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OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes Ed Reed will play despite recent comments that suggest the Pro Bowl safety is wavering.

"Ed is a guy that I really trust and I really care about and believe in," Harbaugh said after Wednesday's workout. "There's been no indication that he's not going to play as far as I'm concerned. I don't worry about Ed. He's a mature guy. He's a superstar. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer. He's a leader. We're counting on Ed being here."

Reed was among a handful of veterans who didn't attend Wednesday's voluntary practice.

He created a stir last week when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year." Reed later clarified his comments, saying he plans on playing in 2012 and possibly beyond.

In trying to interpret Reed's comments, Harbaugh said he believes Reed was talking about not being committed to the offseason workouts.

"He's got a lot of things going on and he's working on personal things," Harbaugh said. "I guarantee he's training. I guarantee he's preparing for the season. That's just Ed."

Here are some more links to headlines in the division:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals' cornerback competition is one battle to watch during offseason workouts.

Bengals cornerback Adam Jones remembers former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, who died of an apparent heart attack.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is fighting to restore his reputation.

Rookie defensive lineman John Hughes is OK with his first full-team offseason workout.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Head coach John Harbaugh will be honored by the U.S. Army after today's practice.

Here are 11 players to watch at the Ravens' offseason workouts this week.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic says quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs to get over how the team treated him this offseason.

Here are some highlights -- because there are never any lowlights -- for this week's AFC North chat. If you want more, click here for a full transcript.

Kris (Missouri): How devastating is the loss of Terrell Suggs? Ray [Lewis] and Ed Reed only have how many more shots at a title.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): When Suggs got hurt, most talked about how the Ravens would miss him in the pass rush. But Suggs was a really good run defender as well. I think people are underestimating his absence when it comes to stopping running backs.

Brian (Philadelphia): Assuming the Bengals follow up last season with a successful 2012 season, who do you think would be more likely to leave for a head coaching position: defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer or offensive coordinator Jay Gruden?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): I say Gruden. He has the name recognition plus he has the advantage of having developed a young QB on his resume. Whatever team is looking for a head coach is probably in a position to take a QB in the first round. That's why Gruden would be more enticing.

Jordan (Raleigh): What are Mike Wallace's options? Sign or sit out? Can he be dealt? Can teams even make trades at this point in the offseason?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Wallace can sit out as long as he wants if he doesn't sign the tender. He is technically not under contract until he signs it. Wallace has until June 15 to sign it or the Steelers can reduce his RFA tender after that point.

Bodman34 (Ada,OH Home of the Wilson Football Factory): Is there any reason the Browns shouldn't take a look at Terrell Owens and offer a minimum salary with incentives? He would be an instant upgrade at receiver, and if it didn't work out, not much invested.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Have you seen the effect of T.O. on the other teams he played for? Not happening.

Brad (Berkeley, CA): Maurkice Pouncey was the first Steelers rookie to start 13 or more games in like 30 years (he started all 16, I know). Will [David] DeCastro be the only Steelers rookie this year to do the same?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): DeCastro is battling two players who were originally undrafted rookies, Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster. It would be a major surprise if DeCastro doesn't start from the first day of camp.

Andre (Tallahassee, FL): Is John Harbaugh on the hot seat if Baltimore misses the playoffs? And will Joe Flacco be gone too?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Are you not aware that the Ravens and Flacco have made the playoffs for the past four seasons? If you think they would be on the hot seat after missing the playoffs for one year, you have crazy expectations.

Dillion (Ohio): Should the browns sign T.O to help show the younger reciver on the team how to catch the ball and he can catch the ball

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Again, has anyone else except me seen the negative effect of TO on teams?

Aaron (Bloomington IL): With Pittsburgh upgrading its offensive line, there appears to be few weaknesses remaining from the three teams pushing for the AFC North title. Which unit from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore do you see as having the greatest weakness this year?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Steelers: Cornerback. Bengals: Wide receiver. Baltimore: Left guard and outside linebacker (Suggs' absence).

Michael (Cincinnati): Can you ban people who think the Browns should sign TO?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Only [NFL commissioner Roger] Goodell has the power to ban people in football. Sorry.

Speaking for the first time about Terrell Suggs' injury, Ravens coach John Harbaugh offered no timetable on the return of the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, but he stressed the team won't dwell on the loss.

Suggs told ESPN that he partially tore his Achilles tendon during a conditioning drill in Arizona, but believes he can return by the middle of the 2012 season.

