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The big draft review file will arrive shortly, but a few quick thoughts in the meantime:

Houston Texans

Three offensive linemen should help the team sort through options at right guard and right tackle. Antoine Caldwell and Rashad Butler are the guys moving up the depth chart, but now their challengers will include Brandon Brooks and Ben Jones at guard and Nick Mondek at tackle.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck will come in at the head of a class that also includes two tight ends, two receivers, a running back and an offensive tackle. That change to a 3-4 defense will be in hybrid mode a lot in its first season, as only defensive tackle Josh Chapman and defensive end/outside linebacker Tim Fugger arrived to help. The Colts still get the draft’s final pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars stayed with big school guys most of the way. Their first five selections came from Oklahoma State, Clemson, Cal, Nevada and Florida State. But Gene Smith got his small school guy in the seventh round, with defensive tackle Jeris Pendleton from Ashland.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans didn’t have a pass rusher and were out of picks, but traded a sixth rounder in 2013 to Minnesota in order to select Rice defensive end Scott Solomon. The team sees a relentless pass rusher who fits in their mix and thought it could afford to sacrifice a sixth next year since it expects a compensatory pick or two.

If anyone has any questions of whether Peyton Manning has yet to take control of the Denver Broncos’ offense, rest easy.

Check out the words of new Denver receiver Andre Caldwell, in comments distributed by the team Thursday: “He’s literally leading everything. He’s setting us up, putting us in the right positions. He’s not running the drills — definitely he and [Eric] Decker go hand-in-hand with that — but he’s pretty much the leader in everything else.”

Caldwell is loving what he has seen from Manning, who missed all of last season with a neck injury. However, Caldwell has echoed the sentiment of so many other people who have worked out with Manning or watched him work out recently: The man’s on point.

“He looks great,” Caldwell said. “He looks ready to go. I’d go to war with him any day right now, so he looks fine and healthy to me.”

Caldwell signed with Denver as a free agent from Cincinnati. He noted the difference between starting the season with a veteran like Manning as opposed to rookie Andy Dalton last season with the Bengals.

“It’s a big difference,” Caldwell said. “The quarterback had to get adjusted to us [last year], but instead, Peyton is leading us. He’s showing us all the drills we need to do. He’s ahead of everybody, and he’s just our leader. Being with a rookie last year, our leader was on the O-line. This year it’s the quarterback. He’s leading everything that he does.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Cincinnati Bengals

Key additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, S Reggie Nelson, G Travelle Wharton, CB Jason Allen, CB Adam Jones, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Derrick Harvey

Key losses: DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), G Nate Livings (Cowboys), G Mike McGlynn (Colts), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Grade after first wave of free agency: B. The Bengals were the most active team in the division and they should have been. Cincinnati entered free agency with over $50 million in salary-cap space, which was more than the rest of the AFC North combined. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

The prize of the Bengals' signings is running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is an improvement over Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis isn't known for breaking long gains, but he is a force in the red zone and has never fumbled in the NFL. Wharton is a step up from Nate Livings at left guard because he is a strong run-blocker who will open holes inside. The biggest losses came on the defensive line, where Cincinnati will miss Frostee Rucker on run defense and Jonathan Fanene in the pass rush.

What’s next: The Bengals can still close the gap between the Ravens and Steelers because they have two first-round picks in the draft (No. 17 overall, which came from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade, and No. 21). Even with the signing of Wharton, Cincinnati needs a right guard and could have a shot at the top interior offensive lineman coming out of college. Stanford's David DeCastro is one of the safest picks in the draft and would start immediately for the Bengals.

The second first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver or a cornerback. The Bengals surprisingly didn't add a free-agent wide receiver to pair with A.J. Green. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill or Baylor's Kendall Wright should be available in the bottom third of the draft. Another need is cornerback because Cincinnati could use an eventual replacement for Nate Clements, who is entering his 12th season. Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, the second-best corner in the draft, has a chance of sliding to the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

Key additions: DE Frostee Rucker, LB D'Qwell Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson, DE Juqua Parker

Key losses: RB Peyton Hillis (Chiefs), S Mike Adams (Broncos), G Eric Steinbach, OT Tony Pashos

Grade after first wave of free agency: C. Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were building this team through the draft and they weren't joking. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right guard. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. Blame the Washington Redskins. The Browns attempted to move up in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, and the Rams instead traded the second overall pick to the Redskins. Cleveland reportedly pursued wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, and both took high-priced deals from Washington.

