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CINCINNATI -- For your game-day warm-up, here are the scenarios that affect the AFC North teams today:

RAVENS

Ravens clinch AFC North title and a first-round bye if ...

• Baltimore beats Cincinnati
• or Baltimore ties and Pittsburgh loses or ties
• or Pittsburgh loses at Cleveland

Ravens clinch top seed and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs if ...

• Baltimore wins and New England loses at home to Buffalo

STEELERS

Steelers clinch AFC North title and a first-round bye if ...

• Pittsburgh beats Cleveland and Baltimore loses or ties
• or Pittsburgh ties and Baltimore loses at Cincinnati

Steelers clinch top seed and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs if ...

• Pittsburgh wins, Baltimore loses or ties and New England loses

BENGALS

Bengals clinch a playoff spot if ...

• Cincinnati beats or ties Baltimore
• or Jets lose at Miami or tie AND Oakland loses to or ties San Diego at home
• or Jets lose or tie AND Denver loses to or ties Kansas City at home

BROWNS

• Cleveland guarantees itself a top-five draft pick with a loss to Pittsburgh
• Cleveland could fall as low as No. 8 with a win

Let's see who's falling and rising after Week 3 of the preseason.

Falling

1. Cleveland Browns' ball security: The Browns were efficient for the most part during the first two weeks of the preseason. But something got into this team in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cleveland was sloppy and turnover-prone in Week 3. The Browns fumbled three times (lost two on special teams), and quarterback Colt McCoy threw an interception to Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. The Browns don't have enough talent to overcome so many mistakes in the regular season. The Browns need to get back to playing smart, mistake-free football.

2. Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens receiver: So far Smith doesn't appear ready to contribute right away to the Ravens. The rookie second-round pick has suffered some early drops and is thinking too much on the field. The hesitancy also is taking away Smith's biggest asset, which is his speed. Receivers often take time to adjust to the NFL. Smith has shown a few flashes but still has a ways to go.

3. Adam Jones, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback: When a significant trade is made in the NFL, that often means the team isn't confident with the player(s) currently on the roster. That's likely the case with the health of Jones, who continues to rehab from two offseason neck surgeries. The Bengals acquired former Seattle Seahawks corner Kelly Jennings this week. Jones missed all of training camp and the preseason. The Bengals were hoping Jones could make it back for Week 1. But Jones could be a candidate for the physically unable to perform list (PUP).

Rising

1. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver: Brown exploded against the Atlanta Falcons last week. He recorded four receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns. In fact, Brown has been the most impressive AFC North player in the preseason, according to our recent poll. He’s the favorite to land Pittsburgh’s No. 3 receiver role.

2. Tyrod Taylor, Baltimore Ravens quarterback: Taylor is another player whose stock continues to rise. The rookie had another solid outing against the Washington Redskins. Taylor threw for 125 yards and one touchdown and he led the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. The Ravens haven't officially named their No. 2 quarterback. But Taylor is making a very strong case.

3. Crezdon Butler, Steelers cornerback: Butler made a big impression on Pittsburgh's coaching staff with nine tackles and a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown against Atlanta. The Steelers need answers in their secondary before their Week 1 showdown against Baltimore. Starters Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden have been out with injuries. Younger players like Butler and Keenan Lewis need to step up.

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

• The Pittsburgh Steelers have to decide soon if Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch will be the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Ben Roethlisberger.

Morning take: Dixon is younger, and the ability to make plays with his feet adds another dimension to Pittsburgh's offense. That may give him the edge.

• The Cleveland Browns claim former Baltimore Ravens guard/tackle Oniel Cousins off waivers.

Morning take: The fall has been fast for Cousins. He was Baltimore's starting right tackle a few weeks ago, then a right guard and now he's with Cleveland. Cousins has a shot to replace Eric Steinbach, who is out with a back injury.

• Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is preaching patience with rookie receiver Torrey Smith.

Morning take: The second-round draft pick has had some drops in the preseason. Baltimore hopes Smith can put those behind him and contribute.

