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The major question facing each team in the AFC North as summer break looms:

Baltimore Ravens: How do the Ravens replace the leadership void left by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? Leadership has never been a problem in the Ravens' entire existence. This was Lewis' team for 17 years, and Reed was a major influence in the locker room for the past decade. With Lewis retired and Reed on the Houston Texans, the Ravens need to prove they can move on. Don't expect one player to step up and become a polarizing leader like Lewis. It will likely be leadership-by-committee for now. Linebacker Terrell Suggs has to become the voice of the defense, and running back Ray Rice has to be the vocal leader for the offense. Quarterback Joe Flacco, who has become the new face of the franchise, is expected to lead through his take-charge attitude.

Cincinnati Bengals: Who is the starting center? There will be other position battles for the Bengals. Cincinnati will find out in training camp who will take over spots at No. 2 receiver and strong safety. But the most important competition is on the offensive line. Trevor Robinson and Kyle Cook both started games for Cincinnati at center. And the offensive line surprisingly played better with Robinson, an undrafted rookie last season, than Cook, a four-year starter. The Bengals have the two best offensive tackles in the division in Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith. Right guard Kevin Zeitler looks like a future Pro Bowl player. To elevate this line to another level, Cincinnati needs either Robinson or Cook to take control of center spot.

Cleveland Browns: Can running back Trent Richardson stay healthy? The Browns and Richardson have downplayed the latest injury, a pulled muscle in his shin. And, honestly, many concerns will be quelled if Richardson is taking handoffs when training camp opens in late July. But, based on Richardson's history (knee, ribs, ankle and now shin) over his 14-month NFL career, it's valid to wonder if Richardson will ever play at full strength. There are certainly other questions for the Browns: inside linebacker, cornerback and free safety. Still, none of those issues will impact the Browns more than Richardson's ability to break long runs and punch the ball in the end zone. Perhaps the Browns should reconsider their stance on Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach, who would make a great lead blocker/bodyguard for Richardson.

Pittsburgh Steelers: When will tight end Heath Miller return? Many assume Miller will be ready for the regular season, or at least not miss any significant time, because the Steelers didn't take a tight end in the draft or sign a pass-catching one in free agency. That's just speculation at this point because team officials won't give a timetable and Miller was vague about a return date when asked about his recovery from ACL surgery last month. Miller did say there's a "chance" he could play in the Sept. 8 season opener against the Tennessee Titans. Miller led the Steelers with 71 receptions last season and tied for the team lead with eight touchdowns. The departure of No. 1 receiver Mike Wallace to the Miami Dolphins only increased the need to get Miller back as quickly as possible.

There's been a lot of talk about whether first-round pick Barkevious Mingo is going to start for the Cleveland Browns. Right now, he is an outside linebacker for the second team, behind Jabaal Sheard.

This is the exact opposite approach of last year, when five rookies started regularly for the Browns. In fact, rookies accounted for 26.4 percent of Cleveland's snaps last year, which was the highest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information's Joseph Koontz.

There was no team even close to the Browns in using first-year players. The Colts ranked second with rookies taking 16.8 percent of the snaps.

On offense, rookies led the Browns in passing yards (Brandon Weeden), rushing yards (Trent Richardson) and receiving yards (Josh Gordon). The second-leading tackler was Craig Robertson, an undrafted rookie linebacker. In total, 17 rookies got on the field for Cleveland and played 6,067 snaps.

The Browns won't come close to ranking as high this year. The only two rookies expected to make significant impacts are Mingo and cornerback Leon McFadden.

The Cincinnati Bengals ranked second in the AFC North last year (and fifth in the NFL) with rookies playing 15.3 percent of the snaps, and the Baltimore Ravens were 17th in the NFL with rookies accounting for 9.7 percent of the snaps.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 24th in the NFL in this category, and I thought they would rank even lower than that. The Steelers' top three picks (guard David DeCastro, tackle Mike Adams and linebacker Sean Spence) all missed significant time because of injuries. Nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, a fourth-round pick, was a disappointment on and off the field, getting arrested for drunken driving during the season. One of the more productive rookies was running back Chris Rainey, but the fifth-round pick was arrested after the season when he was charged for simple battery.

The team that had the lowest percentage of snaps taken by rookies in 2012 was the San Francisco 49ers (1 percent).

It was quite a busy day in the AFC North on Wednesday. The Baltimore Ravens visited the White House and signed inside linebacker Daryl Smith. The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Ben Roethlisberger was having knee surgery. And Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson tried to set the record straight on his shin injury. All I know is today will be smoother for me because I won't have to fight traffic going back and forth to Washington like I did yesterday. Here's your wake-up call ...

