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The Cincinnati Bengals have the most remaining unsigned draft picks in the division, but they became the first AFC North team to sign its first-round pick.

The Bengals announced they have reached a deal with cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the 17th overall pick in the draft. He agreed to a four-year deal worth $8.6 million with $7.84 million of that fully guaranteed, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Kirkpatrick’s signing is the earliest by a top Bengals draft pick since 2003, when Cincinnati sealed a deal on April 24 with quarterback Carson Palmer, the top overall selection in that draft.

“It’s great for the club and great for Dre to have him signed this early,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “Contracts can be a distraction for young guys drafted high, but now he can put all that behind him and focus on making himself better and making us a better team.”

Kirkpatrick could make an immediate impact this season for the Bengals. He could fill in for Leon Hall, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury, or he could beat out veteran Nate Clements.

“Dre was the tallest (6 feet 2) of the top corners in the draft, and with all the big receivers in the league right now, we see that as an extra advantage for us,” Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. “He does a great job at the line of scrimmage. He’s been coached hard with a national championship team, so we really like his pedigree.”

The Bengals have four draft picks who remain unsigned: guard Kevin Zeitler (first round), wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (third round), defensive tackle Brandon Thompson (third round) and running back Dan “Boom” Herron (sixth round).

“Like Coach [Lewis] says, it’s just great to have this part done,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m happy to officially be a Bengal, and I’m going to be the best player I can be for the team and our fans.”

The Ravens have signed their entire draft class, while the Steelers and Browns have two picks each who are unsigned.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Cincinnati Bengals and why.

It would be easy to say Marvin Lewis faces a pivotal season because the Bengals coach is in the final year of a two-year extension. But, by all accounts, owner Mike Brown has approached Lewis a handful of times about a new deal, and it's Lewis who hasn't found time for a sitdown.

While it looks like there is no fear with job security, there is still a great amount of pressure on Lewis to take the Bengals to the next level. In his nine years as Bengals coach, Lewis has yet to win a playoff game or guide the team to consecutive winning seasons. If the Bengals want to elevate themselves to the ranks of the Steelers and the Ravens, Lewis has to get the Bengals to make noise in the postseason. During Lewis' tenure in Cincinnati, he has watched the Steelers win two Super Bowls and the Ravens reach the AFC Championship Game twice.

There's no question that Lewis is a good coach. He's done what others have failed to do in Cincinnati. Lewis has become the franchise's winningest coach, holding the team together through the death of a player (wide receiver Chris Henry), an extended holdout by his franchise quarterback (Carson Palmer) and numerous arrests. But Lewis' track record is his team wins when expectations are low but disappoints when the anticipation is high. And the buzz has never been higher in recent years than the 2012 season.

The Bengals surprisingly went to the playoffs last season and improved in most areas this offseason. Cincinnati upgraded at running back (BenJarvus Green-Ellis), guard (Travelle Wharton and Kevin Zeitler) and cornerback (Dre Kirkpatrick, Terence Newman and Jason Allen). The Bengals' top two offensive players from a year ago, quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green, are having their first full offseason with the team after last year's lockout.

What hangs over the franchise is the NFL's longest playoff win drought (21 seasons). It's up to Lewis to get this team to end that.

Teams usually have to recruit undrafted free agents in order to get them to sign. In the case of Vontaze Burfict, it seemed like the former Arizona State linebacker was the one pursuing the Cincinnati Bengals.

Burfict, a one-time first-round prospect whose stock plummeted due to poor offseason workouts and increased concern about his off-the-field issues, sought out Marvin Lewis after his pro day, according to the Bengals head coach. Burfict's persistence -- as well as investigative skills -- made an impression on Lewis.

"It was just the fact he took the opportunity to find my phone number because I don't know that I gave it to him," Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "To call me, to write me a letter, to do some other things. He got my phone number and called me and said, 'I hope I get an opportunity.' I said, 'I hope you do, too.'"

The Bengals signed Burfict after he went undrafted and plan to use him at middle linebacker. The team also plans to give him a fresh start.

