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Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard likes to hit. A lot. That's why it's no surprise Pollard took a shot at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the severity of the punishment handed out in the Saints' bounty scandal.

"From what I see we’re gonna be running around with helmets and flags on, and I guess in about seven years," Pollard told a Houston radio station last week, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. "It’s getting out of hand. I don’t know what he’s trying to prove, I don’t know what the NFL office is trying to prove. Guys are getting hit all the time. We get hit. This is a freaking violent sport."

Pollard has no connection with the Saints and has never played for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. But he is one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, and he has voiced displeasure every time it seems like the league is making the game less violent.

He couldn't believe the league suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for a year.

“This is a game, this is a violent game. You can’t take this away," he said. "You suspend a man for a whole year? You suspend a man for a whole year and now you’re looking for players to suspend? This is outrageous. You’ve gotta be kidding me. He said he was gonna take a dollar [during] the lockout, I guarantee you he didn’t take a dollar that year. I guarantee you he got every bit of that [inaudible] mill.”

Pollard was fined $10,000 by the league last October for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jaguars running back Deji Karim. He is also known for lunging at the left knee of Tom Brady in 2008, which ended the season for the Patriots quarterback and led to a rules change.

Asked if he condones bounties in football, Pollard said: "I don’t care if you do a bounty or not, because me -- the way I'm playing -- I'm going to hit you straight in the mouth. And if you have a concussion by me hitting you in the mouth ... you know what? I don't mean to. I'm not meaning to hurt you, but this is my game. It's my life or your life. It's my family or yours."

ESPN's Todd McShay offered the fourth version of his 2012 mock draft this week. Here's a look at the AFC North part of it:

4. Cleveland Browns

Version 1.0: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Version 2.0: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Version 3.0: Richardson

Version 4.0: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Hensley's comment: I agree with version 3.0 more than 4.0. Blackmon doesn't have the speed that the Browns really need at wide receiver. That's why the Browns should go with Richardson at this spot.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Version 1.0: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Version 2.0: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Version 3.0: Kirkpatrick

Version 4.0: DeCastro

Hensley's comment: It will be a tough decision for the Bengals if DeCastro and Kirkpatrick are still available at this spot. DeCastro would make more of an immediate impact for the Bengals, who have done a nice job of adding veteran cornerbacks this offseason.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Version 1.0: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Version 2.0: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Version 3.0: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Version 4.0: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Hensley's comment: If the Bengals want to take a cornerback here, the choice is between Gilmore or Janoris Jenkins. While Jenkins has better coverage skills, Gilmore doesn't have the same character issues as Jenkins. Don't rule out a wide receiver at this spot either.

22. Cleveland Browns

Version 1.0: Kevin Reddick, OLB, North Carolina

Version 2.0: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Version 3.0: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Version 4.0: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Hensley's comment: Version 4.0 is a better prediction than Brockers, because the Browns have a big need at right tackle. But there are concerns, because Adams lacks a mean streak, which is a must-have in the AFC North. The Browns might wait until the second round to take a right tackle.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Version 1.0: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Version 2.0: Adams

Version 3.0: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Version 4.0: Hightower

Hensley's comment: This still seems like a no-brainer to me. Hightower would step into the void left by James Farrior. Pittsburgh could also take an offensive lineman or cornerback in the first round.

29. Baltimore Ravens

Version 1.0: Adams

Version 2.0: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

Version 3.0: Peter Konz, C-G, Wisconsin

Version 4.0: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Hensley's comment: There is a definite need at safety. Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard are entering the final years of their contact, and longtime backups Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura signed elsewhere this offseason. Smith, who had been pegged as a second-round pick, has been rising up boards recently. I'm just not completely sold on his playmaking ability.

The report that Ravens safety Ed Reed wants to play next season is not surprising. The team confirmed that last month at the NFL combine.

The shocking part is Reed thinking he can play four to five more years. This sounds like Reed is giving a subtle nudge to the Ravens as he heads into the final year of his contract.

What will the Ravens do next year when Reed is a free agent? Reed's 2012 season will go a long way in deciding his fate with the team.

His age (he turns 34 when the season begins) and his injury history suggest that a long-term deal is a risky proposition. He has missed 10 games the past three seasons. And while he played a full season last year, it was one of Reed's most disappointing. He finished with three interceptions, his fewest in a 16-game season, and he acknowledged that he missed tackles in four straight games at the end of the season because of a shoulder injury.