"He will be okay, Terrell Suggs will be fine. He will be back," Harbaugh told a local Baltimore television station Friday, via the Baltimore Sun. "He will go to work on that rehab like no other. He will continue to be a huge part of what we are doing, continue to be a leader and then the young guys will step up. They will step forward, and you are a football team first, you are a team, team is not one guy."

It will likely take a team of players to replace the production of Suggs, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who has the fourth-most sacks (30) in the NFL since 2010.

Suggs seemed defiant when telling reporters Thursday that he would come back this season. Harbaugh, though, painted a different picture of Suggs after his injury.

"My heart went out to Terrell because he was so down about it, it was so hard for him to actually spit out what had happened," Harbaugh said. "He didn’t want to tell me because he felt so bad about it. Once we got past that, then I felt bad about it. Once I got past feeling bad about how he felt bad about it, then I felt bad about it. We are going to be fine. I got a chance to talk to Ray [Lewis, Ravens linebacker] and a lot of the players and you move forward, that’s what it’s all about, you just move forward and the next guy steps in."

Tedy Bruschi and Eric Mangini discuss John Harbaugh's comments about the New England Patriots.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh surprisingly called out coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on Tuesday, saying their three championships have to be questioned because the team broke NFL rules by taping opposing coaches' signals.

“In the end, everything is brought before the light of day, when it’s all said and done,” Harbaugh told 97.9 FM in Baltimore. “What happens, even the thing in New England, no matter whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got asterisks now. It’s been stained."

Harbaugh was right in saying that the Patriots' championships will always be questioned because of Spygate. He was the wrong person to say it, though.

This shows a lack of loyalty on Harbaugh's part. Some people in the Ravens organization believe that Belichick played a key role in Harbaugh's becoming the Ravens' head coach. After the Ravens fired coach Brian Billick in 2008, owner Steve Bisciotti called Belichick to ask him about Harbaugh, who was considered the dark horse in the team's coaching search. Belichick spoke glowingly of Harbaugh, who share similar backgrounds. Belichick's coaching roots also started on special teams.

If someone gives you an important pat on the back, why would you punch him in the gut? The Patriots' championships could very well be "stained" for many people, but this quote stands out as a black eye for Harbaugh. He wasn't even asked about the Patriots in the interview. The question was about the New Orleans Saints and cheating in the NFL in general. Harbaugh then directed his answer at the Patriots. This is the sore spot in Belichick's coaching past. He was fined $500,000, and the Patriots were stripped of a first-round pick. The last person to bring this up should be Harbaugh.

A few hours after his radio interview, Harbaugh issued a statement through the team to clarify his comments.

"My reference was to the perception out there that came as the result of the league’s actions," Harbaugh said. “I could have been more clear that I was referring to those viewpoints. I totally believe that the Patriot and Saint coaches and players earned those championships. Bill [Belichick] and Sean [Payton] both know that."

Harbaugh said his comments have been distorted because he never mentioned Belichick by name. "I have so much respect for Coach Belichick and the job he does and has accomplished in his Hall of Fame career. I called him to remind him of my respect for him."

It doesn't matter whether Harbaugh never said Belichick's name. By saying the Patriots' championships are "stained," you're pointing a finger at everyone in the organization involved with that scandal, including Belichick, who was fined more than anyone else.

By all appearances, Harbaugh and Belichick are friendly, or as friendly as Belichick gets in coaching circles. Both say they talk to each other during the NFL owners meetings every year, and Harbaugh and Belichick were chatting on the sideline of the Johns Hopkins-Maryland lacrosse game last month.

But this isn't the first time that the Ravens have taken shots at the Patriots' cheating past.

In November 2010, linebacker Terrell Suggs called the Patriots' championships "fake" on a Ravens-produced television show. This year, two days after the Ravens lost at New England in the AFC Championship Game, kicking consultant Randy Brown mentioned the Patriots might have been involved in a scoreboard malfunction that showed the wrong down and ultimately rushed Billy Cundiff into missing what would have been the game-tying field goal at the end of the game.

After Brown's comments, Harbaugh was the first to squash any controversy, issuing a statement that read: "Any suggestion that the wrong down information was a deliberate effort to affect the outcome of the game is nonsense."

This time, however, Harbaugh is the one stirring up Belichick's past, and he's wrong to do so. There could be a very cold handshake exchange after the Ravens-Patriots game on Sept. 23.

This is the time of the offseason when the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers shine. They build the foundation for Super Bowl-contending teams by finding players in April and not in March.