”I struck a chord with him and maybe that’s what he needs," Lewis told the Enquirer. "He’s got a lot of story. I don’t have to believe any of it. It doesn’t matter one way or another to me now. What he does now from this point forward is going to determine whether or not he can be a NFL player. I think he has some ability. When you watch the tape there are a lot of things he didn’t do very well. But he does some things I can’t coach that he can do.

Lewis added, “We will continue to get him in shape. He’s a better conditioned athlete now than he was at the combine and at ASU in March. If he continues to go down that path, he seems bright enough to learn. He seems willing to want change this image people have of him.”

This is a good move for the Bengals because it's a low-risk one. They didn't invest a draft pick or a big signing bonus in him. The upside is he can become the top backup this year -- and perhaps start if Rey Maualuga is suspended under the league's personal conduct policy -- and make an immediate impact on special teams.

The first step for Burfict begins this weekend, when the Bengals have their rookie minicamp.

The Cincinnati Bengals enjoyed the most successful free agency period of any team in the division. The Bengals were applauded by many experts for being among the big winners in the NFL draft.

The question everyone in Who Dey Nation wants answered is how much ground have the Bengals made up on the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. But that's the wrong question to be asking.

Whether or not the Bengals return to the playoffs isn't about their division rivals. It's about whether this franchise can finally handle success.

The Bengals haven't put together back-to-back winning seasons since 1981-82. To put that into perspective, those were the years when Ronald Reagan was beginning his first term as president, a gallon of gas was going for $1.30 and Marvin Lewis was starting his coaching career at Idaho State.

This doesn't mean Cincinnati has struggled every year. The Bengals have been to the playoffs three times since 2005, the same amount as the Cowboys and one fewer than the Packers over that span. The problem has been following up that success. An AFC North title in 2005, and an 8-8 season in 2006. Another division title in 2009, and a 4-12 season in 2010.

There are few connections to this year's Bengals team and the 2010 one. Only seven players remain starters from Team Ochocinco & T.O., and Andy Dalton, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Thomas Howard had nothing to do with that disaster of a reality show from two years ago. A.J. Green is still A.J. Green ... and not A.J. Verde.

Momentum has clearly been on the Bengals' side since they drafted Dalton and Green last year. Cincinnati went from the NFL's worst team at the start of the 2011 season --according to the ESPN power rankings -- to a playoff one. With the second-most salary cap room in the NFL, the Bengals then used free agency to not only fill holes but upgrade those positions. It was a methodical approach that avoided the pricey big names like Carl Nicks, Robert Meachem and Cortland Finnegan. The theme was solid moves instead of splashy ones.

They signed Green-Ellis, an all-around running back and touchdown machine, to replace Cedric Benson. They added left guard Travelle Wharton, a strong run blocker, to take over for Nate Livings. That should boost a team that ranked 30th in the NFL in yards per rush (3.3) and tied for 21st in touchdown runs (three).

Cincinnati didn't ignore the defense, signing six former first-round picks. The Bengals kept their free-agent priority, safety Reggie Nelson, beating out the New York Jets for him. Cincinnati then added three cornerbacks (Jason Allen, Adam Jones and Terence Newman) and two defensive linemen (Jamaal Anderson and Derrick Harvey).

In the draft, the Bengals landed the best zone cornerback (Dre Kirkpatrick), top run-blocking guard (Kevin Zeitler), the 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Devon Still), a top-rated tight end (Orson Charles) and two promising wide receivers (Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones).

"You don’t win games on paper and that's what we have to realize, starting with me," Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth told the team's website. "We've got to be better. This looks like a good class. But the rookies know it's going to come down to what they do and how they prepare and how they go after it."

This team is clearly better than last year's. The expectations, though, are higher. The pressure will be on to finish better than last year's record of 9-7. The pressure will be on to win the division.

The Ravens lost the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the start of the season (Terrell Suggs) and likely won't have their running back in training camp (Ray Rice isn't expected to sign his franchise tag anytime soon). The Steelers could be without their starting running back (Rashard Mendenhall) and nose tackle (Casey Hampton) for the first six weeks of the season, and lost long-time leaders (Hines Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith) in their salary-cap purge.

