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DENVER -- Ike Taylor sat in front of a ripped-up locker, staring blankly down at the floor.

The player who got beat on the winning play in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 29-23 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos represented what every player and coach was feeling. Frustrated. Shocked. Confused.

Taylor didn't talk in the locker room where the frame that had his No. 24 on it was ripped down, leaving fragments of wood scattered around him. But he didn't have to speak. His expression said it all: What just happened?

The heavily favored Steelers were upset by the Broncos because they underestimated Tim Tebow. Pittsburgh dared the struggling quarterback to beat the NFL's top-ranked defense by throwing deep, and he did it again and again.

The Steelers were gashed by Tebow for 20 points in a near record-setting second quarter. The defending AFC champions were knocked unceremoniously out of the playoffs on the first play of overtime by the arm of Tebow.

Pittsburgh wasn't just undone by another dramatic Tebow finish. The Steelers were punched in the gut because they believed Tebow couldn't beat them throwing the ball and they paid for it.

"On defense, we felt like we let the team down," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "We felt like we had a good grasp of what they were going to do to us or try to do us. They came out and made way more plays that we thought they were capable of making."

This isn't to say that the Steelers had the wrong strategy. Playing aggressive man-to-man defense with no help over the top essentially forced Tebow to win the game. And, based on Tebow's numbers, that's exactly the game plan that Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and everyone else in the football world would've written up.

In the final three weeks of the regular season, Tebow was 4 of 22 (18.1 percent) on throws over 15 yards for one touchdown and three interceptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Against the Steelers, he was 6 of 11 (54.5 percent) on those passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

It was out of character for Tebow as well as the Steelers' defense. The NFL's No. 1 pass defense had given up six completions of 30 yards or more in 16 games. Tebow connected on five of them in one game against Pittsburgh.

It's hard to second-guess the Steelers to take this approach. But you could criticize them for sticking with it.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked whether he was surprised by Tebow's passing.

"The number of [passing] attempts wasn’t surprising," he said. "The number of long completions was."

After not allowing one passing yard in the first quarter, the Steelers couldn't stop Tebow in the second as their cornerbacks couldn't hold up in single coverage. Taylor allowed a 51-yard throw to Demaryius Thomas and then William Gay gave up a 30-yard touchdown to Eddie Royal, putting the Broncos up 7-6.

On the next drive, Taylor was faked out by a stutter step by Thomas, resulting in a 58-yard gain. Tebow ran in an 8-yard quarterback draw over fill-in safety Ryan Mundy to put Denver ahead 14-6.

"They are the No. 1 defense and we are the No. 1 offense running the ball, so I feel like they wanted to make a statement and stop the run," Thomas said of the Steelers. "I don't know if they forgot about the passing game."

The Steelers won't make that same mistake again against Thomas, Tebow and the Broncos. After Pittsburgh rallied to tie the game in regulation, the Broncos won the toss and quickly won the game by catching the Steelers guessing.

On the first play from scrimmage, Mundy crept up to the line of scrimmage as Pittsburgh loaded the box and took a step forward when Tebow made a play-action fake. That allowed a clear passing lane to Thomas on a deep slant because Taylor had played him to the outside.

Thomas caught the ball at the Denver 40, stiff-armed Taylor at midfield and outran everyone to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown.

Many will rightfully blame Taylor for the mistake. But the Steelers' defensive call has to shoulder some responsibility, too.

"I felt like I could have given [Taylor] more help," Mundy said. "But that was our run-stopping defense."

Mundy was one of many backups pressed into action for the Steelers because of health reasons. Pittsburgh was without its leading rusher (Rashard Mendenhall), leading tackler (Clark), Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, left tackle (Max Starks) and two starting defensive linemen (Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton).

Plus, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was playing on one leg because of a high ankle sprain. It was a painful game in many different ways.

