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The AFC North blog will take a look at the top five division players at a position each day this week. This is a projection for the 2012 season, so predicted progress and decline has been factored into the rankings. The next position is running back.

1. Ray Rice, Ravens: He's been the NFL's most consistent all-around running back over the past three seasons. Since 2009, Rice has produced at least 1,700 total yards. Last year, he led the AFC North in rushing (1,364 yards) and receptions (76). Rice isn't just the best running back in the AFC North. He's the best in the AFC.

2. Trent Richardson, Browns: The third overall pick in the draft will have the same impact on the running game as last year's top rookie in the division, the Bengals' A.J. Green, had on the passing game. He could have a bigger immediate impact than Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. There's not another back in this division who can match Richardson's combination of power and elusiveness.

3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals: The replacement for Cedric Benson upgrades the Bengals in the red zone and in ball security. He led the Patriots with 24 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he has never fumbled in his four seasons. The biggest question is whether he'll improve his 3.7-yard per carry average from last year.

4. Isaac Redman, Steelers: This is Redman's prime opportunity to show he can be a featured back with Rashard Mendenhall recovering from ACL surgery. Redman ran for 121 yards in the playoff loss at Denver and he's averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his two-year career. But, in 36 career games (including playoffs), Redman has had double-digit carries in just four of them.

5. Vonta Leach, Ravens: He has the best résumé of any NFL fullback the past two seasons. One year after blocking for the NFL rushing champion, Leach paved the way for the league's No. 2 rusher in Rice this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Ravens averaged 91.4 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry on runs during the regular season when Leach was the lead blocker. Baltimore also scored 14 touchdowns running behind Leach.

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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Ravens in 2012.

Dream scenario (13-3): The Ravens come back more motivated after falling a couple plays short of getting to the Super Bowl. Baltimore takes care of its biggest distractions before the season by signing quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice to long-term deals. The Ravens go on to produce the best record in the AFC and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Flacco backs up his claim of being an elite quarterback and finally takes control of the offense. He has a reputation makeover similar to the one Eli Manning had. Flacco gets help in the passing game with wide receiver Torrey Smith and tight end Ed Dickson, who stretch the field even more in their second seasons as starters. Rookie second-round pick Kelechi Osemele is able to make the transition from college tackle to left guard, which is the biggest question mark on the Ravens' offensive line.

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs gives the defense a big boost when the NFL's reigning defensive player of the year is able to return in early November from an Achilles injury. Rookie second-round pick Courtney Upshaw steps up to replace Jarret Johnson as the team's edge-setter on run defense. And Baltimore shuts down some of the best wide receivers in the NFL with the league's most impressive pair of cornerbacks in Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith.

Nightmare scenario (7-9): Baltimore can't shake the crushing loss in the AFC Championship Game and fails to make the playoffs for the first time in the John Harbaugh era. The injury to Suggs is too tough to overcome, and Rice isn't the same player after skipping offseason workouts and training camp. Not being at the top of their game hurts the Ravens, who have the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL.

The offensive line shows some cracks with declining left tackle Bryant McKinnie and overhyped right tackle Michael Oher. Center Matt Birk begins to show his age (he turns 36 in July), and Baltimore fails to adequately replace Pro Bowl left guard Ben Grubbs. The lack of consistency up front puts more pressure on Flacco, who is forced to rush and throws more interceptions than he has in the past. Anquan Boldin watches his receptions decrease for a third straight season, and Torrey Smith drops more deep passes than he catches.

Defensively, Suggs is able to return late in the season but he doesn't have the explosiveness to be effective. The Ravens drop out of the top 10 in defense for the first time since 2002 because Paul Kruger can't replace Suggs, Ray Lewis' play slows down with his age (37) and Ed Reed stays in a funk because he's unhappy with his contract.

Defense has been the big brother on the Baltimore Ravens for more than the past decade. It's been the one responsible for hard-fought wins, playoff victories and even a Super Bowl title.

Now, linebacker Ray Lewis is 37. Safety Ed Reed "isn't committed" to football this year. And linebacker Terrell Suggs, the best defensive player in the game last season, is out for an extended period with an Achilles injury.

The Ravens can't lean on their defense any longer. It's unfair to ask these defenders to hold teams to 16.6 points per game like last season. If the Ravens want to reach the playoffs for a fifth straight season, the offense has to take charge.

