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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Bengals in 2012.

Dream scenario (11-5): The Bengals end their three-decade-long streak of inconsistency and put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1981-82. Cincinnati wins its second division title in four years and hosts a playoff game at a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium.

The offense takes another step forward in coordinator Jay Gruden's second season. A.J. Green becomes a top-five receiver in the NFL and turns in a Calvin Johnson-like season (Johnson produced 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns in his second season). Wide receiver Brandon Tate and rookie third-round pick Mohamed Sanu make surprising impacts and fill the void left by Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell. The running game goes from plodding to productive with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and two new run-blocking guards in veteran Travelle Wharton and first-round pick Kevin Zeitler.

The defense remains top 10 in the NFL and avoids a second-half swoon like last season. Rey Maualuga becomes a force in the middle now that he is healthy and adjusted to playing inside linebacker again. Cornerback Leon Hall is able to start the season after making a full recovery from last season's Achilles injury. The rest of the cornerbacks (Adam Jones, Jason Allen and Terence Newman) show they still have first-round talent. Safety Reggie Nelson lives up to his new four-year, $18 million contract.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): New players, same result. Even with an influx of young talent, the Bengals once again show they can't follow up a successful season, which crushes the momentum built from last year's surprising playoff season and productive offseason. This would follow the Bengals' pattern. Cincinnati had a four-win season after the last time it had gone to the playoffs in 2009.

Quarterback Andy Dalton suffers from a sophomore slump and regresses after defenses have had a full offseason to dissect him. Green also can't put up the same numbers from a year ago, although it's not his fault. Defenses clamp down on him because the Bengals don't have anyone to step up to become the No. 2 wide receiver. Green-Ellis, who averaged 3.7 yards per carry, doesn't upgrade the running back position over Cedric Benson.

Defensively, the Bengals start the season without Maualuga, who receives a suspension for violating the personal conduct policy. Hall doesn't heal as fast as expected and begins the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he misses the first six weeks of the season. His replacements prove to be either too old (Jones, Allen and Newman) or too young (first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick). New starting safety Taylor Mays becomes a liability in pass coverage.

There are a handful of key starters who will be trying to come back from injury during training camp or at some point during the regular season. But which player will rebound to have the best season?

Leon Hall, Bengals cornerback: Cincinnati's top cover guy hasn't been cleared for offseason training activities after tearing his left Achilles on Nov. 13. It's uncertain whether he'll be ready for the season opener, which is why the Bengals drafted a cornerback in the first round and added three veteran cornerbacks in free agency.

Casey Hampton, Steelers nose tackle: The 34-year-old lineman had knee surgery in late January, but there is some hope that the five-time Pro Bowl player will be able to play at the start of the season. Hampton took a $2 million pay cut in order to stay with the team for another season.

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers running back: He's a near certainty to begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale. The team indicated that it won't be counting on its leading rusher this season, but he is motivated to return going into the last year of his contract.

Terrell Suggs, Ravens linebacker: The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year underwent surgery on his partially torn Achilles on May 8. The most likely timetable has Suggs returning following the Week 8 bye to play the Browns on Nov. 4.

Phil Taylor, Browns defensive tackle: General manager Tom Heckert said this week that Taylor will definitely return this year after having surgery on a torn chest muscle May 16. Taylor, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, could return by the end of October.

Go ahead and register your vote, or let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Did the Cincinnati Bengals address the right spot in the secondary?

The Bengals' major focus this offseason was cornerback. Cincinnati used the 17th overall pick on Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick after signing Adam Jones, Terence Newman and Jason Allen in free agency.

There's no arguing that cornerback was an area of need for the Bengals. No one knows if Leon Hall will be ready to start the season after last year's Achilles injury, and Nate Clements will be 33 by the time the season ends. But Cincinnati went overboard at this position. The Bengals now have six cornerbacks who were originally drafted in the first round. Not everyone is going to make the final cut.

The position in the secondary that the Bengals failed to address early in the draft was safety. After cutting starter Chris Crocker in early April, the team is putting a lot of faith in Taylor Mays, a 2010 draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers who has very little on-field experience in Mike Zimmer's defense.