Still, Reed is one of the best safeties to ever play in the NFL and can still change games. In the playoff win over Houston, he made an interception because of great anticipation and broke up three other passes. Reed's instincts and awareness have led to 57 interceptions, the most among active players. And, even though he had a bad year statistically last season, his presence in the secondary is the biggest reason why the Ravens allowed an NFL-low 11 passing touchdowns this season (four fewer than any other team).

Reed has hinted about getting an extension in recent years, but he doesn't have an agent listed with the players union. The other problem is if the Ravens want to give a large signing bonus to a player who has been so indecisive about his future. It was only January 2010 when Reed said he was "50-50" about returning. He has been considering retirement every year since the end of the 2008 season because of a nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder.

An eight-time Pro Bowl player, Reed is scheduled to make $7.2 million in 2012, the final year of six-year, $44.4 million deal. Along with Reed, Bernard Pollard, the Ravens' other starting safety, is also an unrestricted free agent next year. That could become a predicament for the Ravens, who lost two safeties that they had been grooming (Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura) in free agency this offseason.

The only thing that's clear at this point is Reed's desire to play in 2012 and beyond.

"There's a lot of talk out there. I'm not going to say I'm 50-50, because I'm not," Reed told the Sun-Sentinel in Miami where he was being inducted into the Hurricanes' Hall of Fame. "I want to play football. But it's something me and my team have been discussing the last couple of weeks. My partners, they do a great job of making sure I know the pros and cons of what's going on with my body and with the organization and where we're at. I plan on doing it, but depending, it could change. ...

"If it was up to me, I'd be with a walking cane out there. I don't know, man. I think four to five years is a reality for me."

By this time next year, we'll find out if the Ravens believe Reed can play that long, too.

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

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.

Did you feel the breeze at the Baltimore Ravens' team facility? It's coming from the number of players walking out the door in free agency.

Backup safety Tom Zbikowski became the fifth player to bolt, joining Chuck Pagano and the Indianapolis Colts, according to the Chicago Tribune. Pagano, the new Colts coach and last year's defensive coordinator for the Ravens, has added Zbikowski and defensive end Cory Redding to help in the transition to his defensive system.

Besides Zbikowski and Redding, guard Ben Grubbs (Saints), linebacker Jarret Johnson (Chargers) and safety Haruki Nakamura (Panthers) have left the AFC North champions. In total, it's three starters and two backup safeties who ranked in the Ravens' top four in special teams tackles.

The team could lose a sixth player because inside linebacker Jameel McClain is visiting the Denver Broncos. The Ravens haven't signed anyone of note yet in free agency, but they are reportedly close to re-signing center Matt Birk, according to NFL ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.

Zbikowski made news last offseason when he decided to box during the lockout. He went 3-0 in fights last spring, winning two by knockout.

A third round pick out of Notre Dame in 2008, Zbikowski started the first four games of last season at strong safety before missing two games with a concussion. Bernard Pollard took his spot, and Zbikowski never regained his starting job.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard says he hopes the Giants thrash the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

When Ravens safety Bernard Pollard faces Tom Brady on Sunday, he's looking to win a trip to the Super Bowl and not change the NFL again.

Three seasons ago, Pollard ended Brady's year when he hit him below the knee, which tore the quarterback's ACL and led to the Brady Rule. Now, it's illegal for NFL defenders who are on the ground to lunge at the quarterback's knees or lower.

"That's the pretty boy. That's the man of the NFL. That's Mr. Do-It-All," Pollard told reporters Wednesday, via The Baltimore Sun. "So everybody is going to hold that against me but I don't care."

This isn't the first time that Pollard has played against Brady since that hit. In the 2009 season finale, Pollard intercepted Brady when he was with the Houston Texans.

But everyone remembers Pollard for his part in the Brady Rule.

“You go down there and they’ll take change out of your pockets,” Pollard said. “You have a second to make a decision. We’re conscious of what rules are being put in, but we’re playing football.”