Being an average offense isn't going to cut it. The pressure is on for the Ravens to produce more points and yards than they've done the past 14 years, and quarterback Joe Flacco says he wouldn't want it any other way.

"I hope it does put more pressure on us," Flacco said. "I feel like we need that pressure. I feel like I want that pressure on us. I feel like we need to become a better offense and we need to become somebody that goes out there and puts points on the board week in and week out and is really responsible for winning a lot of games. If it does put pressure on us, I’m all for it."

You have to wonder if Flacco relishes the pressure. He certainly seems to invite it. Flacco is heading into the final year of his contract and is coming off an offseason in which he declared himself the best quarterback in the league.

To his credit, Flacco has played his best when faced with pressure situations. He's won in Pittsburgh the past two years with touchdown passes in the final 32 seconds of the game. He would've thrown the winning pass in the AFC Championship Game if Lee Evans had held onto the ball.

No one can accuse Flacco for lacking confidence. He's played with a chip on his shoulder since coming to the NFL from the University of Delaware, which Flacco himself called the "minor leagues of college football." Then, in early April, Flacco was asked if he was a top-five quarterback. His response: "I don’t think I’m the top five, I think I’m the best."

Flacco has since said the comments have been blown out of proportion. But he has never backed down from them. Maybe this is Flacco's way of putting more pressure on himself.

"I believe I'm the best at what I do," Flacco said this week. "I’m not comparing myself to anybody, but I do believe in myself. Just like anybody else that has any pride or feels like they want to be the best would say. What do you want me to say? I’m mediocre. I’d rather take criticism for believing that I’m the best than saying, ‘I’m probably somewhere in the middle of the pack.’ That’s kind of crazy to me."

The reality is Baltimore has been a middle-of-the-pack offense despite its talent. The Ravens have the league leader in total yards in running back Ray Rice. They have one of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history in Anquan Boldin (the fastest player ever to 400, 500 and 600 catches in a career) and an emerging deep threat in Torrey Smith (five of his seven touchdowns covered at least 25 yards). Their fullback is a Pro Bowl player (Vonta Leach), their two offensive tackles are former first-round picks (Bryant McKinnie and Michael Oher) and their right guard (Marshal Yanda) is perhaps the best at his position.

"We just continue to keep getting better every year, and we flashed some really good things last year," Yanda said. "We just need to be more consistent. I think we’ve flashed tools to be the No. 1 offense."

The problem is their potential hasn't led to production. Baltimore has never had an offense ranked higher than 13th since Vinny Testaverde left in 1998. In four seasons with Flacco and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the offense has ranked 18th, 13th, 22nd and 15th.

"Those are some names that should make this offense more than just a par-for-average offense," said Marcellus Wiley, a former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN analyst. "This is an offense that is 15th-ranked and should be better than that."

Some might say the Ravens have underachieved because they haven't been put in a position where they've needed to be aggressive. With one of the best defenses every year, Baltimore knows a win is virtually assured when it scores more than two touchdowns. In fact, the Ravens have won 82 percent of their games (46-10 record) since 2008 when they score more than 14 points.

That mindset has to change with Suggs out of the lineup and an imposing schedule that features seven quarterbacks who have totaled 22 Pro Bowls and six Super Bowl titles: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton.

The Ravens have to think touchdowns instead of field goals. They have to attack downfield instead of worrying about a turnover. The Ravens' playoff hopes rest on the offense getting out of the passenger seat and living up to the expectations of being a top-10 one in the league.

"You definitely want to be that," Flacco said. "I think we have the ability to be that. It's just a matter of making our mind up and having the confidence to do that."

The Ravens and running back Ray Rice continue to talk, which is a positive sign. But the sides have not made any progress toward a new deal, a source familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The deadline for Rice and the Ravens to strike a new deal is 56 days away. If he doesn't sign a contract by July 16, he will play under the $7.7 million franchise tag.

The fact that there's been a lack of progress shows the struggle to find a middle ground. Rice probably believes he deserves a contract closer to the one given to the Titans' Chris Johnson (six years with $30 million guaranteed). In fact, Rice has had more total yards over the past three years than Johnson.

But the Ravens are likely trying to get the money closer to the deals recently signed by Arian Foster (five years, $43.5 million with $20.75 million guaranteed) and LeSean McCoy (five-year, $45 million with $20.76 million guaranteed). Baltimore can argue that is now the market value for running backs.