RAVENS: Ed Reed returned to go with his former teammates on their visit to the White House, but the safety may not see them on the field this season. Even though Reed doesn't play for the Ravens anymore, he told the team's website that there's a chance he won't be able to play in the Week 3 (Sept. 22) game between the Houston Texans and the Ravens. “I plan on being back for Week 1,” Reed said. “But as you’ve known me for the longest time, I’m going to be smart about my injuries and make sure I’m there for the later part of the season when the team really needs me.” Reed had a hip procedure this offseason after signing with the Texans in free agency. In 2010, he started the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after having hip surgery and led the NFL in interceptions that season despite missing the first six games.

BENGALS: One of the biggest questions on the team is who'll start at strong safety. According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Taylor Mays has been taking snaps with the first-team defense but rookie third-round pick Shawn Williams and Jeromy Miles will also compete for the job. “They all bring something different to the table," cornerback Leon Hall said. "The biggest part for all of them is just making sure they know the playbook front and back. That frees you up to just play. The game moves a lot slower when you can do that. It’s one of those things you want to learn to where you hear it in the call and you just think about it real quick and it’s gone and you can start focusing on the offense.”

STEELERS: While finding out your starting quarterback is having surgery is never good news, a source close to the team told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the doctor found Ben Roethlisberger's right knee to be otherwise healthy during the arthroscopic procedure, which he called "encouraging." The source added: "The scare is that when you go in, you discover it's worse," the source said. "His is not; it's very, very healthy and encouraging on that regard." The Steelers believe Roethlisberger will be ready for training camp in late July, so there is not much concern over this surgery.

BROWNS: In what has become daily updates on Trent Richardson's right shin injury, the running back disputed an ESPN Radio in Cleveland report that he won't be ready for the start of training camp, which begins at the end of next month. "I still expect to be out there day one,” Richardson said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “People are saying I’ve got another injury, and it’s farther than what people are saying it is. And no it’s not. Coach got me out for precautionary reasons. It’s nothing that big to worry about.” ESPN Radio in Cleveland reported this week that Richardson will be sidelined until August because the team fears his injury could develop into a stress fracture.

The latest update on Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson's leg injury comes courtesy of ESPN Radio in Cleveland, which is reporting that he will be out until August. A source "very close to Richardson" told the website that there's a concern that the lower leg strain could turn into a stress fracture.

ESPN Radio in Cleveland doesn't specify when Richardson is expected to return in August, which is crucial in gauging the importance of the report. If Richardson is projected to come back in early August, he would only miss a week or two of the start of training camp. That would not really be breaking news considering Richardson was expected to miss this week's mandatory minicamp, which is the last on-field work until training camp.

But, if Richardson is out until the middle or end of August, then there's a much bigger problem. Under that timeframe, there would be increased questions about Richardson's availability or impact for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. In the big picture, that's the bottom line with any injury in the offseason or training camp.

Browns officials said they've been sitting out Richardson for these offseason camps as a precaution.

"We are being conservative with him," coach Rob Chudzinski said last week. ”This is just something that we are working through and he will be fine.”

Another question is what shape will Richardson be in when he gets back on the field in training camp. According to ESPN Radio in Cleveland, Richardson hasn't been able to participate fully in the Browns' weightlifting program because he's also taking medication for migraines. This has caused him to lose weight over the past two weeks.

So, I'm holding off on pushing the panic button with Richardson. Until there are more details, it's hard to know whether this is a relatively minor setback or a sign of a bigger one.

*UPDATE: Chudzinski was asked later Tuesday whether he expected Richardson to be ready for the start of training camp on July 26. “Yes, that’s my expectation,” Chudzinski told reporters, via the Akron Beacon Journal. He then added, “We’re just holding him [out this week]. He could’ve went these next couple days if necessary. But we’re just being real precautionary about it. We don’t want the muscle strain to get any worse.”

When players are injured, they rarely want to talk to the media. But, after sitting out Thursday's practice with a strained muscle in his shin, Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson seemed determined to set the record straight.

"It's not going to be like last year, being hurt and injured," Richardson said. "Injury prone is not going to be me. I just can't wait to get back out and running."

The problem is, when it comes to the "injury-prone" label, you can't shed it by talking about it. Richardson has to get out on the field and prove he can remain healthy for more than half a season.

By all accounts, this latest injury is a minor one. Head coach Rob Chudzinski emphasized the Browns are being conservative with him. Richardson said it didn't warrant an MRI. If there was a game on Sunday, he probably would play.

The only reason why Richardon's injury is an issue is his history. In 13 months with the Browns, Richardson has had four injuries that have caused him to miss time on the practice field or in games.

Here's a quick rundown:

• In August, Richardson had a procedure on his left knee to remove a loose piece of cartilage. It caused him to miss the entire preseason.

• On Oct. 14 against the Bengals, he broke two ribs and played the rest of the season with a protective jacket. The injury forced him to miss the second half of two games.

