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

The Browns are among four teams interested in Bengals free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson, according to Fox Sports and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Lawson, 27, would take the place of strongside linebacker Scott Fujita and help improve the NFL's 30th-ranked run defense. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Bengals last offseason.

The Raiders, Colts and Packers are the other teams who have been linked to Lawson, the 22nd overall pick of the 2006 draft.

Hensley's slant: The Bengals had one of the NFL's best run defenses in the first half of last season, so it would be a smart move to add Lawson after signing defensive end Frostee Rucker. It's believed that the Bengals originally signed Lawson to improve their pass rush, but Lawson made his biggest impact against the run.

BENGALS: Cincinnati made a "significant offer" to pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley before he signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Titans, a couple of sources told the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Bengals were one of five teams who expressed interest in signing him along with the Patriots, Seahawks and Packers. Wimbley would have replaced Lawson as the team's strongside linebacker. Hensley's slant: The Bengals didn't get their targeted player, but this once again shows that the team was aggressive in free agency. Wimbley would have been an upgrade over Lawson because of his ability to get to the quarterback. Cincinnati can always turn to its fallback option in Lawson.

RAVENS: Patriots free-agent defensive end Mark Anderson made a visit to the Ravens on Tuesday, league sources told the Baltimore Sun. Anderson, 28, recorded 10 sacks and forced two fumbles last season as an edge rusher for the Patriots. He has previously visited the Tennessee Titans (who are out of the running after signing Wimbley) and Miami Dolphins and will meet with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. Hensley's slant: Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has always said a team can't have enough pass-rushers. Anderson, though, could serve a dual purpose for Baltimore. He could replace outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who signed with the San Diego Chargers in free agency.

STEELERS: Hines Ward sought counsel from former Pittsburgh running back Jerome Bettis before he decided to retire. "He just asked me about retirement and other teams," Bettis told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And I just told him that his true value is always having a Steeler helmet attached to him, and, when you leave, you lose some of that mystique. For a guy who's played his entire career in Pittsburgh, I just thought it would be a shame if he put another helmet on for someone else for a year or two." Hensley's slant: If anyone knows how to go out in style, it would be Bettis. He retired a Steelers after winning the Super Bowl in February 2006 in his hometown of Detroit. As the Post-Gazette described it, this was the perfect exit. But Ward's goodbye proved to be equally as touching.

A look at what's happening around the AFC North:

BENGALS: The team has yet to sign anyone after seven visits with players: Defensive linemen Kendall Langford (Dolphins), Andre Fluellen (Lions) and Jamaal Anderson (Colts); guard Jacob Bell (Rams); cornerbacks Aaron Ross (Giants), Tracy Porter (Saints) and Jason Allen (Texans). According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the visits with Ross and Langford "went well," but both left without contracts. Langford is visiting the Rams and Ross is meeting with the Redskins. ... The Bengals have lost four players in free agency including both starting guards from last season (Nate Livings went to Dallas and Mike McGlynn joined Indianapolis). ... Safety Reggie Nelson is visiting the New York Jets. Hensley's slant: The Bengals will inevitably sign a defensive lineman and a cornerback, but they should put equal importance in upgrading at least one of the two open guard spots.

BROWNS: The Browns aren't interested in a reunion with former first-round pick Kamerion Wimbley, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Raiders cut Wimbley to avoid guaranteeing him $17.5 million over the next three seasons. ... The Browns officially announced the re-signing of cornerback Dimitri Patterson.“Dimitri came in last year and was an important part of our defense,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said in a statement. “He helped solidify our defensive backfield and we are happy to have him back with the Browns.” Hensley's slant: With Mario Williams off the free-agent market, Wimbley is the most sought-after edge rusher and should draw heavy interest. Even if the Browns wanted to bring him back, the cost of doing so would be out of the team's current price range.