Until the sides can bridge a $10 million difference in the guaranteed money, there will be no progress made toward a new deal.

Time to open up some mail, which includes a couple of questions concerning the Pittsburgh kicker.

C from Ontario, Canada, writes: Shaun Suisham grew up close to me and I want him to do well. But I'm a Steeler fan first, so why is he on the team still? He bombed hard last year, his field-goal percentage was 31st in the league last season. Please tell me this young guy can beat Shaun out! Or at least the Steelers will do something.

Dennis from Clermont, Fla.: Jamison, when will the Steelers get serious about needing a kicker? With a team that has a defense that can always keep games close, an above average kicker is a necessity, but the team never invests in that position.

Jamison Hensley from AFC North headquarters responds: There has to be some surprise that the Steelers didn't bring in serious competition to take on Suisham. Pittsburgh recently worked out Dave Rayner, another less-than-stellar veteran, but it didn't sign him. While no kicker for the Steelers will ever rank high in field-goal percentage, because half of his games are at challenging Heinz Field, Suisham struggled on the road as well. He made 9 of 13 kicks beyond 30 yards away from home (69 percent).

This lack of consistency in the kicking game can become a problem, especially if the Steelers can't improve on being the 18th-ranked red-zone offense. The only competition for Suisham is Danny Hrapmann, an undrafted rookie out of Southern Mississippi. He connected on 67.6 percent (23 of 34) of his field goals last season. In other words, he's not a real threat to Suisham. The Steelers should have looked at a veteran like Neil Rackers, who since signed with Washington. Pittsburgh should be more concerned about its kicker situation.

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Joseph from Los Angeles writes: Everyone is saying that Billy Winn is going to fill in for Phil Taylor. Why would the team invest a third-round pick in John Hughes if he was not intended to be ahead of a sixth rounder on the depth chart? Is Hughes a run-stopper or situational player? Is Winn that much better?

Hensley responds: The Browns picked Hughes three rounds before Winn because they obviously had Hughes higher on their draft board. But you can't ask someone to play a position just because he's the higher draft pick. Hughes primarily played nose tackle at Cincinnati. Winn was a penetrating defensive tackle at Boise State. So, given what they bring to the field, Hughes is better suited to back up Ahtyba Rubin, and Winn looks more like Taylor's replacement.

This isn't to say Winn is definitely going to take over for Taylor. Hughes did play defensive tackle and defensive end in college. But, based on reports from Browns rookie minicamp, Winn was playing Taylor's defensive tackle spot, and Hughes was lining up at nose tackle. To be fair, Cleveland probably doesn't know who will start for Taylor. It's May, and the Browns have seen their rookies on the field for a few days. The Browns coaches are still learning about their new players and have time to decide who will be starting against the Eagles on Sept. 9.

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Ben from Pensacola, Fla., writes: Ray Rice should get a bigger contract than Chris Johnson because, quite simply, he is a much better player than Johnson, and he is the Ravens' offense. CJ2K might have that one fluky 2,000-yard season, but even Adrian Peterson doesn't have one to his name and I doubt anyone would say CJ2K is better than AP. As far as I'm concerned -- and this is coming from a Steelers fan -- Ray Rice is the second-best running back in the league behind Adrian Peterson, and he should get paid like it.

Hensley responds: You sound more like Rice's agent than a Steelers fan. It's easy to take shots at Johnson after his disappointing season last year. To say his 2,000-yard was "fluky" ignores what he did in 2008 and 2010. When the Titans signed him to his big contract (six years with $30 million guaranteed), Johnson produced the most total yards in the NFL in his first three seasons (5,606) and scored 38 touchdowns. Did the Titans overpay him? Absolutely. Will the Ravens pay Rice like Johnson? Not likely.

I think everyone can agree that Rice doesn't deserve the money given to Peterson (seven years with $36 million guaranteed). Rice's numbers over the past three years are clearly better than Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy, and he should receive more than their recent deals (both of which included $20.7 million guaranteed). The question now becomes whether Rice should receive anything close to Johnson's deal. Over the past three seasons, Rice has more total yards, but Johnson has four more rushing touchdowns and 22 more runs longer than 20 yards. What also separates them is Johnson's 2,000-yard season. You can call it a fluke, but he is one of six running backs to accomplish this feat. That puts him in an elite category. And that's why I still feel that $25 million guaranteed is a fair deal for Rice.