• On Dec. 24 against the Broncos, Richardson suffered a mild high ankle sprain and left the stadium in a walking boot. This sidelined him for the season finale.

• Last week at practice, Richardson pulled a muscle in his lower leg and could miss next week's mandatory minicamp. The expectation is for Richardson to be ready for training camp in late July.

Based on his track record, you could make a convincing argument that Richardson has been injury prone in his short time with the Browns. It seems like Richardson hasn't been healthy since he signed his rookie contract with Cleveland. But I would give Richardson another season before lumping him in the same injury-prone category as Ryan Mathews and Reggie Bush. If Richardson can't stay healthy in his second season, even Richardson himself couldn't deny being injury prone.

Durability was the concern when the Browns drafted him No. 3 overall last year. But there is a difference between being injury prone and being soft. No one can accuse Richardson of being the latter after he averaged 21.7 touches while playing 10 games with broken ribs.

Still, Richardson won't be able to reach his potential if he's trying to shake off injuries and tacklers at the same time. It was admirable that Richardson was able to run for 950 yards and score 12 touchdowns with all of those injuries last season. But injuries obviously affected his average yards per carry (3.6) and his effectiveness down the stretch.

Chudzinski said the team isn't concerned about Richardson's history of injuries.

"I know he is healthy from all the things from this past season," Chudzinski said. "This is just something that we are working through and he will be fine.”

The Cleveland Browns received some bad news last week, and for once, it didn't involve gas rebates or an FBI probe.

Running back Trent Richardson sat out last week's workouts with a pulled muscle in his shin and could be sidelined for next month's mandatory minicamp. That would mean the next time Cleveland would see Richardson on the field is training camp in late July.

Is it time to worry about Richardson's durability? Not at this point. Of course, the Browns would want Richardson to be running at full speed right now. And, when you consider his knee and rib injuries from a year ago, it seems like Richardson has been banged-up since he put on a Browns uniform.

What you have to keep in mind is the Browns are doing this as a precaution. This is the time of year to be extra cautious so injuries remain minor. It's hard to question Richardson's durability after last season, when he played 702 snaps, the ninth most among NFL running backs.

Richardson, though, needs to be healthy if he wants to break out this season. He has the potential to be a top-five back in this league, especially under Norv Turner's play calling. Richardson can do it all because he has speed and power. He can play all three downs and punch the ball across the goal line when in the red zone. But, if Richardson continues to deal with injuries, critics will once again question whether it was smart to use the No. 3 overall pick on a running back.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

How does each AFC North team look at running back, and what still needs to be done?

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Rice is only 26, but he has taken a lot of hits. Although he put together a fantastic season, as usual, in 2012, he looked worn down late in the year and during the Ravens’ Super Bowl run. He has four straight regular seasons with more than 250 carries and has caught at least 61 passes in each of those seasons. Even though he is still extremely potent, Baltimore might be wise to deflect a few more early-down carries toward Bernard Pierce to extend Rice’s effectiveness. Pierce isn’t close to the receiver Rice is and is still learning pass protection. However, he was very impressive late in the season, and you could argue he was running more effectively than Rice in the postseason. A bigger back than Rice, Pierce averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie and could make a big impact in games in which Baltimore has the lead. Bobby Rainey enters his second season as well. He is a shorter back with a thick build, good balance and good feet. Expect him to take a step forward in his second season, but he helps the Ravens mostly on special teams.

Cincinnati Bengals: BenJarvus Green-Ellis will open training camp as the Bengals’ top running back. But don’t expect him to keep that distinction for long, as Giovani Bernard is sure to pass him. Green-Ellis gets what is blocked, has some power to drag tacklers and is reliable with his ball security. What you see is what you get with Green-Ellis -- and it isn’t good enough. Bernard is an exciting prospect with loads of big-play ability. He can run inside with quick feet and more power than you might suspect, but is also very dangerous on the perimeter with his long speed and elusiveness in the open field. Green-Ellis will surely be superior to Bernard in pass protection to start the season, but Bernard is far more dangerous as a receiving option. Cincinnati also brought back Bernard Scott before the draft, but with the selection of Bernard, Scott’s roster spot is far from certain. The Bengals also drafted Rex Burkhead, who does everything well and is an underrated prospect overall. In time, I expect Burkhead to be a fine complement to Bernard as Cincinnati’s second running back.

Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson battled numerous injuries during his rookie campaign, and that is the only concern I have about this 21-year-old. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner has an outstanding history of utilizing a true feature back, and Richardson fits that mold with his rare blend of vision, power, lateral agility and speed to go along with excellent receiving skills. There isn’t much on Cleveland’s depth chart behind Richardson, so maybe the Browns will keep their eyes out for a veteran who gets released. For now, Montario Hardesty is No. 2. Injuries have been a big problem for him, but he does have a fair amount of ability. Also in the mix are Dion Lewis, Brandon Jackson and Chris Ogbonnaya. Jackson is bigger and runs with much more power than Lewis, but he isn’t as quick. Both do their best work on third down. Ogbonnaya is a big runner with some power, but he lacks any particular skill to wow you. A scatback with big-play ability would be a welcome addition here.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers used this year’s second-round pick on Le'Veon Bell, as they felt their running backs from 2012 were not getting the job done. Bell is very young, has good size and is quite established in the passing game, which is something Pittsburgh wasn’t getting from Isaac Redman or Jonathan Dwyer. Redman and Dwyer are similar players. They both have good size and initiate contact. They get what is blocked, but not much more, and lack dynamic qualities. They are backups in the NFL. Last year, the Steelers drafted Chris Rainey to help as a returner and add a running back/wide receiver hybrid to their offense. Rainey didn’t work out, but Pittsburgh signed LaRod Stephens-Howling this offseason for the same reasons. Baron Batch is also in the equation. His most notable contributions come on special teams, but he is a serviceable runner, receiver and blocker. The Steelers were in talks with Ahmad Bradshaw before the draft. With the selection of Bell, you would think that ship had sailed, but you never know. Bradshaw will end up somewhere this season. It is also likely that either Redman or Dwyer will be gone before the season.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at key players for each AFC North team who are coming back from injuries:

Baltimore Ravens: Cornerback Lardarius Webb. The Ravens need their top cornerback to return to his old form, especially with Cary Williams going to the Eagles in free agency. Webb tore his ACL in October and missed the final 10 games of the regular season. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Webb "should be ready to roll" by training camp. Baltimore could bring him along slowly and limit his playing time in the preseason. But, based on this timeline, all signs point to Webb being ready to play in the season opener. If Webb isn't ready, the Ravens' top three corners would be Corey Graham, Jimmy Smith and Chykie Brown. Webb dealt with a torn ACL in 2009, when he hurt his knee in late December. He was able to return and play 15 games the following season. So, he's been able to recover from this injury quickly in the past.

Cincinnati Bengals: Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. He's the favorite to be the Bengals' No. 2 receiver and start opposite A.J. Green. A third-round pick last year, Sanu had worked himself into the starting lineup before breaking his left foot late in the season and undergoing surgery on Dec. 3. He expects to be running at full speed by next week's minicamp. Coach Marvin Lewis has high hopes for Sanu, saying he's ahead of where Chad Johnson was going into his second NFL season. Sanu was starting to hit his stride before the injury. In his last three games, he caught 11 passes and four touchdowns. Sanu will still have to earn the job. His main competition is Marvin Jones, a fifth-round pick from a year ago.

Cleveland Browns: Running back Trent Richardson. He said last month that he was fully recovered from all of last year's injures, and he wasn't wearing a protective sleeve over his knee anymore. But, in March, Richardson told The Plain Dealer that he might always have to deal with lingering pain from broken ribs after undergoing some tests. Richardson did say at that time that he expected to be 100 percent by training camp. Other than Richardson, the Browns aren't dealing with any critical injuries. Left guard Jason Pinkston returned to practice this week after having a blood clot in his lung that ended his 2012 season. Wide receiver David Nelson is still recovering from a torn ACL and he hopes to get on the field for June's mandatory minicamp. At this point, he's projected to be the No. 4 receiver.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tight end Heath Miller. He's the biggest question mark in the division. After excelling in the first season of Todd Haley's offense, he tore ligaments in his right knee in the second-to-last game of the season and had surgery on Jan. 2. He's no longer on crutches and was spotted walking without a limp last month. The Steelers have been vague on Miller's timetable. Some believe that Miller will be ready for the start of the season after the Steelers passed on Tyler Eifert in the first round and didn't take a tight end in the draft. But there's still a chance that Miller could miss the start of the season or be placed on PUP. Losing Miller would significantly impact Pittsburgh's passing game. Last season, Miller led the Steelers in catches (71) and tied for the most touchdown catches (eight). Without Miller, the top two tight ends on the roster are Matt Spaeth and David Paulson. Spaeth has averaged eight catches per season, and Paulson had seven catches last season as a rookie.

Here are some highlights from Wednesday's AFC North weekly chat:

• Steve (Milwaukee): John Simon, a fourth-round pick for the Ravens, is an incredible player with great intangibles but dropped in the draft due to measureables (too short for a DE, too big for an LB). Where do you see him fitting into Baltimore's scheme and how much playing time would you expect him to see this year?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Simon will only get on the field for special teams this year. The Ravens are two-deep at both outside linebacker spots with Suggs-McPhee at rush linebacker and Dumervil-Upshaw on the right side. I still think Simon has a future in this league.

