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

A shocked Ben Roethlisberger wants answers from team president Art Rooney II following the "retirement" of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

"When I get back, I'm going to go up to Mr. Rooney's office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that's a viable question for him," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. "He's our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I'd like to tell him where I see us going."

The Steelers announced Arians had retired, but he later said his contract wasn't renewed by the team. Arians had been the only offensive coordinator in coach Mike Tomlin's five seasons as Steelers head coach.

Roethlisberger, who is close with Arians, invited him to Hawaii as his guest for the Pro Bowl, but Arians decided not to go after he was no longer with the team.

Roethlisberger was described as being "miffed" by the timing of the Steelers' move with Arians.

"We feel like we are really close to being an elite offense," Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review. "For your leader to be gone is kind of a shocker for us, but you've got to be ready for it, and whatever the Rooneys and coach Tomlin decide is our next step. I think the [Steelers'] mind was made up, and B.A. was kind of ready to move on as well."

Hensley's slant: Roethlisberger has to be worried about the direction of the offense. Team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Rooney wants the offense to go back to its blue-collar identity of the past. The trouble is, the Steelers are built to throw the ball with one of the best young and fast receiving groups in the league. You can criticize Arians' play calling. But it's hard to argue that the Steelers should go back to a run-first offense.

BENGALS: Mike Zimmer is returning for his fifth season as the Bengals defensive coordinator, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported, after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Rutgers' Greg Schiano as their head coach. Zimmer also had been in the running for the Miami Dolphins job before Joe Philbin was hired. While Zimmer is coming back, defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle is expected to be named the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Hensley's slant: If the Bengals had their way, this is how it would have played out. Cincinnati didn't want to lose Coyle, but it was more important to keep Zimmer. The Bengals defense will remain a top-10 one under his direction.

BROWNS: Brad Childress is close to becoming the Browns' offensive coordinator, sources told The Plain Dealer. For more, click on the AFC North blog posted last night. Hensley's slant: My take on the probable hiring will be posted shortly.

RAVENS: In his introductory news conference as the new Colts head coach, former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said he went from an all-time low -- the loss in the AFC championship game was his most devastating one ever -- to an all-time high. “As fate would have it, I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought for sure that I was going to be coming to Indy to play for a world championship," Pagano said, via The Indianapolis Star. "That’s what I thought I was going to be coming here for, and certainly not standing before you today as the next head football coach of the Indianapolis Colts." Hensley's slant: Don't be surprised if Pagano takes some Ravens with him. Pagano's first target should be outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who will be a free agent, because he'll need a leader who can explain the defensive system to the other players. It would be like when Rex Ryan brought Bart Scott along to the New York Jets. Defensive line coach Clarence Brooks could also follow Pagano to Indianapolis.

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

Steelers linebacker James Harrison was unapologetic for the hit that forced him to miss Monday night's loss to San Francisco, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"It happened, oh well," Harrison told the paper. "Deal with it. Move on. When it came down to it, my helmet hit his. Oh, well."

Harrison, who returned from his one-game suspension Tuesday, said he isn't concerned about the future ones.

"Nope, not worried about anything," Harrison said. "Can't see the future. I am not a fortune teller. I will deal with it as it comes."

Hensley's slant: It doesn't sound like Harrison received the NFL's message. If he gets flagged for another illegal hit, he is facing a suspension involving multiple games. Harrison is in a no-win situation when it comes to fighting the NFL.

BENGALS: There are other more complicated ways of the Bengals clinching a wild-card spot, but the most straightforward one is: The Bengals win out and the New York Jets lose at least once in their final two games (against the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins). According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, if the Bengals lose to Arizona on Saturday and the Jets win, the Bengals would need to beat the Ravens and have the Jets lose to the Dolphins. Both teams would be 9-7 in that scenario, but Bengals would win tiebreak based on better conference record. Hensley's slant: Looking at the Jets' last two games, they could easily lose to the Giants or at Miami. The Jets are 2-5 on the road this season. The biggest obstacle for the Bengals is the regular-season finale against the Ravens. Cincinnati is 0-6 against teams that currently have a winning record.