Last season, Mays played 57 out of a possible 648 defensive snaps while missing seven games because of injuries. The biggest knock on Mays has been his coverage skills. But judging by their moves this offseason, the Bengals were more concerned about their depth at cornerback than Mays' ability to step up as a starter.

It's only days removed from the draft, and no AFC North team has taken the field for a practice yet, but that won't stop us from looking ahead. Each day this week, we'll project the starting lineup for a team in the division. Let's start with the Cincinnati Bengals:

OFFENSE

QB Andy Dalton: The Who Dey Nation asks, Carson who?

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis: He's the prize of the Bengals' free-agent period.

FB Chris Pressley: Agreed to a two-year extension in March.

WR A.J. Green: He's been working out with Larry Fitzgerald this offseason.

WR Jordan Shipley: The No. 2 wide receiver job is wide open, but I'm giving the nod to Shipley if he's fully recovered from his knee injury.

TE Jermaine Gresham: First Bengals tight end since Dan Ross from the early 1980s to post two seasons of 50 receptions or more.

LT Andrew Whitworth: He often goes overlooked in a division with Joe Thomas in it.

LG Travelle Wharton: A free-agent signing from the Carolina Panthers, where he started 99 games in eight years.

C Kyle Cook: Enters fourth season as the Bengals' starting center.

RG Kevin Zeitler: First-round pick was possibly best run-blocking guard in the draft.

RT Andre Smith: The big question is whether he can continue the progress he made last season.

DEFENSE

LDE Robert Geathers: Recorded 29 tackles last season, his lowest since his 2004 rookie season.

NT Domata Peko: Led defensive line in tackles for second straight year.

RDT Geno Atkins: Topped all NFL interior linemen with eight sacks last season.

RDE Michael Johnson: Regains his starting job after Frostee Rucker signed with the Browns in free agency.

SLB Manny Lawson: Returned to Cincinnati for a one-year, $2.1 million deal.

MLB Rey Maualuga: He could be facing a suspension from the NFL for his latest off-the-field incident.

WLB Thomas Howard: Led team in tackles in first season with the Bengals.

LCB Nate Clements: He has to fight off first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick to keep his starting job.

SS Taylor Mays: His job looks safe after the Bengals didn't take a safety in the first four rounds of the draft.

FS Reggie Nelson: Re-signed with the Bengals this offseason for $18 million over four years.

RCB Leon Hall: If Hall (Achilles injury) isn't ready to start the season, Bengals can turn to Kirkpatrick, Terence Newman or Adam Jones.

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

Ben Roethlisberger will travel to Europe in June, but the Steelers' starting quarterback is looking at it as a working vacation.

Roethlisberger told Yahoo! Sports that playing golf in Ireland and Scotland -- a scheduled 12 courses in 10 days -- will get his mindset right for the upcoming football season.

“Golf is such a mental challenge, and as frustrating as it can be sometimes, it can definitely make you stronger,” Roethlisberger said. “Playing some great courses in a setting like Ireland and Scotland will be pretty awesome, but it is also a great way to keep your mind sharp. You really have to think your way around and get the grips with the course and the difficulties it offers you. I am a pretty cerebral guy, so it is perfect to have that kind of activity in the offseason that keeps your brain ticking.”

Hensley's slant: No one can argue that Roethlisberger is tough and strong-willed. But he will take some shots for calling himself "a pretty cerebral guy." Hey, if Joe Flacco thinks he is better than Peyton Manning, then Roethlisberger can think he's a cerebral quarterback like Manning.

BENGALS: The team released safety Chris Crocker because of durability concerns. The Bengals, however, will miss his ability to quarterback the secondary, according to cornerback Leon Hall. "The big thing that Crock gave us was being able to get people lined up because he knew the defense inside and out," Hall told the team's official website. "We're going to need the young guys to step it up mentally. We're all going to have to do that because Crock was so good at making the adjustments." Hensley's slant: The Bengals will likely be more athletic at safety without Crocker, but they won't get the same experienced voice from the current candidates to replace him. Taylor Mays, Jeromy Miles and Robert Sands have a combined six NFL starts.