While the Bengals have question marks at the No. 2 wide receiver spot and strong safety, the gap is significantly smaller between the traditional AFC North powers and Cincinnati. The Bengals return a Pro Bowl quarterback and wide receiver in Dalton and Green. They bring back a defense that ranked seventh in yards allowed (316.3) and nine in points given up (20.2). This team isn't lacking in talent or chemistry in the locker room, just a proven track record.

The biggest challenge for these young Bengals is beating the best. Cincinnati went 9-0 against non-playoff teams and 0-7 against teams that made the postseason. Maybe that's why the Bengals are ranked No. 16 in the post-draft ESPN power rankings, which is eight spots lower than what they finished last season.

There's going to be doubters, especially for a franchise that has gone three decades without consecutive winning seasons. But, based on what they accomplished in free agency and the draft, these are the new and much improved Bengals. All they have to do is show they can handle the best teams in the NFL, along with their own success.

No one has had a more dramatic fall in the months leading up to the NFL draft than Arizona State inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict. If this is wrong, please let me know because I can't think of any.

But Burfict could have the a dramatic rise back after reaching a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, a popular destination for NFL players wanting a second chance.

Could Burfict become the Bengals' latest redemption project? Could he go from a player no one wanted to draft to a starter in the season opener? This might sound crazy. And I fully admit this is jumping the gun especially since Burfict has yet to practice with Cincinnati.

Still, there is a scenario in which this could occur. Burfict will presumably compete with Dan Skuta to back up middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who could face disciplinary action from the NFL after his latest legal issue. If Maualuga is suspended to start the season and Burfict wins the backup job, the Bengals would have Burfict in the middle of their defense in the season opener at Baltimore.

There are a lot of "ifs" and the odds of this happening are probably slim. But you can't rule this out. It would be a great story considering his pre-draft roller coaster.

Burfict had been rated as one of the top five inside linebackers in this draft, gaining attention for his on-field intensity and explosive hits. He then went from being linked to the Ravens in the first round -- the next Ray Lewis, some mock drafts described him -- to going undrafted. He completely flopped at the NFL combine, which included the slowest 40-yard time at his position. One draft publication called him "an overly emotional locker-room lawyer and divisive energy-draining field force." You should read Alyssa Roenigk's piece in ESPN the Magazine about him.

Going to the Bengals gives him his best shot at proving himself to every team that passed on him over the past three days (253 players were drafted). The Bengals didn't use any of their 10 draft picks on a linebacker, and they were clearly interested in him. During his pro day, head coach Marvin Lewis had a long conversation with him and they've been in contact ever since, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis wasn't creating a smokescreen when he hinted that the team was going to address defense in the first round.

The Bengals selected Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick with the 17th overall pick. I would've gone with Stanford's David DeCastro, the best guard in the draft, but I understand the reasoning.

Cincinnati went for the draft's third-best corner in Kirkpatrick because DeCastro and Georgia's Cordy Glenn are still on the board. With how the draft is unfolding, the Bengals could get one of them with the 21st overall pick.

Kirkpatrick is an aggressive and confident cover man who has proven himself against top competition. The reason why he lasted into the bottom half of the first round is he lacks elite speed.

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

If Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw or inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower is still available at the No. 20 pick (which is currently held by the Titans), the Ravens will try to trade up to get one of them, according to the Sporting News' Mike Preston.

"Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is a former Alabama great and has all the inside skinny information on both players," Preston wrote.

According to Preston, Baltimore also likes Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill. The Ravens know he isn't a polished route-runner, but they think he has great potential.

Hensley's slant: Upshaw and Hightower have been popular picks for the Ravens recently. Upshaw can replace Jarret Johnson, and Hightower can learn from Ray Lewis. And trading isn't out of the question for the Ravens, who have made a move in the first round in three of the past four years.