When it comes to drafting Pro Bowl players, the Ravens and Steelers rank among the top four since 1996, according to the Ravens' public-relations department. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have each selected 15 Pro Bowl players during that span, tied for third-most in the league. Only the New England Patriots (17) and Green Bay Packers (16) have produced more.

The secret to the Ravens' and Steelers' drafting success is establishing a vision of what type of player fits their teams. That philosophy comes from the stability of the organizations. Ozzie Newsome has been the Ravens' chief decision-maker since the team relocated to Baltimore in 1996, and Kevin Colbert has been the Steelers' general manager since 2000. The teams each have had two head coaches (Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher for the Steelers, and John Harbaugh and Brian Billick for the Ravens) for the previous 13 seasons.

That type of cohesion builds a relationship to the point where the scouting department knows what players the coaches want. The front office has insight on what players succeed in their teams' offensive and defensive systems.

"I think that's one of the enjoyable things about Pittsburgh," Tomlin said at the Steelers' pre-draft press conference this week. "We don't get caught up in draft grades and the evaluation of the draft, and things of that nature like a lot of other things that could distract you. It's simply measured in terms of how we perform."

The Steelers have drafted four Pro Bowl players in the past five years: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (2007), wide receiver Mike Wallace (2009), center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) and receiver-returner Antonio Brown (2010).

Last season, seven of the Ravens' eight Pro Bowl players were drafted by the team: inside linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, running back Ray Rice and guards Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda.

This type of consistent success is more amazing when you consider the level of difficulty. The Steelers and Ravens are finding these Pro Bowl players despite annually picking toward the bottom of each round.

These division rivals don't like each other, but they tend to like the same type of player. The Ravens and Steelers target tough, physical and competitive players.

“His motor in the fourth quarter is really, really important,” Ravens director of player of personnel Eric DeCosta said. “A lot of the guys who impress me are the guys who are getting their butts kicked in the fourth quarter, losing by 20, 25 points, and he’s still making plays or trying to make plays."

DeCosta added, "How does a guy tackle? If it’s a cornerback, does he face up and use his facemask? Does he bring you down? Does he miss a lot of tackles? If he’s a running back, does he run through contact? Does he lower his pads and try to break tackles? You get a sense. When you talk to people, you get a sense. Then when you interview a guy, you get a sense for his toughness.”

The true measure of draft success isn't the number of Pro Bowl players produced. There is a higher standard.

"Super Bowl championships," Colbert said. "That's it. There is no scorecard. Never will be, never has been."

ESPN's Trent Dilfer, Chris Mortensen and Mel Kiper Jr. talk about the intensity of the Harbaugh brothers and the draft needs for the Ravens and 49ers. Mortensen also predicts a Harbaugh will be hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2012 season. Click on the video to see if it's John or Jim Harbaugh.

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

The Baltimore Ravens could be in line to make a repeat appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks" this summer.

If the New York Jets pass on the show, HBO has interest in featuring the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, sources told Fox Sports. The show, which chronicles training camp, would feature the NFL's head-coaching brothers John and Jim Harbaugh.

A Ravens spokesman told the Baltimore Sun that he was unaware of any request from HBO. The Ravens were the first team to be featured on "Hard Knocks" in 2001 when they were defending Super Bowl champions.

The Ravens might not be high on HBO's list anymore. Sources told ESPNNewYork.com that HBO has extended an offer to the Atlanta Falcons to be on this year's show.

Hensley's slant: I would be shocked if the Ravens agreed to be on the show. When the Ravens were on "Hard Knocks" 11 years ago, their head coach was Brian Billick, who never minded the media attention and actually seemed to enjoy it. The same can't be said for John Harbaugh, who seems uncomfortable when the local media shoot parts of the open media viewing of practice. That's why I can't see Harbaugh signing off on cameras in meeting rooms and having it broadcast on national TV.

BENGALS: The team announced that it re-signed offensive tackle Dennis Roland, who was used mainly as an extra blocking tight end last season after being the primary starter at right tackle in 2009 and 2010. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis also did not completely rule out re-signing Bobbie Williams. “We can’t close the door to it,” Lewis said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “What Bobbie has meant to this team, he’s been an incredible locker room guy and in the huddle.” Hensley's slant: The thinking here is that Williams would be a solid fallback option if the Bengals don't like any of the guards available in the early rounds of the draft. I still see the Bengals having a good shot at either Stanford's David DeCastro with the 17th overall pick or Georgia's Cordy Glenn at No. 21.