BROWNS: Someone posing as Alabama running back Trent Richardson has been using Twitter recently to make it seem as if the draft prospect was interested in getting drafted by the Browns, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Several Cleveland media outlets, including the Beacon Journal, had been reporting the tweets as if they were actually coming from Richardson. The account (trentrich03), which has more than 16,000 followers, is not real, according to Josh Maxson, an associate communications director for the University of Alabama's athletic department. Hensley's slant: This is just the latest example of social media gone wrong. Perhaps someone should have been tipped off when the imposter Richardson tweeted, "Love the brownie mascot. Bring back the elf." I still think the Browns will take Richardson with the fourth overall pick, so maybe we'll hear his real feelings about the elf soon.

RAVENS: Baltimore was among four teams who sent offensive line coaches to watch center Peter Konz's workout at Wisconsin last week, according to the Carroll County (Md.) Times. Konz, who has been linked to the Ravens in the first round, bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times, five more than he did at the NFL scouting combine. He also did offensive line drills for an hour. According to the Carroll County Times, Konz has pre-draft visits scheduled with the Ravens, Bengals, Cowboys and Titans. Hensley's slant: Konz makes sense for a lot of reasons for Baltimore. He could start immediately at left guard and eventually replace Matt Birk at center. The biggest red flag is his medical history. He wasn't able to participate in the NFL scouting combine in February because of an ankle injury and he's scheduled for a medical recheck in Indianapolis this week.

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

CINCINNATI BENGALS

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

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

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

CLEVELAND BROWNS

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

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

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

BALTIMORE RAVENS

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

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

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

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

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

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

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

The Bengals decided to keep Adam "Pacman" Jones and his baggage, reaching an agreement with often-troubled cornerback, according to ESPN's John Clayton.

This comes as a surprise, even though there were reports that the Bengals and Jones had been talking.

Off the field, Jones' latest run-in with the law --he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in January -- will be reviewed by the NFL, which could impose a suspension now that he has signed with a team.

On the field, the lasting impression of Jones was getting beat on a double move by Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson for a 40-yard touchdown in last season's playoff loss.

So why are the Bengals re-signing Jones? In their mind, he is better than the other options available, like free agent Terence Newman from the Cowboys. Jones was actually solid in the regular season when he replaced injured Leon Hall for seven starts. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones allowed 16 receptions in eight games in 2011.

The Bengals have taken a proactive approach in addressing a cornerback group that has Hall coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and Nate Clements entering his 12th season. Cincinnati also signed Texans free agent Jason Allen and could draft another corner in the first round. The addition of Jones likely means the Bengals won't re-sign Kelly Jennings.

Jones, 28, has been repeatedly arrested during his NFL career. He missed the entire 2007 season with the first of two suspensions from the league.

The Tennessee Titans traded Jones to Dallas before the 2008 draft. An alcohol-related altercation with a bodyguard that the Cowboys assigned to him led to another six-game suspension.

He was out of the NFL for a year before the Bengals gave him the two-year deal in 2010.

CBSSports.com's AFC North free agency preview focuses on what the division contenders must do to catch the Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens could be facing significant turnover at linebacker this offseason, writes Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun.

Vinny Iyer of the Sporting News has a list of the best available free-agent defensive tackles, and Baltimore's Brandon McKinney is mentioned.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cornerback Leon Hall finally got a chance to meet new secondary coach Mark Carrier, writes Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cleveland Browns

Ryan Wilson of CBSsports.com explains why free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn makes a lot of sense for the Browns.

General Manager Tom Heckert says the Browns have not talked to Peyton Manning and don't plan to pursue the quarterback. He also said the Browns haven't ruled out trading up with the Rams for the No. 2 pick in the draft for a chance to select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Pursuing Peyton Manning doesn't make sense for the Browns, writes Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Heckert says the Browns are comfortable with running backs Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya and Brandon Jackson.

Pittsburgh Steelers

After recently turning 30, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he is excited about the talent around him, and hopes he is just entering his prime.