BENGALS: Head coach Marvin Lewis hinted that the team will use its two first-round picks on defense, according to the team's official website. The Bengals have taken offensive players in the first round in the past three drafts. Asked at his pre-draft press conference if this draft is tilted to offense or defense, Lewis pointed at defense because, "Maybe we have more needs defensively." After taking defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the second round in 2010 he said, "We've kind of neglected defense over the last couple of years." Hensley's slant: I would be surprised if the Bengals used both first-round picks on defense because there should be quality offensive players available at the bottom half of the first round. It would make sense for Cincinnati to pick up a guard (David DeCastro and Cordy Glenn) or a wide receiver (Kendall Wright and Stephen Hill) with one of those top picks.

BROWNS: Will the Cleveland Browns pass on Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon one year after not selecting wide receiver Julio Jones? "Last year had nothing to do with the player," Browns general manager Tom Heckert told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It had everything to do with the deal we were able to make. We loved Julio Jones." Blackmon had 232 catches for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons with Oklahoma State. He's only the second player to win the Biletnikoff award twice as the nation's best receiver (the other was Michael Crabtree). Hensley's slant: If the Browns take Blackmon fourth overall, it cause a lot of head-scratching. Blackmon isn't in the same class as last year's No. 4 pick, wide receiver A.J. Green, and he isn't graded as high as Jones. There will be better value for wide receivers later in the first round.

STEELERS: If Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe and Alabama's Hightower are still available at the Steelers' No. 24 spot, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette thinks the team will go with Poe. But Bouchette doesn't see Poe starting immediately unless Casey Hampton (knee) is sidelined. "It sounds as if he's one of those who can use a little grooming first," Bouchette wrote. Hensley's slant: I agree that the Steelers likely have Poe rated higher than Hightower. But Hightower is more likely to be there when the Steelers are drafting. It will take a handful of interested teams to pass on Poe for him to fall that far.

Jerome Simpson became the second Cincinnati Bengals free-agent wide receiver to go elsewhere this offseason, signing a one-year deal with Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday.

Many believed Simpson and Andre Caldwell (now with the Broncos) would not be retained this offseason because it was assumed the Bengals would upgrade at wide receiver. A couple of days before the draft, wide receiver is the one position of need that Cincinnati has ignored.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said last month that he feels better about the wide receivers currently on the roster than people know, and he hinted at Tuesday's pre-draft news conference that Cincinnati might be leaning toward defense in the first round. That's still difficult for me to believe. Losing two wide receivers from last season and not adding anyone to replace them adds a sense of urgency for the Bengals to take a wide receiver with one of their three picks in the first two rounds.

The Bengals will have plenty of options at wide receiver, which is one of the deepest positions in this year's draft. Wide receivers who should be available in the bottom half of the first round are Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill, Baylor's Kendall Wright and LSU's Rueben Randle. The ones who should be on the board in the second round are South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery, Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu and Illinois' A.J. Jenkins and Arizona's Juron Criner.

The No. 2 wide receiver spot is one of the final pieces in the Bengals' passing game. Cincinnati drafted wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton last season to go along with tight end Jermaine Gresham, a first-round pick in 2010.

The Bengals have selected seven wide receivers in the first round in their history. Only once -- 1985 and 1986 -- did they do so in consecutive years. This year could mark the second time after taking Green fourth overall last year.

Bengals free-agent wide receiver Jerome Simpson received a three-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Relatively speaking, Simpson couldn't have asked for a better resolution to his legal situation or his discipline from the NFL.

Simpson fared better than most expected after having about two pounds of marijuana shipped to his northern Kentucky home in September. Many presumed the NFL would suspend Simpson at least four games.

This comes in the same month he was sentenced to 15 days in jail and three years' probation for a felony charge. Simpson had struck a plea agreement for 60 days before a judge reduced the jail time.

While the Bengals should part ways with Simpson because of this baggage, his future with the team likely will be determined by the draft. The Bengals have three of the first 53 picks in this week's draft and could use one on a wide receiver to take Simpson's role as the No. 2 wide receiver. If the Bengals don't draft a wide receiver early in the draft, it should increase his chances of coming back to them.

