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Baltimore Ravens

Sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter has been working out with linebacker Ray Lewis ever since he was drafted, writes Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun.

Vensel also reports that rookies Kelechi Osemele and Gino Gradkowski spent most of minicamp playing guard and will compete with Jah Reid.

Courtney Upshaw made good use of the three-day rookie minicamp, the Sun's Jeff Zrebiec writes.

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer wraps up the Bengals' minicamp.

Cleveland Browns

The Akron Beacon's Nate Ulrich reports that Trent Richardson's goal is to become one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer says rookie Brandon Weeden is ready to compete against Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Steelers wide receiver Limas Sweed struggled in a tryout with the Giants.

The recent success of the Steelers helped the AFC North finish second in the Sporting News' analysis of the strongest divisions over the past five seasons.

Some thought it would be a good move if the Cincinnati Bengals went after Pittsburgh restricted free agent Mike Wallace. Instead, the Bengals have decided to take a look at a wide receiver no longer on the Steelers roster -- Limas Sweed.

In a tweet that I had to read over five times to believe, the Bengals worked out Sweed on Friday, a league source told the Cincinnati Enquirer. For those Steelers fans who have burst in uncontrollable laughter, take a few moments to regroup before reading the rest of the blog. And, to be clear, the Bengals brought in Sweed for a workout. They didn't sign him to a contract.

This follows the Bengals' MO. They have become an organization that is willing to give high draft picks another shot at success. It's hard to argue with Cincinnati's method after it worked with safety Reggie Nelson, who was a first-round bust with the Jaguars.

Still, the Bengals' rehabilitation project will be taking it to the extreme if Cincinnati decided to sign Sweed, a second-round pick in 2008 who became one of the few embarrassments of the Kevin Colbert era. I don't have the actual numbers, but I'm pretty sure Sweed had more easy drops during his three seasons than catches (seven). That's a big reason why Sweed was out of football in 2011.

Few can forget Sweed dropping a touchdown pass in the AFC championship game against the Ravens three years ago. The Bengals saw Sweed's hands of stone early in the 2009 season, when he dropped what would have been a 34-yard touchdown pass in Pittsburgh's 23-20 loss at Cincinnati. If the Bengals were looking to give a wide receiver some redemption, they should have went after Lee Evans, who at least has a better track record than Sweed.

In the big picture, this would be a low-risk move for the Bengals. Sweed has good size (6-foot-4) and speed. But a major part of this game is mental, and Sweed has to prove he has the confidence to compete in this league.

Here are the latest happenings Wednesday in the AFC North:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers waived former second-round pick Limas Sweed.
• Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti reaffirms his confidence in offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
• Ravens receiver Lee Evans officially changed to No. 83 on Wednesday.
• Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis tweaked his hamstring in practice.
  
• Here's a new one: Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis shoots down Brett Favre rumors.
• Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was fined $20,000 for slamming Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton last week.

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders will miss the remainder of training camp after another procedure was done on his foot to help him heal, the Post-Gazette reports. Sanders was seen on crutches during Tuesday's practice and is expected to miss the next three weeks.

Sanders was expected to get work with the first team this summer, as veteran receiver Hines Ward recovers from thumb surgery. Sanders had two surgeries to his feet in the offseason but practiced on the first day and hasn't practiced since.

Second-year receiver Antonio Brown will be the team's No. 2 receiver in the meantime. Brown played well late in the season, which included a huge catch in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens. Injuries to Sanders and Ward will also give Limas Sweed a chance to impress after three rocky seasons.

LATROBE, Pa. -- Distractions and controversy? What distractions and controversy?

The opening of training camp was business as usual for the reigning AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite offseason incidents that ranged from Hines Ward's arrest to Rashard Mendenhall's misuse of Twitter to James Harrison ripping commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates, players quickly deflected any issues and seemed genuinely happy to get back to work.

