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Here are some highlights -- because there are never any lowlights -- for this week's AFC North chat. If you want more, click here for a full transcript.

Kris (Missouri): How devastating is the loss of Terrell Suggs? Ray [Lewis] and Ed Reed only have how many more shots at a title.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): When Suggs got hurt, most talked about how the Ravens would miss him in the pass rush. But Suggs was a really good run defender as well. I think people are underestimating his absence when it comes to stopping running backs.

Brian (Philadelphia): Assuming the Bengals follow up last season with a successful 2012 season, who do you think would be more likely to leave for a head coaching position: defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer or offensive coordinator Jay Gruden?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): I say Gruden. He has the name recognition plus he has the advantage of having developed a young QB on his resume. Whatever team is looking for a head coach is probably in a position to take a QB in the first round. That's why Gruden would be more enticing.

Jordan (Raleigh): What are Mike Wallace's options? Sign or sit out? Can he be dealt? Can teams even make trades at this point in the offseason?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Wallace can sit out as long as he wants if he doesn't sign the tender. He is technically not under contract until he signs it. Wallace has until June 15 to sign it or the Steelers can reduce his RFA tender after that point.

Bodman34 (Ada,OH Home of the Wilson Football Factory): Is there any reason the Browns shouldn't take a look at Terrell Owens and offer a minimum salary with incentives? He would be an instant upgrade at receiver, and if it didn't work out, not much invested.

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Have you seen the effect of T.O. on the other teams he played for? Not happening.

Brad (Berkeley, CA): Maurkice Pouncey was the first Steelers rookie to start 13 or more games in like 30 years (he started all 16, I know). Will [David] DeCastro be the only Steelers rookie this year to do the same?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): DeCastro is battling two players who were originally undrafted rookies, Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster. It would be a major surprise if DeCastro doesn't start from the first day of camp.

Andre (Tallahassee, FL): Is John Harbaugh on the hot seat if Baltimore misses the playoffs? And will Joe Flacco be gone too?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Are you not aware that the Ravens and Flacco have made the playoffs for the past four seasons? If you think they would be on the hot seat after missing the playoffs for one year, you have crazy expectations.

Dillion (Ohio): Should the browns sign T.O to help show the younger reciver on the team how to catch the ball and he can catch the ball

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Again, has anyone else except me seen the negative effect of TO on teams?

Aaron (Bloomington IL): With Pittsburgh upgrading its offensive line, there appears to be few weaknesses remaining from the three teams pushing for the AFC North title. Which unit from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore do you see as having the greatest weakness this year?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Steelers: Cornerback. Bengals: Wide receiver. Baltimore: Left guard and outside linebacker (Suggs' absence).

Michael (Cincinnati): Can you ban people who think the Browns should sign TO?

Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Only [NFL commissioner Roger] Goodell has the power to ban people in football. Sorry.

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

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he wants to keep improving his team's offense but not at the expense of his traditionally tough defense.

“We want to have a better offense, but if you flip the switch too quick, then you’re giving up 27 points per game,” Bisciotti said, via the team's website. “So, I’m not going to be trading Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb for [Cardinals wide receiver Larry] Fitzgerald because that’s the quickest way to get there.”

Baltimore's defense finished third in fewest points allowed for a third straight season. In the AFC Championship Game loss at New England, the Ravens limited Tom Brady to 239 yards passing and no touchdowns and intercepted him twice.

“What our defense did to Tom Brady is something that I want my defense to do to the Tom Bradys and the [Ben] Roethlisbergers of the world going forward, forever,” Bisciotti said.

Hensley's slant: Bisciotti would have to be disappointed if his offense isn't consistently a top-10 one after the investment that he has made and will make. The Ravens signed two Pro Bowl players last year in guard Marshal Yanda and fullback Vonta Leach. The next step is reaching long-term deals with quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. Finishing 15th in offense won't cut it for Baltimore next year.

BENGALS: A day after the Patriots lost the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, former Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco was back in Cincinnati to face the charge of driving with a suspended license and a window tint violation, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He pleaded guilty Monday to the reduced charge of failure to display a drivers license and was fined a total of $304. “I guess I would have had to issue a larger fine if you would have won last night,” Municipal Court Judge Russell Mock said. Hensley's slant: Ochocinco's quiet Super Bowl (one catch for 21 yards) ended a disappointing 2011 season for him. He went from catching 67 passes for the Bengals in 2010 to catching 15 in the regular season for New England. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Ochocinco, who is expected to get cut because he's scheduled to make $3 million in 2012.