Simpson, 26, recently visited the Minnesota Vikings, but this doesn't rule out his return to Cincinnati. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis sent a letter in support of Simpson to the judge before he was sentenced to 15 days in jail. The Bengals said in a statement after the hearing that they believe Simpson "has, and will continue to, deal accountably with the consequences of his actions."

He has been a disappointment as the Bengals' second-round pick in 2008, but he is coming off his most productive NFL season. After 21 catches in his first three seasons, Simpson set career highs in catches (50), yards (725) and touchdowns (four), which included a sensational somersault flip into the end zone.

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

The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks have made inquires about free-agent guard Eric Steinbach, sources told ESPNChicago.com. The site also reports that the Ravens might be interested in the former starting left guard for the Browns.

It's unclear if Steinbach will make any visits before the NFL draft at the end of the month as he continues to recover from a back injury that forced the guard to miss the entire 2011 season.

Steinbach, 32, started 124 games for the Bengals and Browns over the span of eight years, before undergoing a procedure that removed a disc fragment from his spinal nerve in August of last summer. He was cut by the Browns on March 14 after refusing to take a pay reduction.

Hensley's slant: The Ravens hinted they won't make any more free-agent moves until after the draft. So if the Ravens don't use a first- or second-round pick on a guard, they should make a call to Steinbach. The alternative is starting a backup offensive tackle (Jah Reid) at left guard.

BENGALS: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis sent a letter in support of Jerome Simpson to the judge before the free-agent wide receiver was sentenced to 15 days in jail for a drug-related charge, according to the Associated Press. Lewis said last month that the team is open to offering Simpson another contract despite his legal problems. The Bengals said in a statement after the hearing that they believe Simpson "has, and will continue to, deal accountably with the consequences of his actions." Hensley's slant: The chances of Simpson returning increased when the Bengals ignored the wide receiver position in free agency. Cincinnati had the cap room to upgrade over Simpson at the No. 2 spot, but the Bengals failed to add Robert Meachem or Mario Manningham.

BROWNS: LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne made a pre-draft visit to the Browns on Thursday, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Claiborne made headlines this week when it was reported that he scored 4 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test. "At the end of the day I will be a top 10 pick," Claiborne posted on his Twitter account, which has since been switched to private. "You guys don't no me #Top10." Hensley's slant: I still see the Browns taking running back Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick and it has nothing to do with Claiborne's test score. The Browns, who averaged 13.6 points per game last season, need an offensive playmaker and not the best defensive player in the draft.

STEELERS: Restricted free-agent guard Ramon Foster has signed his tender, according to a report from ESPN Radio in St. Louis. Foster received the low tender ($1.26 million), which meant the Steelers wouldn't have received any compensation if they refused to match an offer sheet. Entering his fourth season with Pittsburgh, Foster is expected to remain the team's starting right guard. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2013. Hensley's slant: Foster was surprisingly serviceable at right guard last season. If the Steelers draft an interior lineman, they should replace left guard Doug Legursky, whose best position is center.

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

The Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis are at a standstill in contract talks, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Lewis is entering the final year of a previous two-year extension. The Enquirer reported that there isn't any movement in negotiations because Lewis and Brown have yet to talk about it.

“The way I would answer that is when we get to the point that we have something to announce we will announce it," Brown said at the NFL owners meetings. "I’m not going into a blow by blow description of how we’re making sausage.”

Hensley's slant: There's two things I don't understand about this: Why isn't Lewis talking to the Bengals yet about a new deal, and when did the Bengals start making sausage? OK, I'm joking on the latter but not the Lewis part. Lewis said last month that Brown had already approached him two or three times about a new deal. At this point, the Bengals are the ones who want to get negotiations started and Lewis does not.