The Steelers believe their off-the-field problems are a thing of the past, and the team is ready to move forward and attempt to make another title run in 2011.

"Any time we come to training camp, our goal is the Super Bowl," Ward said. "Anything less than the Super Bowl is a down year for us. Having experienced and tasted a loss in the Super Bowl is not a good feeling. So, hopefully we can get back there and come out on the winning side."

The Steelers have a lot of work to do before the start of the regular season. Here are some early questions:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How will the Steelers get under the cap?

According to the new collective bargaining agreement, the Steelers have until Thursday to get under the $120 million salary cap. Despite a flurry of roster moves last week, Pittsburgh remains about $7 million to $10 million over, which is where the team started this summer.

The Steelers made several key salary cuts, including veteran receiver Antwaan Randle El and offensive tackles Max Starks and Flozell Adams. But the re-signings of in-house free agents such as cornerback Ike Taylor have basically nullified those moves.

Expect more tough decisions to be made this week.

"We have to find ways to get under [the cap] and in compliance," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said. "We're going to look at every and all possibilities."

There is some good news for the Steelers.

The new CBA allows teams to use three $1 million exceptions in 2011, and Colbert says he will use them all. Teams have this onetime flexibility to add an extra $3 million to the cap, which essentially brings the Steelers' number up to $123 million. This could allow Pittsburgh to retain some veterans it otherwise would lose.

2. Has Pittsburgh fixed its pass defense?

The last memory Steelers fans have of their defense is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers carving up the secondary for 304 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl XLV. Since then, Pittsburgh hasn't made any significant additions to the secondary, leaving many to wonder whether this problem is fixed.

Because Pittsburgh is fielding the same players in the secondary, it's difficult to imagine the pass defense being better than it was last season. The Steelers re-signed veteran corners Taylor and William Gay and drafted rookies Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen.

"You can't worry about what people think outside the locker room, because we've been so successful on the field," Taylor said of the criticism. "So it really doesn’t matter. Everybody has their own opinion. It comes with the territory."

Expect many teams to spread the Steelers out this season by using three- and four-receiver sets. That will force backups such as Gay or some of the young corners to play important roles on the defense.

3. How thin is Pittsburgh's offensive line?

Pittsburgh's offensive line could be the thinnest group in the league.

Outside of second-year center Maurkice Pouncey, who is a stud, the rest of the line is littered with questions. Jonathan Scott plays the important role of left tackle and was inconsistent last year. Guards Ramon Foster and Chris Kemoeatu are decent run-blockers but struggle in pass protection. And right tackle Willie Colon is coming off an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the entire 2010 season.

Cutting Starks and Adams severely hurt the talent and depth of this group. Those were two of the most experienced linemen Pittsburgh had. Cap issues make it unlikely the team will sign another starting offensive lineman in free agency.

"You can't go into it and expect to have veteran depth at every position," Colbert admitted. "It just doesn't work out financially. You have to trust some of your young guys."

BIGGEST SURPRISE

It's only the first weekend of camp, but backup cornerback Keenan Lewis has been a pleasant surprise. Lewis is gaining valuable experience working with the first-team defense. Taylor signed a four-year contract in free agency and isn't allowed to practice with the team until later this week.

Despite a rocky two years in Pittsburgh, Lewis is a good athlete. He has good size and quickness and is making fewer mental mistakes, which is key. The competition for the important nickel role in the secondary will be intense this summer, and Lewis could have the inside track.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

With the lengthy NFL lockout, someone was bound to show up out of shape. Backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was that person for the Steelers.

I expected to see more from Dwyer, a sixth-round pick in 2009. But he struggled mightily during the conditioning evaluations and hasn't done much in the practices. The Steelers' running back corps is deep, and Dwyer is definitely on the roster bubble.