BROWNS: Running back Montario Hardesty is looking to end the season on a positive note after a calf injury has ruined most of it. Hardesty has carried the ball in one of the past seven games because of a calf injury. "I definitely want to finish out these two games strong," Hardesty said, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hensley's slant: Hardesty might be able to salvage some of the season, but it's probably too late to get rid of that injury-prone label. His inability to stay healthy combined with Peyton Hillis' expected exit is a major reason why the Browns are already being linked to Alabama running back Trent Richardson in the first round.

RAVENS: If Billy Cundiff can't kick Saturday because of a left calf injury, the Ravens will turn to veteran journeyman Shayne Graham, whom the team signed Wednesday. "If I'm asked to go out and play, then I go out and play and play my best to help these guys win," Graham said, via MASN Sports. "If it's for one week, it's for one week. If it's for two, it's two. If it takes more or less, that's really out of my hands. All I can do is line up and kick when they ask me to." Hensley's slant: The Ravens had to make contingency plans after Cundiff missed a 36-yard field goal Sunday, his ninth failed attempt of the season. But Baltimore had better hope Cundiff is healthy enough to kick in the playoffs. Graham missed both of his field goals, including a 28-yarder, in a playoff loss two years ago. That's a major reason why the Bengals didn't re-sign him.

If you have a question about the AFC North, send it to my mailbag. It's Saturday morning, so let's open up some mail ...

Devin from Ontario, Canada, writes: Why haven't the Steelers been able to take the ball away this year?

Jamison Hensley from AFC North headquarters responds: There are two reasons. The first one is obvious: the Steelers need to catch the ball. There have been several interceptions that have been dropped. That would add to the total. The other factor is the pass rush. Of the top eight teams in takeaways, five (Green Bay, San Francisco, Baltimore, Detroit and Houston) rank in the top half of the league in sacks. When you get pressure on the quarterback, you force rushed throws that lead to interceptions and you can strip the ball from the quarterback. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison have had good stretches in rushing the passer, but the Steelers need to do a more consistent job as a defense.

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Gene from San Diego writes: How would you grade Baltimore's defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano at this point in the season? They are still producing, but been a bit lapse the past few games. I like his mentality and that he infuses the young players.

Hensley responds: Pagano gets an A, and it's tough to argue otherwise. He vowed to be aggressive when he took over for Greg Mattison and he's backed that up this season. The Ravens are among the best in sacks, takeaways and points allowed. This has been a high-impact defense.

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Hensley responds: The New York Jets. This might surprise you because the Jets wasted a prime opportunity when they lost at Denver. But New York should win its next three games: home against Buffalo, at Washington and home against Kansas City. Under that scenario, the Jets would get to 10 wins if they win two games in the final three weeks of the regular season: at Philadelphia, home against the Giants and at Miami. This is a team that knows what it takes to get to the postseason after advancing to the AFC championship game the past two years.

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Hensley responds: McCoy's stock has increased by completing over 70 percent of his passes the past two weeks. But he needs to start increasing points on the scoreboard. The Browns have scored over 17 points just once this season; Cleveland has yet to score a touchdown in the first and third quarters. As I've said repeatedly, you can put all the blame on McCoy because of the supporting cast around him. But the quarterback has to take responsibility for an offense struggling this much, no matter what the circumstances.

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Hensley responds: I cover the AFC North, so the blogs and columns will focus more on those teams. So I don't consider myself a "Baltimore homer." I'm just doing my job as the AFC North blogger. I also didn't have anything to do with making the 49ers go cross-country on four days rest. You can direct your anger at the NFL schedule makers for that one. I think Jim Harbaugh already has.