The Browns provided more help to the defense in free agency. Frostee Rucker will make an impact in stopping the run, which was the biggest weakness on the NFL's 10th-ranked defense. Juqua Parker, who has 31.5 sacks over the past six seasons, will team with Jabaal Sheard to give Cleveland a strong rush coming off both edges. The Browns didn't try to keep Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams from going elsewhere.

What’s next: Offense, offense and offense. Did I mention offense? The Browns need a quarterback but there's no one worthy of the fourth overall pick. Cleveland could trade down to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or wait until the second round for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The big decision comes if the Browns stay put at No. 4. Cleveland's choices are Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Browns could use either one because they don't have a starting running back or a No. 1 wide receiver.

Cleveland has a second first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. The Browns need to target a wide receiver (if they don't take one earlier in the first round), right tackle or outside linebacker with the 22nd overall pick. Baylor receiver Wright, Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie and Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David have been linked to Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens

Key additions: C Matt Birk, ILB Jameel McClain, OLB Brendon Ayanbadejo, CB Corey Graham, S Sean Considine

Key losses: G Ben Grubbs (Saints), OLB Jarret Johnson (Chargers), DE Cory Redding (Colts) and CB Domonique Foxworth

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. It was a a rough start to free agency for Baltimore, which didn't sign any of its first three visits (guard Evan Mathis, defensive end Mark Anderson and receiver-returner Ted Ginn Jr.). The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

Baltimore was able to keep two free-agent starters, Matt Birk and Jameel McClain, and boost a struggling special-teams group that allowed three touchdowns last season. The Ravens signed Cory Graham, a Pro Bowl special-teams player from the Bears; Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special teams standout; and Sean Considine, who played special teams for three seasons under John Harbaugh in Philadelphia.

What’s next: The Ravens' biggest need is at left guard, but there might not be one that warrants being taken at No. 29. Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz's stock has slipped recently even though he can guard right away before switching to center in future seasons. It's hard to pin down a player for Baltimore, which can go in a lot of different directions in the first round.

The Ravens could take the best wide receiver available (especially if he's a returner) because they need a third target who can eventually take Anquan Boldin's starting spot. They could take a safety because Ed Reed turns 34 at the start of the season and Bernard Pollard is a free agent next year. And they could take an offensive tackle because they don't have a reliable backup and Bryant McKinnie is a free agent in 2013.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key additions: None

Key losses: CB William Gay (Cardinals), LB James Farrior, NT Chris Hoke, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Aaron Smith, WR Hines Ward

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. It's been a quiet free-agency period so far for the Steelers. Then again, it's usually quiet for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. The only team that consistently does less than the Steelers in free agency is the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've only lost two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership. Injuries would force young players to step up into starting roles.

What’s next: There are question marks at running back, guard, inside linebacker, nose tackle and cornerback. Despite all of those needs, the consensus has been Pittsburgh will draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower if he's available at No. 24. He has a great combination of size and speed and excelled in a 3-4 defense in college. It seems like Hightower would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.

There's no chance that Memphis' Dontari Poe falls to the Steelers, but there some quality nose tackles in the draft. Those who should be available after the first round are: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) and Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). The Steelers likely will become active later in free agency, especially in retaining their own players. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, running back Mewelde Moore and quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch could potentially return to the team.

Cincinnati receiver Andre Caldwell tweeted that he has signed with the Broncos.

Caldwell, 26, has been a backup, possession-type and would be a back-of-the-rotation player for Denver. He had 37 catches for the Bengals last season; in 2009, he had 51 catches for 432 yards.

The Broncos are reportedly interested in reuniting new quarterback Peyton Manning with former teammate Brandon Stokley. If signed, he too would be a rotational receiver.

In other AFC West news:

The Raiders are reportedly are among the teams interested in Giants defensive lineman Dave Tollefson. The Bay Area native was on the Raiders practice squad in 2007. There is no movement on the Manny Lawson front. The Raiders are among several teams interested in him.

Wide receivers Vincent Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, Laurent Robinson, Josh Morgan, Eric Weems and Harry Douglas have found new homes after hitting the NFL's free-agent market.

