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Here's one way the New England Patriots can get back to the Super Bowl: Sign receiver Mike Wallace, one of the best players in free agency.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Pro Bowler is a restricted free agent who is ripe for the taking. Pittsburgh has salary-cap issues this offseason and cut many of its veteran players. The team also could not afford to put a franchise tag on Wallace.

A first-round pick and a good contract offer are the only things standing in the way of Wallace joining the reigning AFC champions. New England should be the first team in line to throw caution to the wind and pry Wallace from Pittsburgh next week when free agency begins.

Here are several reasons why this is a smart move for New England:

Reason No. 1: Patriots have plenty of draft picks, cap space

This is the perfect year for the Patriots to pounce. Unlike the Steelers, New England has plenty of cap room and more than enough draft picks to make a solid pitch for Wallace.

The cost for Wallace would be a first-round pick and a contract extension. New England has two first-rounders (No. 27 and No. 31) and two second-rounders. Losing one of those early picks would not hurt the Patriots. New England likely would not get an immediate, Pro Bowl-caliber player at the end of the first round anyway. Wallace would count as part of the Patriots' draft class. New England could add a top-10 receiver in his prime.

New England's best chance is to offer Wallace a front-loaded contract. The key is to provide a high amount of guaranteed money and salary in the first season, which would count against this year's cap. The Patriots have that luxury over Pittsburgh and can use it to their advantage.

The Patriots entered the offseason with more cap space than any team in the AFC East. Receiver Wes Welker's franchise tag would take up some of that, but the Patriots still can offer Wallace more than Pittsburgh. New England may have to eventually work out an extension with Welker, as a result, but the Patriots are considering that option anyway.

Reason No. 2: Patriots need a deep threat

Imagine the possibilities: Tom Brady throwing to Welker and Rob Gronkowski underneath, and Wallace and Aaron Hernandez vertically. That would be a passing attack that is tough to stop.

New England's best deep threat last year was Hernandez, its backup tight end. He was the only player who could consistently get vertical and was a threat for making huge plays.

Wallace's speed would bring a unique element to New England's offense. He is arguably the best deep threat in the NFL and has 23 receptions of 40 yards or more the past three seasons. The Patriots' offense hasn't had that type of big-play capability since Randy Moss.

There are criticisms that Wallace is a "one-trick pony." That’s debatable. But getting deep is really all the Patriots would need from Wallace. New England's other receivers and tight ends will take care of the underneath routes and allow Wallace to focus on what he does best.

Reason No. 3: It hurts a big AFC rival

The Steelers are one of the most well-run and respected franchises in the NFL. The ownership, front office and coaching are all top notch.

Therefore, Pittsburgh consistently poses one of the biggest threats to New England in the AFC. The Steelers and Patriots combined for eight Super Bowl appearances the past 11 years. If Pittsburgh didn't get "Tebowed" by the Denver Broncos in January, the Patriots would've had another tough playoff matchup against Pittsburgh. The Steelers beat New England in the regular season.

Signing Wallace away from Pittsburgh would simultaneously strengthen New England and hurt the Steelers' depth at receiver. The Steelers already released team captain and all-time leading receiver Hines Ward. In terms of leadership, Ward leaves a huge void that is tough to replace. Losing Wallace, Pittsburgh's best receiver, would be another big blow.

Pittsburgh also cut starting linebacker James Farrior, starting guard Chris Kemoeatu and veteran defensive end Aaron Smith. Years of manipulating the cap is finally catching up to the Steelers, and it could cost the team Wallace if New England or another team goes after him.

Reason No. 4: No harm, no foul

Let's say the Steelers find a way to match New England's offer. That could still work in New England's favor.

The Patriots would retain their first-round pick and cap room, while forcing Pittsburgh overpay on a front-loaded contract to keep Wallace. The Steelers, as a result, would have more issues with the cap. For the Patriots, there's no harm in trying.

New England also has options. The Patriots could quickly turn its attention to veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd, who is a viable Plan B. Lloyd wants to reunite with new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and would be happy to join the reigning AFC champs. Instead of the home run (Wallace), New England could settle for a triple (Lloyd).

Going after Wallace in free agency is a win-win for the Patriots, regardless of the result.

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

• Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk isn't worried about the addition of Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode.

Morning take: Birk says he's healthy, which puts him in line to start Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gurode needs to learn the scheme and get his feet under him. But Gurode is younger and could eventually be the starter.