BROWNS: NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said the Browns would be crazy not to draft quarterback Ryan Tannehill. "I think Cleveland has to take him at No. 4," Mayock said after Tannehill's pro day Thursday, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He's not ready to play Day 1, but to me, he's a franchise quarterback, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go at No. 4 and maybe even 3 [in a trade]." He said Tannehill would give the Browns an upgrade over Colt McCoy in both athletic ability and arm strength. Hensley's slant: It was at this time last year when Mayock said Blaine Gabbert should be taken over Cam Newton. "Bottom line, he's the first quarterback off the board," Mayock said after Gabbert's pro day. From my viewpoint, the Browns' choice at No. 4 should be between running back Trent Richardson and wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

RAVENS: Owner Steve Bisciotti said the team will survive without linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed when they decide to retire. Lewis, 36, is entering his 17th year. Reed, 33, is going into his 11th. “I saw Ed sit out the first six games in 2010 and we went 12-4. Then I saw Ray Lewis go down for four games last year and we went 12-4 and 4-0 in those specific games,” Bisciotti told the team's official website at the NFL owners meetings. “So no, I don’t [have concern].” Hensley's slant: Bisciotti and the Ravens will face a decision about Reed's future next season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. I addressed this issue in a blog post last night.

STEELERS: The Steelers aren't interested in discussing next year's situation at wide receiver quite yet. Mike Wallace will be an unrestricted free agent next year, and Antonio Brown will be a restricted free agent after this season. "You are looking way into the future there," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I don't know what we will be able to do this week or next. We look at our situation as it stands today." Hensley's slant: The Steelers' track record shows they don't keep their own wide receivers when they become free agents. But Wallace and Brown should be the exceptions. It could take some more creative bookkeeping to get Wallace signed to a long-term deal next year, but the expected spike in the 2014 salary cap should help the Steelers' chances of retaining Brown.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The AFC coaches met with the media today at the NFL owners meetings. Here are the top five issues addressed by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis (via the team's official website) and my reaction:

On being known as a place that gives second chances to first-round picks that underachieved: "They are guys that have superior athletic talent, we feel like. Mike [Zimmer] coached Jamaal Anderson in Atlanta. So he’s familiar with Jamaal. You go back. Like with Reggie [Nelson]. We felt very highly about Reggie. We felt when Reggie came out he could do so many things. We’ve been able to put Reggie into what we do and allow him to do the things we felt we were comfortable with when we evaluated him throughout the draft process." Hensley's reaction: What I like about the Bengals' moves is they're not reaching when signing these former first-rounders. They're not asking Anderson, Derrick Harvey or Jason Allen to become starters. If these moves pay off, it improves Cincinnati's depth.

On the status on possibly signing Terence Newman: "We would still love to add Terence to our team. He said the best years of his career are with Mike Zimmer and hopefully we can get something done very soon. We would love to have him on our team." Hensley's reaction: Newman would become the third cornerback signed by the Bengals in free agency, joining Allen and Adam Jones. The Bengals are either not planning to draft a corner or they're worried that Leon Hall won't be ready to start the season coming off an Achilles injury.

On finding a No. 2 wide receiver: "We feel better about it in house than people know. We have the draft. There’s still some other ways we are looking at. Still a lot of things in play. We feel a little bit better about it in house than what people know." Hensley's reaction: I was surprised that the Bengals didn't get more involved in the free-agent market for wide receivers. This group, led by second-year talent A.J. Green, could've used an experienced voice. Now, they are looking for a No. 2 receiver out of a current group that includes Jordan Shipley, Brandon Tate, Andrew Hawkins, Ryan Whalen and Armon Binns.

On Lewis' contract status (he's entering the final year of a previous two-year extension): "We haven’t discussed it. I haven’t taken the opportunity to sit down [and talk]. The ball is in my court. It hasn’t been my focus." Hensley's reaction: Lewis deserves a contract extension from the Bengals after what he did last season. He guided the Bengals to a 9-7 record and a trip to the playoffs after beginning the season as the worst-ranked team in many power rankings, including the one at ESPN.com.

On his thoughts of his players after making the playoffs last season: "Unaccomplishment. Unfinished business. The fact that the four guys went to the Pro Bowl tells me where we are. They are young. You could put them in those four chairs and they’re not going to say a word. That’s just the way they are." Hensley's reaction: The Bengals have always had trouble handling success. Perhaps this is the year when they put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1981-82.