RAVENS: Free-agent guard Evan Mathis was offered a contract from the Ravens yesterday, but he decided to return to his Arizona home to think over the deal. He's been linked to the Colts and Redskins, but the Carroll County (Md.) Times indicates his choices are joining the Ravens or re-signing with the Eagles. “I think the Ravens are a good fit,” Mathis said. “I had a good visit.” ... There's some confusion over whether backup safety Tom Zbikowski has reached an agreement with the Colts. Zbikowski's agent disputed reports that the deal is done after Zbikowski announced that he's going to Indianapolis. ... Joe Flacco's agent and the Ravens met for a second time as the sides work toward an extension for the quarterback, who is heading into the final year of his contract. "It’s very clear that they want him there for a long time, and he wants him to be there for a long time," agent Joe Linta told the Baltimore Sun. "There’s just a lot of stuff to consider as you move forward.” Hensley's slant: The fact that Mathis left without signing a contract makes you think that he is giving the Eagles an opportunity to make a counteroffer. I wouldn't rule out Mathis signing with the Ravens, but Baltimore's chances looked better before he left town.

STEELERS: CBSSports.com's Clark Judge writes that the Steelers aren't in the clear yet even though no team has pursued restricted free agent Mike Wallace. The deadline to extend offer sheets to restricted free agents is April 20, so there's no rush for a team to go after the speedy wide receiver. Hensley's slant: I still feel the odds are very strong that the Steelers will keep Wallace this season. The Steelers don't have a history of re-signing wide receivers in free agency, but the team seems committed to Wallace based on what Steelers officials have said.

In a thought-provoking Insider post, Mel Kiper Jr. revisits the 2006 NFL draft and looks how the first round would unfold based on what we know now.

Remember Haloti Ngata going to the Ravens at No. 12? Not this time. Kiper has him going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. Overall, the AFC North teams fared poorly in Kiper's re-draft.

Let's see which players Kiper would have going to the AFC North teams now:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Draft position: No. 12 (they were actually No. 13 but traded up with the Browns in 2006)

Player chosen in 2006: Haloti Ngata, DT

Kiper re-draft: Reggie Bush, RB (Saints-Dolphins)

End result: Bad for Ravens. Baltimore desperately needed a defensive tackle -- Ray Lewis was campaigning for one before this draft -- and the Ravens got extremely lucky when Ngata fell to them. Bush would have been a non-factor because he requires a creative scheme to thrive. Brian Billick didn't know what to do when he had Priest Holmes.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Draft position: No. 13

Player chosen in 2006: Kamerion Wimbley, DE-OLB

Kiper re-draft: Devin Hester, KR-PR-WR (Bears)

End result: Bad for Browns. Wimbley never lived up to expectations, and Hester is one of the greatest returners in NFL history. But the Browns already had Josh Cribbs at this time, and they couldn't stop anyone from running the ball. Selecting a linebacker like A.J. Hawk or DeMeco Ryans would have helped out more in the re-draft.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Draft position: No. 24

Player chosen in 2006: Johnathan Joseph, CB

Kiper re-draft: Eric Winston, OT (Texans)

End result: Bad for Bengals. Cincinnati really needed a young corner like Joseph, and it was set at the time at offensive tackle with Levi Jones and Willie Anderson. With Joseph off the board in Kiper's re-draft, I would've taken a safety like Donte Whitner for the Bengals.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Draft position: No. 25

Player chosen in 2006: Santonio Holmes, WR

Kiper re-draft: Marcedes Lewis, TE

End result: Bad for the Steelers. Who would've caught the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl without Holmes? Yes, he's no longer with the Steelers but Holmes gave them an average of 958 yards receiving in his four seasons including several clutch catches. Lewis doesn't make sense for Pittsburgh, which used a first-round pick on tight end Heath Miller in 2005.

The AFC North blog continues its series on the top draft classes of the past decade. Thursday we take a look at the Cleveland Browns.