• New Cincinnati Bengals corner Kelly Jennings will add speed to their secondary.

Morning take: Jennings will play right away behind starters Leon Hall and Nate Clements. Pass defense has been an issue for the Bengals in the preseason.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns completed Week 3 of the preseason Thursday night.

Here are some observations:

Bengals 24, Panthers 13

The Good

• We warned Bengals fans to be patient with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton. He showed solid improvement against Carolina. Dalton connected with A.J. Green for a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was the first touchdown for both players, who are expected to be a big part of Cincinnati's future. Dalton finished 11-of-17 for 130 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 107.5 passer rating.
• Dalton had success because Cincinnati was able to run the football. Tailbacks Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott were both effective. Benson rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries, and Scott added 63 yards on six carries. With a young quarterback, this is the bread and butter of Cincinnati's new West Coast offense.

The Bad

• Turnovers continue to be an issue for the Bengals. Dalton and running back Brian Leonard both lost fumbles Thursday night. Cincinnati's offense needs to take care of the ball better in the regular season. In addition to his fumble, Dalton also has three interceptions and a botched handoff with Benson this preseason.
• Cincinnati needs to be a little more disciplined with the pass rush. Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton made some running plays with his feet because Bengals defenders left their lanes. Newton scored his only touchdown on a 16-yard run. Newton also had a 26-yard scramble. Otherwise, Cincinnati's first-team defense played well.

Eagles 24, Browns 14

The Good

• The Browns got good production from backup quarterbacks Seneca Wallace and Jarrett Brown against the Eagles. Both led touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to make the final score somewhat respectable. Brown, a third-stringer, had his best performance of the preseason. He was 4-of-4 for 35 yards, one touchdown and 16 yards rushing.
• Browns backup running back Montario Hardesty saw his first game action of the preseason. He recorded five carries for 15 yards. More importantly, Hardesty left the game healthy. Last year, the 2010 second-round draft pick blew out his knee in Cleveland's final preseason game.

The Bad

• Browns quarterback Colt McCoy had his first poor outing of the preseason. McCoy didn't handle the rainy conditions well and had a tough assignment against a motivated Eagles defense. The Pittsburgh Steelers had their way with Philadelphia's star-studded group last week. You knew the Eagles weren't going to play poorly two games in a row. McCoy was 9-of-18 for 89 yards and an interception.
• Cleveland's defense didn't play that well. The Eagles' first team took advantage of turnovers to jump on the Browns' starters, taking a 17-0 lead at halftime. There were some highlights for Cleveland, such as Phil Taylor's sack and forced fumble. But overall, Philadelphia, a Super Bowl contender, showed how much work still needs to be done in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in the "Battle of Ohio" in Week 1. It will be an important tone-setter for both AFC North teams.

The game also marks the first NFL meeting between Texas natives Colt McCoy and Andy Dalton. The rival quarterbacks are vying to become the long-term solutions for the Browns and Bengals, respectively. Much of their success will hinge on their ability to win division games.

McCoy looks ahead of the rookie Dalton in two preseason games. McCoy, who is in his second year, leads Dalton in every major statistical category. McCoy has more yards, a better completion percentage and four more touchdowns.

Dalton, a second-round pick, hasn't looked sharp. He's thrown for only 155 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

Cleveland's West Coast offense is more in sync than Cincinnati's West Coast offense halfway through the preseason. Dalton has to play better in the coming weeks to build momentum to face McCoy and the Browns in the regular season.

What is the price for keeping two of the NFL's best young linebackers together?

It's $111.5 million for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That is the amount Pittsburgh recently invested in 2007 draft picks LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. The dynamic pair were back-to-back selections for the Steelers four years ago. Both got huge extensions just several weeks apart.

Pittsburgh signed Timmons to a six-year, $50 million contract on Tuesday. The former first-round pick recorded 135 tackles and two interceptions last season. Many in the Steelers' organization believe Timmons, 25, still hasn't reached his potential and could be one of the top inside linebackers in the NFL.

