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Things are getting interesting in Baltimore. Various reports here and here are stating the Ravens are close to trading backup quarterback John Beck to the Washington Redskins.

In all likelihood this means Troy Smith's spot on the team is safe. There has been plenty of trade speculation surrounding Smith following the signing of Marc Bulger. But the Ravens found a suitor for Beck first.

If everything goes through, Baltimore would have a strong threesome of quarterbacks this year in starter Joe Flacco, Bulger and Smith.

(Update: The Ravens have announced they received cornerback Doug Dutch from Washington in exchange for Beck.)

Every year teams have tough decisions to make to trim their rosters to 53 players. Sometimes the coaching staff and front office can't agree on who stays and who goes, and the debates get pretty heated.

With training camp approximately two weeks away, here are eight AFC North players who could be heavily debated and on the roster bubble this summer:

1. Adam Jones, CB, Cincinnati Bengals

Case for: There is no denying Jones' talent. The former first-round pick looked quick and athletic playing cornerback and returning kicks during last month's mandatory minicamp. What's interesting is Jones is still working himself back into football shape after sitting out the 2009 season. The Bengals lacked a reliable third cornerback to go with starters Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. So there is a role available.

Case against: Jones sat out last season for off-field reasons. He has said and done the right things so far in Cincinnati, but he's on a very short leash with the league office. One mishap and Jones could be off the team and out of the league for the rest of the year. But if he stays clear of trouble, he has enough ability to make the team and contribute.

Chances of making team: 80 percent

2. Matt Jones, WR, Bengals

Case for: Jones has good size and experience. The former first-round pick had 166 career receptions and 15 touchdowns during his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Outside of starters Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant, Cincinnati has a pretty young group of receivers. That could give Jones a chance to earn roster spot if he's polished enough to contribute now for the defending AFC North champs.

Case against: After sitting out all of 2009 because of off-field issues, Jones appears to have lost a step. This spring he hasn't looked nearly as explosive as the freakish athlete who impressed at the NFL combine in 2005. Similar to Adam Jones, it's possible that Matt Jones can regain some of his form in the process of a grueling training camp. Jones also has an inexpensive, team-friendly contract, which the Bengals can easily terminate if they don't like what they see.

Chances of making team: 40 percent

3. Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals

Case for: Despite a lack of production, Simpson has stuck around for two reasons: draft status and lack of receiver depth. It's hard for teams to give up on second-round picks. The Bengals invested a lot in Simpson and still want to get a return on their high pick, even if it means an extended wait. In the past, the Bengals haven't had a lot of receiver depth, which has allowed Simpson to make the 53-man roster. But that has changed this year, as Cincinnati's receiving corps has a lot of competition.

Case against: The Bengals appear tired of waiting on Simpson, who has one reception in two seasons. They drafted two rookie receivers to compete for roster spots, Jordan Shipley and Dezmon Briscoe. This is a make-or-break training camp for Simpson. He showed occasional flashes in practice but not nearly enough to earn the trust of the coaching staff when it matters in the regular season. Entering his third NFL season, there are no more excuses for Simpson not to produce.

Chances of making team: 50 percent

4. Demetrius Williams, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Case for: With his speed and athleticism, a case can be made that Williams potentially is Baltimore's most dangerous deep threat. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason are more savvy, consistent receivers, while Donte' Stallworth is trying to get his legs under him after sitting out a year. Williams has averaged an impressive 16 yards per catch in his career, including two touchdown receptions of 70 yards or more. There is an open role for someone to get deep in Baltimore's high-powered offense, and Williams has a chance to be that player.

Case against: Health has always been an issue for Williams. He has played in 16 games once in his four-year career. Baltimore has kept Williams because of his potential, but at some point the Ravens would like to see consistency. To do that, Williams must stay healthy to find a role on a Ravens team with very high expectations.

Chances of making team: 70 percent

5. John Beck, QB, Ravens

Case for: Beck knows offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's system well from their days together with the Miami Dolphins. Beck's future in Baltimore could come down to Troy Smith's situation. There have been rumors of interest in Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback injuries in training camp and preseason could also increase Smith's trade value this summer, which would gift wrap the No. 3 quarterback job for Beck.