Baltimore Ravens

The agent for quarterback Joe Flacco and center Matt Birk is expected to meet with the Ravens next week to discuss a contract.

Former coach Brian Billick says there wasn't a bounty system in place when he was running the team.

Cincinnati Bengals

Safety Reggie Nelson is the lone Bengals representative on Pete Prisco's list of the top NFL free agents.

Leon Hall remains on track to be ready for training camp.

Cleveland Browns

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has admitted to paying teammates for big plays, but not for injuring an opponent. Fujita: "Over the years I've paid out a lot of money for big plays like interceptions, sacks and special teams tackles inside the 20. But I've never made a payment for intentionally injuring another player."

Browns center Alex Mack is visiting troops this week in the Middle East.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette draws comparisons between Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace and Bills wideout Stevie Johnson. His conclusion: There is no comparison.

The cornerback workouts at the NFL combine put the Cincinnati Bengals in tough spot.

North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins had the best workout among the corners, which puts him in the conversation as the second-best corner in the draft. Jenkins posted the sixth-best 40 time (4.46) among defensive backs, and he seemed the most confident, agile, quick-moving corner during drills, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.

The Bengals, who are expected to take a cornerback with one of their two first-round picks (Nos. 17 and 21), need a player with Jenkins' skills and upside. Leon Hall is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and Nate Clements is 32. The only problem: Jenkins is one of the biggest character risks in the first round.

Can the Bengals gamble on a player when it has backfired on them so frequently over the years? You want to say no, until you see his Pro Bowl potential.

Jenkins said he failed one drug test at Florida and was arrested three times -- once for a bar fight and twice for marijuana possession. He was kicked off the team at Florida and finished his college career at North Alabama. He’s also 23 and has fathered four children by three different mothers.

To his credit, Jenkins didn't dodge questions like Ryan Mallett did last year. His direct approach should preserve his first-round status.

He said he didn't make excuses when teams asked him about those incidents at his NFL combine interviews.

"I was honest, straightforward," Jenkins. "Told them I did it. I admitted to everything. I take full responsibility. I learned from it. It made me a stronger person. How to separate myself from certain guys, certain people. In order to be successful at the next level, I can’t do the things that I used to do.’’

Asked if he had given up marijuana, Jenkins said, "I'm done. I can’t do it. I thought about my mom and my kids. In order for them to have a nice life, I have to put that aside."

Jenkins might have been the top-rated corner in the draft if not for the red flags. Character concerns caused cornerback Jimmy Smith to slide to the Ravens at No. 27 in last year's draft.

"I’m pretty sure it will hurt me," Jenkins said. "But I’m moving past that."

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

The agent for guard Ben Grubbs said he had a "positive" meeting with Ravens officials at the NFL combine, but the sides aren't close to reaching a deal. Free agency will begin in two weeks.

“He’s in the prime of his career and may or may not have another opportunity to sign another significant contract. He needs to be sure that he explores all his options," agent Pat Dye told the Baltimore Sun. "He loves it there [in Baltimore] and would welcome being back there, but anything that the Ravens present him, we would have to evaluate it in the context of what the market might bear to him."

Dye added, "Is that to say something might not happen before free agency starts? No, that’s not to say that at all. I would expect that we would be talking in the near future, but I don’t think a [deal] is imminent at this point.”

The Ravens have made it clear that they want to keep Grubbs. Head coach John Harbaugh recently said the team is "offering a lot of money" to the 2007 first-round pick.

“They expressed a very strong interest in having him back,” Dye said. “They gave us some definitive parameters that would reflect that they have a very strong interest.”

Hensley's slant: The Ravens should tell Grubbs that their offer gets pulled if he tests the free-agent market. That way, he would have to decide whether to take the Ravens' deal or risk getting less in free agency. Grubbs should get more money in free agency considering there are a lot of teams looking for guards this offseason: the Bears, Cowboys, Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs, Panthers, Colts and Titans.