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Dennis from Sacramento, Calif., writes: How do you justify your "win win win for Cincinnati" on the Carson Palmer trade? When was the last time Cincinnati had any first-round and or second -round pick take them to the playoffs and win a game, let alone take them to the Super Bowl. To expect more than what Palmer was able to do last year after coming in off the couch would have been just plain stupid. Let's see what he does this year and then you can comment. This is why Palmer said "in the years to come" verses you only looking at it from last year's results.

Hensley responds: This is clearly a win for the Bengals at this point. They have their franchise quarterback, two early round draft picks, and even the Raiders coach who initiated the deal (Hue Jackson is now an assistant on Cincinnati's staff). The only way this can be a win for the Raiders long-term is if Palmer takes the Raiders to the Super Bowl or guides them to several playoff wins.

It doesn't matter what the Bengals do with the picks. The Bengals won just by getting those picks. This was a steal. The Bengals couldn't have asked for a better deal. The Raiders gave up picks in the first and second rounds for a 31-year-old quarterback. Palmer has to justify dealing those picks. He might only have one year to do so. The Raiders could go in a different direction at quarterback if Palmer doesn't establish himself in 2012.

The Eagles signed running back LeSean McCoy to a five-year, $45 million extension Thursday evening, $20.76 million of which is guaranteed. This continues to provide a framework of the market value for running backs, but this deal might not accelerate the signing of Ravens running back Ray Rice.

The problem is the disparity between the tiers for running backs. McCoy's deal is in line with the second tier like the Texans' Arian Foster (five years, $43.5 million, with $20.75 million guaranteed). But Rice could be shooting for the top tier that includes the Vikings' Adrian Peterson (seven years with $36 million guaranteed) and the Titans' Chris Johnson (six years with $30 million guaranteed).

What will likely get a deal done is finding a middle ground. Rice doesn't belong at the top of the pay scale because he hasn't averaged 13 rushing touchdowns over five seasons like Peterson and he doesn't have a 2,000-yard rushing season on his resume like Johnson.

But, based on the statistics, Rice deserves to get paid more than Foster and McCoy. In his three seasons as the featured back, Rice has produced 5,885 total yards, an average of 1,962 yards per season. That tops the three-year total yards by Foster (4,411) and McCoy (4,241).

That's why a five-year extension with $25 million guaranteed would be a fair deal for Rice.

Rice is currently scheduled to make $7.7 million this season as the Ravens' franchise player. If the sides can't reach a new deal by July 16, Rice will have to play this season under the tag.

He has yet to sign his tender and could skip training camp. Keeping in shape while working out on his own is not a concern for Rice.

"Training is something that I never worried about," Rice told the Carroll County (Md.) Times last weekend. "It's something that you got to want. I actually have the burning to desire to come back, not only for myself, but to come back ready to play. My training has always been part of my routine."

Rice has been training with former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.

"Nobody ever had to beat me in the head to get up and work out," Rice said. "Anybody who knows about my workout regimen, I've probably been through two before noon. Training has never been my issues but obviously, the team camaraderie, the lockout and all that stuff, that's the stuff that you kind of miss with the guys. But as far as being ready, I know I'll be ready."

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice still hasn't signed his franchise tag and apparently doesn't plan to do so for a while. He is not alone.

Of the 21 players who received the franchise tag, 12 remain unsigned. Raiders safety Tyvon Branch signed his franchise tender Monday, becoming only the sixth player to do so. Three players (Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Colts defensive end Robert Mathis and Giants punter Steve Weatherford) did what all franchise players hope to do -- reach long-term deals with their teams.

Franchise players have until July 16 to sign new deals with their teams or they'll play the season under their tag. Here's the updates on the 21 players who received the franchise tag:

QB Drew Brees, Saints: Remains unsigned. Reportedly no progress in talks for long-term deal.

RB Matt Forte, Bears: Remains unsigned. Skipped first voluntary workouts.

RB Ray Rice, Ravens: Remains unsigned. Missed start of voluntary workouts.

WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles: Signed five-year, $47 million contract that includes $15 million guaranteed.

WR Wes Welker, Patriots: Remains unsigned. Welker said he's "probably not going to" attend mandatory minicamp in June.

WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs: Remains unsigned. Chiefs reportedly have no intentions of trading him.

TE Fred Davis, Redskins: Signed his franchise tender of $5.446 million on March 16.