"You can never say how much it can affect because we weren’t out there," Clark said. "The thing you look at is, even with the guys we had in there, we had opportunities to win this game and Denver made plays. You can’t take that away from them by saying we were hurt and it would have been different if we were out there because you don’t know."

What the Steelers knew, or at least thought they knew, was Tebow couldn't beat them.

Tebow finished last in the NFL with a 46.5 completion rate this season, the lowest mark by a qualifying quarterback since Akili Smith in 2000, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He is also the first quarterback to start a playoff game after completing less than half of his passes in the regular season since Scott Zolak of the New England Patriots in 1998, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

But the Steelers were wrong. Tebow finished with 316 passing yards against a pass defense that had allowed 171.9 yards.

When overtime was about to begin, Hines Ward was talking to receivers about plays in anticipation of the defense forcing a three-and-out on the first drive. Then he heard the cheers of the crowd and knew something had terribly gone wrong.

Once again, the Steelers were in disbelief.

"This will stick with [us] a lot as one of the worst games we ever lost," said Ward, who declined comment on his future with the team. "I thought last year losing the Super Bowl [was worse], but this is fresh on our minds and the way we lost is disappointing."

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

Even though the Bengals will play Saturday in the cozy confines of Houston's Reliant Stadium, the team practiced outside in the frigid weather for the second consecutive day.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the windchill was 27 degrees when Wednesday's practice ended. That was a little warmer than Tuesday, when the windchill was 14 degrees.

When Cincinnati reporters asked why the Bengals didn't practice at the University of Cincinnati indoor facility, team spokesman Jack Brennan said: “The coaches determined there was not sufficient reason for us to get out of our regular element this week.”

The Bengals reached an agreement to practice at the University of Cincinnati when it allowed the school's football team to play two games at Paul Brown Stadium. According to The Enquirer, the Bengals still have to pay to use the facility and the school can't give the team a reduced rate. The paper estimated that it would cost $2,500 to rent the facility for four hours.

Hensley's slant: After making all the right moves this offseason, the Bengals are making the same old mistakes again. There's no reason to practice in the cold when the game will be played in 70-degree weather. Take out the wallet and practice indoors.

BROWNS: The Browns have the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, which isn't exactly familiar territory for team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. According to the Canton Repository, they have picked in the top 10 only three times between them, which resulted in the selections of cornerback Terrell Buckley (fifth overall, 1992), wide receiver Koren Robinson (ninth overall, 2001) and cornerback Joe Haden (seventh overall, 2010). Hensley's slant: If the Browns can hit on an offensive player like they did with Haden, they will be headed in the right direction. Of course, the Browns could trade out of the top 10 like they did last season. But Cleveland will face a lot of criticism if it trades out again with the likes of quarterback Robert Griffin III, wide receiver Justin Blackmon and running back Trent Richardson on the board.

RAVENS: Ray Lewis insisted he is happy with the level that he's playing at this season. "If you ask my peers, why wouldn't I be?" Lewis said, via MASN Sports. "You go through a resume of all of the great ones, and you can always go back to when they had their downs, they had their ups, but they were able to overcome that and keep going." There has been criticism that the 36-year-old linebacker is declining and needs to take some plays off. Hensley's slant: The Ravens will need Lewis to be on top of his game next weekend if Houston or Denver comes to Baltimore for a divisional playoff game. The Texans and Broncos are the top two rushing offenses in the NFL. The Ravens, meanwhile, finished No. 2 in run defense.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh expects no dropoff when Ryan Mundy replaces safety Ryan Clark in the starting lineup, and Clark is among those saying that. According to Clark, starting Mundy couldn't come at a better situation than against the Broncos and the top-ranked run offense in the NFL. "They are going to try to run the ball, and those two guys (Mundy and Troy Polamalu) are the best two in-the-box run defenders," Clark told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Maybe in a way it turned out to be the perfect week for this to happen to us." Clark will sit Sunday because it could be dangerous for him to play in the high altitude of Denver with his blood condition. Hensley's slant: Clark is being a little too humble. He has played at a Pro Bowl level and led the Steelers this season with 100 tackles. So, there will certainly be a dropoff. Luckily for the Steelers, they are playing a Broncos offense that averaged 13.2 points in its last four games.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson breaks down the safeties of each AFC North team. Today: Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu is obviously a remarkable player, but he wouldn’t have received my vote last season for that prestigious award. When comparing him to other elite defenders I just can’t get over how much time he misses with injuries. I also contend that there was no way that Polamalu was anywhere close to healthy late in the 2010 regular season and during the Steelers' run to the Super Bowl. However, he is remarkable and when right, there really isn’t anyone like him in the NFL.