BENGALS: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis isn't confident that the team can find a top cornerback beyond the first round. “There’s research that says the best starting corners are first-round picks,” Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Year after year if you had 70 corners the best ones and almost all of them are going to be first-round guys.” The two cornerbacks linked to the Bengals in the first round are North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick. Hensley's slant: This isn't a surprise because the Bengals have always put a high priority on cornerbacks. They drafted Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph in the first round, so the Bengals likely will target another one this year because Hall is recovering from an Achilles injury and Nate Clements is entering his 12th season. There is a solid chance that Cincinnati will draft the second-best corner in the draft with one of its two first-round picks.

BROWNS: Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson earned his new contract through durability and determination. "Bottom line, he had a very, very good year on a very, very bad team. Not easy to do," Pluto wrote. "That's why it was good news to see him sign a new 5-year, $42.5 million deal ($19 million guaranteed) with the Browns. At first, that seemed a lot of money for a linebacker who will be 29 in September, a linebacker who played only six games in the previous two seasons. But Jackson proved himself in 2011, staying healthy and seemingly never even being tired." Hensley's slant: A day after Jackson signed his deal, linebacker Ahmad Brooks agreed to a six-year, $44.5 million contract with the 49ers that includes $17.5 million guaranteed. Does that make you feel better or worse about Jackson's deal?

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette doesn't think wide receiver Mike Wallace is going anywhere as a restricted free agent. "Why would another team pay all that money in order to convince him to sign and give their first-round pick to the Steelers?," Bouchette wrote. "Baltimore has practically announced it won't sign him and Cincinnati needs something else. That leaves New England and San Francisco? With the new rookie wage scale, those first-rounders became more valuable, too." Hensley's slant: The Ravens are out, and the Bengals would surprise me at this point, too. But I wouldn't rule out teams desperate for a deep threat like the Patriots and 49ers. New England coach Bill Belichick is always thinking outside the box.

A quick look at what's happening around the AFC North as the NFL combine continues in Indianapolis. I will provide my take on many of these issues and topics in the days to come, but I wanted to pass along the information.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Coach Marvin Lewis did seem troubled over the latest off-the-field incident involving middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge at a Cincinnati bar. Maualuga is the fourth Bengals player since July to have a legal issue, joining wide receiver Jerome Simpson, cornerback Adam Jones and running back Cedric Benson. “There’s a concern," Lewis told reporters at the NFL combine, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "What [Maualuga] does away from football is important. He has to make good choices and decisions.”
• Benson is not expected to be re-signed by the Bengals, and Lewis' comments about the running back didn't change that perception. As the team website points out, it sounded like Lewis was giving Benson a lifetime achievement award instead of a new contract. “I think we want to improve our running game and if it includes Ced, it includes Ced," Lewis said. "We need to have more explosive running plays. Ced has had a fine career. He’s a physical player and been a big part of our success.”
• Lewis provided encouraging news on two players who are coming off season-ending injuries. Cornerback Leon Hall (Achilles) is ahead of schedule, and wide receiver Jordan Shipley (knee) continues to make “significant progress," Lewis said.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

• Coach Pat Shurmur reiterated the Browns want to re-sign starting middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Shurmur said the team hasn't made a decision whether it will place a franchise tag on Jackson, although the Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported last week that the Browns plan to do so. "We're going to be willing to use [the franchise tag]," Shurmur said. "As you go through signing our free agents, then we'll see what's the best place to use that tag."
• In injury updates, Shurmur said left guard Eric Steinbach is progressing from a season-ending back injury but he didn't commit to the left guard as a starter, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Jason Pinkston, who replaced Steinbach at left guard, will not move to tackle and will continue to develop at the guard position, according to Shurmur.
• Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar attended the combine, but not in an official capacity, a team spokesman told the Akron Beacon Journal.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Coach John Harbaugh once again expressed confidence about holding onto Ben Grubbs, saying he's "pretty optimistic" about re-signing the Pro Bowl left guard. “I hope that’s not misplaced," Harbaugh said, via the Baltimore Sun. "We’re in the process of negotiating. We’re committed, [owner Steve Bisciotti’s] committed to offering him a really great number. Hey, the market dictates [it], and Ben has to make those kinds of decisions, and you’re really happy for guys. He’s had a great career. He’s had a great number of years here. He’s earned the right to take a look for his family. One thing we’re not doing, we’re not giving him a low number. We’re doing everything we can to try to keep him in Baltimore.”
• In injury news, wide receiver Torrey Smith had surgery to repair a double sports hernia, and cornerback Cary Williams had hip surgery. Both are expected to be ready for training camp.
• Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the team isn't looking to add a free-agent running back to replace the retired Ricky Williams. He indicated that Anthony Allen, a seventh-round pick from a year ago, will be given the first shot at the backup running back job. The team would add a free agent during training camp if Allen struggles to secure that spot, Newsome said.
• Newsome is happy the team was able to keep director of player personnel Eric DeCosta, who turned down the chance to interview for the general manager positions with the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts. "I think it was very important because of the continuity that allows the organization to maintain people and have the process remain the same," Newsome said, via ESPN Chicago. "It was kind of like Scott Pioli remaining in New England for all those years with Bill [Belichick]. All it does is make you stronger. I'm very thankful that Eric decided to stay."