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 11:

The Oakland Raiders need to use the tight end more: With new Oakland starting quarterback Carson Palmer getting more comfortable, it will be interesting to see if the Raiders start utilizing their tight ends. Kevin Boss has been targeted just 11 times this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. However, Boss has caught 10 passes for 192 yards. He caught a huge pass from Palmer in a Week 10 win at San Diego in the fourth quarter. Boss has been slowed by injuries at some points of the season and he barely played in the Week 9 loss to Denver. Former starter Jason Campbell liked using the tight ends before he was hurt.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to adjust to the left: In addition to getting used to a new quarterback Monday night at New England, the Chiefs must get used to a different spin of the ball. With starter Matt Cassel likely out for the rest of the season with a hand injury that will require surgery, the Chiefs are turning to Tyler Palko. He is left-handed, which is fairly rare in the NFL. In the offseason, Kansas City coach Todd Haley told me he was excited to pair Palko with new quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, who was a successful lefty quarterback. I did a story on left-handed quarterbacks in 2010 shortlyafter Denver drafted lefty Tim Tebow. Many people who have experience being in a left-handed led offense said there is an adjustment period, but it is not impossible to get used to.

Will Philip Rivers' problems finally end? It seems every week, there is new statistical evidence about Rivers' less-than-stellar 2011 season. According to ESPN Stats and Information, he has completed 44.7 of his passes in the red zone. That is the sixth worst percentage in the NFL. Rivers has 24 underthrown incompletions this season, and six of them have been intercepted. He had a total of 40 of those passes last year with just two interceptions.

Raiders can’t let Peterson run all day: The 5-4 Raiders should be able to stay in first place after Week 11 as they are favored over the Vikings. However, the Vikings can stay in the game if star running back Adrian Peterson can establish an attack. He is having another strong season and has 846 yards and while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He also has 10 rushing touchdowns. Oakland has been vulnerable against the run this season and have allowed way too many big run plays. The Raiders are ranked 25th in the league against the run.

Bad memories for Brady: This is the first time New England quarterback Tom Brady will face the Chiefs since he was lost for the season on opening day of 2008. Brady was shelved for the season on a hit by former Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard. The hit would end up affecting the Chiefs as well. Cassel, Brady’s backup, went on to have a good season as Brady’s replacement. After the season, the Chiefs hired New England executive Scott Pioli, who made trading for Cassel his first major priority in Kansas City.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' 12-7 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars:

What it means: The Ravens lost to a team with a losing record for just the third time in 22 meetings in the John Harbaugh era. It was costly because the Ravens (4-2) fall a half-game behind the Steelers (5-2) in the AFC North standings.

Thumbs up: The Ravens' defense. Baltimore showed why it's the stingiest defense in the NFL. The Ravens came up big when Ed Reed forced a fumble from Maurice Jones-Drew two yards from the end zone. It would have been a winning effort if the Ravens' offense showed any sort of life.

Thumbs down: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and the Ravens' entire offense. Flacco (21-for-38 for 137 yards) was inaccurate when he had time and couldn't extend plays when the pocket collapsed. Rice had one of the worst games of his career with a fumble, dropped pass and poor block that led to a critical sack in the second half. The Ravens avoided a shutout with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin with 2:02 left in the game. Down by five points with less than two minutes remaining, Flacco's last pass was late over the middle and was intercepted to seal the loss.

Flag day: The Jaguars were helped on their third scoring drive by a questionable helmet-to-helmet penalty on Ravens safety Bernard Pollard. It results in the Jaguars converting a third-and-7 in the third quarter. That led to a 22-yard field goal that pushed the lead to 9-0 and made it a two-score game.

What's next: The Ravens get another shot at a one-win team when they host the Arizona Cardinals on a short week.

The Houston Texans are talented.

I don’t buy that they are a finesse team or that they are soft, two criticisms some attach to them.

But as they count down to their opener Sept. 11 against the Colts, I do question their collective personality.

It’s a team loaded with nice, mellow guys. General manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak are quite calm. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Rick Denison are low-key.

There are significant guys on the roster who can flip switches on Sunday and become mean, but what’s the overriding, default persona?

Nice.

It’s a team of nice guys.

A 53-man roster needs to be more diverse than that, just like your office or mine. I’m of the opinion they need a jerk, a rabble rouser, a pest.

Dr. Bryan L. Bonner is an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Utah and an associate editor of the journal "Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice." I asked him about my locker room theory.

“That’s an interesting question,” Bonner said. “Research supports the idea that for groups to be successful that they need some level of ‘functional conflict,’ and that without it they become stagnant and team members don’t ask one another the questions or make the challenges that they need to in order for the group to reach new levels of performance.