BROWNS: The team wraps up its pre-draft visits by meeting with Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill on Sunday and Monday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The paper believes that the Browns have four options with the fourth overall pick if they decide not to trade down: Tannehill, Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. Hensley's slant: I'm still not buying the Browns' interest in Tannehill at No. 4. There's also a chance that he won't even be available when the Browns are on the clock at this spot. Some predict the Miami Dolphins will trade to move up to No. 3 to take Tannehill.

STEELERS: Tight end-fullback David Johnson signed his restricted free-agent tender, which will pay him $1.26 million this season. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac expects the Steelers to carry three tight ends this season and sees the team cutting Weslye Saunders if it likes recently signed Leonard Pope. Saunders has reportedly been suspended the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances. Hensley's slant: This scenario could very well happen because the suspension might be causing the Steelers to reconsider why they signed Saunders as an undrafted free agent. He left South Carolina after his junior season because he was kicked off the team in September 2010 for violating team rules. That was one of the reasons teams didn't draft him even though he was regarded as one of the top tight ends coming out of college last year.

The Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco created a stir last week when he said he thinks he is "the best" quarterback in the NFL.

When asked about those comments, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh never said Flacco was the best quarterback in the NFL but he made it clear he wants to help his quarterback reach that level.

"I will stand behind him and I think I understood what he was saying but sometimes you shrug your shoulders and you just have to laugh and say ‘all right let’s go prove it then,'" Harbaugh told a Baltimore radio station, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. "If that’s how we feel about it, then let’s go prove it. Let’s make them acknowledge that. We have not obviously done that yet and I think that’s what Joe is saying so I’m going to work as hard as I can so that a year or two or three from now the rest of the world can actually say ‘you know what maybe he was right, maybe he is the best quarterback out there.’ That’s our job, that’s Joe’s job and that’s what we need to work on doing.”

I think everyone can agree Flacco isn't the best quarterback in the NFL. But I think everyone can also agree Flacco will have a tough time reaching that elite status in the Ravens' current system. The best quarterbacks in the NFL -- Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger -- carry their teams week after week and to Super Bowls. They win games with their arms and rarely have to share the spotlight with a running back.

The Ravens don't consistently have to rely on Flacco that same way because they have Ray Rice. Last season, Rice accounted for 38 percent of the team's offense, leading Baltimore in rushing (1,364 yards) and catches (76, which is 19 more than any other Raven). If the Ravens really wanted to help Flacco, they could loosen the reins on him a little bit. Of course, Flacco has to earn that right by becoming more consistent and avoid dud games like the ones against the Jets and Jaguars last season.

Like I wrote on the blog last week, Flacco said these words and it's up to him to back them up. And there are ways Flacco can elevate himself into the conversation of being a top quarterback. He beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh last year with a last-minute touchdown throw. He nearly led the Ravens to the Super Bowl if Lee Evans didn't have the ball stripped away in the end zone.

So, Flacco can distinguish himself when he comes through in the clutch and in the playoffs. That's where quarterbacks shine. But there's an increased level of difficulty to reach the top tier of quarterbacks when you play with a top-tier running back.

Harbaugh, though, admires Flacco's self-confidence and honesty.

"He’s not really interested in I don’t think in finessing an answer in a way that we all, we know what he was saying but then they parse it and take the part and say ‘Joe Flacco thinks he’s the best quarterback in football,'" Harbaugh said. "Joe Flacco is working to be the best quarterback in football and in his mind he’s capable of being that. That’s what he is saying. I don’t know. Joe is Joe, we do talk to him about that, but you have to love Joe, you have to love his mindset, his attitude, he’s a fierce competitor, I’ve always said that and he’s our quarterback and I love the guy."

Here are other topics covered by Harbaugh in the interview:

• Ravens safety Ed Reed, who is entering the final year of his contract, said he has been unable to get a new deal from the Ravens. Harbaugh said he isn't concerned about Reed's future in Baltimore. “Obviously we have utmost respect for Ed, he and I have a tremendous relationship," Harbaugh said. "We’ve been texting back and forth, it’s been really positive, I know he is working really hard because he always does and last year I thought he was in the best shape of his whole career, at least the career I’ve seen, the last four years let me say that. He was in tremendous shape, he played very, very well, and I agree with him, I think he has plenty of years left to play and the rest of it is part of the business part of it and that’s part of the way it goes. That stuff has a way of working itself out so I’m not worried about it that way.”
• The Ravens are also in talks on a long-term deal with Rice, who received the franchise tag. Asked whether he would be surprised if a new deal doesn't get worked out with Rice, Harbaugh said, “I’d be surprised, not be surprised and you get to the point where you’re not surprised by anything. It’s the business part of it and you just don’t know which way it’s going to turn. Ray’s got to do and his agents and his representatives have to try to do the best they can for Ray. That’s got to fit within what is smart for us to put the best team together in the end because the team, the team, the team does apply to your salary cap situation. You have to build the strongest team that you possibly can for the resources that they give you. Obviously you have to pay your best players, your most productive guys as well as you possibly can. We want everybody to make as much money as they can, that’s the American way but there are limitations and parameters there and hopefully we can come out to the best possible answer.”