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Major changes are unlikely to occur to the Steelers' offense under new coordinator Todd Haley, according to general manager Kevin Colbert. The biggest reason is it's tough to do so when the team has been successful and is bringing most of the same personnel back. "So, it's hard to come in and drastically change your philosophy because of the group of players that you have," Colbert said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You can't overhaul a whole roster. Nor are we looking to because this group of players has been very successful."
• The hope is that the high-ankle sprains that have hampered Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey the past two years are in the past. "The reports we got and the last time we saw him, he was progressing just fine," Colbert said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "High-ankle sprains, they're a different injury and then when you re-injure it sometimes you've got to do some procedures to shore that joint up."
• A Cleveland-based reporter asked Colbert if the team had reached a "breaking point" with linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended last season after he knocked out Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. "No. Absolutely not," Colbert said. "James Harrison is a great player. He tries to play within the rules. Sometimes, the penalty is unavoidable, and he ends up getting a suspension out of it. He served his time. We've all moved on. We know James Harrison plays the game very hard. He plays it within the rules the best he can. Sometimes, circumstances happen in the course of a game, and you have to live with the consequences. But in no way are we ever going to be disappointed with that player."

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

As the NFL combine kicks into gear today, here are the hot draft topics involving the AFC North teams:

Will Robert Griffin III fit into the Browns' system? The Browns say they're still evaluating the Heisman Trophy winner, and they'll ultimately have to determine whether he's worth trading up from the No. 4 overall pick. RG3 plans to run the 40-yard dash (he's targeting sub-4.4 seconds) but he probably won't throw until his pro day on March 21. The biggest question that the Browns have to answer is whether RG3 can convert from the spread offense that he ran at Baylor. That will come during the interview process when Cleveland officials will go through their offense and pick his brain. ESPN's Todd McShay said he would "be surprised if he doesn't floor teams with his intelligence and understanding of the game."

Sticking to standard line: The Steelers have used their first-round pick on strengthening the offensive or defensive line for the past three years. The trend has a strong chance of continuing this year, and it's not out of habit. The Steelers need to find a potential replacement for nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is coming off ACL surgery and has a high cap number. The best fit is Memphis' Dontari Poe, a 350-pound powerhouse. There's a chance he could challenge the combine record of 49 reps in the bench press. The Steelers might have to consider moving up from No. 24 if Poe has a strong showing.

Tracking the running backs: The Browns and Bengals each have two first-round picks, and they both could use one on a running back. The Bengals aren't expected to re-sign Cedric Benson, and the Browns could do the same with Peyton Hillis. There won't be any on-field evaluation of Alabama's Trent Richardson, the No. 1 running back in the draft who won't participate in drills after having minor knee surgery. This shouldn't hurt his draft status because Richardson's size, speed and power make him a legitimate top-10 pick. Miami's Lamar Miller, who has been linked to the Bengals' second first-round pick, is looking to solidify his standing as the second-best back in the draft by showcasing his speed. He could record the fastest time of any player in the 40-yard dash.