Woodley, who signed a six-year, $61.5 million contract, will join Timmons in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. James Harrison, 33, and James Farrior, 36, won't play much longer. But the great tradition and future of Pittsburgh's linebacking corps is secure with Timmons and Woodley.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- It's a new era in Cincinnati. But will it result in more victories?

That's the question facing the new-look Cincinnati Bengals this season.

Cincinnati hit the reset button after a disappointing 4-12 campaign in 2010. The Bengals moved on from the Carson Palmer-Chad Ochocinco era, replacing them with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and No. 4 overall pick A.J. Green.

But going young often brings growing pains. That was evident in Cincinnati's lackluster 34-3 loss to the Detroit Lions in Friday's preseason opener. The Bengals' starters and backups looked shell-shocked and were dominated on offense, defense and special teams.

"It's our first step in a long, long journey," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told reporters Friday night. "There's a lot of work to do. I knew it coming in. Now we have a chance to coach off the tape and make corrections off the tape and get after it quickly."

The rebuilding Bengals have nowhere to go but up this season. They were ranked last in ESPN.com's preseason Power Rankings.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Is Andy Dalton ready?

Palmer's unexpected retirement in January thrust Dalton into the starting lineup as a rookie.

This is unfamiliar territory for Lewis. Lewis sat Palmer, a No. 1 overall pick, during his entire rookie year in 2003.

I asked Lewis this week about his different approach with rookie quarterbacks.

"The football team that I took over in 2003 couldn't afford to lose games because of the quarterback," Lewis said. "They had a guy who had been in the seat and a lot of people were very, very comfortable with. Jon [Kitna] had done some good things, so it was a different situation.

"This football team is put together differently. They're tough, they're physical, they know how to go out there and compete. I didn't know those things coming in 2003. I know what this team is made of now. I know where the leaders are. I didn't know those guys then."

The Bengals hope to get immediate results from Dalton. He made some rookie mistakes in practice during the week and looked shaky in his preseason debut. Dalton's first throw was an interception. His third pass attempt was a sack. He finished with 69 passing yards and a pick.

Overall, Dalton is confident and has good presence. But things will not come together overnight.

2. How is Cincinnati’s new West Coast offense?

The West Coast offense is known for its precision passing. But expect a heavy dose of tailback Cedric Benson in Cincinnati's system.

First-year offensive coordinator Jay Gruden acknowledged that he wants a power running game to protect his rookie quarterback. Benson is coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons. He is the most reliable offensive commodity the Bengals have.

If Benson runs well, it should open things up for Cincinnati's passing game. Gruden is particularly high on starting receivers Green and Jerome Simpson.

Look for Cincinnati's opponents to stack the box against the run this season. But Gruden will not be afraid to take shots downfield with Simpson and Green, based on what I've seen in practice.

"Those two guys on the outside are very athletic," Gruden said. "You almost have to take a different approach as a quarterback when those two guys are running down the field. If a defensive back has his back turned, you have to give [the receiver] a chance. A lot of times you want to tell a quarterback, 'It's either us or nobody.' But with these two guys you can throw it up high and let them go get it."

3. Can the defense rebound?

The Bengals were No. 4 in total defense in 2009. That led to a playoff run.

In 2010, Cincinnati's defense dropped to No. 15. The Bengals finished 4-12 last season.

The success of the defense is vital. The Bengals return veterans such as cornerback Leon Hall, defensive lineman Domata Peko, safety Chris Crocker and third-year linebacker Rey Maualuga. The team also added cornerback Nate Clements to replace Johnathan Joseph and new linebackers Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard.

Improving the pass rush will be key. The Bengals only had 27 sacks in 16 games last season. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap accounted for 9.5 of those sacks.

Speed on defense also is an issue. Cincinnati is not very fast in the front seven or in the secondary.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I went into Bengals camp unfamiliar with Colin Cochart. But by the end of the week, the undrafted rookie tight end from South Dakota State was one of my favorite players.

Cochart is an aggressive blocker, which is a valued commodity. He blocked in every practice as though it was the Super Bowl. That got under some teammates' skin and caused some extra pushing and shoving.