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• WarIsHell (Pennsylvania): Can you explain why you think Jarvis Jones has little to no upside?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): That was the assessment of Steve Muench of Scouts, Inc., who breaks down more film than any of us. Until I get to see Jones on a regular basis, I trust Muench's assessment that Jones may have maxed out and Mingo is just scratching the surface. I have never considered myself on the same level as the draft experts at ESPN.

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• Drake (Kentucky): Which current NFL player do you compare Bengals first round pick Tyler Eifert to?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): I have heard a more athletic Heath Miller. I also saw someone compare him to Greg Olsen.

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• Will (Cove City, NC): Jamison, love the work. What can Steelers fan realistically expect from this year's crop of rookies? Jarvis Jones for Defensive Rookie of the Year?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Jones is my favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. I believe Le'Veon Bell will be the starting running back for the Steelers. It may not be the season opener but he'll have that job by October. Third-round WR Markus Wheaton has a chance to be the No. 3 WR by season's end.

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• Tim (Cleveland): What can we expect from Browns running back Trent Richardson this year?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Top-10 rusher this year if he remains healthy.

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• Joe (Baltimore): What do think the Ravens will do with Rolando McClain? And what will the Ravens do with No. 2 wide receiver: is it trade or is he on our roster?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): If the Ravens keep McClain past his July court date, it looks like they will hold onto him until they feel that Arthur Brown can start. As far as the No. 2 WR, it looks like Jacoby Jones and Tandon Doss are the front-runners right now.

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• Chet (Dayton): Hello Jamison, I enjoy the blog. Last year ,Cincy drafted a second round lineman who some projected to be a first rounder in Devin Still. What do you think his role will be in the rotation this season?
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Still will be the top backup for Geno Atkins. He's the reason why Pat Sims was no longer needed.

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• Tyson (Newark, Ohio): Please tell my crazy biased Bengals fan friend that Big Ben is not out of his prime. This dude truly thinks Ben is done, has only been average and has two years, tops, left of his career; injury or no injury. He feels Landry Jones was drafted take over as the starter. I feel like Ben is in his prime, and free from injury, there is no need to think he can't play until he is 35-37 range.
• Jamison Hensley (ESPN): Roethlisberger is definitely in his prime. He threw 17 touchdowns and four interceptions in the first nine games before getting injured. It's optimistic to think he will last as long as Peyton Manning considering the amount of hits he's taken. But Roethlisberger is far from done.

The AFC North blog is continuing its rankings of each position for the next two weeks. This is a projection on how the group will fare this season. It's not an evaluation based on last year. For Tuesday, let's look at the running backs.

1. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have one of the best running back tandems in the NFL with Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. Rice remains a dangerous threat in the running and passing games. There should be some concern over his production dipping last season. He is looking to rebound from his worst rushing season since becoming the featured back in 2009. Rice still finished with 1,621 total yards from scrimmage. Pierce was the biggest surprise in last year's Ravens draft class. He came on strong late in the season and into the playoffs. This effort should result in more touches this season.

2. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson ran for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns despite never being fully healthy. Knee and rib injuries limited his effectiveness throughout his rookie season. If he can stay healthy, Richardson has the potential to be among the top 10 rushers in the NFL this year. He'll have to become more explosive to do so. His longest run last year was 32 yards. Montario Hardesty, the primary backup, has been a disappointment since being a second-round pick in 2010. He has averaged 3.5 yards per carry in two seasons and has scored one touchdown.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: It took time for BenJarvus Green-Ellis to hit his stride in Cincinnati. He gained over 100 yards in four of his final six regular-season games. While Green-Ellis was more explosive than anticipated, he averaged 3.9 yards per carry. This is what you're going to get from Green-Ellis -- a solid but not spectacular back. He'll still carry the load on early downs and in the red zone. The spark will be provided by rookie second-round pick Giovani Bernard. He brings more speed to the backfield as well as more impact in the passing game. The Bengals' backfield will be improved from last season, but the Ravens and Browns have more talented featured backs.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: The only new starting running back in the division will be rookie second-round pick Le'Veon Bell. He is more agile than his size indicates (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) and provides much-needed fresh legs to the Steelers' backfield. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman failed to provide any consistency in the Steelers' running game. The Steelers will likely only keep one of them as a backup. Bell should be ready to take over immediately after starting three seasons at Michigan State. He'll need to adjust his upright running style at this level, but he knows how to generate yards after contact.

Happy Schedule Day! Wait, does that need an exclamation point or not? Well, you know what it means. This is the day when the league announces its 17-week schedule and fans can jot it down in their fall calendars. Just a reminder that the AFC North blog will have reaction blogs after the schedules are made official at 8 p.m. tonight. As you count down the hours, here's your wake-up call ...