Case against: If nothing happens on the trade front, the Ravens have an interesting decision to make between Smith and Beck. With Joe Flacco, Marc Bulger and Smith, Beck is probably the team's fourth quarterback right now, which naturally makes him the odd man out. If Smith is still on the roster, Beck will have to make up ground the old-fashioned way and outperform Smith in the preseason to win a roster spot.

Chances of making team: 40 percent

6. Bobby Engram, WR, Cleveland Browns

Case for: The Browns have little depth and little experience at receiver. Engram potentially could provide both. The 14-year veteran played for Cleveland president Mike Holmgren when both were with the Seattle Seahawks and knows what to expect. Engram recently had a big year in 2007, when he had 94 receptions for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns. He also can serve as a mentor to young receivers such as Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie.

Case against: It's questionable what Engram, 37, has left. Last season he had only five receptions in five games for the Kansas City Chiefs. Holmgren is hoping Engram has one more decent year left in him to help Cleveland's struggling offense, which finished last in the NFL in 2009. But if there's any team Engram can make this year, it's the Browns.

Chances of making team: 60 percent

7. James Davis, RB, Browns

Case for: Davis was arguably Cleveland's biggest rookie surprise last summer when he led the team in rushing during the preseason. But high expectations were crushed when a season-ending shoulder injury limited Davis to only two games. Now he's back for his second season and looks healthy.

Case against: Cleveland's situation at running back is very crowded. One of the best things Holmgren and new general manager Tom Heckert did this offseason was put together a solid group of rushers. The Browns traded up to draft tailback Montario Hardesty in the second round and got Peyton Hillis from the Denver Broncos in the Brady Quinn trade. Last year's leading rusher, Jerome Harrison, also returns to make for a versatile group of ball carriers. All three running backs are ahead of Davis on the depth chart. So barring injury, Davis looks like a strong candidate for the practice squad.

Chances of making team: 35 percent

8. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Case for: Despite being a sixth-round pick, Dwyer has a chance to contribute early for the Steelers. He displayed strong legs and good power in college, and that could translate into a short-yardage option for Pittsburgh. The Steelers struggled in the red zone and in short-yardage situations. If Dwyer proves he can move the chains, that would be more than enough to earn a roster spot.

Case against: Although the Steelers may end up with a bargain, no team is afraid to put a sixth-round pick on the practice squad. Dwyer played in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, which means he may need some time to learn a pro-style offense. But Dwyer could pan out in a limited role.

Chances of making team: 75 percent

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

Troy Smith is a perfect example of how quickly things can change in the NFL.

Two years ago, Smith was the favorite to be the starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens. He was within weeks of winning the job before a tonsil infection knocked him out the competition and gift-wrapped it for then-rookie Joe Flacco, who ran with the opportunity.

Two years later, Smith is in limbo and he could be trade bait. He's the projected third quarterback behind Flacco and recent acquisition Marc Bulger heading into training camp.

"It's a part of the game," Smith recently told Mike Duffy of BaltimoreRavens.com. "The situation, there's not much that we as players can do about it."

Smith seems to be taking the high road despite his unsure future with the Ravens. This offseason, his representation made it clear that Smith would like the opportunity to try to earn a starting role elsewhere. He only carried a fifth-round tender but there were no takers.

Now the question is would teams reconsider Smith if there's an injury? Would the Ravens lower their asking price to a sixth- or seventh-rounder in 2011? Or would Baltimore be content to keep Smith around as the emergency quarterback?

Smith's biggest contribution to the team was his ability to run the "Suggs package," which was Baltimore's variation of the Wildcat offense. But as the No. 3 quarterback, Smith by rule could not play unless Flacco is benched or injured for the remainder of the game.

Barring injury, there just isn't much room for Smith to contribute to Baltimore this year. Sure, a team can never have enough quarterbacks with starting experience. The Ravens have four: Flacco, Bulger, Smith and John Beck. But at least one has to go before the Sept. 13 opener against the New York Jets.

That leaves either Smith or Beck as the odd man out, and the trade market for Smith could be the determining factor.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens reached an agreement on a three-year contract with offensive tackle Ramon Harewood -- the team's sixth-round draft pick.

With Marc Bulger installed as the apparent No. 2 quarterback, who's the odd man out between Troy Smith and John Beck?

Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals offensive tackle and player representative Andrew Whitworth was shocked that former teammate Chris Henry could have developed brain damage after playing for so short a time.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns signed sixth-round draft pick Clifton Geathers, a defensive lineman out of South Carolina.

Daniel Wolf wonders whether the addition of Jake Delhomme will help Cleveland's questionable wide receivers develop.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Three flat-screen TVs were among the items reported stolen from the home of Steelers tackle Casey Hampton.

An MRI has confirmed Willie Colon tore his right Achilles. He will have surgery Wednesday.

The Baltimore Ravens pulled a somewhat surprising move by signing veteran quarterback Marc Bulger Wednesday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's a one-year deal worth $3.8 million.

Outside of the initial surprise, this move does make sense.

Although Troy Smith showed occasional flashes, Baltimore didn't have a proven backup behind starting quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens have Super Bowl aspirations in 2010, and if Flacco has to miss games due to injury, Baltimore probably feels more comfortable with a veteran who has 95 career starts and two Pro Bowls on his résumé.

But you still wonder what this all means for Smith. He was already not happy with being the No. 2 quarterback in Baltimore. The acquisition of Bulger likely makes Smith the No. 3, emergency quarterback and may eventually leave John Beck as the odd man out.

The Bulger signing also gives the Ravens plenty of collateral in case another team suffers a quarterback injury and would like to work out a deal for Smith this summer.

Baltimore Ravens

Two new high-definition video screens -- dubbed "RavensVision" -- were unveiled at M&T Bank Stadium.

Quarterback John Beck is settling in in his bid to unseat Troy Smith as Joe Flacco's backup.

Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Coffman is on the comeback trail.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com shares things he thinks he believes.

Cleveland Browns

Second-year wide receiver Brian Robiskie is turning heads during offseason workouts.

Despite not having a contract, Jerome Harrison is practicing with the team.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Al Everest embraces the challenge that is coaching special teams in the NFL.

Ben Roethlisberger has been cleared by commissioner Roger Goodell to return to practice.

Baltimore Ravens

Potential unrestricted free agents: DL Justin Bannan, DL Dwan Edwards, CB Corey Ivy, WR Derrick Mason, TE L.J. Smith, WR David Tyree, CB Frank Walker, WR Kelley Washington

Potential restricted free agents: OT Jared Gaither, K Billy Cundiff, S Dawan Landry, CB Fabian Washington, P Sam Koch, OG Chris Chester, QB John Beck, QB Troy Smith, OT Tony Moll, FB Le'Ron McClain, LB Prescott Burgess, WR Mark Clayton, WR Demetrius Williams

Franchise tag: None

What to expect: The Ravens have a ton of quality free agents. It will be interesting because Baltimore is the only division team which has to abide by the "Final Eight Plan" for making the divisional playoffs. This will restrict Baltimore from making a lot of moves. Therefore, expect the team to keep most of its key restricted free agents while trying to explore the trade market. On the unrestricted side, the Ravens are negotiating with receiver Derrick Mason and are expected to keep him. But two players who could get some interest in the open market are defensive linemen Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan. Baltimore likes both players but could lose at least one.

Cincinnati Bengals

Potential unrestricted free agents: K Shayne Graham, FB Jeremi Johnson, RB Larry Johnson, DT Tank Johnson, TE Reggie Kelly, OG Bobbie Williams, S Roy Williams, TE J.P. Foschi

Potential restricted free agents: LB Brandon Johnson, LB Rashad Jeanty, OL Evan Mathis, C Kyle Cook, DE Frostee Rucker, CB David Jones, LB Abdul Hodge, QB Jordan Palmer, TE Daniel Coats, DT Shaun Smith

Franchise tag: None

What to expect: The Bengals have yet to announce their tenders, so this list could change by Thursday evening. But traditionally they are not big spenders in free agency and will stay true to that even with an uncapped year. Cincinnati could make one or two decent outside signings that may help the team. Finding a receiver would be the most likely target. The most interesting in-house name is offensive guard Bobbie Williams, who likely will test the market. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also would like to keep veteran Roy Williams and Tank Johnson. But the team hasn't made a major push for either player before they're let loose Friday.