Cochart's blocking makes him a sleeper to make the Bengals as a third tight end behind Jermaine Gresham and Bo Scaife.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

I wanted to see more from backup running back Bernard Scott. But he has been sidelined most of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Many players across the league, particularly speedy ones, are suffering hamstring injuries after the lockout. Scott showed flashes in past seasons. But he needs to stay healthy and be more reliable to back up Benson this season.

OBSERVATION DECK

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Carlos OsorioReceiver A.J. Green, a first-round draft pick, has looked as good as advertised so far in camp.
• Green is the real deal. He is an extremely good athlete with great hands and the ability to go up and get the football. But he needs to work on is his routes. Green relied mostly on athleticism in high school and college. He needs to be more precise getting out of his cuts to get the most out of Cincinnati's West Coast offense. There is little margin for error at the NFL level.
• Former 2009 first-round pick Andre Smith is in much better shape this year. He is down to 335 pounds. Smith's quickness, footwork and endurance have improved. This is his first full training camp. He missed the first two camps because of a contract dispute and prior injuries. Smith's weight loss also takes pressure off his surgically repaired foot.
• Veteran backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski looks to be a decent signing. Gradkowski knows the West Coast offense and is making plays in camp. The Bengals are counting on Dalton to be the starter. Dalton's ceiling is higher. But right now there isn't a wide gap separating Cincinnati's top two quarterbacks.
• Simpson looks ready to bust out. He was one of the best players in practice last week and continues to make highlight-reel catches, even when covered by defenders. Simpson has been quiet for three seasons in Cincinnati. But he finished strong in the final month of last season. Simpson has to prove he can be productive for 16 games.
• The Bengals can use a healthy Adam Jones this season. The backup cornerback will miss all of training camp after neck surgery. Jones is by far Cincinnati's best athlete in the secondary. It doesn't appear the commissioner will act on Jones' offseason arrest for disorderly conduct. Jones says he was wrongfully arrested.
• Michael Johnson looks more comfortable back at defensive end. The Bengals experimented with moving Johnson to outside linebacker last season, but he never looked comfortable standing up. Now, Johnson is making more plays in training camp at his natural position. He was listed as a starter on the team's first depth chart.
• Maualuga is another player who looks better at his natural position of middle linebacker. He has good instincts and is a force against the run. Maualuga sheds blocks well and gets to ball carriers. He had two tackles for loss Friday against Detroit. The past two seasons Maualuga often was forced to cover tight ends in pass coverage and struggled.

BEREA, Ohio -- On the first day of practice, Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor is already on the first team.

Although Taylor missed four days of training camp in a contract dispute, Cleveland wasted no time getting its first-round pick acclimated to the starting lineup. Taylor was lined up opposite fellow defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin with Cleveland's No. 1 defense Thursday during the team’s morning walk-through.

If the Browns have it their way, that won't change any time soon. Taylor is expected to be a vital cog in Cleveland's new 4-3 defense this season.

"I feel great just to be out there with the guys practicing and learning a new defense," Taylor said. "I've played in the 4-3 my whole college career. So it's not that hard."

Taylor was the last rookie to sign in the AFC North. The Browns and Taylor’s representation bickered over the fourth year being guaranteed. Cleveland eventually relented.

Taylor had weight issues in college but looks lean and in shape. He says he weighs 338 pounds, which is around his ideal playing weight. Rubin weighs 315 pounds, which makes for 653 pounds of beef in the front of Cleveland's defense.

"I'm happy he's here," Browns middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said of Taylor. "I told him, 'You take care of me, and I will take care of you.'"

Rubin, 25, is already one of the young, up-and-coming defensive tackles in the NFL. If Taylor, the No. 21 overall pick, also pans out, Cleveland could have two young anchors on defense for years to come.

"We're focused on stopping the run and at the same time trying to get to the passer," Rubin said. "I think Phil is a good pass-rusher. So we will wait and see what happens. I'm excited."

After missing four days of practice, Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur was asked Tuesday if first-round pick Phil Taylor will get immediate work with the starters.