No. 3: Class of 2007

Best picks: OT Joe Thomas (first round), CB Eric Wright (second round)


Analysis: This was not a stellar draft for the Browns, but Cleveland has the slimmest pickings of all division teams. So 2007 made the cut. The Browns hit a home run with Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick. Thomas has been to four straight Pro Bowls and is one of the best at his position. Despite Wright's struggles this past season, he was a starting cornerback for Cleveland and turned out to be a decent second-rounder. The Browns also drafted cornerback Brandon McDonald in the fifth round, and he was a contributor for three seasons. The biggest miss in this draft was first-round quarterback Brady Quinn. He was expected to be the long-term solution, but was shipped to the Denver Broncos after three uneventful seasons for tailback Peyton Hillis.

No. 2: Class of 2006

Best picks: LB Kamerion Wimbley, LB D'Qwell Jackson, FB Lawrence Vickers (sixth round)


Analysis: The second draft of the Phil Savage-Romeo Crennel era in Cleveland turned out to be the best. The Browns landed two starting linebackers in Wimbley and Jackson. Wimbley never quite lived up to expectations, but recorded 26.5 sacks in four seasons with the Browns. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders last year and recorded nine sacks. Jackson led the Browns in tackles in 2008 and had two 100-tackle seasons before suffering a pair of pectoral injuries. Vickers is one of the best fullbacks in the NFL and a great find in the sixth round. The Browns also drafted fifth-round tailback Jerome Harrison, who showed flashes before falling out of favor in Cleveland and being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Regime changes resulted in some of these players having to switch teams, but this was a solid class.

No. 1: Class of 2010

Best picks: CB Joe Haden (first round), S T.J. Ward (second round), QB Colt McCoy (third round)


Analysis: I'm going out on a limb, but I think the 2010 class will be Cleveland's best of the past 10 years. As you can see, this class doesn't have too much to compete with. The first two picks -- Haden and Ward -- have great ability and project to be longtime starters in the secondary. McCoy showed some good things and is vying to be Cleveland's franchise quarterback, although he still has a lot to prove. The Browns also have two rookies in tailback Montario Hardesty and guard Shawn Lauvao who could turn out to be good players. Hardesty is coming off a torn ACL, and Lauvao got mostly backup time in 10 games last season.

On Friday we will conclude our series by ranking the best overall draft classes in the division.

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

• The Cincinnati Bengals are last in the NFL with just three sacks in four games.

Morning take: This was a major focus in the offseason. But it hasn't showed thus far, because Cincinnati doesn't have many pure pass rushers on its roster.

• Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is garnering respect for his dominance.

Morning take: I was covering the Cleveland Browns the year they passed Ngata for Kamerion Wimbley. Immediately I knew that was a mistake.

• No matter who the quarterback is, the Browns will keep the offensive focus on tailback Peyton Hillis.

Morning take: That's the way it should be. Cleveland doesn't have the personnel to be a passing team. But Hillis and the offensive line gives the Browns a running identity.

• Are the Pittsburgh Steelers primed for an offensive outburst now that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back?

Morning take: The Steelers proved in the first four games they can win with a power running game. As long as Roethlisberger holds up his end, the offense will be multi-dimensional.

Here are the latest happenings Monday in the AFC North:

• Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who has sickle cell trait, will not play in Sunday's preseason game against the Denver Broncos due to high altitude.
• Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (hip) is happy with his progress in rehab.
• Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Tank Johnson and receiver Matt Jones were absent from practice Monday.
• Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley recorded four sacks last weekend for the Oakland Raiders.

» NFC Draft Tale: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Despite the recent Donovan McNabb deal from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Redskins, it's usually uncommon to trade with a hated division rival, particularly on draft day.

One memorable instance involved the Cleveland Browns in 2006, when they originally owned the No. 12 overall pick in the first round. Ironically, the Baltimore Ravens were one spot behind Cleveland at No. 13, and everyone knew that year that both teams were looking for defensive help.

The board fell perfectly for Cleveland and Baltimore as a run on quarterbacks (Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler) in the top 11 picks led to two sought after defensive players available with the No. 12 pick. The Browns liked linebacker Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State. But former general manager Phil Savage, who used to work in Baltimore, felt he knew for sure the Ravens coveted Oregon defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.