Ryan Clark is not the biggest, fastest or most athletic safety in the league, but he is smart and very aggressive. His presence often allows Polamalu to freelance, which is valuable to the entire defense. Clark is also a heavy hitter and takes very good angles to ball carriers and passes in the air. He is a very solid all-around player.

Ryan Mundy saw a fair amount of action when Polamalu was out of the lineup, but Mundy is has nothing near Polamalu's ability, and Pittsburgh's defensive playbook is severely restricted with Mundy in the game. He is also just a marginal special teams contributor. But Mundy is solid at times with a great supporting cast, so his roster spot appears safe for at least another season.

Will Allen was added last year to provide depth and to be a core special teams player, but he had a tough time getting on the field and was beaten out for a spot in sub packages. A free agent upgrade here isn’t out of the question.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL

We continue our series this week on grading the 2008 draft classes in the AFC North by taking a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Picks: RB Rashard Mendenhall (first round), WR Limas Sweed (second), LB Bruce Davis (third), OT Tony Hills (fourth), QB Dennis Dixon (fifth), LB Mike Humpal (sixth), S Ryan Mundy (sixth)

Analysis: At the time, many felt this was one of the best draft classes in recent memory for the Steelers. That turned out not to be the case, but Pittsburgh still got some production from this draft. The Steelers were surprised Mendenhall fell to them at No. 23 overall and took him as a luxury pick. Pittsburgh had Willie Parker entrenched as the starter but injuries were starting to slow him down. Mendenhall eventually took over in the 2009 season and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Sweed showed early flashes but could never seem to get over drops he suffered early in his career. Now he's at the back of Pittsburgh's depth chart. Dixon and Mundy are both decent backups at quarterback and safety, respectively. Davis and Hills never developed as the Steelers had hoped.

AFC North blog draft grade: C

We will conclude our series on Friday by grading the 2008 draft of the Baltimore Ravens.

Defensive end Aaron Smith won't be the only defensive starter the Pittsburgh Steelers will be waiting on to come back in the playoffs. According to this ESPN.com report, the Steelers will rest safety Troy Polamalu for the remainder of the regular season.

Polamalu has been dealing with an Achilles injury for several weeks, and the ailment was getting progressively worse. The final straw was the 45-yard interception return for a touchdown last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Polamalu finished the game, but he had a noticeable limp.

Pittsburgh struggled last year without its star safety in the lineup. The Steelers went 9-7, including a five-game losing streak that kept them out of the playoffs.

Pittsburgh has a chance to clinch a playoff spot Sunday against the New York Jets.

Backup safety Will Allen or Ryan Mundy will fill in for Polamalu for the remainder of the regular season.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:

Failing to protect Flacco: Something has gone terribly wrong with the Baltimore Ravens' pass protection. Once pretty solid, Baltimore's offensive line has allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to be sacked 13 times in the past three games. Baltimore allowed four or more sacks only once in the first 10 games. But Flacco has been sacked at least four times in three consecutive weeks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Lack of communication and poor recognition of blitzes are the primary reasons the Ravens are struggling up front. The New Orleans Saints have a blitz-happy defense and could cause a lot of problems for Baltimore's passing game.