DL Cliff Avril, Lions: Remains unsigned. Sides reportedly are at an impasse in contract talks.

DE Calais Campbell, Cardinals: Remains unsigned. Missed start of voluntary workouts.

DE-LB Robert Mathis, Colts: Signed four-year, $36 million contract that includes $15 million signing bonus.

LB Anthony Spencer, Cowboys: Signed his franchise tender of $8.856 million last month.

CB Brent Grimes, Falcons: Signed his franchise tender of $10.281 million last month after reports surfaced that the Falcons were interested in trading for Asante Samuel.

S Tyvon Branch, Raiders: Signed his franchise tender of $6.212 million on Monday.

S Dashon Goldson, 49ers: Remains unsigned.

S Michael Griffin, Titans: Remains unsigned. Plans to sign injury waiver and attend offseason workouts.

K Connor Barth, Buccaneers: Remains unsigned. Didn't attend start of voluntary workouts.

K Phil Dawson, Browns: Signed franchise tender of $3.81 million on March 13.

K Mike Nugent, Bengals: Signed his franchise tender of $2.654 million last month.

K Matt Prater, Broncos: Remains unsigned.

K Josh Scobee, Jaguars: Remains unsigned. Talks have reportedly stalled between the two sides.

P Steve Weatherford, Giants: Signed a five-year, $12.75 million contract.

The NFL is a passing league now, but the most of the AFC North apparently hasn't received that memo.

The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all ranked 19th or worse in passing last season. What have they done to improve that? Nothing really.

No division team signed a big-name receiver in free agency. No one drafted a wide receiver in the first couple rounds of the draft. It's like the AFC North collectively rolled up their sleeves and went to work on their running games this offseason.

Every big move in this division has been another step toward old-school football, where you pound the ball instead of pass it:

• The prize of the Bengals' free-agency period was running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and the team's second first-round pick Kevin Zeitler was the best run-blocking guard of the draft.

• The Browns used the third overall pick on Alabama's Trent Richardson, the highest a running back has gone in the draft since Reggie Bush in 2006.

• The Ravens put a $7.7 million franchise tag on running back Ray Rice, which is one season removed from Baltimore making Vonta Leach the highest-paid fullback in the league.

• Even the Pittsburgh Steelers have hinted at becoming a more balanced offense under new coordinator Todd Haley.

Teams have to run the ball to be successful in the AFC North, especially when the weather turns ugly late in the season. This is the only division in football that doesn't have a dome stadium or a warm-weather city like Miami or San Diego in it. Last season, the three AFC North teams that went to the playoffs combined for a 33-9 record (.785) when running the ball at least 20 times, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The problem is, recent NFL history says you win Super Bowls by throwing the ball, not handing it off. The last three Super Bowl champions -- the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and New York Giants -- all ranked in the top five in passing. While the Steelers finished 10th in passing, the others in the division -- the Ravens (19th), Bengals (20th) and Browns (24th) -- are severely lagging behind.

Baltimore and Cincinnati believe they have their franchise quarterbacks. Joe Flacco guided the Ravens to the playoffs for four straight seasons, and Andy Dalton made the Pro Bowl last season as a rookie. The Browns just invested the 22nd overall pick in Oklahoma State Brandon Weeden.

For the offenses to take that next step, they need wide receivers. The Bengals didn't re-sign two of their top three receivers (Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell). The Ravens only had two wide receivers catch more than four passes. And the Browns led the NFL in dropped passes.

Still, the AFC North teams ignored the position this offseason. There were no visits from Vincent Jackson, Robert Meachem, Pierre Garcon, Brandon Lloyd, Reggie Wayne and Mario Manningham in free agency. The draft featured Baylor's Kendall Wright, Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill and LSU's Rueben Randle getting taken elsewhere. Only one receiver signed with a division team -- the Bengals' Mohamed Sanu -- in the first two days of the draft.

How will the passing improve in this division when no one added a major weapon at wide receiver?

“The receivers, what will make them look good, is if they catch the ball better than they caught it last year,” Browns president Mike Holmgren said. “We dropped way too many balls and that wasn’t the quarterbacks’ fault. I don’t care if we bring back Otto Graham, the receivers have to catch the ball. They will be better, for a lot of reasons."

Holmgren added, “That’s why no one is in a panic about how the draft went as far as how our receivers went. We will not drop the ball like we dropped it last year. We will have a running game to go with our passing game. Those things by themselves it will be better.”