"When he gets in town he's going to get in there, that's for sure," Shurmur said.

That's how much the Browns need Taylor on their thin defensive line this season. Cleveland reached a four-year agreement with the rookie and expects Taylor to be the Week 1 starter. After a lengthy NFL lockout and a late start to training camp, Taylor must be a fast learner.

Both sides bickered the past few days over having the fourth year of the contract guaranteed. It is unknown which side relented but clearly enough progress was made to reach a deal.

Taylor was drafted No. 21 overall and will team up with fellow defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin to anchor Cleveland's new 4-3 defense.

A lot of Cleveland Browns fans are asking me what the holdup is with Browns rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor? The first-round pick is the only AFC North rookie who remains unsigned and isn't in training camp.

From what I'm hearing behind the scenes, the biggest issue is the fourth-year guarantee. Signed picks from No. 1-20 received guaranteed money in the first four years of their contracts. But Taylor is the No. 21 overall pick, and I'm told the Browns right now are only offering the first three years guaranteed.

The interesting part is pick No. 25 -- James Carpenter of the Seattle Seahawks -- did accept three years of guaranteed money. So that's currently the bar in the first round. If Taylor settles for the same at No. 21, that would set a new standard following the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement.

Things can change rapidly in contract negotiations. So it's unknown if Taylor will accept the current offer, or the Browns will eventually guarantee the fourth year. But as of Monday afternoon, that is where things stand.

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.

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers got together as a team for the first time since linebacker James Harrison made explosive comments about a bevy of people, including two of his teammates.

But the sentiment Thursday was, "That's just James being James.”

"James is a little bit of a different type of guy," Steelers defensive lineman Casey Hampton said. "He does his own thing. But you know one thing: He's going to give it to you [on the field]. He's a good teammate, and I don't think anyone will disagree with that."

In an interview with Men's Journal, Harrison ripped teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and several other current and former players. Harrison's comments made national headlines for days during a slow lockout period.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the team is currently focusing on a lot of different things with the start of the league year and has yet to discuss whether there would be any internal punishment for Harrison. But Tomlin doesn't anticipate any issues within his locker room.

"We have a unique group of guys who are uniquely close," Tomlin said. "I would imagine it didn't register as big a blip on the radar as you might imagine. Guys on the team know and love and respect James. They know how he is. To a degree, some of the things he says they take with a grain of salt, to be quite honest with you."

Tomlin's biggest gripe was Harrison's harsh comments made toward Goodell, which Tomlin described as "inappropriate."

Harrison reported to camp but didn't talk with the media Thursday. Several other players who had offseason issues, such as receiver Hines Ward and Mendenhall, also skipped the opportunity to speak publicly.

Here are other notes of interest from Steelers camp:

• The Steelers have agreed to terms with free-agent offensive lineman Willie Colon, who has a chance to replace Max Starks at one of the tackle spots. Tomlin was noncommittal on who his starting tackles would be. But right now Colon and veteran Flozell Adams are probably the two best candidates.
• The Steelers have all their rookie draft picks signed with the exception of first-round pick Cameron Heyward and third-round pick Curtis Brown. Pittsburgh also will start camp with three players on the physically unable to perform list -- Ward (thumb), guard Chris Kemoeatu (knee) and defensive end Eugene Bright (shoulder). But none of the injuries appears to be serious.
• Tomlin dodged the Plaxico Burress topic Thursday, mostly saying he’s a free agent and it's not good business to talk about players not under contract.
• Pittsburgh held a "conditioning evaluation" instead of a conditioning test before training camp this year. Due to the lengthy lockout, the coaches have had no contact or workouts with players during the offseason, which will be a challenge.

The Cleveland Browns continue to send mixed messages when it comes to their wide receivers.

When the offseason began, president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were confident in their much-maligned group. But later that spring, they used a high draft pick to select former North Carolina receiver Greg Little in the second round.

After the draft, the Browns' brass said, again, it likes this year's group and feels the West Coast offense will help struggling receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie. But on Monday, Holmgren identified wide receiver as a big need in free agency on the "Cleveland Browns Daily" radio show.