OBSERVATION DECK

• I like the swagger this year of Pittsburgh's "Young Money" crew of receivers. Last year, Mike Wallace was going into his first year as a starter, and Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown were rookies just trying to fit in. But you can see that last year's success, particularly in the second half of the season and the playoffs, has helped this group and improved confidence. Instead of getting yelled at by Ward, Wallace is on top of everything so far in practice and is even helping Ward tutor other receivers. Sanders and Brown look much more comfortable in their roles and are displaying the same quickness and competitiveness they showed last year.
• Pouncey already looks scary-good in his second season. In my seven years covering the NFL, I've never seen a center who moves as well and fluidly as Pouncey. Last week, longtime NFL writer Damon Hack of Sports Illustrated and I were sitting next to each other watching Pittsburgh's conditioning evaluation. We were amazed with how easily Pouncey, who is listed at 304 pounds, was running 100-yard sprints, while the rest of the linemen were lagging far behind. Pound for pound, Pouncey is easily one of the top athletes on the Steelers.
• Linebacker Lawrence Timmons appears to have added considerable muscle in his upper body. Timmons, who is in a contract year, said he trained mostly in Florida this summer. Timmons also is one of the best pure athletes on the team. The key will be for him to maintain his quickness and acceleration while also adding strength.
• The fact that the Steelers tried hard to recruit big receiver Plaxico Burress says a lot about the status of Limas Sweed. The former second-round pick enters this training camp on thin ice and is down to his last shot. Sweed is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and had issues with drops before that. Pittsburgh is taking the approach that anything it gets from Sweed is considered a bonus. He is currently the No. 5 receiver.
• Keep an eye on rookie seventh-round pick Baron Batch. The running back has showed good explosiveness through the hole and the ability to pass-protect, which is very valuable. He has been a pleasant surprise in camp so far.
• Overall, Pittsburgh's situation at running back is getting crowded. Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Batch were all impressive during the first weekend of training camp. The Steelers also re-signed veteran backup Mewelde Moore. There were rumors about Tiki Barber being interested in the Steelers, but I don't see it. Pittsburgh has considerable depth at that position.
• Finally, another sleeper who is actually having a good camp is backup tight end and de facto fullback David Johnson. What the third-year veteran lacks in athleticism he makes up in effort. Although not his specialty, he's made several nice receptions in practice and remains one of the best run-blockers on the team. The Steelers are still in the market for a No. 2 tight end after the departure of Matt Spaeth to the Chicago Bears.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton recently wrote an insightful piece updating the projected salary-cap figures for NFL teams. One note that stood out in the AFC North is that the reigning division champion Pittsburgh Steelers are projected to be more than $10.51 million over the cap.

That means Pittsburgh has plenty of work to do this summer. But fear not, Steeler Nation. The AFC North blog has provided Pittsburgh an easy-to-follow guide for cap relief.

Step No. 1: Release OT Flozell Adams

Analysis: Adams quickly acclimated himself in the Steelers’ locker room and filled in admirably last season. But he makes $5 million in 2011. Releasing Adams alone would get the Steelers halfway to being under the cap. Maybe the Steelers can re-sign him at a lesser number later, but Adams is not irreplaceable. The Steelers drafted offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert in the second round and also could look for a vet in free agency. But if the Steelers can convince Adams to return for, say, $2 million next season, that makes sense for both sides.

Step No. 2: Release WR Antwaan Randle El

Analysis: Randle El signed a three-year, $7 million contract last season but had a subpar 2010 campaign. He was eventually beat out by rookie receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, who are both younger and more athletic. Now Randle El is fifth on the depth chart. He's a good locker-room presence and plays hard, but cutting Randle El makes business sense.

Step No. 3: Restructure DE Aaron Smith's contract

Skinny: Smith is a great leader and presence in Pittsburgh's locker room. He's also a good player when healthy, but season-ending injuries are taking a toll on the 35-year-old defensive end. Smith is on the books for $4.5 million in the final year of his contract. But you don't just cut a leader and career Steeler like Smith. So asking him to restructure and perhaps save $2 million makes sense. Smith has been an excellent mentor to Ziggy Hood and could be to rookie Cameron Heyward in what could be Smith's final season.