• The Steelers are jumping into the regular season the hard way with a tough road game against the Ravens.

Morning take: You can't find a more intense start for either team. Baltimore will be fired up after getting knocked out by Pittsburgh recently in the playoffs. Here is a poll on who AFC North fans think will win the game.

• The Cleveland Browns' offensive line is in flux leading into their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Morning take: Left guard is the biggest question. You forget how important Eric Steinbach (back) is to the team until he's out for the season.

• Bengals running back Cedric Benson is happy to be back following a brief jail stint.

Morning take: Benson was wise to get his legal issues behind him before the start of the season. He will be a big part of the Bengals' offense this season and now has a clear head.

The Baltimore Ravens added a Pro Bowler to their offensive line on Sunday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Ravens agreed to terms with Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode to a one-year deal.

Here are some thoughts on the move:

• I like that the Ravens haven't been afraid to patch holes on their roster. Baltimore recently traded for receiver Lee Evans, signed left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and just solidified the center spot with Gurode. These were three big question marks on the team several weeks ago. That is no longer the case.
• What does this mean for veteran center Matt Birk? He's coming off knee surgery. This could be a sign the Ravens aren't confident in Birk heading into the Steelers game. Gurode has been a starter most of his career and eventually will be a starter in Baltimore. It's just a matter of how quickly Gurode can pick up the offense.
• I keep harping on the point that defensive lineman Haloti Ngata still has the franchise tag. The Ravens could add a couple more solid players if they reach a long-term agreement with Ngata. An extension was expected weeks ago, but talks clearly have been more difficult than expected.

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

• Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White will provide a good test for Baltimore Ravens first-round pick Jimmy Smith.

Morning take: This is a tough matchup for Smith before the regular season. White is big and physical, and these are the type of No. 1 receivers Smith was drafted to stop.

• Will the Cincinnati Bengals only carry two quarterbacks?

Morning take: Andy Dalton and Bruce Gradkowski are locks to make the team. Dan LeFevour may be expendable if Cincinnati wants to use a roster spot on another position.

• Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Doug Legursky will be the team's starting guard this season.

Morning take: Legursky is a blue-collar player who fits the Steelers well. Tony Hills had the first chance but didn't take advantage in the preseason.

• Young players on the Cleveland Browns will try to impress against the Chicago Bears.

Morning take: The Browns are not a deep team. So I'm curious to see which young players step up and make the team for backup roles.

The regular season is set to begin in less than two weeks.

Here are the updated cap numbers for the AFC North, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cap room: $29,030,430

Analysis: Teams are not required to spend to the cap until 2013, and the Bengals are taking advantage. Cincinnati has the third-most cap space in the NFL. Trading receiver Chad Ochocinco and putting quarterback Carson Palmer on the reserve/did not report list will save Cincinnati more than $17 million this year. The Bengals made several free-agent acquisitions, such as Nate Clements and Manny Lawson. But few were big names. They also re-signed starting tailback Cedric Benson for a bargain, one-year deal after Benson had legal issues this summer.

Cleveland Browns

Cap room: $18,856,161

Analysis: The Browns said they would build through the draft and keep their own players. They stuck to that principle this summer. Cleveland didn't make any significant moves in free agency. The Browns had plenty of needs and plenty of money to spend but stood pat. Cleveland's biggest move was giving Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas a huge, seven-year extension worth up to $84 million. It's the biggest deal in NFL history for an offensive or defensive lineman. Still, Cleveland has plenty of cap room to try to work out more extensions with in-house players such as tailback Peyton Hillis and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.

Baltimore Ravens

Cap room: $2,344,835

Analysis: Baltimore's cap number is somewhat deceiving. The team will have more room -- perhaps as much as $5 million to $7 million -- once it reaches a long-term extension with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. The Ravens are working to extend Ngata and remove the franchise tag. But both sides have been unable to reach an agreement. Baltimore has been active and has a chance to make a couple more moves after Saturday's cuts. But the Ravens first have to take care of their in-house business with Ngata.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cap room: $2,268,471

Analysis: General manager Kevin Colbert and cap specialist Omar Khan did an amazing job of transforming the Steelers' cap from about $10 million over to more than $2 million under. Pittsburgh gave out big extensions to cornerback Ike Taylor and linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons in the process. Key players such quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison restructured their deals to assist the Steelers. Pittsburgh kept its team together to make another run this season. Don't expect any additional moves before the start of the season.