BROWNS: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw said the Browns have never been in a better position to find a quarterback. The reason is the Cleveland brain trust of team president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert, head coach Pat Shurmur and offensive coordinator Brad Childress, who bring years of quarterback evaluation and development. "If this group can't make the right call, then you might as well give up, wait for Tim Tebow to become a free agent and put your hopes in the option offense and a higher power," Shaw wrote. Hensley's slant: We'll find out in the very near future whether this group can work their quarterback magic in Cleveland. This year should be a key decision at that position for the Browns, who can draft one (like Robert Griffin III), sign one (like Matt Flynn) or stick with Colt McCoy. The one who would provide the most immediate success is Flynn.

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook believes NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is great for the NFL even though the Steelers disagree. "It's fair to say the Steelers didn't celebrate Goodell's extension," Cook wrote. "[James] Harrison and other Steelers long have complained that Goodell is power hungry and has too much say in the discipline for both on- and off-field discretions. They voted against the new CBA, the only one of the 32 teams to do so. Hensley's slant: Goodell rules with a heavy hand (too heavy at times) especially when it comes to fines and discipline. But everything he has done is to protect the name and the image of the NFL. If we continue to see the high quality of play on the field -- like this year's playoffs -- everyone will remain happy.

Lawyers for Ben Roethlisberger and a woman who accused him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino in 2008 have reached a settlement that ends her civil lawsuit against the Steelers quarterback.

Neither side is talking about the settlement, and there will be speculation on its amount. Regardless of the dollar figure, it has proved costly for Roethlisberger.

He was suspended for the first six games of the 2010 season (which was later reduced to four games) and received a stern message from commissioner Roger Goodell at that time. Remember Goodell's letter that stressed Roethlisberger has to make better decisions and "must continue to honor that commitment."

So, this settlement ends a 2 1/2-year period in which Roethlisberger was twice accused of sexual assault but never charged with a crime. But this chapter in his life won't be closed as definitively.

Roethlisberger's off-field conduct will continue to be subjected to scrutiny. Everyone will be watching, and everyone will be judging.

BALTIMORE -- A sampling of Roger Goodell's forum with selected fans in Baltimore and his question-and-answer session with reporters afterward, which touched on such hot topics as officiating, expanding the game internationally, HGH testing and even Ray Lewis:

On improving officiating in the NFL: "We are contemplating this offseason taking some of those officials from the field who are now part-time -- they have other jobs -- and making a certain number of them, let's say 10 of them, full-time. They would come into our office and they would help grade the film. We grade every single play. If we do this, I call 'semi-part-time concept,' I think it could add a little more consistency because we could move those officials into different crews. We would have one for each position."

On the changes to diagnosing head injuries since the Colt McCoy incident: "I don’t think we ever do enough. We’re making changes. We just made another change to our concussion procedure just last week. We’re allowing the medical team to actually see video on the sideline. So the Colt McCoy issue, the thing that troubled me the most is all of our medical personnel was dealing with other players and no one saw the hit on the field. So, what we’ve changed is our procedure immediately was to create an ATC spotter [an athletic trainer] who is up in the booth watching the action all the time. If he sees something, he calls down on the field and says that individual needs to be checked to make sure they don’t have a head injury. We have not finished yet. We’re going to continue to make changes."

On Art Modell getting into the Hall of Fame: "I have tremendous respect for Art Modell. I’ve been in the league close to 30 years. He’s done so much for the league, not just for the fans in Cleveland and the fans here in Baltimore. He was head of the broadcasting committee for years that I think helped develop policies that I think helped develop policies that have made the game so successful. I think Art is such a great contributor. It’s a decision that’s made by the media in each of the markets. It’s hard to imagine that the contributions he’s made won’t be recognized some day. You just hope it would be sooner rather than later."

On the Josh McDaniels issue of allowing coaches to change teams in the postseason: "The rules committee is going to look at it. We’ve talked to several club executives and I’m not getting a lot of reaction from the other clubs that this is unfair. They don’t seem to think it’s a big issue. But it’s something that we’ll talk about it. I can guarantee you that if it’s a big issue that they would be the first complaining about the fact that it’s not fair competitively."