Step No. 4: Release WR Limas Sweed

Skinny: The Steelers have held onto the former second-round pick for three seasons, but both sides should probably go their separate ways. Sweed displayed several flashes but dropped balls in big spots and could never recover. Sweed is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and enters the final year of a four-year, $3.3 million deal. Similar to Randle El, Sweed would probably be the fifth receiver on Pittsburgh’s depth chart if he stayed. Sweed needs a fresh start and the Steelers need the cap room.

Step No. 5: Sign LaMarr Woodley to a long-term deal

Skinny: Woodley received the franchise tag for a one-year deal worth $10.2 million in February. Woodley, who made just $550,00 last season, is very happy with that amount. But players would prefer long-term security. Woodley, 26, is eating up a huge chunk of this year's cap, and that number could be lowered if the Steelers reach a long-term agreement before the start of the season. That way, both sides would benefit.

If the Steelers follow these five steps, they will be back under the salary cap and ready to make a push for a corner in free agency. None of these decisions are easy, but that's the harsh reality of the NFL.

Remember Limas Sweed?

He was a former second-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers who joined the team in 2008 with high expectations. But for the past three seasons, Sweed has experienced disappointments and injuries, and now he's the forgotten man among Pittsburgh's wide receivers.

Sweed has gone from a high-profile draft pick to a player who enters training camp this summer on the roster bubble. At best, Sweed is currently sixth on the depth chart behind receivers Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown and Antwaan Randle El. Pittsburgh also could add more competition once free agency begins.

The numbers game could be too much for Sweed. He has the talent, size and speed to make plays. But early issues catching the ball and not making the most of opportunities have put Sweed on a very hot seat. He's also in the final year of his rookie contract, which makes it easier for Pittsburgh to cut ties.

Can Sweed help the Steelers in 2011? A lot would have to go right.

For starters, Sweed needs to light up the preseason to begin earning the trust of his coaches and teammates. Sweed also needs to prove he is recovered from last year's Achilles injury and may need an injury or two at receiver to provide another quality opportunity. But it is clear Sweed is down to his final chance in Pittsburgh.

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

• Former quarterback Phil Simms believes Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will win a Super Bowl.

Morning take: Flacco is getting a ton of heat this offseason for his postseason performances. He needs to quickly change that before he develops a label for not being clutch.

• What will the Pittsburgh Steelers do with receiver Limas Sweed?

Morning take: The Steelers are set at the position but should bring Sweed to training camp to see if he can finally turn the corner. At the very least, Sweed has a chance to provide depth.

• Here is how the "Madden NFL 12" cover will look with Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis.

Morning take: Cleveland is getting a lot of love on the "Madden" cover. Browns Stadium is on the left side and downtown is on the right side. That's good publicity nationally for the city.

• Here are 10 facts you don't know about C incinnati Bengals first-round pick A.J. Green.

Morning take: Green could dunk a basketball when he was in eighth grade. That athleticism helped him become a dynamic receiving threat.

We continue our series this week on grading the 2008 draft classes in the AFC North by taking a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Picks: RB Rashard Mendenhall (first round), WR Limas Sweed (second), LB Bruce Davis (third), OT Tony Hills (fourth), QB Dennis Dixon (fifth), LB Mike Humpal (sixth), S Ryan Mundy (sixth)

Analysis: At the time, many felt this was one of the best draft classes in recent memory for the Steelers. That turned out not to be the case, but Pittsburgh still got some production from this draft. The Steelers were surprised Mendenhall fell to them at No. 23 overall and took him as a luxury pick. Pittsburgh had Willie Parker entrenched as the starter but injuries were starting to slow him down. Mendenhall eventually took over in the 2009 season and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Sweed showed early flashes but could never seem to get over drops he suffered early in his career. Now he's at the back of Pittsburgh's depth chart. Dixon and Mundy are both decent backups at quarterback and safety, respectively. Davis and Hills never developed as the Steelers had hoped.