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Hensley responds: Thanks for being a part of the chat (shameless plug: it happens every Wednesday at 2 p.m.). I still feel that the Bengals will finish with nine wins. Your reasoning is sound. I agree that Cincinnati should beat the Browns, Cardinals and Rams. I think the rematches with the Steelers and Ravens will result in losses again (although it will be close again). And even though the Texans lost Schaub, they still have Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and the NFL's top-ranked defense. At this point, I predict the Bengals will lose that one. Of course, I will say that forecasting games is a week to week proposition. So, these picks are far from locked in.

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Hensley responds: I'm a blogger and an analyst. My views shouldn't be shaped by where I live. It's funny how Ravens fans feel I "disrespect" the Ravens and other fans feel I'm a "Ravens homer." As far as your first question, the Ravens have better wins than the Steelers (including a sweep of Pittsburgh) but they have more embarrassing losses than the Steelers. There wouldn't be an argument if Baltimore had beaten Seattle and Jacksonville. The Ravens would the undisputed best team in the AFC. Those losses hurt the resume. Pittsburgh has been the more consistent team overall.

The Cincinnati Bengals completed their second preseason game on Sunday. Cincinnati lost to the New York Jets, 27-7. Here are some observations:

The Good

• Punter Kevin Huber may be an early candidate for Bengals MVP. He is having a great preseason and booted several more impressive punts Sunday against the Jets. Huber had nine punts for 424 yards, which is a stellar 47.1 average.
• Cincinnati's first-team defense made some strides this week. The offense struggled early (we will get to that later). But the defense did a decent job of keeping the game close in the first half. Cincinnati's first-team defense gave up 10 points before most of the starters were pulled. The Jets had a lengthy touchdown drive before halftime against a mix of Bengals starters and backups.

The Bad

• Cincinnati's offense does not look ready for Week 1. This unit is just too sloppy. Cincinnati's first three possessions ended like this: an Andy Dalton interception, a 17-yard loss on a fumble that forced a punt and another interception. The timing just looks off, although Cincinnati's starting offense eventually warmed up at the end and scored its first touchdown of the preseason.
• Overall, the Bengals need to start better. They have been outscored 41-10 in the first half when starters get a majority of the playing time. Yes, it's only the preseason. But it doesn't look good when Cincinnati's first team routinely fails to set the tone. The Bengals aren't the Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers. Cincinnati is a young team that needs to show something in the preseason to gain momentum and confidence for the regular season.

Three things to watch for in Cincinnati's preseason game against the New York Jets on Sunday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Will the effort be there? This sounds like a silly question for a preseason game. But neither the Bengals' starters nor the backups showed up ready to play in last week's 34-3 drubbing to the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati looked shell-shocked and sloppy. The Bengals turned over the football, didn't play hard and were battered in every phase of the game by Detroit. Cincinnati is a rebuilding team. It needs to play better now to start building confidence.

What strides will rookie quarterback Andy Dalton make? The Dalton era in Cincinnati got off to a rough start. His first throw was intercepted and he finished with 69 yards and an interception. Dalton needs to show growth in his second career start. The Bengals are relying on the second-round pick to be the starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

What to make of the defense? Two seasons ago, Cincinnati was No. 4 in total defense. Last season, the Bengals were No. 15. This unit wants to get back to its 2009 form but looked more like the 2010 version last week. The Jets' star-studded offense should be another good test for the Bengals' defense.

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

• The Pittsburgh Steelers' pass protection remains a work in progress.

Morning take: Pass protection has been an issue for years in Pittsburgh. Too many blitzers are running free this preseason. The Steelers need to correct that.

• Will the Cincinnati Bengals improve during their Week 2 preseason game against the New York Jets?

Morning take: It can't get much worse than last week's 34-3 drubbing to the Detroit Lions. The Bengals, particularly the starters, need to show up ready to play.

• Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor is developing well.

Morning take: I was impressed with Taylor last week in training camp. He will make the Ravens as a sixth-round pick. But can Baltimore, which has title aspirations, trust Taylor to be the No. 2 quarterback?

• Cleveland Browns tight end Evan Moore may have suffered a concussion in Friday's preseason loss to Detroit.