On plans to expand game internationally: "Yes, we want to expand our game internationally. You may be aware of the fact that we’re playing a series of games in London. And we want to expand that not just to one game every regular season but two games and maybe even three games. We do believe that fan support is growing at such a rapid pace that, if it continues to do that, we could have a franchise in London one day."

On thoughts of expanding to Asia: "It’s a little more difficult because of the travel is more challenging. We’ve only played preseason games there because of that. We continue to show our games on free television there and make our game available. The interest in our game is growing at a global basis and we’re responding to that. And we are certainly going to be heading that far to Asia. We may even play a regular-season game there someday."

On playing Super Bowl outdoors in northern city: "I love the games in the elements. Some of our most historic games have been in the elements. That’s been part of our tradition, part of our history. So we felt it was worth, let’s see how it works. What happens after that, we’ll make some decisions. People ask: What are you hoping for? I’m hoping it represents the elements. If it snows a little bit, that’s OK for me. That’s football. I’m looking forward to it, I will be sitting outside."

On HGH testing: "We understand the issues they’ve raised. We’ve answered those questions. All of the scientists agree that this test is valid. We think we have a valid test. It’s been proven on a global basis and we hope to get it implemented as quickly as possible."

On whether he's confident testing will be in place by next season: "We’re going to work as hard as we can to get it done. I think it’s important not just for the game but for the players. I think the players want it at the end of the day. This is a real issue and a safety issue if they’re putting things in their bodies that they really don’t know what it is."

On his thoughts on Ray Lewis, who could be playing his final home game in Baltimore: "He’s just an awesome player. The intensity that he plays the game with. He never stops whistle to whistle. I think he’s inspiring, not just for his teammates but he has a tremendous influence on other players around the league. He has a great relationship with them. I speak to him frequently about issues, because he understands the game. He understands what other players are thinking and feeling about the game. If he does step away from the game, I’ll wish him well, but his leadership will be missed.”

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

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin described the team's meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week as "very productive," according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Tomlin and team president Art Rooney II went to league headquarters in New York to talk to Goodell about player safety and fines given to Steelers players. While Tomlin declined to reveal any specifics about the conversation, he likely brought up Ryan Clark's $40,000 fine for hitting Baltimore's Ed Dickson (which Tomlin called "excessive" at the time).

"We exchanged some ideas, and I think the meeting was born out of a conversation with Art and the commissioner," Tomlin said Tuesday. "They thought it would be productive for all of us to sit down and talk. It (was) good bye-week stuff."

Hensley's slant: While I don't think the NFL is targeting the Steelers -- they rank 24th in the NFL in penalties -- Pittsburgh is obviously doing something wrong in the league's eyes. The Steelers have been fined a reported 13 times this year totaling $182,500 (according to the Tribune-Review). It reflects well on the Steelers organization to be proactive on such a touchy -- and expensive -- subject.

• BENGALS: After watching film, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden came away more impressed with Andy Dalton despite the rookie quarterback's three interceptions and a second consecutive loss to an AFC North team, according to Bengals.com. “He had a [heck] of a game. Three mistakes and all three of them I can live with,” Gruden told the website. “He did a great job. For the most part having to come from behind and throw that many times ... he kept us in it. They tried to rattle him and blitz him and he stood in there like a champ.” Hensley's slant: Gruden isn't the only one who was impressed. Once Dalton eliminates his second-half mistakes, he's going to give these defenses fits for years to come. What I've been most impressed with Dalton is his anticipation when making throws. He doesn't look like a rookie with that awareness. As Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after the game: "He's a guy we're going to have to learn to deal with."
• BROWNS: As the team's website put it, it was another typical day at the office for the Browns defense last Sunday. Of the Browns' four victories this season, only one has been decided by more than 7 points. The defense held the Jaguars out of the end zone in the final minute last Sunday despite being backed up at the Browns' 1-yard line. “When games are put in our hands to win, we’ve shown up," cornerback Dimitri Patterson said. Hensley's slant: Yes, the Browns rank first against the pass. But the statistic that jumps out to me is the Browns are eighth in red-zone defense. Cleveland has given up 12 touchdowns on 28 drives inside its own 20-yard line. In the Browns' four wins, they've allowed 12 points in those situations. Pretty impressive.
• RAVENS: Baltimore is gearing up for a physical matchup with 49ers running back Frank Gore. "This one, he is very special," outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said, via the Carroll County Times. "He runs angry. He runs very aggressive. We like that. We like the rough stuff." Hensley's slant: Lapses in run defense have cost the Ravens this season. In its past two losses, Baltimore has given up 100 yards to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. So stopping Gore is a priority for the Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals starting running back Cedric Benson was sentenced to 20 days in jail for a prior assault charge in 2010, according to the Austin-American Statesman. Benson will serve the sentence in Texas during the bye week on Oct. 17. He could be out for good behavior before Cincinnati's next game against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 30.