Cleveland Browns

Potential unrestricted free agents: WR Mike Furrey, TE Michael Gaines, OG Rex Hadnot, CB Hank Poteat, OL Ryan Tucker, OG Billy Yates

Potential restricted free agents: RB Jerome Harrison, LB D'Qwell Jackson, FB Lawrence Vickers, S Brodney Pool, S Abram Elam, DE Matt Roth

Franchise tag: None

What to expect: Cleveland has the money to spend and the biggest talent deficit. So look for the Browns to attempt to make up ground in free agency. Major names like defensive end Julius Peppers and tailback Thomas Jones have been mentioned as possibilities for Cleveland, but that remains to be seen. Internally, the Browns should be interested in keeping Harrison and Vickers in their backfield. Jackson also has value. None of their unrestricted players are priorities for the team and will be allowed to hit free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Potential unrestricted free agents: QB Charlie Batch, LB Rocky Boiman, S Tyrone Carter, S Ryan Clark, DE Nick Eason, WR Joey Galloway, DE Travis Kirschke, RB Willie Parker, CB Deshea Townsend , FB Carey Davis, OG Darnell Stapleton

Potential restricted free agents: OT Willie Colon, CB William Gay, P Daniel Sepulveda, TE Matt Spaeth

Franchise tag: K Jeff Reed

What to expect: The Steelers are pretty predictable. Pittsburgh intends to keep all of its restricted free agents, get a long-term deal complete with Reed, who has the franchise tag, and let nearly all of their unrestricted free agents test the market. The exception is Clark, who the Steelers targeted as a priority but has yet to reach a long-term extension before Friday's deadline. Negotiations have been ongoing and should go to the final hour to decide whether both sides can come to an agreement or allow Clark to test the market.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let's assess his chances of landing in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens: Expect the Ravens to at least listen to offers for backup quarterback Troy Smith. If the right deal is out there that benefits Baltimore, the team will not hesitate to make the move. That may open up the possibility to add another backup quarterback, but certainly not in the top half of the draft, which is where Tebow should land. The Ravens also have restricted free agent John Beck, who can step into the No. 2 spot. But the Ravens would lose their Wildcat/Suggs package completely if Smith isn't replaced by another mobile quarterback.

Draft probability: Low

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals considered adding their variation of the Wildcat last year but couldn't find the right person to do it. That could open the door here for Tebow. It's possible new receiver and former college quarterback Matt Jones has that ability, but Jones is a complete unknown at this point after missing all of last season. It also doesn't hurt Tebow that J.T. O'Sullivan and Jordan Palmer aren't necessarily the strongest tandem of backup quarterbacks. Still, adding Tebow to Cincinnati would be more of a luxury than a necessity.

Draft probability: Low

Cleveland Browns: President Mike Holmgren made some headlines last week when he said it's too late to change Tebow's throwing motion. Take that as a strong sign the Browns are not interested in drafting Tebow. The Browns also have a dynamic utility player in Josh Cribbs for trick plays. So there isn't any room for Tebow on the roster unless he wants to play tight end. Cleveland could use a few of those.

Draft probability: No chance

Pittsburgh Steelers: Depending on the future of pending free agent Charlie Batch, the Steelers could be in the market for a third-string quarterback. That's the only chance of Tebow landing in Pittsburgh. Backup Dennis Dixon has solidified his spot as Pittsburgh's No. 2 quarterback after a solid start on the road against Baltimore last season. So unless Tebow's stock drops well below expected, the Steelers probably won't consider him or any quarterback this year unless it's a flier late in the draft.

Draft probability: Low

According to The Baltimore Sun, Ravens coach John Harbaugh anticipates there will be offseason interest in backup quarterbacks Troy Smith and John Beck. Both players have starting NFL experience.

The Ravens were fortunate to have good depth at the position in case starter Joe Flacco went down with an injury. But in two years, Flacco has made every career start.

Of the two backups, I anticipate Smith getting the most interest.

There is a lot of bad quarterbacking in the NFL, and if you look around the league, there are several teams where Smith could have a chance to compete for a starting job.

Smith will be a restricted free agent in March, so it will cost teams compensation. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome likes to build through the draft. So the team wouldn't be opposed to moving either backup for the right price.