Franchise tags essentially removed from consideration Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson.

Others, such as Marques Colston, re-signed before free agency.

Teams still searching for help at the position -- that would be pretty much everyone but Seattle in the NFC West -- are left with a picked-over group of free agents.

Jerome Simpson, Burress, Brandon Lloyd, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aromashodu, Roy Williams, Mario Manningham and Early Doucet are the only ones remaining to have played at least half of their team's offensive snaps during the 2011 season.

As the chart shows, Burress was particularly effective in the red zone for the New York Jets. He converted first downs 38 times in 45 receptions for the third-highest percentage among wide receivers with at least 40 receptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Burress is also up there in age. He's among 12 available wideouts already in their 30s: Hines Ward (36), Burress (34), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (34), Kevin Curtis (33), Patrick Crayton (32), Deion Branch (32), Rashied Davis (32), Donte Stallworth (31), Jerheme Urban (31), Bryant Johnson (31), Lloyd (30) and Williams (30).

Of them, Lloyd has visited the San Francisco 49ers.

Nine more are 29 years old: Greg Camarillo, Keary Colbert, Mark Clayton, Jerricho Cotchery, Roscoe Parrish, Michael Clayton, Courtney Roby, Michael Spurlock and Braylon Edwards.

Still interested?

OK, let's check out 18 others, all younger than 29: David Anderson, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aroshamodu, Donnie Avery, Anthony Gonzalez, Maurice Stovall, Derek Hagan, Mike Sims-Walker, Ted Ginn Jr., Andre Caldwell, Steve Smith, Doucet, Brett Swain, Chaz Schilens, Simpson, Manningham, Devin Thomas and Kevin Ogletree.

Schilens visited Arizona and San Francisco. Manningham visited the 49ers and the St. Louis Rams.

I've also broken down the available wideouts by drafted round:

• First: Williams, Burress, Ginn, Stallworth, both Claytons, Johnson, Gonzalez and Edwards
• Second: Avery, Thomas, Simpson, Smith, Parrish, Branch, Colbert
• Third: Roby, Doucet, Hagan, Stovall, Manningham, Caldwell, Curtis, Sims-Walker, Ward
• Fourth: Cotchery, Lloyd
• Fifth: Legedu Naanee
• Sixth: none
• Seventh: Houshmandzadeh, Crayton, Schilens, Aromashodu, Anderson, Swain
• Undrafted: Davis, Urban, Camarillo, Spurlock, Ogletree

Only a handful of the available receivers project as starters. None would qualify as an outright game-breaker.

The Rams in particular need playmakers, but in looking at what is available, how many would qualify as dramatically better than what they already have? Austin Pettis, Brandon Gibson, Danario Alexander, Dominique Curry, Greg Salas and restricted free agent Danny Amendola are their current wideouts.

CINCINNATI -- Who Dey? No, the Bengals' rallying cry today was: Where Dey?

The Bengals played before 43,363 at Paul Brown Stadium, their smallest crowd for a home opener in 30 years. And the Bengals failed to convince football fans in Cincinnati to change their minds in a 13-8 -- wait, a yawn -- loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

It's hard to generate a buzz in the community when the home team fails to score a touchdown. It's difficult to build excitement when the team produces more punts (seven) than offensive points (six).

This was the Bengals' chance to make a strong first impression in front of the home crowd with their young quarterback and wide receiver. Instead, they threw away the opportunity more times than Andy Dalton threw a fourth-quarter pass to the 49ers (which was twice).

A solid on-field performance was required after such an embarrassing week off of it. Starting wide receiver Jerome Simpson had a drug bust at his home, and running back Cedric Benson received a three-game suspension from the NFL, which he plans to appeal.

But the Bengals' mistake-filled loss in front of more than 20,000 empty seats only added to their miserable week.

"We can’t control fans coming to watch our game," Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said.

Actually, Rey, you can. It's about winning. It's about finishing games. It's about responding to adversity like the rest of the AFC North.

The Steelers rebounded from a rout in Baltimore by shutting out Seattle. The Ravens shook off a deflating loss at Tennessee by stomping St. Louis. And the Browns moved past a fourth-quarter breakdown against Cincinnati to reel off two wins.