“Having some difficult people in the group CAN help the group, but only if the conflict is about the task and not about the personalities of the people involved -- that is, it has to be about the game or the effort or the approach, etc. and can’t get personal to be helpful, otherwise the environment can get toxic. I’d say you might benefit from having an SOB or two in this situation.”

I’m not advocating arrests or fights, just more pop, more pulse, more functional conflict.

Bernard Pollard brought some of that, and it had a good early effect on the team. But once it became clear he was not a multidimensional safety, the personality didn’t matter so much because the play wasn’t good enough. He’s gone now. Some teammates say defensive end Antonio Smith fits the bill.

The word that best describes the guy I think the Texans need is one not suited for print here, but I used it while visiting with the Texans during training camp, and they picked up on it as I broached the subject. We substitute “jerk” the rest of the way here.

Many disagreed with my assessment:

Receiver Kevin Walter: “This is football, you’ve got to know when to turn the switch on. I can be standing here talking to you and be a nice guy, but when I go out there, I’m not so nice. I know how to become a [jerk], excuse me for saying that, when the game lights turn on.

“You have to play with a passion, you have to play with a swagger, you have to play with a lot of intensity. You can’t just be a nice guy, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ That’s not football. I think we do have that, nice guys who know how to turn the switch on.”

J.J. Watt: “I don’t really think it’s necessary. I think what you need is a guy who’s like that on the field. You almost want 22 guys who are like that on the field. But I’ll take myself as an example. Once I step off the field, I am a soft-spoken guy. I’m not going to start any fights. Once I step between those lines I am a whole different guy.”

Running back Arian Foster: “Nobody is as nice as you think he is.”

Not all the Texans think the status quo is good enough, or that the status quo is what we think it is.

“I don’t disagree with that, I think you do need those guys, I think we have them,” outside linebacker Connor Barwin said. “But I am going to let you guys figure out who fits that bill. I don’t think you need guys out getting in trouble or starting fights. You need guys who are tough and we have guys who show their toughness out here every day.”

Just one player really subscribed to my theory.

But if you find one and he’s Andre Johnson, that’s pretty significant.

Johnson is certainly low-key, but he has a mean streak -- see his pummeling of Cortland Finnegan last year if you want to see game-day attitude. Johnson is a leader by example who will speak up when he feels he needs to.

But, he told me, he believes the team does need more than that.

He emphasized he was not questioning management or the coaching staff, and doesn’t care to meddle in their work. But he used the same word I did, and said he’d welcome a couple teammates who wear the label.

“Everybody has their own opinion,” he said. “In my opinion, you have to have those [jerk] guys. Every team has them. I think you have to have a few of them. You have some guys that are [jerks] but when they get on that field, they play big for your team.

“Antonio Smith is one. On offense, I don’t think we really have any. In my opinion, we can win without one but it would be nice to have one. You would like to have like a [jerk] lineman. I think it’s more a thing for O-linemen or D-linemen, linebacker, those are the guys you want to have [jerks].”

So Johnson wouldn’t mind having an offensive lineman in the lineup who was kind of a surly jerk?

“No, not at all,” Johnson said.

He agreed that team personality is a piece of the puzzle, and the Texans may not have enough different pieces. Like me, he’s not looking for anyone who’s on the news for the wrong reasons, and he thinks that’s a big part of the reason the team tends to steer away from anyone who might fill the role.

There is a danger there, sure, but Rick Smith and Kubiak need to have faith in their ability to judge it.

The Colts are a different kind of team, policed by a controlling quarterback and his minions. Peyton Manning fills the role as needed. The Jaguars are heading the nice direction and don’t necessarily have someone who wears the label. The Titans added defensive tackle Shaun Smith, in part, because he is the sort of guy we’re talking about.

In Houston, Kubiak disagreed with the idea that the Texans need more spice in their locker room or on their coaching roster.

“I don’t know that I am low-key every day or Wade is low-key every day,” Kubiak said. “What it boils down to is you’ve got a job to do whether you are a coach or a player. If you’re a guy who doesn’t scream and holler and you do the job right, then you’re going to stick around in this business.

“If you scream and holler and you do a [lousy] job, you’re not going to stick around in this business. I don’t think that’s a deciding factor. ... I’ve seen people get it done in a lot of ways.”