Morning take: Moore had a solid game (two touchdowns) and a solid camp. But injuries have always held him back. Staying healthy will be key.

Three things to watch for in Pittsburgh's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.

Steelers' pass protection: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't play much against the Washington Redskins last week -- and that was a good thing. Roethlisberger was hit enough to suffer a hand injury in limited playing time. Pittsburgh's blitz recognition looked shaky last week. The Steelers gave up three sacks and eight hits on their quarterbacks. Philadelphia's defense recorded six sacks last week against the Baltimore Ravens. The Eagles' pass rush will be a good test to see if Pittsburgh corrected its early mistakes.

The emergence of Isaac Redman: One of the best players I saw in Steelers training camp this summer was backup running back Isaac Redman. The former undrafted free agent did well last year with limited opportunities. He is looking for a bigger role in 2011. Redman scored Pittsburgh's only touchdown last week with an impressive 22-yard run. He had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown against Washington. Redman's emergence this preseason could help Steelers starting running back Rashard Mendenhall, who had a career-high 324 carries last season.

Jerricho Cotchery's debut: The veteran receiver was signed in free agency to provide depth and a veteran presence at receiver. The former New York Jet will play his first game as a Steeler on Thursday. Cotchery has only one week of practice under his belt, but needs to begin finding his niche with the team. He is most effective in the slot and is competing with second-year receiver Antonio Brown for the No. 3 receiver role.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton looked like a rookie making his first NFL start last week. His first pass was intercepted. His next two attempts to throw resulted in an incompletion and a sack.

The Bengals' offensive line didn't help. Dalton had pressure in his face often. Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh nearly ripped Dalton's head off on one play. Dalton finished 11 of 15 for 69 yards and an interception.

Week 2 of the preseason is important for Dalton. The Bengals now have tape to critique of Dalton's first game and need to see growth Sunday against the New York Jets.

Dalton's next step is to play with more poise. Detroit's pressure bothered him and forced several bad throws, including the interception. The Bengals' offensive line also has to block better.

Dalton has the tendency to float his deep balls. That needs to be corrected if the Bengals plan to take shots down the field with athletic receivers A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson. Dalton didn't take many deep chances downfield against Detroit. The Bengals need to test his arm more against the Jets.

Finally, Dalton and the Bengals need to be more competitive. I know it's just the preseason. But a young team like the Bengals cannot afford to continue laying eggs. It's hard to lose a preseason game by 31 points. Effort was definitely an issue.

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

• The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered injuries in practice to starting offensive linemen Jonathan Scott (ankle) and Ramon Foster (unspecified).

Morning take: Neither injury is considered serious. That is a good thing, because depth on Pittsburgh's offensive line is lacking. This will give young players a chance to get significant reps in practice.

• The Baltimore Ravens could pursue former New York Jets receiver Jericho Cotchery.

Morning take: Cotchery is probably the best of what's left at receiver. The Ravens failed to land Malcom Floyd and Derrick Mason. Now it's pretty slim pickings.

• Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur says the new West Coast offense will come along.

Morning take: The Browns still have a long way to go offensively from what I've seen in camp. Fortunately for Cleveland, there is a month of practices and four preseason games before the regular season.

• Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals' offense continues to grind.

Morning take: "Grind" is a good word to explain what the Bengals and Browns are going through offensively. The team and quarterback that learns the fastest likely will prevail in Week 1.

Former Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason agreed to terms with the New York Jets on Saturday. This comes after the Ravens made another pitch for Mason to return after he was released by Baltimore last month.

The Ravens cut Mason, as well as several other veterans, in an effort to save cap space. Baltimore also went after receiver Malcom Floyd to replace Mason. But Floyd signed a two-year deal to return to the San Diego Chargers.

The Ravens do not have many options at receiver now that Mason joined coach Rex Ryan with the Jets. Second-round pick Torrey Smith will be the projected starter opposite Anquan Boldin unless Baltimore is able to find a veteran replacement.