Savage's inclination was correct. So he baited his former boss, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, into thinking Cleveland was pondering taking Ngata over Wimbley unless the Ravens wanted to work out a trade. Baltimore, unsure if Savage was bluffing, agreed to give up a sixth-round pick (No. 181 overall) to move up one spot to take Ngata in the first round. Meanwhile, the Browns took Wimbley, which was their original intention, Savage later admitted.

At the time Savage felt he got one over on his former mentor in Newsome. But four years later, Ngata is a Pro Bowl player, while Wimbley underachieved and was recently traded to the Oakland Raiders. Savage also was let go by Cleveland after the 2008 season, in part, because many of his first-round picks like Wimbley, Braylon Edwards and Brady Quinn didn't pan out.

Sometimes it's just bad karma to trade with the enemy.

It's hard to keep score with the Cleveland Browns these days. So far they have been the biggest whirlwind in free agency this offseason.

The Browns got rid of their top two quarterbacks and added two more. They signed a veteran linebacker (Scott Fujita), tight end (Benjamin Watson) and right tackle (Tony Pashos). They also traded Corey Williams and Kamerion Wimbley for draft picks and added another fullback to the roster from the Denver Broncos (Peyton Hillis).

Yes, the Browns are making a ton of changes. But are they getting better?

It's still early. But despite a large flurry of transactions, there is nothing the Browns have done to this point in free agency to make you believe they'll climb out of the basement and to the top of the AFC North in 2010.

The division champion Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers all finished with winning records last season. And if the season started today, most would pick the aforementioned trio ahead of Cleveland, which was 5-11 last season.

"Anything we do, we've done it thoughtfully, hopefully," Browns president Mike Holmgren said this week of their busy free-agency period. "We've done it together. We've done it to make the team better in our opinion and however that manifests itself."

QB dilemma

Is the quarterback combination of Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace truly an upgrade over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson? That is one of the biggest questions in Cleveland this week.

Quinn and Anderson had their chances in Cleveland and it didn't work out. So a change of scenery was needed for both players, especially with a new regime coming to town in Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert.

But, to put it bluntly, the acquisitions last week of Delhomme and Wallace were anticlimactic.

Intriguing names such as Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb were being thrown around almost daily in Cleveland. The Browns burned up the phone lines to see what was available around the league but ended up with a 35-year-old starter (Delhomme) and a career backup (Wallace).

Cleveland's success next season will depend on whether Delhomme has anything left in the tank. He is coming off his worst year in 2009, when he threw for 2,015 yards, just eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Delhomme also had a meager 59.4 quarterback rating, but the Browns are confident he can bounce back.

"Over time, he's been a proven winner. He's been a consistent winner," Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said. "His completion percentage over the years, that's been consistent as well. I don’t think it's uncommon for a guy to have a bad year, but when you look at his body of work last year ... there were a lot of good throws on that tape too."

Delhomme adds a winning mentality and plenty of playoff experience, and that's something the Browns need in their locker room. Six years ago, Delhomme led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl.

Cleveland's best hope is to get another good year or two out of Delhomme, while the Browns eventually find and groom their franchise quarterback of the future. Either way, Holmgren was convinced Quinn and Anderson weren't the answer and drastic changes had to be made.

"I think we all came to the conclusion that we couldn't go into the season the same way we went into last season," Holmgren said of his quarterbacks. "That's very difficult for everybody. Derek's situation, there was a time element there because of his roster bonus. We didn't have that to deal with Brady. That factored in, certainly, in our decision for Derek to go first. We knew we were going to make changes at quarterback and add some people to the pile certainly."

The draft is key

Despite the current hoopla with free agency, Cleveland will make its biggest impact this year in the draft.

The Browns will be major players with 12 total picks at their disposal. Recent trades of Wimbley and Williams added third- and fifth-round picks in this year's draft, respectively.

Cleveland's top pick is No. 7 overall, where positions like safety, cornerback and receiver are all possibilities. Following the recent trades, you can now add the quarterback position as well, with Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen being possible candidates.

"We will probably look at the quarterbacks, yes," Holmgren admitted.