"My guess is there's going to be some people that are going to be interested in those two guys, so we're not going to hold them back," Harbaugh told The Sun. "But we're going to make sure we do what's best for the Ravens."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Here are the players you won’t see in Saturday night's playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens (10-7) and Indianapolis Colts (14-2):

RAVENS

QB John Beck

WR Justin Harper

DB Marcus Paschal

S Keith Fitzhugh

OL David Hale

OL Tony Moll

NT Kelly Talavou

LB/DE Paul Kruger

COLTS

K Adam Vinatieri

WR Sam Giguere

TE Colin Cloherty

DT John Gill

OT Michael Toudouze

OG Mike Pollak

DE Ervin Baldwin

DT Fili Moala

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker


More: Chadiha: The plan | Scouts: Rating QBs | Rank 'em | Clayton: Next Cassel?


Baltimore Ravens: If Joe Flacco is unavailable, the Ravens' situation is better than most NFL teams. The Ravens have a pair of backups with starting experience in Troy Smith and John Beck. The pair has combined for six career starts and were both in consideration as future starters at one point in their careers. Flacco’s rapid development has made Smith a backup in Baltimore. But his athleticism forced the team to put him on the field as the quarterback of Baltimore’s “Suggs package,” which is the team’s version of the Wildcat offense. Beck was picked up by Baltimore this offseason and is more of a conventional pocket passer. He spent time with Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in Miami and is familiar with the system. Between the two, the Ravens have a decent contingency plan.


Cincinnati Bengals: If Carson Palmer is unavailable, Cincinnati's situation is not good at quarterback. Palmer is Cincinnati’s most important player. And although J.T. O’Sullivan appears to be an upgrade over last year’s backup quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bengals are going nowhere without Palmer. O’Sullivan has been a pleasant surprise in the preseason, but certainly not enough to think he could lead the Bengals long term. Younger brother Jordan Palmer is the No. 3 quarterback but has struggled in his few opportunities at the next level. If the Bengals are going to do anything this season, the older Palmer is obviously the glue that holds the entire franchise together.


Cleveland Browns: If the Browns' starting quarterback is unavailable, their situation is still solid. Cleveland’s is one of the few teams in the NFL which has two young, starting-caliber quarterbacks in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. Based on preseason performance, Quinn is expected to be the starter Sept. 13 against the Minnesota Vikings, but the two remain in an open competition under new Browns coach Eric Mangini. Both quarterbacks have different playing styles. Anderson is more of a vertical threat but also more prone to turnovers, while Quinn is a solid game manager who is cerebral. Mangini eventually will choose one quarterback, but he still has to feel good about his No. 2.


Pittsburgh Steelers: If Ben Roethlisberger is unavailable, their situation is not bad for the short term. With the NFL’s top-rated defense and experienced veteran quarterback Charlie Batch in the fold, the Steelers are built to win a few games without Roethlisberger. But like most teams, if Pittsburgh loses Roethlisberger for a long period of time, the Steelers have very little chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions. With a struggling offensive line, Roethlisberger is prone to taking tough shots, but for the most part he’s been able to play through injuries. Batch has started 50 games in his career and is followed by second-year player Dennis Dixon, who has some athleticism but is still considered a raw talent.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

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

• Quarterback John Beck says he's "very excited" about joining the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Morning take: Beck is in a good spot reuniting with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. The former Miami Dolphins head coach didn't get enough time to mold Beck before and now gets another opportunity.

• Can the Pittsburgh Steelers be an even better team in 2009?

Morning take: Only time will tell. But going into the season, I feel Pittsburgh is better prepared to repeat than any team in the past four years.

• By the way, the Cleveland Browns ranked No. 114 in ESPN's Ultimate Standings for sports franchises.

Morning take: The Cavaliers were rated much higher (No. 5). But Cleveland remains a football-crazed city, so it doesn't have the same level of impact.

• Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Andre Smith says he doesn't want to hold out.

Morning take: No rookie wants to hold out of training camp. It just seems possible because of the team involved, Smith's agent troubles and the lofty draft position as the No. 6 overall pick.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

There is a new quarterback with the Baltimore Ravens and his name is John Beck. Because he has played only five games in the NFL and didn't play at all in 2008, not much is known about the abilities of Beck, the Dolphins' second-round pick in 2007 who was highly touted coming out of Brigham Young.