It wasn't Ravens coach John Harbaugh's preference to have starting cornerback Lardarius Webb returning punts entering this offseason. His mindset probably didn't change after Webb agreed to a five-year, $50 million extension with a $10 million signing bonus and a $5 million option bonus.

Having Webb field punts was a risk before. Now, it has become a pricey proposition. The Ravens will try hard to find a replacement for Webb on returns, and it probably will come in the draft.

"You can’t sit there and play scared, so I don’t have a problem with [Webb returning],” Harbaugh said Wednesday, a day before Webb's deal. “But I would rather have a backup doing it? Yes. If there is another option that is a better player or takes your starting corner and takes him off the punt return, that’s even better."

Webb ranked 16th in the NFL in punt returns (10-yard average), returning one for a touchdown. The other two punt returners listed on last year's Ravens depth chart -- Chris Carr (Vikings) and Tom Zbikowski (Colts) -- signed elsewhere in free agency.

Baltimore brought in Ted Ginn Jr. for a free-agent visit but he re-signed with the 49ers. The Ravens were also linked to Eddie Royal before he joined the San Diego Chargers.

“We tried to do something with a free agent or two, and it didn’t work out, but that’s OK,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll move on to the next opportunity.”

That "next opportunity" means the draft. One returner to keep an eye on is Fresno State's Devon Wylie. Other top returners coming out of college are: Florida International's T.Y. Hilton, Alabama's Marquis Maze and Stanford's Chris Owusu.

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

Cincinnati Bengals

Key additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, S Reggie Nelson, G Travelle Wharton, CB Jason Allen, CB Adam Jones, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Derrick Harvey

Key losses: DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), G Nate Livings (Cowboys), G Mike McGlynn (Colts), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Grade after first wave of free agency: B. The Bengals were the most active team in the division and they should have been. Cincinnati entered free agency with more than $50 million in salary-cap space, which was more than the rest of the AFC North combined. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

The prize of the Bengals' signings is running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is an improvement over Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis isn't known for breaking long gains, but he is a force in the red zone and has never fumbled in the NFL. Wharton is a step up from Nate Livings at left guard because he is a strong run-blocker who will open holes inside. The biggest losses came on the defensive line, where Cincinnati will miss Frostee Rucker on run defense and Jonathan Fanene in the pass rush.

What’s next: The Bengals can still close the gap between the Ravens and Steelers because they have two first-round picks in the draft (No. 17 overall, which came from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade, and No. 21). Even with the signing of Wharton, Cincinnati needs a right guard and could have a shot at the top interior offensive lineman coming out of college. Stanford's David DeCastro is one of the safest picks in the draft and would start immediately for the Bengals.

The second first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver or a cornerback. The Bengals surprisingly didn't add a free-agent wide receiver to pair with A.J. Green. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill or Baylor's Kendall Wright should be available in the bottom third of the draft. Another need is cornerback because Cincinnati could use an eventual replacement for Nate Clements, who is entering his 12th season. Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, the second best corner in the draft, has a chance of sliding to the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

Key additions: DE Frostee Rucker, LB D'Qwell Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson, DE Juqua Parker

Key losses: RB Peyton Hillis (Chiefs), S Mike Adams (Broncos), G Eric Steinbach, OT Tony Pashos

Grade after first wave of free agency: C. Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were building this team through the draft and they weren't joking. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right tackle. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. Blame the Washington Redskins. The Browns attempted to move up in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, and the Rams instead traded the second overall pick to the Redskins. Cleveland reportedly pursued wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, and both took high-priced deals from Washington.

The Browns provided more help to the defense in free agency. Frostee Rucker will make an impact in stopping the run, which was the biggest weakness on the NFL's 10th-ranked defense. Juqua Parker, who has 31.5 sacks over the past six seasons, will team with Jabaal Sheard to give Cleveland a strong rush coming off both edges. The Browns didn't try to keep Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams from going elsewhere.