Despite not making any splashy additions, Cleveland did patch some holes in free agency. Pashos likely will start at right tackle for the Browns next season. Fujita gives the team toughness at inside linebacker, and Watson is a much-needed receiving threat at tight end.

Holmgren knew about the large cleanup job ahead of him when he became president of the Browns. After studying the roster he inherited, it's clear Holmgren didn't like how most of it was constructed based on the team's already-busy offseason.

"We've done what we thought was best for the Cleveland Browns," Holmgren explained. "Hopefully moving forward, it doesn't get so frantic in years to come. [But] we're doing what we think we have to do."

Here are the most interesting stories in the AFC North:

• Free-agent linebacker Larry Foote is strongly considering a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Morning take: One year ago Foote wanted out of Pittsburgh due to a reduced role. Is he more willing to accept a backup position now?

• Are we overlooking Baltimore Ravens 2009 second-round pick Paul Kruger?

Morning take: I've learned not to reach a conclusion on a player after the first season. In Pittsburgh it's often called the "Troy Polamalu rule." Kruger's rookie season wasn't much but it doesn't mean he won't continue to develop.

• Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third-round pick in 2010.

Morning take: Many players' careers go downhill once they go to Oakland. Wimbley hopes he can jumpstart his in the black hole.

• Is there still a chance receiver Terrell Owens lands with the Cincinnati Bengals?

Morning take: Not likely. Cincinnati made its choice with Antonio Bryant. So barring something unforeseen, Owens will play elsewhere next season.

» NFC Busts/Gems: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

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

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Busts and late-round gems.

Baltimore Ravens

Busts: The Ravens have one of the most consistent front offices in the NFL, so you have to look all the way back to 2005 to really find an underperforming first-round pick in Mark Clayton. The receiver has shown flashes with several big games in Baltimore. But Clayton never developed the consistency to become a No. 1 receiver. In the second round, linebacker Dan Cody was another miss in 2005. His career never got off the ground, because he couldn't shake the injury bug. Also, it's too early to determine the status of 2009 second-round pick Paul Kruger. But the linebacker/defensive end was mostly a non-factor in his rookie season. Gems: Baltimore has several contributing players that were found in the late and middle rounds. Most recently, 2009 third-round cornerback Lardarius Webb looks like a potential starter and has the ability to return kicks. Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain was another great, under-the-radar pick in the fourth round in 2007. Starting left tackle Jared Gaither was found in the supplemental draft in 2007 and started 26 games the past two seasons. Other key contributors include starting safety Dawan Landry and punter Sam Koch, who were fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2006, respectively.

Cincinnati Bengals

Busts: It's well-documented that Cincinnati doesn't put nearly the same resources into scouting as most teams, and it shows in its list of draft busts. Eight players the Bengals selected in the first three rounds since 2004 are no longer with the team. Several -- such as first-rounders Chris Perry and David Pollack and second-rounders Odell Thurman and Kenny Irons -- are out of the NFL. Most recently, the career of 2009 No. 6 overall pick Andre Smith got off to a poor start. But he has time to turn things around. Receiver Jerome Simpson, who was a second-round pick in 2008, is running out of chances and may not make the 53-man roster next fall. It's difficult to maintain a steady level of success when you're missing this often in the first and second rounds. Gems: Seventh-round pick Chinedum Ndukwe was not highly touted out of Notre Dame but continued to make plays for the Bengals until coaches had no choice but to play him. Defensive tackle Domata Peko was a fourth-round pick in 2006 who developed into one of Cincinnati's most important players. Last year's sixth-round pick, tailback Bernard Scott, showed flashes as a rookie.