The New York Jets are the winners of the Plaxico Burress sweepstakes. On Sunday, the veteran receiver agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

This weekend the Pittsburgh Steelers made their best pitch to land Burress, who was drafted by the team in 2000. All the key members of the organization, including coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert, made Burress feel welcome during his visit to Latrobe, Pa. Burress also looked comfortable walking around the facility and talking to many former teammates, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and cornerback Ike Taylor.

Getting Burress would have been a luxury for the Steelers. Pittsburgh's receiver position is deep with veterans (Hines Ward) and talented young players (Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown).

On the flip side, losing out on Burress makes it easier to get under the salary cap. According to Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers remain at least $7 million over the cap. Pittsburgh must trim that number by next week. So more cuts are coming.

The love fest between New York Jets corner and pending free agent Antonio Cromartie and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger continues.

On the heels of Roethlisberger being ranked No. 41 by a survey of more than 400 NFL players, Cromartie expressed his thoughts via Twitter and disagreed with the ranking.

First, ESPN's Skip Bayless tweeted "Big Ben definitely is in my top 10 NFL players." Then, Cromartie replied "same here skip...whoever did the voting is crazy."

Cromartie's respect for Roethlisberger is nothing new. During the playoffs last January, Cromartie expressed his dislike for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, then did a complete 180 the following week leading up to the AFC Championship Game by saying, "I love Ben, man. Ben's a competitor."

Roethlisberger responded to Cromartie by saying "Well, I love him too," which prompted laughter in the media.

But no one is laughing this week about Roethlisberger's latest snub. Cromartie certainly doesn't like it, and although Roethlisberger wouldn't admit it, he's probably not happy about it, either.

The lockout has reached 71 days and counting, which continues to push back NFL free agency. This also means the league is bracing itself for an unprecedented whirlwind of player movement this summer once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

With that said, here are seven questions and answers to get you up to speed on free agency in the AFC North:

Question No. 1: Will the Cincinnati Bengals re-sign tailback Cedric Benson?

Answer: Yes, all signs are pointing toward Benson returning. With back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Benson has been a good fit in Cincinnati. He had issues last season with former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, who was fired, and now Benson is excited about returning to the Bengals. As a 28-year-old running back, there will not be a huge market for Benson. Therefore, Cincinnati wouldn't have to overpay to keep Benson. With a rookie quarterback (Andy Dalton) likely starting this upcoming season, new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden says he wants to run the ball early and often, which has to be music to Benson's ears.

Question No. 2: Will the Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign Ike Taylor?

Answer: This is a tough one. Although I wouldn't be surprised either way, my sense is Taylor will not return to Pittsburgh in 2011. He's 31 and the Steelers would rather avoid the going rate for good cornerbacks on the open market, which is currently $8-10 million per year. Taylor says he wants that market value, and he has a much better chance of getting it somewhere else. Taylor already has two Super Bowl rings and this is his final chance to land a big contract. So no one should fault him for leaving. The Steelers will spend money on their front seven but do not value cornerbacks all that much, as evidenced by their recent draft history.

Question No. 3: Will Nnamdi Asomugha land in the AFC North?

Answer: The overall answer is no. I do not expect Asomugha to land in the AFC North. But if any team in the division has a fighting chance to get Asomugha, it's the Baltimore Ravens. Asomugha has a history with new Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, who coached Asomugha for two seasons (2005-2006) with the Oakland Raiders. Oakland led the NFL in pass defense in 2006, as Pagano helped Asomugha develop into a star. That connection, along with Baltimore being a contender, could put the Ravens on Asomugha's radar. But money could get in the way as Asomugha is slated to become one of the league's highest-paid players. This summer, Baltimore also is expected to make Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata one of the highest paid at his position, and it's difficult to envision the Ravens fitting in both contracts.

Question No. 4: Will the Browns be aggressive in free agency?