Maybe I am off. Maybe I overrate the jerk factor.

This team of nice guys may well break through and finally get to the playoffs.

But I’d sure like to see what it's like with a [jerk].

Three things to watch for in Baltimore's preseason game against visiting Washington on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Joe Flacco's efficiency: Flacco has been decent this preseason. But he's yet to have that dominating performance we've seen from other top quarterbacks. Flacco has missed some throws he usually makes. Some of the blame certainly goes to the offensive line. The pass protection has been inconsistent, which is why the team signed former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie this week. Still, the Ravens would like to see Flacco put together a great half or three quarters of football in Thursday's dress rehearsal game.

Secondary position battles: The Ravens are a veteran team without many position battles. But there are some spots still to be determined in the secondary. The biggest is the strong safety position. Bernard Pollard and Tom Zbikowski are having a healthy competition that could go down to the wire. Haruki Nakamura is also in the mix. Young corner Cary Williams had a great training camp and has the edge at cornerback. But experienced veterans such as Chris Carr, Domonique Foxworth and Lardarius Webb are battling for playing time. So Williams can't rest easy.

Development of receiver Lee Evans: Baltimore's newest acquisition at receiver had a successful debut last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Evans, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, tied for the team lead with three receptions for 68 yards. Evans brings much-needed deep speed to Baltimore's offense. He is quickly developing a rapport with Flacco, who will need Evans this season.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each AFC South team:

Houston Texans

1. Finally fix the secondary: Not only was the Texans’ secondary awful in coverage last season, but it also needs some stabilizing veteran leadership on the back end of this revamped defense. A safety like Eric Weddle could help cure both issues. There are quite a few safeties in this crop of free agents who would be clear upgrades for Houston. Of course, we have to discuss Nnamdi Asomugha -- and the Texans should certainly be right in the thick of those negotiations. If they can’t land Asomugha, the Texans could pursue Johnathan Joseph or Ike Taylor, who could help fix some leaks.

2. Work the cap: Houston is pretty tight up against the cap as it stands right now. But the team has serious needs on defense -- particularly in the secondary. In order to get the help they need, the Texans might have to restructure a few contracts or let a current player or two go.

3. Lock up Vonta Leach: This offense pretty much has it all. Wideout Andre Johnson makes everyone around him better in just so many ways. And the running game was exceptional last season. But Leach is a key component in that running game. And no fullback opens holes like this guy. Houston should bring him back and dedicate the rest of its free-agent moves to the defense.

Top five free agents: Leach, WR Jacoby Jones, S Bernard Pollard, DE Mark Anderson and QB Matt Leinart.

Indianapolis Colts

1. Get Peyton Manning’s extension done: Manning has been franchised and had surgery again on his neck recently. But there is little doubt who the face of this franchise is. Getting him locked up long term is something that Indianapolis just needs to get done.

2. Get a starting safety signed: Melvin Bullitt is a free agent. He is a solid player, and bringing him back makes a lot of sense. Outside of Antoine Bethea, who is vastly underrated, Indy has very little at this position. The Colts need to get a starter under contract. Also on defense, bringing back linebacker Clint Session, who is a superb fit in this scheme, and adding defensive tackle help also should be priorities if they can fit it under the cap.

3. Add running back help: This could come in the form of bringing back the reliable Joseph Addai. Well, he is reliable when he is healthy. And Addai has a great grasp of the Colts’ offense. I am very high on 2011 draft pick Delone Carter and maybe the light goes on for Donald Brown. But the Colts do need someone in their backfield who can pass protect and can be trusted. In this capacity, Addai seems to be worth more to the Colts than to any other team.

Top five free agents: Manning (franchised), Session, Addai, Bullitt and OT Charlie Johnson.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Address holes at linebacker: Linebackers Justin Durant and Kirk Morrison are up for free agency. I would suggest bringing one of those two back and then finding an upgrade from a coverage standpoint at a starting linebacker position to go along with the steady Daryl Smith. James Anderson would be an excellent target, and if healthy, so would another Panther -- Thomas Davis.

2. Address holes at safety: Jacksonville featured one of the worst secondaries in football last season. The Jags tried many bodies at safety, but it yielded minimal results. This is a very strong free-agent safety class, and the Jaguars need to add a starter or two they can count on week after week.