This isn't to say the division is totally bare at wide receiver. Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace and Cincinnati's A.J. Green are Pro Bowl players. Baltimore's Torrey Smith showed flashes of greatness. And Cleveland's Greg Little had his moments.

Still, the Ravens don't have a proven No. 3 wide receiver. The Bengals don't know who will step up to be the No. 2 one. And the Browns are wondering who will be the primary target.

The Steelers are the class of the division in terms of passing offense. They have a strong-armed quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger along with two playmakers at wide receiver in Wallace and Antonio Brown. But Pittsburgh could be facing decisions at the wide receiver position, too. Wallace is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and Brown will become one in 2014.

But this offseason was all about the Ravens, Bengals and Browns playing catch-up. Instead, the teams let the opportunities slip through their fingers.

This is the time of the offseason when the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers shine. They build the foundation for Super Bowl-contending teams by finding players in April and not in March.

When it comes to drafting Pro Bowl players, the Ravens and Steelers rank among the top four since 1996, according to the Ravens' public-relations department. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have each selected 15 Pro Bowl players during that span, tied for third-most in the league. Only the New England Patriots (17) and Green Bay Packers (16) have produced more.

The secret to the Ravens' and Steelers' drafting success is establishing a vision of what type of player fits their teams. That philosophy comes from the stability of the organizations. Ozzie Newsome has been the Ravens' chief decision-maker since the team relocated to Baltimore in 1996, and Kevin Colbert has been the Steelers' general manager since 2000. The teams each have had two head coaches (Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher for the Steelers, and John Harbaugh and Brian Billick for the Ravens) for the previous 13 seasons.

That type of cohesion builds a relationship to the point where the scouting department knows what players the coaches want. The front office has insight on what players succeed in their teams' offensive and defensive systems.

"I think that's one of the enjoyable things about Pittsburgh," Tomlin said at the Steelers' pre-draft press conference this week. "We don't get caught up in draft grades and the evaluation of the draft, and things of that nature like a lot of other things that could distract you. It's simply measured in terms of how we perform."

The Steelers have drafted four Pro Bowl players in the past five years: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (2007), wide receiver Mike Wallace (2009), center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) and receiver-returner Antonio Brown (2010).

Last season, seven of the Ravens' eight Pro Bowl players were drafted by the team: inside linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, running back Ray Rice and guards Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda.

This type of consistent success is more amazing when you consider the level of difficulty. The Steelers and Ravens are finding these Pro Bowl players despite annually picking toward the bottom of each round.

These division rivals don't like each other, but they tend to like the same type of player. The Ravens and Steelers target tough, physical and competitive players.

“His motor in the fourth quarter is really, really important,” Ravens director of player of personnel Eric DeCosta said. “A lot of the guys who impress me are the guys who are getting their butts kicked in the fourth quarter, losing by 20, 25 points, and he’s still making plays or trying to make plays."

DeCosta added, "How does a guy tackle? If it’s a cornerback, does he face up and use his facemask? Does he bring you down? Does he miss a lot of tackles? If he’s a running back, does he run through contact? Does he lower his pads and try to break tackles? You get a sense. When you talk to people, you get a sense. Then when you interview a guy, you get a sense for his toughness.”

The true measure of draft success isn't the number of Pro Bowl players produced. There is a higher standard.

"Super Bowl championships," Colbert said. "That's it. There is no scorecard. Never will be, never has been."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen talks about the Ravens contract issues with quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice.

Flacco, who is looking for a contract extension, reported to the team's offseason workout program Monday. Rice, who is playing under the franchise tag, likely won't attend the workouts until he gets a new deal.

"We’re waiting to see what’s up [before signing the franchise tender],” Rice said recently. “We just have to figure out what’s best for me and my family right now. I want to be a part of the offseason program, I want to be a part of the team and obviously this works on both ends. I think progress is being made. I know things don’t happen overnight, but a lot of things can change in weeks, months, time. So when it happens, it happens.”

It's a busy time in the AFC North. The offseason workout programs began Monday, and the NFL schedule is being released Tuesday night. We'll have reaction and analysis to the schedules after the big announcement. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, here is your AFC North wake-up call:

BENGALS: Starting quarterback Andy Dalton began his first NFL offseason workout program after experiencing a crash course last season.