"Certain positions I think are fairly obvious that we're probably going to look at a little stronger than others," Holmgren explained. "The wide receiver position is a position we're going to look at, [and] we're going to look at some defensive linemen, even though we drafted a couple."

Although I agree Cleveland is thin at receiver, the Browns need to be more consistent with their message. It appears they're trying to play both sides by saying they believe in Massaquoi and Robiskie, while also trying to acquire players who can replace them in the starting lineup.

Mixed messages aside, it's a smart move for the Browns to be in a market for a receiver. A starting-caliber receiver would help second-year quarterback Colt McCoy develop, and McCoy will need all the help he can get learning a new offense in a short amount of time.

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Readiness factor: The Bengals will have continuity on defense under Mike Zimmer, but the offense probably will face a learning curve with a new system and a lot of young skill players to deal with. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is bringing his brand of the West Coast offense to Cincinnati but hasn't had any practice time with the players. For the Bengals to be successful, the defense needs to play at the same level it did during the 2009 season -- at least early on -- until the young offense is able to catch up.

Biggest challenge: Cincinnati needs clarity and a distraction-free training camp at quarterback. Rookie second-round pick Andy Dalton is expected to take over for veteran Carson Palmer, who has threatened to retire. His threat won't stop the constant questions and speculation about whether the Bengals will trade Palmer, though. There is also a remote chance Palmer could have a change of heart and return to the team, because he remains under contract. It will be up to Dalton and the Bengals' coaching staff to remain focused on the task at hand and not worry about the dark cloud the Palmer situation has created.

Second-year standouts: One key to Cincinnati's success will be the progress of second-year players coming off strong rookie seasons. Starting tight end Jermaine Gresham, defensive end Carlos Dunlap and receiver Jordan Shipley all performed well in 2010. They made their share of rookie mistakes last season, but if they improve and make solid strides this season, they will be huge for the Bengals.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Bengals starting tailback Cedric Benson will be an interesting case after a recent arrest on assault charges. He was the team's biggest free-agent priority. But the Bengals may rethink their strategy, especially if Benson is facing a suspension to start the 2011 season. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph is more difficult to predict. The Bengals like Joseph but have given no indication they want to pay market value for good cornerbacks, which ranges between $8 to $10 million per season. Receiver Terrell Owens is another big name, but he will not return. The Bengals are going younger at the position, and Owens had a major knee injury in the offseason.

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Readiness factor: The Browns are by no means ready and are arguably the team hardest-hit by the lockout. They have a new offense to install, a new defense and a rookie head coach who still needs to learn his players. On top of that, Cleveland still has a lot of holes to fill in free agency and should be out to sign several key players as soon as possible. The Browns need to get to work immediately on all of these things if they want to avoid a slow start and contend in the AFC North.

Biggest challenge: Getting second-year quarterback Colt McCoy and the rest of the West Coast offense in sync is Cleveland's biggest task. The West Coast offense is primarily based on timing and precision, and Cleveland may lack both early. This is a huge year for McCoy, and he must quickly learn his second offense in two NFL seasons. McCoy is put in a tough spot, but he knows there will be no excuses if he doesn't turn out to be the long-term solution in Cleveland this year.

Rookie watch: The Browns are lacking talent compared with other teams in the division, so they are hoping for an immediate impact from their rookie class. Defensive linemen Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard are expected to start in Week 1, and the Browns have high expectations for second-round receiver Greg Little, who missed all of 2010 because of suspension. The lockout hurts all of these rookies, but this year's class will be given every chance to earn significant roles during training camp.

Key players without contracts for 2011: The Browns have already made most of their decisions on which in-house free agents they want to keep, but there were a few surprises. Fullback Lawrence Vickers, one of the best at his position, is set to hit the open market. Former starting cornerback Eric Wright has a better chance of returning but may garner interest. Veteran kicker Phil Dawson was offered the franchise tag but hasn't signed it, which leaves his future in Cleveland up in the air.