What’s next: Offense, offense and offense. Did I mention offense? The Browns need a quarterback but there's no one worthy of the fourth overall pick. Cleveland could trade down to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or wait until the second round for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The big decision comes if the Browns stay put at No. 4. Cleveland's choices are Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Browns could use either one because they don't have a starting running back or a No. 1 wide receiver.

Cleveland has a second first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. The Browns need to target a wide receiver (if they don't take one earlier in the first round), right tackle or outside linebacker with the 22nd overall pick. Baylor receiver Wright, Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie and Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David have been linked to Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens

Key additions: C Matt Birk, ILB Jameel McClain, OLB Brendon Ayanbadejo, CB Corey Graham, S Sean Considine

Key losses: G Ben Grubbs (Saints), OLB Jarret Johnson (Chargers), DE Cory Redding (Colts) and CB Domonique Foxworth

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. It was a rough start to free agency for Baltimore, which didn't sign any of its first three visits (guard Evan Mathis, defensive end Mark Anderson and receiver-returner Ted Ginn Jr.). The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

Baltimore was able to keep two free-agent starters, Matt Birk and Jameel McClain, and boost a struggling special-teams group that allowed three touchdowns last season. The Ravens signed Cory Graham, a Pro Bowl special-teams player from the Bears; Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special-teams standout; and Sean Considine, who played special teams for three seasons under John Harbaugh in Philadelphia.

What’s next: The Ravens' biggest need is at left guard, but there might not be one that warrants being taken at No. 29. Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz's stock has slipped recently even though he can play guard right away before switching to center in future seasons. It's hard to pin down a player for Baltimore, which can go in a lot of different directions in the first round.

The Ravens could take the best wide receiver available (especially if he's a returner) because they need a third target who can eventually take Anquan Boldin's starting spot. They could take a safety because Ed Reed turns 34 at the start of the season and Bernard Pollard is a free agent next year. And they could take an offensive tackle because they don't have a reliable backup and Bryant McKinnie is a free agent in 2013.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key additions: None

Key losses: CB William Gay (Cardinals), LB James Farrior, NT Chris Hoke, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Aaron Smith, WR Hines Ward

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. It's been a quiet free-agency period so far for the Steelers. Then again, it's usually quiet for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. The only team that consistently does less than the Steelers in free agency is the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've lost only two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership. Injuries would force young players to step up into starting roles.

What’s next: There are question marks at running back, guard, inside linebacker, nose tackle and cornerback. Despite all of those needs, the consensus has been Pittsburgh will draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower if he's available at No. 24. He has a great combination of size and speed and excelled in a 3-4 defense in college. It seems like Hightower would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.

There's no chance that Memphis' Dontari Poe falls to the Steelers, but there some quality nose tackles in the draft. Those who should be available after the first round are: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) and Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). The Steelers likely will become active later in free agency, especially in retaining their own players. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, running back Mewelde Moore and quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch could potentially return to the team.

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 North is known for bone-jarring hits, intense rivalries and verbal jabs among players. But bounties have never been an issue for any team in this division, according to the AFC North coaches.

"It's not something that's been a part of our culture in any situation I've been in," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at the NFL owners meetings. "I don't know what generates that kind of atmosphere."

The NFL announced harsh penalties last week against the New Orleans Saints for paying cash bonuses to players for injuring opponents, including a year-long suspension for coach Sean Payton.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh called Payton "a great friend" having coached against him in college in the 1980s and coached with him as part the Eagles staff in 1998.

"I think he’s a great coach and he’ll be back winning a bunch of football games. But I respect what the league did, I respect what Roger did," Harbaugh said. "I think it sends a message. It’s smart, it’s courageous and it’s the right thing to do. I know one thing, me like everyone else will fight like crazy to make sure that that’s not an issue in the future. But it’s an important statement to make and player safety is the No. 1 issue. Integrity of the game is important.”

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he's never had to deal with bounties in his 21 years of coaching in the NFL and doesn't feel the need to address it with his team.

"I never felt like I had to because I think our coaches already understood," Lewis said. "That's one of the things in our fine system."

Browns coach Pat Shumur said the team is in a wait-and-see mode on whether linebacker Scott Fujita will be disciplined by the NFL. Fujita recently said he paid teammates for big plays when he was a member of the Saints in 2009, but not for intentionally injuring players.

"We were not involved in that at all," Shumur said said. "I do think that player safety and the integrity of the game is very important for us to embrace that."

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.