Dalton, who guided Cincinnati to the playoffs last season, didn't have the benefit of minicamps or offseason film study as a rookie. He didn't even meet the entire team until training camp in late July.

It's a much different feeling for Dalton this year.

"I walk into the locker room for the first time and I know everybody here rather than walking in and trying to meet everybody. I'm definitely a lot more comfortable now," Dalton told the team's official website. "The biggest thing is I know my schedule. I know when I have to be here and all that stuff. It's definitely easier coming in this year than last year."

In other news, kicker Mike Nugent hasn't signed his franchise tender of $1.7 million and could decide to skip the offseason workouts like other players who received the tag.

Hensley's slant: There's no doubt that a full offseason will help the growth of Dalton. But there's another reason Dalton will better, too. As the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy pointed out, the Bengals' top receiver was there for the first day of workouts for the first time since 2007. Life is less dramatic with A.J. Green than Chad Ochocinco.

BROWNS: Defensive end Marcus Benard participated in the start of the team's offseason program. He missed all but four games last year after breaking his hand in a motorcycle accident. "He looks actually good. I'm hoping to see the best of Marcus," Shurmur said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I've seen him a couple of times through the off-season and he was there [Monday]. I didn't get a chance to watch in the weight room. I'm not allowed to be in there yet, but from what I heard, he performed well." Shurmur indicated the team plans to keep Benard at defensive end and not move him to linebacker. Hensley's slant: Benard's recovery is key to the Browns' pass rush. They lack edge rushers and Bernard is a year removed from producing 7.5 sacks.

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston isn't concerned that running back Ray Rice is missing workouts after not signing his franchise tender. Preston described Rice as "a muscle head" and wrote: "His skin is on too tight because he loves to work out. So while he may not be over at The Castle, he is working out five times a week with his personal trainer." Hensley's slant: Rice is showing some increasing frustration with the lack of a new deal. On Monday, while the Ravens began their offseason program, Rice posted on Twitter: "To all college athletes getting ready to enter the NFL just remember the business side of the league is rough #fact."

STEELERS: Running backs coach Kirby Wilson was back at work at the Steelers' facility Monday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The 50-year-old Wilson sustained burns on 45 percent of his body and also suffered from smoke inhalation after his house caught fire while he was sleeping on Jan. 6. In other news, cornerback Keenan Lewis and safety Ryan Mundy both signed their restricted free-agent tenders, which leaves wide receiver Mike Wallace as the team's only unsigned restricted free agent. Hensley's slant: For Wilson, this is another step in a remarkable recovery. It's only been three months since he was put in a medically induced coma. Wilson is a highly respected coach on the Steelers staff. In fact, he was reportedly in line to become the Steelers' next offensive coordinator before the accident.

In a move that should surprise no one, running back Ray Rice won't report Monday when the Ravens' voluntary offseason workouts begin, a source told the NFL Network.

This would have been bigger news if Rice had decided to show up Monday. Rice has yet to sign his franchise tag and isn't expected to do so anytime soon.

He recently expressed a desire to attend the workouts, but this is strictly a smart business decision. By putting the tag on Rice, the Ravens are only on the hook for this season. The team has given no long-term security to Rice, so why should he risk long-term consequences by participating in any team-related activity this spring?

Rice's absence shouldn't hurt the team even if it extends into training camp. He has always reported to camp in shape, so there's no concern about his conditioning. This is also Rice's fifth season in the same offensive system, which means he won't be behind in the playbook once he returns.

Ravens officials have been resigned to the fact that Rice would skip the workouts.

"Up until a guy actually signs his franchise tender, he's not under contract and we're not even allowed to ask him to our mandatory minicamp," general manager Ozzie Newsome said earlier this month. "We understand those things and lived them through [Terrell] Suggs, Chris [McAlister] and even Wally Williams. We've experienced that before. Would Coach [John] Harbaugh want 100 percent participation in every offseason program and every OTA and every minicamp? Yes he would. But he knows that unrealistic also."

The date to watch isn't Monday. It's July 16. That's the deadline for teams to reach long-term deals with players who received the franchise tag. Otherwise, Rice will play the entire season under the tag, which pays him $7.7 million this season.

In related news, cornerback Cary Williams is also expected to be a no-show Monday, according to the NFL Network. Williams, a restricted free agent, is in talks for a new deal with the team.