AFC North blog draft grade: C

We will conclude our series on Friday by grading the 2008 draft of the Baltimore Ravens.

Let's see what's in our mailbag from the Dawgpound and Steeler Nation.

Brad from Corpus Christi, Texas, wants to know if the Cleveland Browns would be willing to trade down with teams interested in Auburn quarterback Cam Newton or Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

James Walker: It's definitely a possibility, Brad. There is something curious about president Mike Holmgren's sudden interest in Newton, and I believe it's to get a feel for a quarterback teams may want to trade up for. Newton and Gabbert could be considered value picks if either drops out of the top five.

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Matt from Ohio writes: Do you think if the Browns have a great draft, they might be able to contend for a playoff spot this upcoming season?

Walker: I still think the talent gap is pretty wide, Matt. I've said this before, but the Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are at least two years away from contending for the playoffs. Cleveland will be a team in transition this upcoming season. The players have to learn a new offense and a new defense under a rookie head coach. Unless the Browns catch lightning in a bottle and get really hot, I don't see them overcoming both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. But Cleveland needs to focus on having another solid draft to make the team more competitive. Perhaps the Browns can give the big boys a run for their money in 2012.

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Bob K. from Portsmouth, Ohio, writes: Do you feel Browns quarterback Colt McCoy will suffer the same fate as Derek Anderson, or do you think McCoy will have a better second season under the microscope?

Walker: Bob, there are a lot of differences between McCoy and Anderson. For starters, they are very different quarterbacks physically and mentally. They really couldn't be any different in those departments. Second, Anderson had a great Pro Bowl year in 2007. McCoy played decent for eight games. That does not make a great season. The jury is still very much out on McCoy. But the situations are not similar.

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Amr Hosni from Hazleton, Pa., writes: I was wondering about Jason Worilds and Limas Sweed. What do you think their future with the Steelers looks like?

Walker: Worilds is fine, Amr. He's only entering his second season and has to wait his turn like most Steelers defenders. Worilds did a decent job on special teams and recorded a pair of sacks in limited playing time last season. Sweed's situation is more uncertain. He's entering his fourth season and young receivers like Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have earned roles in the offense. It will be a tough numbers game for Sweed this year.

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Andrew from Buffalo Grove, Ill., writes: Do you think the Steelers will go after ANY free agents, especially a cornerback?

Walker: The Steelers usually make a non-descript signing or two in free agency. But don't expect any big names like Nnamdi Asomugha. Pittsburgh has to worry about its own free-agent cornerback in Ike Taylor. To retain Taylor or let him go will be one of the biggest decisions the Steelers make this offseason.

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

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: draft rewind -- examining the past five drafts.

Baltimore Ravens

Best choice: The Ravens were fortunate the Cleveland Browns were willing to do business with a division rival in 2006 when Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata became available. Cleveland considered Ngata but liked linebacker Kamerion Wimbley more and traded picks with Baltimore, allowing the Ravens to select Ngata with the 12th pick in the first round. Five years later, Ngata is arguably the best defensive lineman in the NFL and one reason future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, 35, continues to play at a high level.

Worst choice: The Ravens haven't had a lot of big misses, but 2009 second-round pick Paul Kruger is a candidate with two uneventful years in Baltimore. Too often Kruger failed to make the active roster because he doesn't contribute much on special teams. Last year Kruger gained weight to focus solely on playing defensive end but was a backup in 11 games and recorded one tackle and a sack. In two years he has only 12 tackles, a sack and an interception. This is a big third season for Kruger to find a role in Baltimore's defense.