Cleveland Browns

Busts: The Browns are on their third regime in three years. With that kind of turnover, you can expect a lot of misses in the draft as the team continues to switch philosophies. The Phil Savage-Romeo Crennel era began in 2005 with receiver Braylon Edwards and safety Brodney Pool. Edwards didn't live up to expectations and was traded to the New York Jets last season. Pool likely will be let go to free agency. It has been three years, and we still don't know exactly what to make of 2007 first-round pick Brady Quinn. The new regime led by Mike Holmgren doesn't seem too impressed, as the team continues to explore its options at quarterback. Receiver Brian Robiskie and linebacker David Veikune, both second-round picks in 2009, also need to step up for Cleveland in 2010. Gems: Starting fullback Lawrence Vickers, a sixth-round pick in 2006, was another great find. He paved the way for Jamal Lewis to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2007 and 2008. Vickers also helped tailback Jerome Harrison (862 rushing yards), another late gem, put up career highs last season. Most recently, 2009 fourth-round pick Kaluka Maiava may turn out to be a decent linebacker from the middle rounds.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Busts: Similar to the Ravens, the Steelers do not make a lot of mistakes at the top of the draft. Six of Pittsburgh's past seven first-round picks are starters. That includes quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, safety Troy Polamalu, receiver Santonio Holmes and tailback Rashard Mendenhall. Pittsburgh has had some issues in the second round. In 2008, the Steelers were hoping Limas Sweed could be the big receiver they were looking for, but that hasn't panned out. In 2004, second-round cornerback Ricardo Colclough had zero starts in four years before being released. Gems: Last year's third-round pick Mike Wallace already is a significant addition to Pittsburgh's offense. His deep speed was needed, and he had 39 receptions for 756 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Pittsburgh also has been fortunate to find starting offensive linemen late in the draft. Offensive tackle Willie Colon and guard Chris Kemoeatu were taken in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively. Dennis Dixon, who was taken in the fifth round in 2008, also could develop into a solid backup quarterback.

With the news of Mike Holmgren agreeing to become the Cleveland Browns’ president Monday, it's time to begin piecing together what the team will look like in 2010.

Besides determining a coaching staff and front office, one of the first questions is if Cleveland will keep its 3-4 defense.

The Browns have been a 3-4 team since Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel took over in 2005. The trend continued as current Browns coach Eric Mangini was hired this year. That's five consecutive drafts and free-agency periods dedicated to adding 3-4 personnel.

But looking back at Holmgren-coached teams with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, those clubs ran a 4-3 scheme and had a lot of team success.

So what happens to a player like Kamerion Wimbley, for instance? Can Wimbley put his hand down in the pros and be a full-time defense end, similar to what he did at Florida State? Or is he a 4-3 linebacker in the NFL?

But other key players like Shaun Rogers would not face nearly as many double teams going from nose tackle to one of two defensive tackles. "Big Baby" and other defensive linemen, such as Corey Williams, would probably welcome the move.

This will be something to closely monitor as it will impact Cleveland's draft plans and free agency.

An educated guess is Holmgren, who has complete control of the team, will move Cleveland to a 4-3 defense in 2010. His previous teams didn't run a 3-4 defense. So how could Holmgren feel comfortable picking the right players for that scheme?

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 7:

	Joe Robbins/Getty Images
	Hines Ward leads the NFL with 599 receiving yards.

Passing fancy: Coming off his second career 400-yard game last week, expect Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to once again air it out in Sunday’s high-profile matchup against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (6-0). Roethlisberger is leading the NFL with 1,887 passing yards and has completed 72.5 percent of his passes. Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward also is leading the NFL with 599 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota is hurting in the secondary as top cornerback Antoine Winfield’s status is up in the air with a foot injury. The Vikings allowed 385 passing yards last week in a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Not liking favored status: The Cincinnati Bengals have not responded well in games they were expected to win this season. Cincinnati is 3-0 as underdogs and 1-2 in games it which it was favored, losing to the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans at home and barely beating the Cleveland Browns on the road in overtime. This weekend the Bengals enter Sunday's game as a slight favorite at home against the Chicago Bears (3-2). Cincinnati cannot continue to drop games at Paul Brown Stadium if it wants to remain in playoff contention during the second half of the season. It will be interesting to see how the first-place Bengals handle increased expectations moving forward.