Chances are, this won't lead to a suspension. This is an old case that Benson already discussed with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Benson was not suspended by Goodell last season.

Benson also cleared a second assault charge from earlier this summer involving a former roommate. Benson was ordered 30 hours of community service and agreed to pay the victim $5,000.

The second case is more on the NFL's radar. But the league hasn't done much with recent off-field transgressions since the lockout was lifted.

After leaving Ohio State amid controversy for accepting illegal benefits, new Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor could face another Ohio team in his NFL debut. If Pryor's five-game suspension stands, his first game will be Oct. 16 against the Cleveland Browns.

Fortunately for Pryor, the game is in Oakland. Many Browns fans are Ohio State fans. Therefore, Pryor is one of the most unpopular athletes in Cleveland this year.

Pryor's camp has gone back and forth about whether to appeal the suspension. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made a controversial ruling to punish Pryor for transgressions he made at Ohio State before entering the league. If Pryor challenges, the suspension could be lifted or reduced.

But Pryor's first game will be against Cleveland if the suspension sticks. It's a little twist of irony for Pryor, who is trying to move forward with his football career.

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. -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison issued a public apology for his controversial comments toward NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

But will Goodell accept?

In a magazine interview with Men's Journal, Harrison called Goodell a "crook," "puppet" and several other things we'd rather not print in our family-friendly AFC North blog. The comments made national headlines during the NFL lockout and put Harrison in line for a potential fine or suspension.

But on the first day of Steelers practice Friday, Harrison thought it was best to get it out of the way and publicly apologize to Goodell, which was a very smart move.

"The interview that I did and the comments that I made about Roger Goodell were inappropriate, at the least," Harrison said. "They were way out of line, and I was speaking out of anger and frustration at the time. Any comments that I made that offended anyone, I apologize."

Now the ball is in Goodell's court.

Harrison has to wait and see if the NFL will do anything about his controversial statements. Most believe a suspension would be a stretch, but a fine could be possible.

Speaking of fines, Harrison was the most fined player in the league last year. His big hits cost him a total of $100,000, which led to Harrison's disdain for Goodell and the league office.

Goodell can do Harrison a favor by looking the other way on this one. In addition to Harrison's public apology, maybe Goodell can do his part to help patch up one of the NFL's rockiest relationships.

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.

Lost in the hoopla of James Harrison's recent bashing of various NFL players, teammates and the commissioner was how close the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker actually came to retirement last season.

In October Harrison contemplated quitting during the middle of the season after being fined $75,000 for a big hit on Cleveland Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. Most observers, and even the Steelers, took the approach that Harrison was just being emotional.

But in his interview with Men's Journal, Harrison explains how serious he was at the time about quitting football.

"I lost it completely," Harrison explained of his reaction after getting fined. "[I] said, '[expletive] y'all, I quit if you're gonna fine me that for a legal hit.' Spoke to my player rep and my agent, said, 'That's it, I'm done. What papers do I have to sign to retire today?

"And if my agent hadn't have said, 'You'll have to pay back six mill,' I'd've been out the game and not looked back."

Harrison's retirement talk lasted just one day, and he later helped lead Pittsburgh to its second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons. With the league's increased attention on big hits, Harrison could be a prime target for fines once again this season. His disparaging remarks towards NFL commissioner Roger Goodell certainly don't help Harrison keep a low profile.

Obviously Harrison doesn't like money taken out of his pocket. Who does? But what will Harrison's reaction be this season if he's once again among the most fined players in the NFL?

Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson picked the worst possible time to land in hot water.

Just a week or so before the possible start of free agency, Benson, a pending free agent, might have hurt his stock significantly. Ricky Doyle of YNN is reporting Benson was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with assault on a family member and is being held in Travis County (Texas) jail.

This is not Benson's first run-in with the law, which means he could be facing punishment by the NFL if he's found guilty. Most recently, Benson was arrested for an alleged assault in Austin, Texas, last year but was not suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell. Benson also had issues during his time with the Chicago Bears, leading to his release.