Center of attention: Not many centers get selected in the first round, and the Ravens have never taken one that high. That could change this year because starter Matt Birk isn't expected to return (even if he decides not to retire) and backup Andre Gurode is an unrestricted free agent. Wisconsin's Peter Konz is trying to remain the top center in this draft. His biggest hurdle is the medical check. Konz was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in 2009 and then missed three games in 2011 with a dislocated left ankle (he did return to start the Rose Bowl). Baltimore has taken players off their board in the past (like tight end Rob Gronkowski last year) because of medical concerns.

Sorting through the secondary: The Bengals are in need of a young cornerback and could take one in the first round. Leon Hall's status is unknown after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. Nate Clements is entering his 12th season. Plus, top backups Adam Jones and Kelly Jennings are unrestricted free agents. Cincinnati has no shot at the top cornerback in the draft, LSU's Morris Claiborne, who should go in the top five. The Bengals have to figure out who is the second-best corner: Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick or North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins.

Disappointing double move: One potential target for the Browns' fourth overall pick is Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon. Cleveland is in desperate need of a playmaker for an offense that ranked 30th in scoring. Blackmon is considered the top wide receiver in the draft because of his hands and body control. But, if the Browns are going to invest this high of a pick, they have to gauge whether he has the speed to get open. It looks like the Browns will have to wait until Blackmon's March 9 pro day before they can time him. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports "it doesn't look like" Blackmon will run with the rest of the receivers on Sunday.

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

Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is on schedule to be ready for the start of training camp after a torn Achilles ended his season in November.

Hall won't participate in offseason minicamps, but he's already been doing some light running and jumping off boxes less than three months after his surgery.

"With the Achilles, and really with any injury, you don't want to come back too early," Hall told the team's website. "As important as I think the [offseason training activities] and minicamp are, it's just as important that you don't want to go into an OTA or minicamp practice and take a step back and miss the start of training camp. Early September, we'll answer some questions."

Hensley's slant: Getting Hall back at full strength is essential to the Bengals' defense. He is Cincinnati's best player on defense and is a difference maker. In the first nine games with Hall, the Bengals gave up eight touchdown passes. In the last seven regular-season games without him, they allowed 12 touchdown passes.

BROWNS: Tight end Ben Watson told the Boston Herald that he doesn't feel any residual effects from the three concussions that he suffered last season. He was placed on injured reserve in December but plans on playing his ninth NFL season. "I’m great," Watson said. "Three or four days after the last incident, I felt normal. I passed all my cognitive tests. I didn’t have any headaches." Hensley's slant: Watson's production dropped significantly in his second season with the Browns. His receptions went from 68 to 37 and his receiving yards plummeted from 763 in 2010 to 410 last season. The Browns might diminish Watson's role in favor of getting Evan Moore more involved.

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston believes John Harbaugh gets overlooked as one of the NFL's top coaches. "He already has beaten the best, including [Pittsburgh's Mike] Tomlin twice last season," Preston wrote. "But Harbaugh gets left out because of the stigma attached to being a longtime special-teams coach, and he also happens to be the coach of one of the NFL's most dominating personalities, inside linebacker Ray Lewis." Hensley's slant: It's hard to question Harbaugh's record since he became the Ravens head coach. He became the fourth NFL coach since the 1970 merger to guide his team to the playoffs in his first four years and his 48 victories (including playoffs) ranks as the third-most in the league over the past four seasons. But the true test to Harbaugh's coaching will come when the Ravens make the transition from future Hall of Famers (and team leaders) Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

STEELERS: Cornerback Ike Taylor became the third player to restructure his contract to help the salary-cap strapped Steelers, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The details of the new contract are unknown. Also, Steelers executive Omar Khan took himself out of the St. Louis Rams' general manager search, the Post-Gazette reported. Khan, 35, has been an executive with the Steelers and their chief contract negotiator the past 11 years. Hensley's slant: Both moves will really help the Steelers get out of their cap predicament, especially the return of Khan. My guess is it didn't take much convincing to get Taylor to restructure his contract. He was probably in a helping mood after how the playoffs ended for Pittsburgh.