AFC North: NFL Live
'NFL Live' crew picks Steelers over Bengals
ESPN's "NFL Live" crew -- Mark Schlereth and Marcellus Wiley -- both chose the Pittsburgh Steelers to win at Cincinnati. Click on the video to hear their reasons why.
I will be among several ESPN.com staff members chatting and providing observations for Sunday's AFC Championship Game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts at 3 p.m.
I've seen both teams up close recently, as the Colts knocked off the Baltimore Ravens last week and New York beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round. So it should be an interesting game.
The AFC North and AFC East blogs will be in Cincinnati to bring you all the details from the rematch of New York’s 37-0 drubbing of the Bengals in Week 17.
Here is the link and enjoy the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Chad Ochocinco will be in Bristol, Conn., for a full slate of ESPN programming Thursday.
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Ochocinco will make guest appearances on "First Take," debating Skip Bayless, "The Herd" radio show with Colin Cowherd and both "NFL Live" and "SportsCenter."
The Bengals are 5-2 entering their bye week and tied for first place in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I’m particularly interested to see Ochocinco and Bayless debate. The two have been going at each other for months.
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
When it comes to respect and popularity on a nationwide scale, the Cincinnati Bengals are very low on the NFL totem pole.
With that said, will a national audience tune in this summer to watch HBO's "Hard Knocks" series when it records the ups and downs of Bengals training camp?
Former NFL cornerback and ESPN analyst James Hasty has his doubts.
"I just want to know why we would even want to watch the Cincinnati Bengals?" Hasty said this week on ESPN's NFL Live. "I think we're going to watch them for one reason and one reason alone: How not to run a professional franchise."
Ouch!
Many league observers agreed with Hasty and felt Cincinnati was a curious choice by HBO, especially coming off last summer when the network filmed the Dallas Cowboys, also known as "America's Team."
The Bengals are anything but America's Team. But they do have an interesting mix of personalities led by top receiver Chad Ochocinco, who should be in rare form.
Besides actually living it this summer during my time in Georgetown, Ky., I will be curiously watching "Hard Knocks" on a regular basis when visiting the AFC North's other three camps.
But will that make me the exception or the rule?
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
BEREA, Ohio -- In light of the Cleveland Browns holding their mandatory minicamp this week, the latest version of "Take your pick" in the AFC North involves the most polarizing argument with the team.
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Who will be the starting quarterback for Cleveland in 2009: Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?
Quinn is the former first-round pick in 2007 who is getting his first chance to compete for the starting job this offseason. He showed flashes in limited playing time last season, but didn't do enough to permanently take over the position.
Anderson is a former Pro Bowler who nearly led the Browns to the playoffs in 2007. But he hasn't looked the same since that season and may be down to his final opportunity in Cleveland.
With an entirely new coaching staff, led by head coach Eric Mangini, both Quinn and Anderson have a clean slate and an equal chance to win the starting job.
So take your pick between these two quarterbacks.
Send your thoughts to our AFC North inbox or in the comment section below. We will revisit this topic on Monday and run the best responses. Also, your resident blogger will be updating Cleveland's quarterback situation later this afternoon on ESPN's NFL Live at 4 p.m. ET.
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Your resident AFC North blogger will be on two programs this afternoon talking about the NFL's Ohio teams.
At 4 p.m. on ESPN's "NFL Live," I will be doing a segment on the relationship between Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals. Also, around 5:25 p.m., I will be talking Bengals and Cleveland Browns on "The Big Show" in Columbus, Ohio, with Chris Spielman and Bruce Hooley.
For those who do not live in central Ohio and want to listen live online, here is the link.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Jamison Hensley
Hensley joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he lives in the Baltimore area with his wife.