The Baltimore Ravens got help on the offensive line by agreeing to a two-year contract with former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie on Tuesday.

Here are several thoughts on the move:

• The first thought is concerning McKinnie's health. He was released by the Vikings after reportedly weighing nearly 400 pounds. I assume McKinnie is closer to playing shape now. Otherwise, the Ravens would not have signed him. But conditioning is something to watch early in the season.
• Baltimore has a decision to make with McKinnie and current left tackle Michael Oher. McKinnie has played left tackle his entire career. But his conditioning is in question, he's on a new team, and he has to learn a new offense in about two weeks. All of these factors could make it risky to ask McKinnie to protect quarterback Joe Flacco's blind side in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If McKinnie becomes a quick study, the Ravens could make the switch. Oher is much better at right tackle.
• This move reminds me of Baltimore's decision in 2008 to sign veteran offensive tackle Willie Anderson. McKinnie, who will be 32 next month, is not the long-term solution. But the Ravens are trying to make a Super Bowl run this year and McKinnie could be a good short-term rental. Anderson gave the Ravens one good year in 2008 at age 33 before retiring. Baltimore advanced to the AFC title game that season.
• Finally, the Ravens realized they couldn't go into the season starting a rookie offensive tackle. Third-round pick Jah Reid might eventually become a good player. But he needs to work on several things before he becomes a full-time starter. Yes, McKinnie's conditioning and work ethic are risks. But at least the Ravens know McKinnie can perform in the NFL at a high level.

The Pittsburgh Steelers secured two of their top young linebackers by extending the contracts of Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. They signed a pair of six-year contracts worth a total of $111.5 million.

That leaves Pittsburgh Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu as the last key player entering the final year of his contract. Will the Steelers also re-sign Polamalu this season?

Although nothing is set in stone, I don't expect Pittsburgh to work out a new deal with Polamalu this year. The updated cap numbers after the Timmons and Woodley extensions are not yet available. But there's likely not enough room for a third mega deal with Polamalu.

The contracts for Timmons and Woodley are both in the $9 to $10 million per year range. Polamalu should command similar money. The Steelers can't pay everyone at the same time.

Time is also of the essence. The regular season starts in a little more than two weeks, and Pittsburgh usually doesn't negotiate contracts once the games begin. Therefore, Polamalu's situation probably won't be addressed this season if a deal isn't reached by Sept. 11.

The franchise tag is a strong possibility. I anticipate the Steelers will approach Polamalu's contract next year similarly to the way they handled Woodley's status. Don't be shocked if Polamalu gets the one-year franchise tender in 2012 to buy time to work out a long-term extension.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns will continue their preseason games Friday night. Baltimore will host the Kansas City Chiefs, while Cleveland hosts the Detroit Lions.

Here are a pair of storylines for each AFC North team:

Ravens

• Will the Ravens improve the offense line? Baltimore allowed six sacks last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Three were against starting tackles Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins. The Ravens moved Cousins to right guard and will start rookie Jah Reid at right tackle against Kansas City. Reid is a raw prospect trying to learn on the fly. We will find out where he stands in his first NFL start.
• This game marks the Ravens debut of wide receiver Lee Evans. The veteran deep threat was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Evans will be the starter opposite Anquan Boldin. Evans is the speedy receiver Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has lacked the past several years. The pair will look to build chemistry in this game.

Browns

• Can Cleveland second-year quarterback Colt McCoy continue his momentum? McCoy had a near-perfect preseason debut last week against the Green Bay Packers. He was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. McCoy also led the offense to two touchdown drives. Detroit should offer a stern test. The Lions' defense looked stout in last week’s 34-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Another fun matchup to watch will be Browns corner Joe Haden against Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson. Both are two of the best, young players at their respective positions. Johnson beat Bengals cornerback Leon Hall for a touchdown last week. Haden will try to prevent "Megatron" from having a big first half tonight.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- How close are the Baltimore Ravens?

Consider this: For three consecutive years, they were eliminated in the postseason by the eventual AFC champions.

That is why the Ravens' mindset is all about getting over the hump in 2011. Since 2008, Baltimore has fallen a step or two short of making a Super Bowl run. A pair of playoff losses to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and one to the Indianapolis Colts have overshadowed an otherwise stellar three-year period.