On the bubble: There was a lot of optimism in Baltimore when former Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle fell to the second round last year. The Ravens drafted Kindle in hopes that he could be the pass-rushing threat they were looking for opposite Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs. But an unfortunate accident last summer resulted in a fractured skull and kept Kindle out of football last season. Baltimore is optimistic about his recovery but has to wait to see when Kindle will be cleared to play football again.

Cincinnati Bengals

Best choice: The Bengals took cornerbacks in the first round back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007, starting with Johnathan Joseph. He has developed into one of the better cover corners in the NFL and has nine interceptions the past two seasons. Joseph is now a free agent and appears ready to join a long list of solid Bengals draft picks who bolted in free agency. The market for corners is starting at $10 million per season and Cincinnati doesn't seem interested in going that high for Joseph.

Worst choice: Despite several red flags, the Bengals were enamored with Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith in the 2009 draft and took him No. 6 overall. There were questions about Smith's weight and worth ethic entering the draft, and many of those concerns still exist two years later. Smith also suffered two foot injuries that required surgery and has only five career starts. The Bengals have the option of extending Smith's contract from four to six years this offseason, but that seems unlikely after two disastrous seasons.

On the bubble: Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga had a good rookie year in 2009 but followed it up with an average campaign last season. Now, 2011 is considered a swing season for Maualuga, a second-round pick, to prove himself. Cincinnati's coaching staff is challenging Maualuga to become the physical, dominant force he was at USC. He showed flashes of it as a rookie. The Bengals could move Maualuga to his natural position of middle linebacker this season, which could help put Maualuga in his comfort zone.

Cleveland Browns

Best choice: The Browns went with the safest pick in 2007 by selecting left tackle Joe Thomas No. 3 overall, which was a slam dunk. Thomas is one of the NFL's best left tackles and has been to the Pro Bowl in all four seasons. Cleveland's biggest issue is finding a quality quarterback for Thomas to protect. Thomas also is entering a contract year in 2011, and it would be wise for Cleveland to provide an extension before he hits the open market in 2012.

Worst choice: The Browns have had a lot of misses the past five years, but former second-round pick David Veikune gets my vote. Veikune was a surprise pick by former coach Eric Mangini in 2009 and was a bust from the start. He quickly fell out of favor with Cleveland's coaching staff and didn't contribute on special teams. When president Mike Holmgren took over the following year, he cut Veikune. I'm sure a lot of Browns fans will make the case for former quarterback Brady Quinn, a first-rounder in 2007. But Quinn at least played a few decent games, and the Browns were able to trade him for tailback Peyton Hillis. So the Quinn experiment wasn't a total loss.

On the bubble: Mohamed Massaquoi, a second-round pick in 2009, has been an enigma in two seasons in Cleveland. Is he a No. 1 receiver? Probably not. But there's a chance he could be a decent No. 2 receiver. The problem is the Browns cannot find out until they're able to land a top-flight receiver to take the pressure off Massaquoi. In many ways, Massaquoi regressed last season. His yards and touchdowns were both down compared to his rookie year. Cleveland could help quarterback Colt McCoy and Massaquoi by finding a legit No. 1 receiver this offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Best choice: Considering the player and value of the pick, LaMarr Woodley was Pittsburgh's best draft choice of the past five years. Woodley was taken in the second round in 2007 and joined the starting lineup one year later. He became only the second Steeler to record double-digit sacks in three consecutive seasons and is money in the playoffs. Last year Woodley was one of the NFL's best bargains, recording 50 tackles and 10 sacks while making only $550,000. Pittsburgh gave Woodley the franchise tag this offseason and will try to work out an extension.

Worst choice: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger asked for bigger receivers, and the Steelers tried to accommodate him by drafting Limas Sweed in the second round in 2008. The pick didn't pan out as Sweed struggled to catch the football. Sweed's issues may be mental. He didn't have a reputation for drops in college and many in Pittsburgh were easy, wide-open opportunities. The Steelers grew tired of waiting for Sweed and drafted Mike Wallace in 2009 and Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown in 2010. They have taken firm roles in the offense, leaving Sweed's future with Pittsburgh in doubt.