Finishing strong: Despite a lot of criticism for blowing a 21-point lead in the second half against Houston, the Ravens have made no apologies for winning ugly. But one thing that is a concern is Baltimore's inability to finish teams late. The Ravens (9-4) have held fourth-quarter leads in all four losses this season. Also, in the past two weeks, Baltimore has been outscored 25-0 in the fourth quarter. An interception return for a touchdown by Josh Wilson saved the Ravens against the Texans last week in overtime. But they could make a big statement by playing four complete quarters Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champs.

The replacements: The Pittsburgh Steelers are banged up heading into their game against the New York Jets. Therefore, backups need to play well. Reserve tight end Matt Spaeth could start for Heath Miller (concussion) for the second straight game, and safeties Will Allen and Ryan Mundy are expected to fill in for the injured Troy Polamalu (lower leg). Spaeth struggled last week with one catch for four yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also had a dropped pass. Allen and Mundy have primarily played on special teams, but might have to fill in for Polamalu the next two games, because Pittsburgh has a short week and will play Dec. 23 against the Carolina Panthers.

Full circle: The Bengals will have an interesting revenge game this week against the Cleveland Browns. At 2-11, Cincinnati's NFL-high 10-game losing streak started Oct. 3 against Cleveland, and the Bengals have a chance to end it against the same opponent. It has been more than two months since Cincinnati last experienced a win, and frustration is at an all-time high. Bengals receiver Terrell Owens recently criticized ownership and the coaching staff for the team's losing ways, and injuries continue to mount. A win against an in-state and division rival would be a good remedy for Cincinnati's various issues for at least a week.

Bigger plays: If the Browns are to beat the Bengals, a key area Cleveland must improve is getting more big plays from its offense. The Browns are averaging 9.5 points in their past two games, and have only two offensive plays of 30 yards or more in that span. Both were receptions by receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, for 37 and 34 yards, respectively. Defenses do not fear Cleveland's passing game and have stacked the box to try to stop tailback Peyton Hillis, who has 1,070 yards rushing. With a quarterback change to rookie Colt McCoy, the Browns hope to have better success throwing downfield.

The injury woes continue for the Pittsburgh Steelers -- and the latest ailment is the biggest of them all.

Steelers (10-3) safety Troy Polamalu, who has dealt with a lower-leg injury for several weeks, is not likely to play against the New York Jets (9-4) Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He missed all week of practice.

Pittsburgh's upcoming game with New York will have a lot of playoff implications. The Steelers are close to clinching a postseason berth, a division title and a first-round bye, while the Jets are fighting for a wild card. But playing without Polamalu severely hurts the Steelers' defense, which played lights out in the past month.

Thanks to Polamalu, who leads the team with six interceptions, the Steelers are allowing an average of just nine points per game in their last four. The offense has struggled, but Polamalu has made big plays in that span and Pittsburgh's defense carried the team to a four-game winning streak.

Two people who could replace Polamalu would be Will Allen or Ryan Mundy. Neither player is nearly as dynamic. Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau would have to simplify the defense if his best player cannot suit up.

Pittsburgh's defense struggled last season without Polamalu, particularly in the fourth quarter with closing out games. With Polamalu sidelined with a knee injury, Pittsburgh failed to defend its Super Bowl title, had a five-game losing streak and finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

With a banged up offensive line and key injuries to defenders like Polamalu and Aaron Smith (triceps), the Steelers could benefit from a first-round bye to get everyone as healthy as possible to make a playoff run.

Earlier today, we wondered if Monday's signing of veteran safety Will Allen to the Pittsburgh Steelers would close the door for Ryan Clark's return.

It turns out that wasn't the case.

Josina Anderson of Fox31 in Denver is reporting that Clark has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Steelers. Clark was in Miami visiting with the Dolphins Monday and is headed back to Pittsburgh. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post writes the deal was worth a total of $17 million.