To shed some light on Beck, we invited Scouts Inc.'s Tag Ribary to discuss what he brings to the Ravens.

Tag, Beck hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2007. What do you know about him?

Tag Ribary: I don't think anyone can get a real good gauge of his overall skills, because the Miami Dolphins were missing some pieces on offense. The receiver situation wasn't great and they were still kind of tweaking their offensive line around. So he didn't have a lot of time to sit and read defenses like you'd like for your rookie quarterback to have. But I think going to Baltimore where he knows [offensive coordinator] Cam [Cameron] and he knows the system they're going to run, that's a good fit for him.

What does it mean for the Ravens to have two very different quarterbacks in Beck and Troy Smith in backup roles?

Ribary: The variety is good because they have options now. If they lose the starter, they can either go with the more athletic guy in Troy, who can make more plays with his legs. Or they can go with and develop Beck as more of a pocket passer.

How much confidence did Baltimore show in starter Joe Flacco by cutting veteran Todd Bouman, because now the Ravens have one of the youngest quarterback groups in the NFL?

Ribary: No question, I think they feel real good about Flacco. Now they have some time to bring up another young, up-and-coming guy for quality depth down the road.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens completed their first day of veteran minicamp Friday to kick off the 2009 season.

Here are some notes and observations:

• Similar to last year, the Ravens are still running high-energy, up-tempo practices. Everything is fast: the players, the drills, even the way Baltimore gets in and out of its drills. There is little wasted motion in what this team does on the practice field, which is impressive (and fun) to watch. It's a method head coach John Harbaugh learned with the Philadelphia Eagles and he has carried it over to the Ravens. The increased efficiency and tempo served the team well in 2008.

• Second-year player Tavares Gooden played with the first-team defense, and it looks like he will get the first chance to replace Bart Scott at inside linebacker. Gooden is coming off an injury-riddled rookie campaign but showed fluid movement and good quickness on the first day.

• Not to gauge too much on one day, but of the tryout receivers I thought Kelley Washington stood out the most Friday. In a group consisting of Washington, Tab Perry and Jerry Porter, none of them did anything spectacular. But Washington's made a couple of plays and his effort level was consistently where it needed to be.

• Another receiver, Marcus Smith, flashed some ability Friday. He beat starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth twice on a pair of beautiful deep balls thrown by starting quarterback Joe Flacco. On one catch, he outran the coverage, and on the second he out-jumped Foxworth. Flacco also connected with Smith several times in the afternoon session and seems to be developing good chemistry early with the second-year receiver.

• Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs was not present because he has yet to sign his franchise tender. You can read more about that here. Another absentee was receiver D.J. Hackett, who was expected to be one of the veteran tryouts but decided not to participate at the last minute. Offensive linemen Willie Anderson (knee) and Ben Grubbs (ankle) did not participate because they were recovering from injuries. Anderson's injury opened the door for rookie first-round pick Michael Oher to work with the starters.

• Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg made it through the first day of practices without any ill effects from microfracture knee surgery. He practiced some with the first team and said that he feels good about his recovery.

• As far as the backup quarterback competition goes, Troy Smith is getting second-team reps while John Beck is playing with the third team. It's too early to tell who will take an early lead. Both players had good throws and bad throws Friday, but Beck looks like he is picking up Baltimore's offense very quickly. He ran a similar system with the Miami Dolphins when Cam Cameron was head coach.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens open their mandatory minicamp Friday, and similar to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the AFC North blog will chronicle every moment.

The full-squad camp will run through Sunday and will be the first time every member will be present since its loss to the Steelers in the AFC title game.

Here are some things I'm interested in this weekend:

• What strides will quarterback Joe Flacco make in his second year?
• Will the defensive scheme have a different look under new coordinator Greg Mattison?
• Who will take the early lead in the race to replace linebacker Bart Scott?
• How will tight end L.J. Smith fit with the offense?
• Will John Beck or Troy Smith take hold of the backup quarterback job?
• Can rookie first-rounder Michael Oher make an early impression in his quest to be the starting right tackle?
• Will any of the four veteran tryouts at receiver catch Baltimore's eye?