The Bengals, though, looked like a young team that had gone through a week filled with distractions -- something coach Marvin Lewis wouldn't agree with.

"It had nothing to do with it," he said. "I don't think any of that can keep us from converting a third down."

Third downs have become a nagging problem. The Bengals converted once on 10 chances a week after going 1-for-11 on third downs.

The real trouble spot is finishing games. A week after Cincinnati couldn't complete the comeback in Denver, it was like a repeat alongside the Ohio River.

There were three plays in the fourth quarter that caused the Bengals to drop to 1-2 on the season:

• The biggest error by the defense came with about five minutes left when they didn't cover tight end Vernon Davis -- the only player on the 49ers offense that consistently hurt Cincinnati -- which resulted in a 20-yard pass into the red zone and led to a 7-yard touchdown run by Kendall Hunter to put the 49ers ahead 10-6.
• One play after the touchdown, Dalton threw a bad pass right to Carlos Rogers even though the San Francisco cornerback had better position on the sidelines than intended receiver Andre Caldwell. The 49ers turned Dalton's first career interception into a field goal, extending the lead to 13-6.
• On the Bengals' final drive, Dalton connected with tight end Jermaine Gresham for 22 and 17 yards to move into San Francisco territory with under two minutes left. But Gresham didn't look for the throw to his back shoulder on the third pass of that series, and it was intercepted by San Francisco's Reggie Smith.

"We’re almost there," Maualuga said. "We don’t happen to have that finish that we’re looking for. We have all the qualities of having a good team. We’re just not finishing."

Dalton was nearly perfect on the opening drive of the game, completing 5 of 6 passes for 61 yards. After that, he was 12-for-26 for 96 yards and two interceptions.

"We started fast, which is what you come out to do," Dalton said. "We were flat after that. We couldn't do the things we wanted to do."

Dalton didn't resemble the rookie quarterback who threw for 332 yards at Denver last Sunday.

"In the fourth quarter, Andy did some things we [knew we] might go through at some point," Lewis said. "But he will come back out of it and be fine."

Other issues can't be as easily dismissed. The Bengals allowed Simpson to play, and he managed one pass for 6 yards.

Still, his status for future games is uncertain because the investigation involving 2.5 pounds of marijuana shipped to his house is ongoing. Simpson was not made available to reporters in the locker room.

"Whatever course of action is taken when the time comes will be dealt with accordingly," Lewis said.

Meanwhile, Benson is appealing his three-game suspension from the NFL on Tuesday and has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the NFLPA, saying he shouldn't be subject to discipline for conduct that occurred during the lockout. He had been arrested in July for allegedly punching a former roommate in downtown Austin and later served five days in a Texas jail.

"There were some things in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that we were not made aware of, which is really no surprise," Benson said. "That falls on the PA [Players Association]. You would think that they are here to support you and have your back. That's what a union does. I guess in my case that it's different."

These aren't exactly the headlines that the Bengals want to see when they're trying to win back fans. It's been an ongoing problem when you lead the NFL in arrests since 2000 and your starting quarterback takes an early retirement in the offseason.

Players acknowledged noticing the empty seats. It would be hard not to. Only about one-quarter of the upper deck had fans in it.

"We’re going to keep playing hard if it’s one person out there or 70,000," cornerback Leon Hall said. "There’s a lot of things to get excited about with this team. I have a good feeling about this team."

The challenge for the Bengals now is to make their fan base believe that.

CINCINNATI -- Thoughts at halftime of the Bengals-49ers game:

• Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was 5-for-6 for 61 yards on the opening drive, which resulted in the only points of the first half. After that, he was 5-for-10 for 29 yards for the rest of the half.
• Wide receiver Andre Caldwell is taking advantage of increased playing time, catching five passes for 45 yards. He got the start over Jerome Simpson, who had a drug bust at his house last week.
• Bengals running back Cedric Benson is having a tough time cracking the 49ers' defense, which hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 24 straight games (longest current streak in NFL). Benson has 26 yards on nine carries.
• The biggest mismatch for Cincinnati has been 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who had three catches for 30 yards. Safety Chris Crocker has had trouble staying with the athletic target.
• Simpson made his first catch in the second quarter and received a mostly warm welcome from the sparse crowd at Paul Brown Stadium. There were only a few boos for Simpson, who has been an active member in local charities.
• The Bengals took the conservative route at the end of the first half. With the ball at their own 15-yard line and one minute remaining, they chose to run out the clock.

Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson is active today despite a drug bust at his home last week, but he isn't expected to start, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Andre Caldwell, the team's No. 4 wide receiver last Sunday, will start against the 49ers.

Simpson has been very active in community charities since joining the Bengals, which likely factored in the team's decision to allow him to play.

The Bengals released this statement before Sunday's game: "Jerome Simpson resumed team activities Friday afternoon, and after evaluating his readiness, the coaching staff has determined he will be active for today's game. Jerome's legal situation with regard to events of the past week remains completely unresolved, and the Bengals believe it is not appropriate to act on any presumption of what may transpire."

The Bengals could be down a second wide receiver Sunday when they play the San Francisco 49ers.

During the same week in which Cincinnati placed slot receiver Jordan Shipley (knee) on injured reserve, the availability of starting wide receiver Jerome Simpson is unknown after he was excused from practice Thursday. Simpson was detained Tuesday along with backup offensive tackle Anthony Collins after 2.5 pounds of marijuana arrived at Simpson’s home and another six pounds of marijuana were found in the residence.

If Simpson is held out Sunday, Andre Caldwell would leap from the No. 4 receiver to a starting role in a matter of days. The Bengals' No. 3 receiver would either be Brandon Tate or rookie sixth-round draft pick Ryan Whalen, who happened to play under 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford last year.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis addressed the investigation on SiriusXM Radio on Thursday. “I’ve been appraised of the situation for a few days now and unfortunately Anthony’s name got put into it for no reason," Lewis said via The Cincinnati Enquirer. "It was at Jerome’s house and it’s an investigation that’s going on. He’s cooperating and doing what he can to help in the investigation.”

The Cincinnati Bengals added depth to their young group of receivers Sunday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Cincinnati claimed former New England Patriots receiver Brandon Tate off waivers.

Cincinnati is going young at the position and Tate, 23, fits the description. He was productive as New England's third receiver last season, catching 24 passes for 432 yards three touchdowns.

I'm curious to see where Tate fits in Cincinnati.

The Bengals already have a good No. 3 receiver in Jordan Shipley, who caught 52 passes primarily from the slot in 2010. First-round pick A.J. Green is the team's No. 1 threat, and Tate would have to beat out Jerome Simpson to crack the starting lineup. Otherwise, Tate enters the regular season as the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver on Cincinnati's depth chart, next to Andre Caldwell.

What do Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer have in common?

Both believe they will not play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 -- and they're probably correct.

Ochocinco took the Bengals and head coach Marvin Lewis to task via Twitter on Tuesday, saying that "my time is up," while expounding on his strained relationship with Lewis.

"I love Cincy, but coach Lewis is mean to me now so I think I am gone," Ochocinco tweeted.

"He has gone over board to publicly [chastise] the one guy who loves him[.] I'm so hurt," Ochocinco wrote in another tweet.

I have covered Ochocinco most of his NFL career, and sometimes I find it difficult to tell when he's being playful or serious. But Ochocinco can get emotional, and this latest rant seems real.

Ochocinco is 33 and coming off a disappointing season (67 passes for 831 yards and four touchdowns). He's not the No. 1 receiver that he once was, and in the Bengals' eyes, his antics and unpredictability no longer match the production.

The Bengals are looking for Ochocinco's eventual replacement and may find it with the No. 4 overall pick in Georgia receiver A.J. Green. Cincinnati wants to go younger at receiver and already has Jordan Shipley, Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson on the roster.

We've said for months in the AFC North blog that it was time to blow up the Bengals. It's obvious the Lewis-Palmer-Ochocinco regime has run its course in Cincinnati, which was 4-12 last season.

In eight years together, this trio brought some much-needed excitement but never lived up to its potential. With Palmer and Ochocinco both over 30, past their primes and disgruntled, it's time to pull the plug on this experiment and move on.

As Ochocinco tweeted Tuesday, "time is up." The Bengals should rebuild with a new foundation, starting with this week's NFL draft.

Despite labor uncertainty, free agency will be frenzied this offseason whenever the NFL and NFLPA reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Even though it appears free agency won't get started in its usual slot in early March, teams will eventually have to deal with the contracts of some high-profile players in the division.