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston doesn't believe Kelechi Osemele is ready to be a left tackle. "Osemele, who started at right tackle and left guard last season, could be a left tackle down the road, but he has to improve his foot speed during this offseason," Preston wrote. "He struggled with speed rushers on the outside as a right tackle and it would be worse for him on the left side if there isn't significant improvement." Ravens officials said Tuesday that Osemele would get a chance to start at left tackle if the team lined up today.

BENGALS: The NFL Network is reporting that the Bengals' talks with free-agent linebacker James Harrison have broken off. According to the report, the Bengals remain interested in linebacker Karlos Dansby, who visited Cincinnati last week. But talks between the Bengals and Dansby have apparently not heated up yet. I plan to address this situation later Thursday. With Rey Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict set as starters, the Bengals have one spot open at outside linebacker.

STEELERS: In case you missed it from last night, restricted free-agent nose tackle Steve McLendon visited the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. You can click here to read my blog post on the situation. It is unknown whether the Packers have signed McLendon to an offer sheet. The deadline to sign restricted free agents is Friday. The Steelers gave the low $1.3 million tender to McLendon, which means Pittsburgh gets no compensation if it declines to match an offer sheet for the five-year veteran linemen. McLendon, 27, had been projected to start at nose tackle this season and replace Casey Hampton, who hasn't been re-signed.

BROWNS: Running back Trent Richardson declared himself 100 percent after playing for most of his rookie season with two broken ribs. Richardson only missed one game last year and that was because of a sprained left ankle in the season finale. "I’m out there flying around," Richardson told ESPN Radio in Cleveland after the second day of voluntary minicamp. "I finally feel skinny. I don’t have that big (protective) pad on me. It’s way easier to breathe. I can sleep at night. I feel better than ever.”

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Who is one potential breakout player for each AFC North team in 2013?

Baltimore Ravens: Kelechi Osemele. It can be argued that Osemele did, in fact, break out at the end of his rookie season. And it could be argued that the Ravens’ shuffling of their offensive line -- moving Osemele to left guard from right tackle, Michael Oher from left tackle to right tackle and inserting Bryant McKinnie at left tackle -- was the single biggest reason for their spectacular Super Bowl run. But while the argument holds true that Osemele excelled at left guard, I believe he is just scratching the surface and will become a Pro Bowl-caliber player and one of the elite guards in the game. Still new to the position, Osemele is a massive human being with extremely long arms and huge, powerful hands. But unlike some offensive tackles who move inside, leverage and pad level is not a problem for this extremely talented young man.

Cincinnati Bengals: Mohamed Sanu. There wasn’t a Bengals player who jumped up as a breakout candidate, unlike with the other three teams. That isn’t to suggest that Cincinnati has drafted poorly. I view young players Kevin Zeitler and Vontaze Burfict as already having broken out. Last year’s first-round pick, Dre Kirkpatrick, certainly is a candidate, but we haven’t seen enough at the NFL level to judge him. The same is true for Devon Still and Brandon Thompson. That left receivers Sanu and Marvin Jones, who logged about double the snaps as Sanu in 2012. Either could develop into a quality second option opposite the great A.J. Green, but Sanu is the better prospect in my opinion. While he isn’t a perimeter burner like Green, he is a sure-handed, big-bodied wideout who fits well with Andy Dalton, who gets the ball out quickly and allows his receivers to perform after the catch. Like the defensive players mentioned above, there isn’t a lot of film of Sanu to go off. He caught just 16 passes before a Week 12 foot injury ended his rookie season, but he should be penciled in as a starter and see plenty of favorable matchups.

Cleveland Browns: Jordan Cameron. There were easier choices for the Browns than Cameron, namely on the offensive side of the ball, from their impressive rookie class from a year ago. Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon and even Mitchell Schwartz all have extremely promising young careers after impressing as rookies. I expect all three to drastically improve and for Richardson to be one of the top running backs in the league in 2013. But I went with Cameron, a relatively unknown tight end, because of his abilities, the coaching and a major increase of snaps. Cameron is the typical athletic former basketball player with the long frame to really excel against safety and linebacker coverage. But why do I really expect this breakout? Look no further than Cleveland’s new head coach, Rob Chudzinski. Going back to his days as the tight ends coach at the University of Miami, Chudzinski has a spectacular track record for developing great talent into great production at this position. Cameron is his latest project; expect it to go very well.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Cortez Allen. Recent first-round selections David DeCastro and Cameron Heyward crossed my mind for this honor, but I went with Allen over those linemen. Allen fits the mold of what Pittsburgh does at cornerback to a T. On a regular basis, the Steelers draft big, developmental cornerbacks in the middle rounds. Those players tend to have nondescript rookie seasons while making their bones on special teams and learning “The Steeler Way” in Dick LeBeau’s defense. In Year 2, these cornerbacks often take a step forward, playing in sub packages and filling in for injured starters. And if that development goes well, as it did for last year’s starting cornerbacks, Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis, they take over a starting position. It’s Allen’s turn to do exactly that. The Steelers allowed Lewis to leave for New Orleans, showing they have all the faith in the world in Allen. They did sign William Gay -- another corner they once drafted and who fits this mold -- but Gay is a depth player who is obviously familiar with the system and franchise. Allen gets the opportunity to step up. Expect big things.