Cincinnati wanted Benson back and was expected to give him a sizable contract extension following back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. But Benson's latest trouble might force the Bengals to rethink their strategy. If Benson is facing an early season suspension, it wouldn't make sense for Cincinnati to invest big money in the free-agent tailback. Other teams might view Benson the same way.

Benson was the third AFC North player to run afoul of the law in the past week. Bengals teammate Adam Jones was arrested for disorderly conduct and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward was arrested for driving under the influence. Both Jones and Ward denied any wrongdoing.

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison had a lot to say in an explosive interview with Men's Journal.

But how accurate were Harrison's statements? Let’s examine in another edition of "Fact or Fiction."

Harrison on Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall: He's a "fumble machine."

Fiction: Mendenhall carried the ball 324 times last season, which was fourth most in the NFL. Of those 324 carries, he lost just two fumbles, which Mendenhall astutely pointed out via Twitter. Mendenhall's biggest fumble came in the Super Bowl, and many -- including Harrison -- remember that play vividly. But in terms of numbers, Harrison is inaccurate.

Harrison on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's two interceptions in Super Bowl XLV: "Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again."

Fiction: Roethlisberger's first interception was to Packers safety Nick Collins, who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. The defense never saw the field after that turnover. Roethlisberger's second pick in the second quarter was to safety Jarrett Bush at Green Bay's 47 yard-line. The ball was near midfield and on the Packers' side, which isn't horrible field position.

More Harrison on Roethlisberger: "Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain't that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."

Fact: Roethlisberger is not Manning, who has amazing statistics and is a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Roethlisberger will never be able to catch up in terms of numbers. But Roethlisberger does have twice the Super Bowl rings ( 2 to 1) and a much better playoff record (10-3) than Manning (9-10). In terms of money, Manning's most recent contract expired after last season but paid an average of $14.2 million per year. Roethlisberger's contract pays an average of $12.7 million per year. So that's fairly accurate, as well.

Harrison on Steelers safety Troy Polamalu: "He's the one guy in football I respect absolutely, 'cause he's spiritual and lives it like he talks it. You know, he gets more flags than anyone on our team but never gets fined for nothin'."

Fact: Polamalu is one of the genuinely good guys in sports and he's very spiritual. Polamalu also is soft-spoken but has criticized the NFL several times without getting fined. The most famous was when he said the NFL was becoming a "pansy league." But many players do not get fined for their comments. Will that be the case for Harrison?

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison apologizes for his controversial comments in Men's Journal magazine.

Morning take: Harrison apologized to his teammates and for using an anti-gay slur to describe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. It was wise to apologize. But these retractions make you wonder if the person is more sorry for what was said, or sorry for the backlash it created.

• Quarterback Carson Palmer remains mum on his status with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Morning take: Palmer's silence is golden. It would be a major upset if he returns to Cincinnati once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

• Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason responds to Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who said these teams don't have a true rivalry because Pittsburgh has won more games lately.

Morning take: Jabs are being thrown between these two teams and we're just getting started. Training camp should be fun leading up to Week 1.

• Will players-only workouts lead to a successful season for the Cleveland Browns?

Morning take: These workouts can't hurt, but they certainly don't guarantee a good season. The real work will be done in training camp and the preseason.

It's been a wild week for controversies in the AFC North Division.

The trio of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, receiver Hines Ward and Cincinnati Bengals corner Adam Jones all caused media firestorms in different ways. Harrison made disparaging comments toward NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and ripped his teammates, while Ward and Jones were arrested and charged with driving under the influence and disorderly conduct, respectively.

But in our latest "Take Your Pick," we ask which player caused the biggest controversy this week: Harrison, Ward or Jones?

Did Harrison cause the biggest stir? He released the verbal barrage of the year, bashing everyone in sight. His victims included Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Rashard Mendenhall as well as the New England Patriots. He also used very controversial words to describe Goodell.

What about Ward? After not being arrested his entire 14-year career, the two-time Super Bowl champion was charged with DUI. A spokesman for Ward denied the charges. But the Atlanta police department responded by releasing more details of the arrest, which certainly will catch the attention of the NFL once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Or was it Jones, who was jailed this past weekend for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest? Jones has been in trouble since coming to the NFL and could face a permanent suspension if found guilty. Jones, who says he was wrongfully arrested, also could face probation issues from his previous case in Nevada.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on which AFC North player had the biggest controversy this week. You also can share your thoughts in the comments section below and our division inbox.