Here are the AFC North blog's top 10 pending free agents:

10. Phil Dawson, place-kicker, Cleveland Browns

Analysis: Dawson has been the face of Cleveland's special teams since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. He had another consistent year in 2010, making 23 of 28 field goals. But Dawson hinted several times that he may have played his last season in Cleveland. For starters, Dawson spent most of his career kicking for awful teams and wants to play in a winning organization. Cleveland is rebuilding once again under first-year head coach Pat Shurmur. Second, Dawson has been unhappy about his contract for quite some time and is finally a free agent. So look for him to explore other options.

Chances of returning: 25 percent

9. Lawrence Vickers, fullback, Browns

Analysis: Vickers is another underrated free agent for the Browns. He is one of the top fullbacks in the NFL, paving the way for several running backs to have big seasons in Cleveland. Tailback Peyton Hillis (1,177 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns in 2010) most recently benefited from Vickers' play. But after talking to Vickers at the end of the season, he also seemed unsure if he was coming back to Cleveland. There is a lot of change going on with the new coaching staff and new schemes, and it's unclear how important a power fullback will be in Shurmur's new West Coast system. Vickers will get plenty of interest from run-heavy teams. Cleveland was one of those clubs last season under former head coach Eric Mangini, but its run-to-pass ratio is expected to change dramatically, putting Vickers' future with Cleveland in doubt.

Chances of returning: 50 percent

8. Le'Ron McClain, fullback, Ravens

Analysis: McClain wanted more carries in Baltimore last season and didn't get them. This could signal his exit from the Ravens as a free agent. The Ravens simply had too many other players on offense who also needed the football, and McClain was left with just 28 rushing attempts for 85 yards. If rushing attempts are more important, leaving Baltimore is probably the best option for McClain. He led Baltimore in rushing in 2008, but his numbers have gone down dramatically since the emergence of starting running back Ray Rice, who will continue to be the go-to guy in 2011.

Chances of returning: 30 percent

7. Jared Gaither, offensive tackle, Ravens

Analysis: There has been some speculation that Gaither could sign a long-term extension and return to Baltimore, but I just don't see it. Too much went wrong between Gaither and the Ravens last season, so I believe both sides will just move on. Gaither was not happy about his contract last year, then showed up in the summer well below his playing weight. Gaither later injured his back and didn't play in a single game during the 2010 season. The Ravens reportedly had brief talks with agent Drew Rosenhaus to discuss Gaither and some other clients. Baltimore certainly needs offensive tackles, which is why I give Gaither's return a small chance, but it's still unlikely that he will remain with the Ravens.

Chances of returning: 20 percent

6. Terrell Owens, receiver, Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: T.O. came to Cincinnati just before training camp with much fanfare after Antonio Bryant's knee injury never healed properly. But his presence and numbers didn't help an inconsistent Bengals offense. Owens, at 37, showed he still has something left in the tank. He had some big games and recorded 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for Cincinnati. But those numbers didn't result in victories, as the Bengals fell to 4-12 after making the playoffs the season before. Cincinnati took its shot with Owens but is now rebuilding with younger receivers like Jerome Simpson, Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell. Don't expect Owens to return.

Chances of returning: 0 percent

5. Cedric Benson, running back, Bengals

Analysis: Benson was unhappy with his opportunities most of last season but still rushed for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the second consecutive year in Cincinnati and is a good fit in the physical AFC North. Benson said he wasn't returning if former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski remained in Cincinnati. Jay Gruden recently replaced Bratkowski, and the move heavily increases Benson's chances of being a Bengal next season.

Chances of returning: 75 percent

4. Ike Taylor, cornerback, Steelers

Analysis: The Steelers have a definite need at cornerback, and that need could get even bigger if Taylor, the team's No. 1 cornerback, is not re-signed. Taylor is consistent and had another solid season for Pittsburgh, recording 66 tackles and two interceptions. But the biggest issue is Taylor's age (31). How many years should Pittsburgh commit to an aging cornerback with a contract extension? Look for the Steelers to make a push for Taylor. But the team will also look for depth at that position via the draft and possibly free agency.