Bengals mystery: What "significant offer" did Cincinnati reportedly present to the Dallas Cowboys for tight end Martellus Bennett? We may never know for certain. But an educated guess is it was a high draft pick, a receiver or a combination of the two. The Bengals are very deep at receiver, which means a player like Chris Henry could’ve been dangled in front of the Cowboys, who have some question marks at the position. With the emergence of Andre Caldwell, the talented Henry is getting fewer opportunities than expected after a great preseason. A draft pick also is a possibility. But I don’t think it would've been wise to trade a high pick (first- or second-rounder) for another team’s backup tight end.

Browns blues: The Browns continue to fight an uphill battle. In addition to playing some bad football this season, two unexpected issues popped up this week as a dozen players, including defensive stars Shaun Rogers and Kamerion Wimbley, came down with the flu and starting cornerback Eric Wright crashed his vehicle early Friday morning. The good news is Wright was not seriously injured. The rest of the Browns who are sick have slowly recovered from the flu but combined to miss a lot of practice time this week. That could hurt their performance against the Green Bay Packers.

Rice under radar: For all the talk of Baltimore’s recent woes during its three-game losing streak, not enough people are focusing on the emergence of second-year tailback Ray Rice, who is leading the NFL with 766 total yards from scrimmage. Rice is the leading rusher (441 yards) and second-leading receiver (325 yards) in Baltimore’s high-powered offense. The Ravens (3-3) are on a bye this week. But through six games Rice is quickly making a name for himself on a league-wide scale. Rice is healthy and still has fresh legs. So expect to see a lot more from him in the second half of the season.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Based on the responses in our AFC North inbox, Cleveland Browns fans are reeling after their ugly 0-2 start.

So let’s try to lighten the mood a little and provide some answers to what's going on with the team.

Mark from Herrin, IL writes: For two straight weeks the Browns have stayed with a team for one half and were totally outplayed in the second half. Is it a lack of talent or a coaching staff unable to make adjustments?

James Walker: At the rate the Browns are getting pummeled in the second half, I think it’s a combination of the two, Mark. I said months ago that the Browns lack overall talent compared to most teams. But the coaching staff also has to find creative ways to use what they have, particularly on offense. The Browns are not going to win games 10-7 this year. They don’t have that kind of talent defensively. So Cleveland’s offense will have to open it up and try to score more points to win. Or the Browns will continue to get worn down in the second half against quality teams.

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Greg from Cleveland wants to know if the Browns will make a quarterback switch from Brady Quinn to Derek Anderson.

James Walker: Browns head coach Eric Mangini said Monday that Brady Quinn is still the starting quarterback, Greg. Mangini spent months evaluating and making this decision, and it would probably look indecisive on his part to bail on that decision after two weeks.

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Bleedin’ Orange and Brown cannot believe I picked the Browns to lose, 16-13, to the Denver Broncos.

James Walker: You’re right. I should’ve picked Denver, 27-6. Silly me.

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Melissa from the University of Maryland in College Park (Stand uuuup!) wants a Kamerion Wimbley update following the 2006 trade to swap first-round picks with the Baltimore Ravens, who took Haloti Ngata.

James Walker: Three years later, the Ravens got the best of that trade, Melissa. Ngata has been a consistent impact player in Baltimore, while Wimbley has been up and down in Cleveland. New Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been moving Wimbley around this year and that may jumpstart his production this season. But Ngata is already one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL and potentially a Pro Bowl player.

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James Abner from Rock Hill, SC wants to know if Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards is worth keeping on his fantasy team.

James Walker: Edwards is a great talent. So unless someone impressive is really out there on the waivers, you almost have to keep him. Edwards showed some good signs Sunday with six catches for 92 yards. The offense just isn’t geared to use all of his strengths, so keep that in mind.

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Melvin Davis from Cleveland writes: What record do you predict for my Browns? If we finish with the worst record in the league will Mangini get fired?

James Walker: I didn’t officially predict individual records at the beginning of the season, only that the Browns would finish last in the AFC North. Mangini signed a multi-year contract and it wouldn't be fair to place him in the hot seat after his first season. This was expected to be a transition/rebuilding year, although many Browns fans don't like to hear it.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Let's get to some AFC North mail on the Cleveland Browns.