This season, the Ravens have another good team with high expectations. Baltimore should be in the playoff mix again, barring significant injuries. But it probably will come down to whether the Ravens can beat other title contenders -- like Pittsburgh -- in big games.

"The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league, and we're right there behind them," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said this week in a conference call with season-ticket holders. "Our goal is to get there. We understand that. It's a high bar having them in our division like the Orioles have had the Yankees and the Red Sox in their division for 30 years. We'd rather have it no other way. It's just the way it is."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Joe Flacco take the next step? If this week was any indication, Flacco is easily the most discussed athlete in Baltimore this summer. Nearly every time I turned on the radio, Flacco was being analyzed or compared with other quarterbacks.

The "Bash Flacco" bandwagon started in the offseason, when Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones criticized Flacco. It hasn't stopped since.

Flacco has responded by showing a newfound edge. The fourth-year quarterback has also become a more vocal leader.

Although his stats have steadily improved, Flacco's postseason performances have not. That's where he needs to take the next step. Flacco is 4-3 in the playoffs, but played well in only one of those games -- a wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last January.

2. What to do on the offensive line? There are no easy answers for Baltimore's offensive line. The tackle spots are the biggest problems.

Oniel Cousins has not proved to be the answer at right tackle. Now, the Ravens are experimenting with rookie third-round draft pick Jah Reid to see if he's ready. Reid is expected to get his first NFL start Friday night against the Chiefs.

Former first-round pick Michael Oher was a stellar right tackle as a rookie. But the Ravens moved Oher to left tackle out of necessity in 2010, with mixed results. Baltimore hopes Oher improves in 2011.

Starting guard Marshal Yanda has been dealing with back spasms but could return as early as next week. He's a candidate for right tackle if things don't go well for Reid. Veteran center Matt Birk is out following knee surgery but is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against Pittsburgh.

Baltimore’s offensive line is a hodgepodge group. But the Ravens’ goal is to have clarity by their regular-season opener on Sept. 11.

"We're going to try to work out the best five in some combination," Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said this week. "It may not be ideal, but it's probably our best alternative."

3. Is the defense improved? Baltimore’s defense was ranked No. 10 in the NFL last season. A top-10 ranking is nothing to sneeze at. But the bar for the Ravens' defense is higher.

A leaky secondary and a struggling pass rush were Baltimore's two issues in 2010. Both hurt the Ravens' ability to close out games in the fourth quarter.

Baltimore invested a first-round pick in former Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. He's big, fast and physical. The Ravens haven't had a corner with all of those attributes since former Pro Bowler Chris McAlister.

Also keep an eye on Cary Williams, another big corner who had a good training camp. Williams began working with the first team this week.

"When they prance out there, it's very comforting," Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said of Smith and Williams. "You've got two 6-1, 6-2 guys out there with long arms and guys that can run. It makes it really difficult. When you play tight coverage, it forces the quarterback to put it in tight windows and makes it really hard for the receivers to get off the line."

Pass rush is the biggest lingering issue. The Ravens recorded just 27 sacks in 16 games last season. They didn't add any significant help getting to the quarterback in the draft or free agency.

Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs (11 sacks in 2010) will do his part. The situation gets murky after that.

Second-year linebacker Sergio Kindle may be an option. He was Baltimore’s top draft pick in 2010 but suffered a fractured skull and missed his entire rookie season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Rookie receiver Tandon Doss consistently made plays in practice this week. By all accounts, he did the same throughout camp.

Doss has really good hands. He made tough and routine catches over defenders. Speed was an issue, according to college scouting reports. But Doss was quicker and a little faster than I expected.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The Ravens had high hopes for Cousins. Baltimore anticipated the fourth-year lineman could solidify the right tackle spot this season. But after a full training camp and one preseason game, Cousins failed to step up to the task.