NOTE: This blog incorrectly had the wrong years for the last time the Bengals had back-to-back winning seasons. The AFC North blog regrets the error.

The NFL owners meetings, which will be attended by every coach, general manager and (not surprisingly) owner, begin in Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday. While I won't be there this year, I will keep track of the happenings and provide my thoughts on any major development.

As always, we begin our day in the division with a much-needed Monday wake-up call:

BENGALS: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is "jacked" about what the team has done so far in free agency.

While the Bengals lost defensive linemen Frostee Rucker (Browns) and Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), they signed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, guard Travelle Wharton and cornerback Jason Allen along with re-signing safety Reggie Nelson and Adam Jones.

"We basically were able to go out and sign pretty much the guys we hoped to sign,” Lewis told Cincinnati reporters (via the Cincinnati Enquirer) upon arriving at the owners meetings.

He is especially excited about the signing of Green-Ellis. The Bengals added Green-Ellis over Michael Bush, who had been considered by league observers as the favorite to land in Cincinnati.

“A month ago if you told me we were going to sign BenJarvus I would have taken it. After meeting him you feel even better,” Lewis said. “His versatility. His ability to catch. To protect. … He does it all. He can be a three-down player if he needs to be.”

Hensley's slant: I wouldn't necessarily be "jacked" about the Bengals' signings. They signed Wharton, not Ben Grubbs. They added Derrick Harvey, not Mario Williams. Still, you have to be pleased with what Cincinnati has done so far. While they didn't make a splash, the Bengals upgraded themselves at running back and left guard and kept their free-agent priority in Nelson.

BROWNS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto sees the Browns drafting Brandon Weeden or someone else lower in the draft but believes Colt McCoy is the starter. He doesn't think Seneca Wallace has any chance in a quarterback competition. "He has a 6-15 record as a starter, 1-6 with the Browns. His stats were even worse than McCoy's last year," Pluto wrote. "It makes no sense to start Wallace. In fact, the Browns should ask themselves if he is the right guy as a backup, because he has been unhappy in that role -- and it seems he wasn't exactly a lot of help to McCoy." Hensley's slant: I'm not saying Wallace will win the competition, but you can't dismiss him completely either. He has more experience than McCoy and has never had a shot at winning the job in Cleveland. That being said, I still think McCoy is the season-opening starter for the Browns.

RAVENS: It's unlikely that the Ravens will do any heavy spending in free agency during the owners meetings, according to the Carroll County (Md.) Times. The Ravens were roughly $5 million under the salary cap before signing inside linebacker Jameel McClain, outside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, special-teams ace Corey Graham and backup safety Sean Considine. Still, Baltimore hasn't ruled out potential additions. "Further moves are possible," coach John Harbaugh said. "There are some areas, still, that we would like to continue to shore up before the draft, but I don't think we'll say, ‘Hey, we've got to do this, we've got to do that.' You can't make a move unless the player is available and you can actually sign the guy." Hensley's slant: The Ravens should now turn their focus to new contracts for quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. That would free up much-needed cap space for Baltimore to make some of those additional moves. But I don't see Flacco or Rice signing new deals anytime before the draft.

STEELERS: Max Starks isn't expected to talk to the Steelers before making more progress with his surgically repaired knee, the free-agent left tackle told Fox Sports. He tore his ACL in the playoff loss at Denver. Starks, 30, said it's his "intent" to re-sign with the Steelers. "I have the opportunity to go back there, but I know the reality is I’m not going to get a legitimate look until June for my knee when I can actually run off the ACL injury," Starks said. "That will really determine what team I go to.” Hensley's slant: The Steelers will have a better understanding where they are at left tackle in June. By that time, the draft will be long over and the Steelers should have seen Marcus Gilbert at left tackle at offseason minicamps. Starks is a good fallback for a team that is planning to start Willie Colon, who has essentially missed the past two seasons because of injuries, at right tackle.

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.