Brandon from Kansas City, Mo., writes: Even if Jamal Lewis is healthy, will he have much impact this year for the Browns? I don't see them having a good running game this year. Your thoughts?

James Walker: Lewis didn't participate much this offseason because he is still recovering from ankle surgery. So I don't have an update on how well he's running. What I do know is the coaching staff likes what Lewis brings to the table and will give him plenty of opportunities in Cleveland's new offense. Browns coach Eric Mangini wants to control the clock with a power running game. The Browns are aiming to be physical and smart, two things they've lacked in prior years. That fits Lewis well if he gets healthy.

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Rob from Piqua, Ohio, wants to know if second-year linebacker Alex Hall has potential to get double-digit sacks this year.

James Walker: Hall is a confident young player who showed some potential in limited playing time last year. I expect the Browns to increase his role, but I don't expect him to make that kind of significant leap to double-digit sacks. Cleveland hopes to get that kind of production out of teammate Kamerion Wimbley, who had 11 sacks as a rookie. The fact that Wimbley's done it before makes him a more viable candidate.

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Justin Kowalczyk from Mesa, Ariz., is an optimistic Browns fan who is curious about the progress of starting safety Abram Elam.

James Walker: Elam is a player Mangini really liked and wanted to bring over from the New York Jets, where he was primarily a backup. The Browns tried to sign him as a restricted free agent this offseason and failed. Then Cleveland was able to get Elam from New York by trading the No. 5 overall pick. He doesn't appear as athletic as Sean Jones, the player Elam is replacing. But he seems to have a good understanding of the defense, which puts him ahead of his teammates. I'm interested to see how physical Elam is once the team puts pads on, because the Browns don't have many enforcers.

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DJ Tommy Gunnz from Northern Cambria, Pa., wants an update on former Browns cornerback Gary Baxter.

James Walker: Baxter retired from football after a failed attempt to return from dual patellar tendon tears. He made a valiant effort but couldn't return to form. Last I heard, Baxter had shown some interest in pursuing sports broadcasting.

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Shane from Cleveland writes: Hey, James, what is the current situation of the quarterback competition in Cleveland?

James Walker: Shane, welcome to the AFC North blog. You must be a new reader, because we've been writing updates on the Browns' quarterback competition for months. Mangini isn't saying much, but trusting my eyes and the team's actions it is pretty clear Brady Quinn still holds a slight lead over Derek Anderson. Quinn had a decent, albeit not spectacular, minicamp. Anderson struggled most of the way through and missed the final two practices with a calf injury. But the coaching staff will not make any premature decisions. They will wait until both quarterbacks perform in preseason games, so it is still very much an open competition. Until then, continue reading the blog for updates. We're going to be all over this story next month.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

	Jerome Davis/Icon SMI
	Rob Ryan says he's implementing an 'attacking defense' in Cleveland.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Ryan family knows defense.

It goes back to Buddy Ryan, whose revolutionary 46 scheme led the 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl. It's transferred down to Buddy's twin sons, Rob and Rex Ryan, who have been very good defensive coordinators in the NFL. Now Rex Ryan is a first-year head coach for the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, Rob Ryan is spending his first season as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns. He has high hopes for a unit that finished No. 26 in the league last year and collected just 17 sacks in 16 games.

Rob Ryan says he's in Cleveland to change that.

"I know one thing," he said. "What we're going to have here in Cleveland is an attacking defense. It's going to be an exciting defense, and we're going to play great football."

Rob Ryan praised individual players Wednesday such as defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, cornerback Eric Wright and linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley, all of whom are working with Rob Ryan for the first time.

The Browns' defensive coordinator also said he's going to mix things up. He even hinted that the Browns will use some variations of the 46 defense to create havoc on game days.

Buddy Ryan also is expected to make an appearance in Cleveland this summer, according to his son.

"Right when training camp starts he's going to be here," Rob Ryan said. "He's a Cleveland Browns fan."

So why isn't Buddy Ryan also a Jets fan?

"I don't know," Rob Ryan said with a smile. "Maybe he likes them, too."