Cousins allowed two sacks in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The coaching staff moved Cousins to right guard this week and hopes he can provide depth there.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Keep an eye on the developing chemistry between Flacco and new receiver Lee Evans. Baltimore recently acquired Evans in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The timing was off in their first full week together. Flacco is still getting used to Evans’ speed and missed him on several throws in practice. Evans told the AFC North blog this week he’s confident they will get on the same page. Evans makes his Ravens debut Friday night against Kansas City.
• My early impression on Reid is that he looks the part at right tackle, but he's still very raw. At times, Reid still seemed like his head was spinning in practice, working with the starters. Strength and size are Reid's biggest assets. But he still needs to play faster and improve his footwork. You also have to consider that Reid didn't get any offseason work or minicamps because of the NFL lockout. Now the Ravens are hoping the third-round pick can earn a job with the starters two weeks into the preseason.
• Cameron says new Ravens fullback Vonta Leach reminds him a lot of former fullback Lorenzo Neal. We agree with the comparison. Leach is well-built and very physical. He will provide a good thump at the line of scrimmage that the Ravens were lacking last season. Leach, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, will also help with pass protection.
• I’ve been impressed with rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He consistently made plays in practice this week and showed promise in Baltimore’s first preseason game. The Ravens are high on the sixth-round pick. Taylor will make the team. But is Baltimore comfortable enough to go into the season with a rookie as the No. 2 quarterback?
• Another player to look out for is Bernard Pollard. He is a big safety who is very physical. Pollard fits well with Baltimore’s defense. Free safety Ed Reed covers a lot of ground in the secondary. That allows Pollard to fly around and hit people, which is what he does best.
• The Ravens should be improved in press coverage this year. Smith and Williams are similar in size and showed good jams at the line of scrimmage this week. Previously, Baltimore gave up a lot of size to receivers. But that won’t be the case when Smith and Williams are on the field.
• Baltimore is suddenly very deep at corner. In addition to Smith and Williams, the Ravens have Lardarius Webb, Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth, who is coming off ACL surgery. The latter three have starting NFL experience but could begin the year as backups.

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

• The Cincinnati Bengals added more defensive help, signing linebacker Manny Lawson to a one-year contract.

Morning take: Cincinnati continues to remake its linebacker corps with Keith Rivers (wrist) hurt and Dhani Jones unlikely to return. Lawson joins Thomas Howard as the two new additions to the Bengals’ defense.

• Baltimore Ravens second-year nose tackle Terrence Cody is the new man in the middle.

Morning take: The release of Kelly Gregg shows how confident Baltimore is in Cody, who showed up to camp in great shape. Playing next to Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata should also help.

• The reigning AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers are in a sprint to get under the salary cap.

Morning take: The Steelers have 48 hours to get to $123 million, which includes the three $1 million exceptions. Several veterans restructuring their contracts, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison, certainly helps.

• Were medical issues the reason defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley didn't join the Cleveland Browns following a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles?

Morning take: It no longer matters at this point, but I find it curious neither the Browns nor the Eagles are willing to explain. If Bunkley passes his physical with the Denver Broncos -- his new team -- there may be more to the story.

Here are the latest happenings Thursday evening in the AFC North:

• Running back Willis McGahee tweeted that he's unsure of his future with the Baltimore Ravens.
• Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison is getting close to 100 percent following offseason back surgery.
• The Cleveland Browns are preparing for training camp at their facility in Berea, Ohio.
• The Cincinnati Bengals are tentatively planning for a report date of July 28 at Georgetown (Ky.) College.

This is a big year for Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Colt McCoy -- not only on the field but with contract bonuses.

After starting eight games as a rookie, McCoy already increased his fourth-year salary from $500,000 to $1.15 million in 2013. But McCoy has several more play-time escalators this season that can be added to the back end of his contract.

The former third-round draft pick has a chance to add as much as $625,000 to his fourth year. Here is the breakdown:

• McCoy can earn an additional $250,000 in 2013 for taking 70 percent of this year's snaps and winning 10 games. McCoy also can also get the same amount with 70 percent playing time and leading the Browns to the playoffs, regardless of wins.
• McCoy can earn an extra $250,000 for taking 80 percent of Cleveland's snaps this year and finishing in the top 10 in any of the six major categories, such as yards or touchdowns.
• Finally, McCoy can earn an additional $125,000 for making the Pro Bowl.

McCoy signed a four-year deal worth a maximum of $5 million in 2010. Many of these escalators were put in to satisfy the "quarterback premium," in the event McCoy turned out to be Cleveland's starter.

McCoy quickly took over the quarterback job as a rookie and exceeded expectations. Will he do the same by reaching these goals this season?

» AFC Future Stars: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the players I expect to be the most dominant in the AFC North from 2014 to 2016.

The AFC North has been dominated mostly by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens for the past decade. But that doesn't mean those two teams are guaranteed to stay on top forever.

The balance of power in the division 3-5 years from now will be decided by which young players develop into the next group of NFL stars. All four teams have up-and-coming players with the potential to be future Pro Bowlers.