Is it even newsworthy anymore when the Baltimore Ravens lose a starter from their Super Bowl team? It's more newsworthy when the Ravens don't lose a starter for a day. This time, however, it's different because the Ravens said goodbye to safety Ed Reed, the third-best player ever to wear their uniform. He reached an agreement with the Houston Texans on Wednesday night. Hopefully, Ravens fans will remember Reed's dramatic plays on the field and not his painful rendition of "Two Tickets To Paradise," which he sang repeatedly during the team's Super Bowl run. Here's your wake-up call ...

BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Head coach John Harbaugh was complimentary of Reed after news spread that the free-agent safety agreed to a deal with the Texans. “Ed is a great guy and a very good friend,” Harbaugh told The Baltimore Sun. “We will always appreciate what he accomplished as a Raven. He has a lot of good football left and we wish him all the best.”
• The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is a long shot to leave the team for Alabama's athletic-director vacancy. When asked about the job opening, Newsome replied: "I already have a great job."
• Harbaugh said he is "very open" to bringing back free-agent left tackle Bryant McKinnie, according to the team's official website. "I hope that works out and we’ll just have to see," he said. I wouldn't read too much into this. Harbaugh was also "very hopeful" of Reed returning.
• Wide receiver Anquan Boldin passed his physical in San Francisco, which completes his trade with the 49ers, according to The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens get a sixth-round pick from the 49ers for Boldin.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Owner Mike Brown wasn't available on Wednesday, but his comments earlier this week explain why the Bengals were the only team to vote against the helmet rule. "I view it as a difficult, if not impossible, play to call," Brown said, via USA Today. "We had a lot of this with the secondary plays last year. I didn't think those calls were always right," he said. "These plays happen in a flash. They're just a reaction to people did he hit him with his shoulder pad, did he hit him with his helmet? Was it intended? That's difficult to sort out. I'm not confident we should add another discretionary call."
• Returner Ted Ginn Jr. might not end up with the Bengals after leaving his visit with the Panthers with a contract offer. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Panthers could have the edge over the Bengals because they can offer more playing time at receiver. The Bengals also offered a contract to Ginn.
• The Bengals have a private workout scheduled with West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin, according to WVU Pros.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Linebacker James Harrison isn't drawing much interest in free agency, but The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac doesn't expect him to return to Pittsburgh. "Mike Tomlin effectively said today that the Steelers will play the 2013 season without James Harrison," Dulac wrote.
• Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, the former Steelers offensive coordinator, is excited about reuniting with running back Rashard Mendenhall. "He's a legitimate big-time threat every time he touches the ball," Arians told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He's a big back who never has to come out of the game. He has a 230-pound body with 180-pound feet."

CLEVELAND BROWNS

• Running back Trent Richardson feels responsible for the new helmet rule. His crushing collision with Philadelphia's Kurt Coleman was the centerpiece of the NFL's decision to ban running backs from using their helmet against defenders. "I feel like I made it bad for all the backs," Richardson told The Plain Dealer. "I feel like it's my fault."
• Phil Dawson officially signed a one-year deal with the 49ers worth $2.25 million, which includes a $1 million signing bonus, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. This inexpensive contract shows the Browns could've retained Dawson if they wanted to do so.
• Panthers coach Ron Rivera was worried about losing backup quarterback Derek Anderson to the Browns and coach Rob Chudzinski, according to The Plain Dealer. Something tells me Browns fans were worried that Cleveland would get him.

Baltimore Ravens receiver-returner Jacoby Jones did the Cha Cha Cha -- at least that's the wife told me -- on his "Dancing With The Stars" debut Monday night. There was also a quarterback shuffle, Matt Hasselbeck went to the Colts, Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Titans, and that left the Browns and Bengals without a veteran quarterback. Now, let's move onto the wake-up call ...

BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Owner Steve Bisciotti told the team's official website that his expectations for quarterback Joe Flacco haven't changed since giving him the biggest contract in NFL history. "Your expectation is that he’s going to be a solid, top-10 quarterback and keep us where we want to be, and that’s with a chance to get hot," Bisciotti said.
• It appears that the Texans are willing to commit more money to safety Ed Reed, according to The Baltimore Sun. Although the Ravens would like Reed to return, the paper reported that the Ravens aren't willing to pay him $6 million per season.
• The Ravens are among four teams who are interested in Raiders free-agent safety Michael Huff, according to The Baltimore Sun. The Packers, Cowboys and Titans are also looking at Huff.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Linebacker Rey Maualuga, who re-signed with the Bengals on Monday, told the team's official website that coaches informed him that he could stay at middle linebacker. There had been speculation that he would move to the outside and Vontaze Burfict would shift to the middle. "I would prefer to play MIKE (middle linebacker)," Maualuga said. "It just felt right and I think I know the defense in and out."
• The Bengals' priority remains to re-sign offensive tackle Andre Smith and cornerbacks Terence Newman and Adam Jones, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Newman indicated he will have a deal done with the Bengals or Raiders by the end of the week.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Jason Worilds is considered the heir apparent to James Harrison at right outside linebacker, coach Mike Tomlin told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I believe that Jason Worilds is chomping at the bit to prove he is capable of being that," Tomlin said. "We will see what Worilds is capable of doing." Tomlin then added with a laugh, "No pressure."
• The Steelers' cap constraints continue to limit the team's pursuit of free agents. "We desire to assemble the very best team we can assemble, but obviously we deal in a world of realism -- we have (constraints) from a salary-cap standpoint that could limit some of those thoughts,” Tomlin told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I'm not a big dreamer in that regard and (don't) spend a lot of time looking at things that aren't practical."
• Tight end Matt Spaeth returned to the Steelers after officially signing his two-year, $2 million contract. "I told some people I left here with tears rolling down my face and I returned with a big smile," Spaeth told the team's website. Since the late 1970s, Spaeth is the 10th player drafted by the Steelers to rejoin the team for a second time, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

• The Browns' private workout with West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is simply an act of "due diligence," according to ESPN Radio in Cleveland. Chief executive officer Joe Banner reiterated Monday that the team isn't focused on taking a quarterback in the first round right now.
• The competition committee used video replays of Trent Richardson’s hit on Eagles safety Kurt Coleman to illustrate what it believes should be an illegal play during a presentation Monday at the owners meeting, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. The NFL is considering a rule change this week that would penalize runners for lowering their helmets into tacklers.
• Banner told The Plain Dealer that general manager Mike Lombardi is being shielded from the media spotlight because he's "a little bit of a lightning rod." Lombardi hasn't spoken to reporters since being promoted to GM on March 5.
• Recently signed defensive lineman Desmond Bryant is being sued for his criminal incident last month, according to The Plain Dealer.

Unlike the Steelers, there are no plans to restructure around these parts. It's going to be the usual busy Wednesday on the AFC North blog. The weekly column will run around noon. The chat will kick off at 2 p.m. And the weekly poll should get posted sometime in the afternoon. Here's the wake-up call ...

RAVENS: Ray Lewis won't be the only Raven getting a statue in his honor. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh will be inducted into the "Cradle of Coaches" association at his alma mater Miami (Ohio) University next year. A bronze, life-size statue of Harbaugh will be added to the Cradle of Coaches display on a plaza outside Yager Stadium early next year, joining the statues of Paul Brown, Bo Schembechler, Weeb Ewbank, Ara Parseghian, Earl "Red" Blaik, Carm Cozza, Paul Dietzel and John Pont. "To me, there is no greater recognition in coaching," Harbaugh said in a statement. "To be included with these great men is something only dreamed about."

BENGALS: The Bengals recorded consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1981-82. They've been to the playoffs the past two seasons. This is why defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer believes the Bengals are "really close" to making noise in the AFC. "The first year, we got thumped pretty good by Houston. This year was a lot closer," Zimmer told the NFL Network. "We're right there. But we're going to have to keep grinding and keep adding talent. We have a good nucleus of guys, and I think we're exactly where we need to be."

STEELERS: The Steelers officially gained $5 million in salary-cap room by restructuring the contract of linebacker Lawrence Timmons, according to NFL.com. Timmons' cap number had been $11.1 million, the third-biggest on the team behind Ben Roethlisberger ($19.5 million) and linebacker LaMarr Woodley ($13.2 million). It's the second time Timmons has restructured the extension that he signed in 2011. The restructuring of quarterback Roethlisberger's contract should be finalized by the end of the week.

BROWNS: NFL Network's Steve Wyche said running back Trent Richardson told him in an off-camera interview that quarterback Brandon Weeden struggled to read defenses at times last season. "He said they had to skew their offense a little bit, sometimes somewhat predictable," Wyche said of his conversation with Richardson, via The Plain Dealer. "[He] thinks things are going to open up a little bit, but he really does like Brandon Weeden." Any guesses on how long it will take before Richardson denies he said this?