On the bubble: Second-round pick Jason Worilds was a surprise choice in 2010. Pittsburgh has a wealth of talented linebackers, but it's a position it likes to stockpile for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's 3-4 scheme. Like most defenders in Pittsburgh, Worilds has to wait his turn and played mostly special teams last season. Worilds recorded two sacks in limited playing time, but it doesn’t appear he will have a chance to crack the starting lineup for a while.

NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas wrote a great blog post this week detailing interesting stories from his trips through training camp.

With camps getting started around the league, I figure it's a good time to share some of my zany tales from the AFC North.

• Last year in Latrobe, Pa., some fans were screaming "James! James, we love you!" at the top of their lungs. So I walked to the roped-off area to say hello, and those same fans suddenly gave me this strange "Who the heck are you?" look. So I turned around and noticed Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was standing around the same area that I was before. I walked away feeling really dumb and embarrassed.


• I once stopped Cleveland Browns guard Eric Steinbach for an interview coming off the field and I greeted him with a handshake. When he opened his right hand, I noticed blood was on his palm. Having to make a quick decision, I didn't want to shun Steinbach. So I shook his bloody hand anyway and said "Hey, it's football." We went on with the interview, and I washed my hands soon after.


• I don't get spooked easily. But one time I was interviewing Robert Geathers in Georgetown, Ky., about his micro-fracture surgery. Cincinnati Bengals teammate Tank Johnson suddenly crept from behind and grabbed me on the shoulder, causing me to jump. All three of us got a pretty good laugh out of it.


• Two years ago, I got to Baltimore Ravens camp early when only rookies, quarterbacks and selected free agents were participating. They didn't have enough defensive backs to do team drills, so Baltimore used a couple of children who were no taller than five feet. I said they must be mimicking Cleveland's cornerbacks (Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright) in this drill, which people thought was pretty funny.

Every year there are rookies around the league who, seemingly out of nowhere, quickly develop and contribute to their respective teams. Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and 2009 third-round pick Mike Wallace was a perfect example last season.

So who could be this year's version of Wallace in the AFC North?

Here are seven rookies drafted in the third round or lower who could surprise in 2010:

1. Jordan Shipley, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Draft status: Third round (No. 84 overall)

Analysis: Shipley was one of the stars of Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp last week. The receiver caught everything from the slot position and already looks like a good fit for the Bengals' offense. Shipley has a knack for manipulating the middle of the field and finding openings in coverage. Cincinnati has lacked this type of receiver since the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Look for Shipley to have a good competition with third-year veteran Andre Caldwell for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant.

2. Ed Dickson, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Draft status: Third round (No. 70 overall)

Analysis: Dickson was one of the top receiving tight ends in this year's draft, and he should be able to stretch the field for Baltimore's offense. At this point, Dickson is a luxury as a backup to starter Todd Heap. That should allow the Ravens to bring Dickson along and only put him in positions to be successful. He will have an interesting competition with rookie teammate Dennis Pitta, who is also on this list.

3. Carlton Mitchell, WR, Cleveland Browns

Draft status: Sixth round (No. 177 overall)

Analysis: Someone has to catch passes in Cleveland. Why not Mitchell? The Browns have arguably the worst receiving depth in the league. So this is a good opportunity for Mitchell to step up and impress Cleveland's coaching staff in training camp. He’s a bit unpolished but has good size and a good burst. If Mitchell can show some potential, that could be enough to earn playing time in Cleveland's offense, which is lacking playmakers.

4. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Steelers

Draft status: Third round (No. 82 overall)

Analysis: The Steelers found Wallace in the third round last year. Could they find another solid contributor in the third round this season with Sanders? Pittsburgh's receiving depth took a hit with the offseason trade of Santonio Holmes and the season-ending Achilles injury to Limas Sweed. Each instance has moved Sanders up the depth chart. Wallace and Hines Ward are the starters, and veteran Antwaan Randle El probably is set as the No. 3 receiver. But Pittsburgh will give Sanders an opportunity in training camp to earn a role with the team.