This is hardly news. He is still recovering from hip surgery and he wouldn't be able to participate even if he wanted to do so. Unlike Rice, it's in Williams' best interest to report as soon as he can. His absence only increases the likelihood that Jimmy Smith takes over the starting job next to Lardarius Webb.

Outside linebacker Keith Rivers, who was traded today to the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick, wasn't the only disappointment in the Bengals' 2008 draft class.

Cincinnati failed to find a long-term impact player out of its 10 picks that year. Rivers, the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft, finished with the most starts in this class with 33, and the only players that remain with the team are two backups: defensive tackle Pat Sims (third round), and offensive tackle Anthony Collins (fourth round).

Wide receiver Jerome Simpson (second round) produced a career-high 50 catches last season as the team's No. 2 wide receiver, but he now faces 15 days in a Kentucky jail after pleading guilty to a drug charge. The Bengals haven't ruled out bringing him back.

Wide receiver Andre Caldwell (third round) showed promise in 2009 when he made a career-best 51 catches. But he followed that up with a combined 61 receptions the past two seasons. Caldwell signed this offseason with the Denver Broncos.

There were two players -- defensive tackle Jason Shirley (fifth round) and safety Corey Lynch (sixth round) -- who played a handful of games for Cincinnati before going elsewhere for reserve roles. Shirley played last season for Carolina, and Lynch was with Tampa Bay.

The last three players taken in the Bengals' 2008 draft -- tight end Matt Sherry (sixth), defensive end Angelo Craig (seventh) and wide receiver Mario Urritia (seventh) -- never played a regular-season game for Cincinnati and are out of the league.

In comparison, the Ravens drafted quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice that season, and the Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Rashard Mendenhall. Even the Browns, who had limited picks after trading for Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, got underrated defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin in the sixth round.

There's only a week remaining for a team to sign restricted free agent Mike Wallace to an offer sheet. It doesn't seem like Wallace is going anywhere, but there's still a question of when he plans to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wallace doesn't intend to sign his restricted free-agent tender, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. That's a strong indication that he won't show up for Pittsburgh's offseason workouts unless he gets a long-term deal. If he doesn't sign his tender, he can't be fined for missing any offseason training activities because he's technically not under contract.

The next date to circle for Wallace is June 15. That's the deadline for Wallace to sign his tender or risk losing a lot of money. If Wallace remains unsigned by June 15, the Steelers can reduce his tender to 110 percent of last year's salary and still retain his rights. No team can sign Wallace to an offer sheet at that point because that deadline would have passed. Wallace's tender of $2.742 million can get cut to $577,500 -- a loss of $2.1 million. So, if Wallace wants to make a stand, the Steelers can take a bigger one.

All the Steelers have to do is notify Wallace of this possibility in a letter leading up to that deadline. This is what happened in 2010 to guard Logan Mankins in New England and wide receiver Vincent Jackson in San Diego. They chose not to sign their tenders to protest the restricted free-agency rules in the uncapped season and reported to their teams two months into the regular season.

I don't see Wallace taking it this far. He wants to show his displeasure for not getting a long-term deal, and he can do so by skipping most of the offseason workouts. The Steelers would prefer to have their No. 1 wide receiver at these practices because it's their first season under offensive coordinator Todd Haley, but it's more important that Wallace is there in training camp.

Everyone will know whether Wallace plans on showing up for training camp by June 15. That will reveal whether the sides are in for a long standoff. Again, I don't see that happening. When the time comes in June, Wallace should sign his tender, play this season for $2.7 million and get ready for free agency in 2013 if he doesn't have a new deal from the Steelers.

Lost in a busy day for the AFC North -- the Steelers retained Jerricho Cotchery and the Bengals signed Terence Newman -- was the news that Ravens running back Ray Rice was knocked out of the Madden 13 cover vote.

Rice put up a good fight against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, earning 45 percent of the vote. He was the last player from the division remaining in the tournament-style contest.

So there goes the dream of the AFC North repeating on the Madden cover. Cleveland's Peyton Hillis was the face of Madden last year. Wait, considering what happened to Hillis, maybe it's good news for Rice that he didn't advance. Like Hillis, he could've ended up with strep throat or getting married in Arkansas. For all of my Razorback readers, you know I was joking about the last part.

The Final Four for the cover this year are: Rodgers, Cam Newton, Patrick Willis and Calvin Johnson. I'm still thinking Rodgers is going to take this one.