North team:

Ravens

• Will the Ravens improve the offense line? Baltimore allowed six sacks last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Three were against starting tackles Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins. The Ravens moved Cousins to right guard and will start rookie Jah Reid at right tackle against Kansas City. Reid is a raw prospect trying to learn on the fly. We will find out where he stands in his first NFL start.
• This game marks the Ravens debut of wide receiver Lee Evans. The veteran deep threat was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Evans will be the starter opposite Anquan Boldin. Evans is the speedy receiver Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has lacked the past several years. The pair will look to build chemistry in this game.

Browns

• Can Cleveland second-year quarterback Colt McCoy continue his momentum? McCoy had a near-perfect preseason debut last week against the Green Bay Packers. He was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. McCoy also led the offense to two touchdown drives. Detroit should offer a stern test. The Lions' defense looked stout in last week’s 34-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Another fun matchup to watch will be Browns corner Joe Haden against Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson. Both are two of the best, young players at their respective positions. Johnson beat Bengals cornerback Leon Hall for a touchdown last week. Haden will try to prevent "Megatron" from having a big first half tonight.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens continue their final week of training camp in preparation for Friday's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here are some notes and observations from Tuesday's practice:

• It was "Veterans Day" for the Ravens. Many tenured vets and star players such as Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin were given the day off. All of these vets should be fresh for the last full practice of the week Wednesday leading up to Friday's game.
• There were several standout plays Tuesday. Baltimore rookie receiver Tandon Doss made a great leaping catch over fellow rookie safety Josh Victorian. Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura also picked off quarterback Joe Flacco in team drills and had a long return. Nakamura might have scored if not for a late fumble, which forced Nakamura to fall on the ball.
• Baltimore rookie right tackle Jah Reid continues to get a look with the first team. Reid has good size and strength but looks raw with his footwork. More game experience against Kansas City should help with Reid's development.
• I thought Baltimore rookie receiver Torrey Smith had his best practice of the week. Smith practiced fast and made several nice catches. Teammate David Reed, on the other hand, struggled some with a pair of drops.
• Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth was limited in practice Monday but did more work in team drills Tuesday. Foxworth is working his way back from season-ending ACL surgery in 2010. Eventually, he will figure into the cornerback mix.