It's debatable whether Allen was worthy of a starting position next season, but now that doesn't have to come into question. Clark will take his usual spot next season opposite Troy Polamalu. The combo has played well together for four years.

In one day, the Steelers have gone from a team with a question mark at safety to having a lot of depth at the position. Allen and Ryan Mundy are two good backup options behind Pittsburgh's veteran duo as starters.

(Update: In other Steelers news, the team agreed to a three-year deal with receiver Antwaan Randle El, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Randle El was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 2002 and spent the past four seasons with the Washington Redskins.)

PITTSBURGH -- To break a four-game losing streak, Steelers (6-6) head coach Mike Tomlin promised to make changes in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Browns (1-11).

Tomlin added that he will be looking at all three phases up until game time.

So what are the potential lineup changes? After giving up three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders, I anticipate most of them coming on defense.

Here are some possibilities:

CB William Gay replaced by Joe Burnett

Why: This is the easiest to predict because Gay (concussion) is injured and unlikely to play on a short week. Tomlin said Burnett likely will be the starter if Gay cannot play. Keenan Lewis also is in the mix. But even if Gay is available, I think he’s skating on thin ice. He has struggled in recent weeks in coverage.

S Ryan Clark/Tyrone Carter replaced by Ryan Mundy

Why: Tomlin could have an interesting decision at safety with Mundy waiting in the wings. He’s a young player the coaching staff has liked since training camp. And with Clark playing poorly and Carter limited as a playmaker, Mundy could start in place of either player. It’s really a matter of who Tomlin feels needs to be replaced.

LB Lawrence Timmons replaced by Keyaron Fox

Why: Fox replaced Timmons earlier this season when he was hurt, and Pittsburgh played some of its best defense of the season. Tomlin likely remembers and could look to Fox again. Timmons has been at his best as a specialty player who can come off the bench and cover a tight end or rush the passer. But, whether it’s injuries or performances, he has struggled at times as an every down player.

CB Ike Taylor replaced by Keenan Lewis

Why: Could Tomlin really go with two rookie cornerbacks against Cleveland? I don’t think so. Taylor has allowed some big plays and struggled to hold on to potential interceptions. But he’s still the team’s best cover cornerback, and it would be a huge risk to pull Taylor from the starting lineup.

Also on the injury front, receiver Hines Ward injured his hamstring late against the Oakland Raiders and is “very questionable.” Rookie receiver Mike Wallace likely would start if Ward cannot go. Safety Troy Polamalu (knee) also is not expected to play Thursday.

PITTSBURGH -- Months from now when we look back at the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday's fourth-quarter meltdown against the Oakland Raiders could turn out to be the defining moment of their season.

Pittsburgh's defense, which entered Sunday ranked No. 3 in the NFL, gave up three touchdown drives in the final 8:21 of the fourth quarter during a 27-24 loss to the Raiders (4-8), the Steelers' fourth straight defeat.

Defensive players were completely befuddled in the locker room afterward.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, who was beaten for a 75-yard touchdown catch by Oakland receiver Louis Murphy in the final quarter, wasn't sure if he should have had backside help on the play. Although there wasn't any, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that should have been the case.

"I mean, if the coach said it, it is what it is," Taylor said. "But it’s tough having the receiver with a two-way [route] on a corner with that much field, inside or out."

Safety Ryan Mundy sat at his locker with a blank stare on his face. Mundy had a big personal foul penalty on a late hit that helped extend Oakland's game-winning drive.

"I’m just trying to make a play for my team, that’s all," Mundy said. "I felt like I was there at the appropriate amount of time. You got to accept the referee's call and you can’t let that affect you."

Steelers rookie cornerback Joe Burnett also dropped an easy interception when the ball went right through his hands. Five plays later, Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (308 yards, three touchdowns) connected with Murphy for the game-winning 11-yard touchdown.