Here is a look at one player from each team who could dominate in the AFC North from 2014 to 2016:

Mike Wallace, Steelers receiver: In just two seasons, Wallace has already established himself as an elite deep threat. He has averaged 20.3 yards per reception over his career and recorded 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The scary part is that Wallace, 24, isn't close to reaching his ceiling. The past two years, Pittsburgh has played to Wallace's strength of running primarily deep routes. But the team is looking for Wallace to become more well-rounded in the offense this season. Once Wallace adds the short and intermediate routes to his repertoire, he will become a perennial Pro Bowl player.

Ray Rice, Ravens running back: Rice, 24, already has one Pro Bowl on his résumé and should have more in his future. He's also coming off back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons and averages 4.5 yards per carry in his career. Rice is also one of the best receivers out of the backfield. The Ravens are expected to sign Rice to a big contract extension next offseason, which probably will span 2014-2016, which is when Rice will be in his prime years. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, 26, also was taken with Rice in the 2008 draft. Both players will be growing together and should become a dynamic combination.

Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns cornerback: There was some skepticism a year ago about whether Haden was worthy of the No. 7 overall pick. Despite a slow start, Haden put all those concerns to rest once he entered the starting lineup in the second half of the season and finished with 64 tackles and six interceptions. Haden displayed very good ball skills, solid tackling and the willingness to mix it up and compete with the physical receivers in the AFC North. He's only 22 and should continue to develop into one of the better corners.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals receiver: This was the most difficult choice in the division. The Bengals have plenty of young talent -- such as Jermaine Gresham, Carlos Dunlap and Jordan Shipley -- but it's hard to project which player has superstar potential. Green may have the best chance out of the group. He was a dynamic talent at the University of Georgia, and Cincinnati invested the No. 4 overall pick in the receiver in April's draft. Obviously, quarterback is a major question for Cincinnati, and that will affect how Green's career turns out. But if rookie quarterback Andy Dalton proves to be the long-term solution, Dalton and Green could be a good passing combo several years from now.

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

• Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed says he feels sluggish and is not sure how much longer he's going to play football.

Morning take: Reed is chasing that elusive Super Bowl ring and now appears to be on a year-to-year basis. Neck and hip ailments have bothered the safety in recent seasons, but he's back for 2011.

• The District Attorney in Nevada will look into possible probation violations for Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones following his recent arrest.

Morning take: For Jones' sake, he better be correct in claiming this was a wrongful arrest. Otherwise, Jones could face up to a year in jail for past violations, as well as a suspension from the NFL.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers may be as much as $10 million over the cap once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Morning take: The cap for 2011 is unknown, but the Steelers will be over. They have some tough decisions to free up money for draft picks and potential free agents.

• Here are some updates from "Camp Colt."

Morning take: This is the fourth time the Cleveland Browns have organized player workouts, which should help a difficult transition. Colt McCoy is showing good leadership in what will be a huge season for the second-year quarterback.

We continue our "Hope and Concern" series Friday with the offensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Biggest reason for hope: Health

There were games last season when Pittsburgh's depth was thoroughly tested. Starting left tackle Max Starks suffered a season-ending neck injury in November in addition to lesser injuries to others members of the line. Jonathan Scott was inconsistent filling in for Starks, leading the Steelers to draft tackle Marcus Gilbert in the second round. Gilbert should provide depth as a rookie and a potential fill-in behind Starks or aging veteran Flozell Adams. Rookie Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, who missed the Super Bowl with an ankle injury, is healthy again and should be even better in his second season. Chris Kemoeatu is a solid but not great left guard. Pittsburgh still has questions at right guard. Pending free agent Willie Colon is a possibility to return.

Biggest reason for concern: Pass protection

Pittsburgh's sack numbers are staggering. Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 221 times the past five seasons. That’s an average of 44 times per season, and Roethlisberger even missed four games in 2010 due to a suspension. Roethlisberger does have a penchant for holding the football, but that doesn’t absolve the Steelers’ offensive line of 200-plus sacks. The Steelers have good run blockers up front, but they are mostly average or below average pass protectors. Roethlisberger is often forced to run around and fight off defenders after his first read. As a result, he has taken a beating and suffered multiple injuries the past few years. As Roethlisberger, 29, gets older, Pittsburgh needs to find a way for its quarterback to take less of a pounding.