5. Dennis Pitta, TE, Ravens

Draft status: Fourth round (No. 114 overall)

Analysis: In a bit of a surprise move, the Ravens took tight ends in back-to-back rounds. The organization felt the value for Pitta in the fourth round was too good to pass up. He had outstanding production at Brigham Young, and what Pitta lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with savvy and great hands. Pitta will compete with Dickson to back up Heap. The Ravens only need one of these rookies to pan out this season and put up numbers in what should be a very good offense.

6. Shawn Lauvao, G, Browns

Draft status: Third round (No. 92 overall)

Analysis: The middle and left side of Cleveland's offensive line are set with tackle Joe Thomas, guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack. But the two right positions are still undecided, which provides an opportunity for third-rounder Lauvao to produce in his rookie year. For what it's worth, Lauvao has looked good in non-contact practices and is getting quality reps in Cleveland's offense. But it's difficult to mark the progress of offensive linemen until there's full contact in training camp. Browns coach Eric Mangini likes to use various linemen in games, so Lauvao could see playing time regardless.

7. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Draft status: Sixth round (No. 188 overall)

Analysis: Dwyer was very productive in college, rushing for 1,395 yards and averaging 5.9 yards per carry at Georgia Tech last season. But right now, Pittsburgh is more interested in Dwyer's nose for the end zone; he rushed for 26 touchdowns the past two seasons. The Steelers lacked a short-yardage running back who could move the chains last year. The team also struggled in the red zone, and if Dwyer proves he can move the pile, he could have an immediate role with Pittsburgh.

Not all of these players will surprise in their rookie year, but there's a decent chance some from this group will be productive.

Which mid- to late-round draft pick do you think will surprise in 2010?

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

• Let's begin with an interesting question: Who is the Baltimore Ravens' best athlete?

Morning take: That's a tough one. But I would say safety Ed Reed is No. 1 and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata is No. 2.

• Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Dermontti Dawson is teaching Cincinnati Bengals center Kyle Cook some new tricks.

Morning take: Don't hate, Steeler Nation. Ken Anderson used to be Ben Roethlisberger's quarterbacks coach.

• With the trade of Santonio Holmes and an Achilles injury to Limas Sweed, the Steelers were fortunate to draft two rookie receivers.

Morning take: I haven't seen enough of Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown to know if they will be productive rookies. But they can provide depth in case there are more injuries at the position.

• Cleveland Browns rookie tailback Montario Hardesty is impressive in minicamp.

Morning take: Hardesty has created a buzz this offseason and certainly looks the part. It will be interesting to see more when the hitting begins in training camp.

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Falling

Pittsburgh Steelers' WR depth: Just weeks after trading former starter Santonio Holmes, the Steelers suffered another blow to their depth at receiver when Limas Sweed tore his Achilles last weekend at veteran minicamp. Sweed, a backup who was due to compete for the third or fourth spot at receiver, had surgery as soon as possible. The team hasn't said for sure whether the former second-round pick will miss the entire 2010 season. But at the very least, Sweed will be absent for a significant portion of the year at a time when it seems the Steelers cannot catch a break. Without Holmes and Sweed, Pittsburgh cannot afford to suffer any additional injuries at wide receiver.

Rising

Adam "Pacman" Jones: Out of work in 2009, Jones has suddenly gained a buzz this offseason to where it appears the controversial free-agent cornerback is very close to making his return to the NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals are the favorites to sign Jones. Reportedly they are in contract negotiations with his representation this week. Cincinnati was the first team to invite Jones to a tryout in February and worked him out again Tuesday. The Bengals are searching for cornerback depth and, because of his off-field track record, Jones would be a cheap option. The Detroit Lions are also interested.