"If I get 10 more [chances to make that catch], I’ll make it 10 times," Burnett said of the key drop. "That was one where I wish I could have that opportunity back. That normally doesn’t happen to me."

It was that kind of day for Pittsburgh.

In fact, it’s been that kind of season for the Steelers (6-6).

Blowing fourth-quarter leads is nothing new. The Steelers have blown leads in the final quarter in all six losses. Sunday's game against Oakland was just the most extreme case, considering it was at home against a bad team, and the Steelers were desperate for a victory.

Despite Tomlin's claim that Pittsburgh would "unleash hell" in December, the Steelers were flat throughout the game and didn’t play with much urgency until late.

Pittsburgh let the Raiders hang around in the first half. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who returned after missing one game with a concussion, failed to get a fourth-down conversion inside Oakland's 5-yard line. He also threw an interception in Oakland's end zone to thwart another potential scoring drive in the first half. The Steelers led 10-6 at intermission.

When the reigning Super Bowl champions failed to deliver a knockout blow early, the Raiders gradually gained more confidence at Heinz Field, particularly when they realized they were still in the game during a frantic fourth quarter.

In the NFL, the ball can bounce in strange ways in the final quarter, and Oakland made several tremendous plays offensively. Roethlisberger, who threw for 278 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, led Pittsburgh’s offense to two scoring drives that gave the Steelers the lead. But the defense couldn't hold down the stretch.

"We didn’t make a play to win that football game," Tomlin said.

The loss to Oakland may have sealed the Steelers' fate this season.

At the very least, Pittsburgh has to win its final four games to finish 10-6 with a shot at the playoffs. But the way the Steelers are playing, suddenly going on a four-game winning streak is a very tall task.

And 10 wins doesn’t even guarantee Pittsburgh a chance to defend its championship. The Steelers probably will need a lot of help.

The Denver Broncos (8-4) and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) currently hold the two wild cards in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) also have a chance to help their chances Monday night in a key game against the Green Bay Packers (7-4). The Miami Dolphins (6-6) and New York Jets (6-6) are in the mix, making for a crowded field where a lot has to go right for Pittsburgh in the final month.

If the Steelers don’t make the playoffs, it would be one of the most disappointing seasons for Pittsburgh in recent memory. How they found themselves in that position would be a question the Steelers would ponder all offseason.

Pittsburgh has a talented roster that was good enough to beat the Broncos, San Diego Chargers (9-3) and Minnesota Vikings (10-2). But the Steelers also were inconsistent enough to lose to the lowly Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs (3-9) during a four-game skid.

"It’s not about those teams, it’s about us," Steelers defensive back Deshea Townsend said. "Every time we go out to play, it’s about us. If we play the ball that we know we’re capable of playing, we have a chance to win every game. But when we don’t, we find ways to lose."

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Let's see what's in the AFC North mailbag.

The C writes: Hey JW, I'm wondering since Derrick Mason is back will the Baltimore Ravens still go after more receivers to pad the depth chart?

James Walker: The Ravens are taking the approach that they're always open to improving their team. But Mason's return was clearly the best-case scenario for Baltimore at receiver. All the free agents available had concerns, whether it was age, prior injuries, etc. There were rumored trade possibilities. But as I've said all along, none of them were realistic. Barring injury, don't expect the Ravens to make any significant additions at receiver now that Mason is back in the fold.

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Anthony from Mamaroneck, NY writes: James, how is Ryan Mundy developing? Do the Steelers see him as the eventual replacement at free safety or is he here for sufficient depth?

James Walker: The Steelers like Mundy's smarts and instincts, Anthony. But for now he's there to provide depth. Safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark fit one another perfectly and have an ability to raise each other's games. Cap room is an issue right now. But with another good season, I expect Pittsburgh to make Clark a priority, while continuing to work on Mundy's development. One thing I noticed about the Steelers is they're constantly coaching up all 53 players on their roster, not just the starting 22. You would be amazed how many teams struggle to do that during the course of a season.