Answer: Yes. The Browns have deep pockets and a lot of needs, which is usually a formula for teams to make significant moves in free agency. The Browns will have plenty of cap space -- if there is a cap -- so look for them to land at least one or two key additions. We mentioned two potential targets recently in defensive end Ray Edwards and safety Donte Whitner. Cleveland won't be able to compete with Pittsburgh and Baltimore until it closes the talent gap, so the Browns need impact players. Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Browns is competing with other aggressive teams and convincing free agents why they should join a rebuilding team this season.

Question No. 5: Which players are on the chopping block?

Answer: There are several interesting names to keep an eye on in the division. The two near-certainties are Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco and Ravens running back Willis McGahee. Both likely will be cut whenever a new collective bargaining agreement is reached because of their declining production and high salaries. Both are scheduled to make $6 million next season, and the Ravens and Bengals will be eager to slash that off their books and allocate those resources elsewhere. Also, Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme and Bengals defensive ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom could be additional salary casualties in the AFC North.

Question No. 6: So where will Ochocinco end up?

Answer: The Bengals don't want Ochocinco, but there should be several teams interested in his services. Ochocinco, 33, is no longer a Pro Bowl-type receiver. But he can still be a solid threat and fits best on a contending team as a complementary weapon. In my opinion, the best fits for Ochocinco are the New York Jets and New England Patriots. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has publicly campaigned to get Ochocinco to New York, and Ochocinco himself has said he would love to play for the Patriots; he has a good relationship with coach Bill Belichick. Both teams are expected to be contenders next season.

Question No. 7: Will the Bengals trade quarterback Carson Palmer?

Answer: That decision is up to Bengals owner Mike Brown, and I don't see him changing his mind to make a move. From Day 1, Brown has been consistent in saying he has no intention of trading Palmer, who threatened to retire. There was a small ray of hope after the draft, once the Bengals landed Dalton, that Brown could have a change of heart. But he ended that speculation this week. I think it's a mistake for the Bengals to not at least field offers for Palmer and determine if the value is there. Palmer seems serious about his trade demands and it wouldn't do Cincinnati much good to have Palmer sitting at home in California. Multiple draft picks in 2012 could help the future of the Bengals franchise, but it appears Brown is more worried about setting a precedent for other unhappy players to leave. For now, it looks like the ball is back in Palmer's court to either return to Cincinnati or retire.

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

• The Baltimore Ravens will launch their own passing camp this week at Towson University.

Morning take: Quarterback Joe Flacco and other Ravens will get to work during this NFL lockout. This is a big year for Flacco in his fourth season, and he can't let the work stoppage get in the way.

• Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson says it's great that rookie Andy Dalton wants to wear his old No. 14.

Morning take: If Dalton is half as successful as Anderson, the rookie will have a solid career in Cincinnati. Here is some advice for Dalton.

• Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward is closer to winning "Dancing With The Stars" after another stellar performance Monday.

Morning take: Ward has a chance to add another title to his résumé and remains the favorite. Will the offseason dancing help Ward become more nimble next season?

• The New York Jets' overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 10 was among last season's most entertaining games.

Morning take: That was an intense contest that was very close to ending in a tie. But a couple of tactical errors down the stretch cost the Browns, and their season went downhill from there.

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

• Would Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, who likely will be released, be a good fit with the New York Jets?

Morning take: I like this potential pairing. New York is a contender and a big enough market to handle Ochocinco's personality. It also doesn't hurt that Jets star corner Darrelle Revis has been campaigning for Ocho.

• Do the Cleveland Browns have enough linebackers on defense?

Morning take: Cleveland could use more depth behind its starters. D'Qwell Jackson (pectoral) and Scott Fujita (knee) are coming off season-ending injuries, so the Browns need protection.

• Will the Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign running back Willie Parker?

Morning take: I don't see it. Parker is now 30, injury prone and really hit a wall the last two years. But that doesn't mean Parker didn't have a great career in Pittsburgh.

• Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski's next fight will be on June 4.

Morning take: Zbikowski (4-0) will face Mike Howell (2-1), who at least has a winning record. We will see if this opponent can last more than a round with Zbikowski.