Chances of returning: 70 percent

3. Johnathan Joseph, cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: Last summer the AFC North blog reported that the Bengals opened negotiations with Joseph. That shows the willingness by Cincinnati. But the fact that, months later, nothing has happened tells me the two sides can't agree on money and/or the length of the contract. Good cornerbacks are expensive. So I wouldn't be totally surprised if the Bengals let go of Joseph, who is 26 and entering his prime. A franchise tag for one year at cornerback would be extremely costly, as well. Also keep in mind that Adam Jones, who showed flashes last season before a neck injury ended his season, signed to a two-year deal and will be back in 2011. Jones is insurance in case Joseph leaves. Joseph will get plenty of interest if he hits the open market.

Chances of returning: 50 percent

2. LaMarr Woodley, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis: Woodley was arguably the NFL's best bargain in 2010. Including playoffs, he recorded 60 tackles, 13 sacks and was paid just $550,000 last season. Woodley will get the franchise tag before next week's deadline. Because of the 30 percent rule (teams can't increase a player's salary by more than 30 percent from year to year), the Steelers can't do much with Woodley in terms of a long-term deal until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. I don't think it's a coincidence Pittsburgh stocked up on linebackers in last April's draft for insurance. But I still expect Woodley back in Pittsburgh next season.

Chances of returning: 80 percent

1. Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle, Baltimore Ravens

Analysis: The Ravens have already placed the franchise tag on Ngata with every intention of signing him to a long-term contract. Ngata, 27, is quickly developing into the NFL's most dominant defensive tackle. He made the Pro Bowl after recording 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks, and there were some games last season in which he was virtually unblockable by just one player. The Ravens have a reputation for retaining their stud draft picks, especially those on defense. Although nothing is 100-percent certain in the NFL, I can't foresee any scenario where Ngata won't be a Raven for the long term.

Chances of returning: 98 percent

The Cincinnati Bengals have officially ruled out six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco (ankle) for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Ochocinco will miss his second straight game and won't make the trip to Baltimore.

This week also could mark Ochocinco's last with the Bengals. The team has a $6 million team option in 2011 for Ochocinco, who will turn 33 in January and was inconsistent this season. Cincinnati also has a $3.5 million buyout, which would make Ochocinco a free agent.

Following injuries to Ochocinco and Terrell Owens (knee), young receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell have stepped up and played well for the Bengals (4-11). Cincinnati is on a two-game winning streak.

Bengals starting tight end Jermaine Gresham (knee) also is listed as doubtful. For the Ravens (11-4), who still have a chance to win the AFC North, tight end Todd Heap (thigh) is questionable. Baltimore can win the division and clinch a first-round bye if the team beats Cincinnati and the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) lose to the Cleveland Browns (5-10) on Sunday.

» NFC High Energy: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at a player who gave his team a significant boost in Week 16.

Of all the High Energy Players of the Week in the AFC North this season, this by far was the most surprising.

Cincinnati Bengals third-year receiver Jerome Simpson, who entered Week 16 with three career receptions, exploded with six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati's 34-20 upset win over the San Diego Chargers. Simpson is the first Bengals player to be selected this season as the division's High Energy Player.

Simpson, a second-round pick in 2008, has been slow to develop and spent a majority of this season inactive or on the bench behind veteran receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. But with both starters injured, Simpson is taking advantage of the opportunity and making a case to be part of Cincinnati's rebuilding efforts in 2011.

Surprisingly, the Bengals are on a two-game winning streak with quarterback Carson Palmer throwing to younger receivers Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley. It makes you wonder how the coaching staff wasn't aware of players like Simpson until the final weeks of the season.

Previous AFC North High Energy Players

Week 1: Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens

Week 2: Troy Polamalu, S, Steelers

Week 3: Brett Keisel, DE, Steelers

Week 4: Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns

Week 5: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

Week 6: Lawrence Timmons, LB, Steelers

Week 7: Ed Reed, S, Ravens

Week 8: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Steelers

Week 9: Hillis, RB, Browns

Week 10: Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers

Week 11: James Harrison, LB, Steelers

Week 12: Hillis, RB, Browns

Week 13: Terrell Suggs, DE/LB, Ravens

Week 14: Polamalu, S, Steelers

Week 15: Rice, RB, Ravens

Week 16: Simpson, WR, Bengals