3. Spend! The Jaguars have quite a bit of money to spend in free agency, and under the new rules, they will have to spend. This free-agency period is like none we have ever seen and the action could be fast and furious. Jacksonville needs to stay the course and make wise financial decisions as it tries to add players who can mostly upgrade a hurting defense.

Top free agents: Marcedes Lewis (franchised), WR Mike Sims-Walker, Durant and Morrison.

Tennessee Titans

1. Revamp the Interior offensive line: Although they didn’t play great in 2010, I have faith in the Titans’ offensive tackles. But the interior of the line is a train wreck. That won’t do with a rookie quarterback behind center and in an offense that will be extremely run-heavy. Chris Johnson had little room to run last season. That needs to change. Marshal Yanda and Harvey Dahl would be great targets here.

2. Add a veteran quarterback: Needless to say, the Titans cannot enter the season with just the quarterbacks they currently have on their roster. They must bring in a veteran with some experience. Donovan McNabb would be high on my list. Matt Hasselbeck might also fit the bill.

3. Fortify every level of the defense: Presently, Tennessee is very young at linebacker, just adequate at safety and could lose three of its defensive ends. Making matters more difficult, the team is also installing a different version of the 4-3 defense. The Titans do have some money to spend in free agency. It would be wise if they used those funds on young free-agent talent, as it appears this team is now rebuilding from the ground up. Every level of the defense could use reinforcement.

Top five free agents: DE Jason Babin, LB Stephen Tulloch, WR Randy Moss, DE Dave Ball and DE Jacob Ford.

In this Insider piece, Bryan McIntyre lists what he thinks should be the first move for each team in the NFL once moves can be made.

I love two of them, which I’ve promoted for some time -- the Jaguars snatching San Diego safety Eric Weddle and the Titans making a run at Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. I have no problem with his desire for the Colts to sign Philadelphia's Quintin Mikell either.

But if the Houston Texans are in line with his thinking and believe adding Dallas strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh will qualify as any kind of priority or big fix, I am skeptical.

Sensabaugh played for Texans new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips with the Cowboys. If he is a piece of a puzzle that falls in line after a big cornerback signing, then that’s a different story.

I just spoke to Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. about Sensabaugh.

He said Sensabaugh played “really well” last year for Dallas. The Cowboys did what they could to keep him in the box and out of coverage, but Williamson said in coverage Sensabaugh would still be an upgrade in Houston over the ousted Bernard Pollard.

I agree with Williamson that the Texans would be better served at safety to chase a top guy like Mikell. But if they make a bigger move at corner and then bring in the low-cost Sensabaugh, things could be OK.

That would likely mean Glover Quin at free safety paired with Sensabaugh at strong on opening day. With Quin converting from corner, having a strong safety who’s not particularly good in coverage could put extra strain on the youngster. I’m wary of that, but know options could be limited and better corners could help soften that concern.

“They wouldn’t be strong at safety,” Williamson said. “But as a fallback plan it wouldn’t be bad.”

Missed tackles can kill.

As I am a positive guy, my first thought after reading this fine piece from Aaron Schatz wasn’t about Michael Griffin's 17 missed tackles or Will Witherspoon's missed tackle rate of 19.5.

No, it was of just how impressive Antoine Bethea's numbers were by Football Outsider’s count in 2010. Holding together a secondary that literally crumbled around him, Bethea made 80 tackles and missed two. Two.

His 3.6 missed tackle percentage ranked fifth in the league, but only one other player on it had more tackles than Bethea did -- Buffalo’s Donte Whitner had 105 tackles and four missed, for 3.4 percent.

I think Bethea is excellent. He was our All AFC-South free safety, he should have been second-team All Pro considering a bunch of guys tied for the honor with one vote apiece. Here is further evidence for all that.

Jacksonville cornerback Rashean Mathis also rated quite well, with 48 tackles and just one missed tackle.

The Titans, meanwhile, had three of the top seven players on the missed tackles list in Griffin, Witherspoon (15) and Stephen Tulloch (13). Houston saw Bernard Pollard miss 13 and Glover Quin miss 11, while Eugene Wilson’s miss rate was 16.3 percent.

Bethea’s safety mate for the majority of the season, Aaron Francisco, was the second worst defensive back missing 17.6 percent of his chances.

Perhaps Bethea can put on a clinic for Tennessee and Houston?