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David from Chicago, IL wants to know if there is any update on Andre Smith's contract?

James Walker: The fact that No. 5 pick Mark Sanchez and No. 7 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey are signed should provide optimism the Cincinnati Bengals and Smith at No. 6. But being around the team the past four days it has been eerily quiet, which is not a good sign. I don't think anybody is surprised Smith has missed the first four days of training camp. Nearly everyone in the media predicted as much soon after the draft. But as of Monday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis continues to keep the door open for Smith to earn the job as the starting right tackle. It's just a matter of how much Smith's missed time will hurt his learning curve.

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Jim Goodrich from Zanesville, Ohio wants to know of Joshua Cribbs underperformed his contract, would he have given money back.

James Walker: Now it's soapbox time in the AFC North. I don't have many pet peeves, but Jim is bringing up one of my biggest ones. Fans who scream out "players should honor their contracts" have a very narrow-minded view of the NFL. To put it bluntly, this is a shrewd business where contracts are not guaranteed. Every year dozens of teams do not "honor its contracts" by cutting underperforming players. Yet fans never seem upset when their team gets rid of a bust before the end of his deal. No one screamed "travesty" this offseason when the Browns stopped honoring Kevin Shaffer's $36 million contract. No one was upset when the Ravens saved $8 million by releasing Chris McAlister. The same goes for the Bengals, who didn't feel Levi Jones was worth his $3 million salary. So they didn't honor it and released him. The point is the business side of the NFL is brutal on both ends. It's a performance-based league. So next time a player wants a new deal, always consider the alternative and be wary of taking sides of the player or the team.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

	Michael Fabus/Getty Images
	Ryan Mundy has been seeing action with the No. 1 defense.

Here are several notes and observations this week in the AFC North:

• A player who is turning some heads in Pittsburgh this offseason is Steelers backup safety Ryan Mundy. The second-year player is getting a lot of first-team reps as starter Ryan Clark continues to rehab his shoulder. Mundy is a heady player who is taking advantage of his opportunities with a good minicamp and solid workouts. If he continues to improve, Mundy may be able to help Pittsburgh in sub packages this year.
• Can Cleveland Browns receiver and return specialist Joshua Cribbs play defense? It appears we will find out this year. Although the Browns and Cribbs are being pretty quiet about the plans, the team is thinking of ways to use Cribbs' unique talents on defense in 2009, possibly at safety. Cribbs has been among the team leaders in special-teams tackles since he joined the Browns in 2006, and Cleveland is hoping to add some of that aggressiveness to the defense.
• The Baltimore Ravens continue to catch bad breaks at tight end. Most recently, reserve Quinn Sypniewski needed additional knee surgery after missing all of last season. He could miss part of training camp. Starting tight end Todd Heap (back) and free-agent signee L.J. Smith (groin) also have been recovering from ailments. The Ravens are hoping to implement the tight ends more in the passing game this year.
• It's still unknown if Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Chad Ochocinco will show up for the team's mandatory minicamp June 19-21. His absence would be somewhat of a buzz kill to what's been a good offseason in the Queen City. Despite Ochocinco's silence, there is reason to believe he will be there. Last year, Ochocinco showed up despite numerous trade demands. But if he decides to sit out minicamp this season to prove a point, the fine is relatively small. Per league rules, the maximum the Bengals can penalize Ochocinco is a little less than $9,000. He already bypassed a $250,000 workout bonus this offseason.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed rookie fifth-round pick Dennis Dixon and sixth-rounder Ryan Mundy to three-year contracts Monday.

Dixon was a Heisman Trophy contender for the University of Oregon until a late-season knee injury ended his year. He is competing for the third-string quarterback job in Pittsburgh behind starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch.

Mundy, a safety, was the fourth-leading tackler last year for the University of West Virginia with 62 tackles. He also had three interceptions and seven pass breakups.