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1. Is Philip Rivers better than the guys with rings?

Eli Manning took a proverbial punch to the gut with an ill-timed fumble against the Eagles. Ben Roethlisberger took a less proverbial punch to the face against the Steelers. And Philip Rivers? He keeps delivering blows, this time leading the Chargers past the Broncos. But which product of the 2004 draft is the best QB? Power Rankings.

• "'Sorry Rivers, no MVP for you! Great numbers but you need to inspire the rest of the team to play at a higher level if you want the MVP." -- SN commenter laspina.anthony

1. How hard should the NFL hand of justice "slap" Richard Seymour?

This probably wasn't the kind of hit to the head the NFL envisioned disciplining. Richard Seymour decked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the latter threw a touchdown pass and moved in the direction of the veteran defensive tackle. Does Seymour's ejection suffice as punishment, or is a suspension warranted?

• "As a Steelers fan, I have little doubt that if a grown man like Seymour hits another man with an open hand, that man SAID something that he shouldn't have said. Ben should know better." -- SN commenter Temple3

• Vote: Who will be the Ravens' most productive receiver?
• Rank 'Em: What will the AFC North standings look like this season?
• Great Debate: Can Ochocinco and T.O. coexist? | Vote on the dynamic duo
• Chat: AFC North blogger James Walker, 4 ET | Former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis, 3:15 ET

Who knew the Bengals would be the model of stability in the AFC North? Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens seem to be getting along just fine -- they're launching a combined reality show, in fact -- and the preseason offered little in the way of headlines.

The rest of the division? Well, that's where it gets interesting.

The Ravens made a splash Monday by adding T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a depth chart that already includes Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and Donte' Stallworth. The Browns are dealing with Montario Hardesty's season-ending knee injury and the Steelers are turning to third-stringers from Oregon at quarterback (thankfully for the city's fans, Dennis Dixon and not Akili Smith or Joey Harrington).

• Rank 'Em: Who are the NFL's best and worst quarterbacks?
• Vote: What's your take on AFC North training camp questions?

We know Ben Roethlisberger will be back on the field in the NFL, which is a nice change of pace from the other big quarterback-related story of the week (no, not the Redskins releasing Colt Brennan). We just don't know yet if we'll see Roethlisberger in a Steelers uniform before we'll see LeBron James in a Miami Heat uniform.

NFL commissioner says it's still to be determined if Roethlisberger's six-game suspension will be shortened to the minimum four games, but in also saying the Steelers quarterback has done more than asked of him at the time of his suspension in April, Goodell sure seems to be laying the groundwork for an early return. All of that on top of a warm welcome for Roethlisberger at training camp.

Not quite four months ago, 56 percent of SportsNation -- including 58 percent of voters in Pennsylvania -- said Roethlisberger had tarnished the Steelers franchise with his actions. Whenever he plays, has he already reclaimed his place as franchise cornerstone?

• Rank 'Em: Is Ben Roethlisberger one of the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks?
• Vote: Would you rather have Ben Roethlisberger or Sam Bradford?
• Thursday NFL chats: Gary Horton, 12 ET | K.C. Joyner, 4 ET
• More from ESPN.com: AFC North blogger James Walker on Steelers' chances

Despite Jay Cutler and Donovan McNabb changing teams in recent years, franchise quarterbacks in their prime don't get traded very often in the NFL. In fact, to find a quarterback with multiple Super Bowl rings who was traded with any miles left on the tires, you pretty much begin and end with Joe Montana. And Montana wasn't exactly in the prime of his career when the Chiefs gave him a last hurrah.

So to hear Adam Schefter report that the Steelers may be exploring trade options involving Ben Roethlisberger? Well, that just about sums up where things stand for a quarterback who voters suggest has replaced Michael Vick as a toxic commodity.

When SportsNation ranked NFL quarterbacks a little more than a month ago, only four quarterbacks improved more than two spots from where voters ranked them toward the end of last season. Two are young guys, Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, who it makes sense to imagine will improve. Another is Jay Cutler, who frankly, couldn't be any worse than he was last season. The fourth guy SportsNation liked much more in March than they had in December? Roethlisberger, who voters ranked No. 7 overall. So what toll has the last month taken on his on-field stock? Rank 'Em

• Vote: What is an appropriate suspension, if any, for Ben Roethlisberger?
• Rank 'Em: Who are the greatest all-time Pittsburgh Steelers?
• More from ESPN.com: James Walker's AFC North blog on Roethlisberger's contract

With two Super Bowl rings before he turned 27 years old, Ben Roethlisberger wasted little time putting his name in the debate about the greatest players in the history of one of the NFL's greatest franchises. And while he's still in that debate, he's also apparently thrown his name in the ring as the greatest embarrassment in franchise history.

Yahoo Sports reported Monday morning that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce today or tomorrow that he has suspended Roethlisberger. Adam Schefter told "Mike and Mike" that while he couldn't confirm the timing of the announcement, Roethlisberger would be suspended multiple games whenever Goodell did speak [Update: Roethlisberger was suspended Wednesday for four to six games by the NFL, conditional on his behavior].

So has Roethlisberger tarnished merely his own reputation or that of the entire franchise? Steelers president Dan Rooney has hardly been effusive in standing behind the quarterback, but the team appears ready to line up around him moving forward.

• Rank 'Em: Is Ben Roethlisberger still one of the NFL's best quarterbacks?
• Vote: Will Roethlisberger be an asset or a liability for the Steelers?
• Chat: AFC North blogger James Walker takes your questions, 4 ET
• More from ESPN.com: Jeffri Chadiha on why NFL must act quickly

All things being equal, we'd greatly prefer another summer of people standing on Brett Favre's lawn to this.

There's nothing about the Ben Roethlisberger situation that's enjoyable to discuss, but here's what we know about the guy SportsNation ranked as the NFL's No. 10 quarterback just four months ago. Roethlisberger will not face charges relating to the much-discussed alleged nightclub incident in Georgia. The quarterback read a brief public statement in which he said he wanted to put the incident behind him. But that reportedly won't happen until he first meets with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

So the questions now are will Goodell discipline Roethlisberger despite the lack of criminal charges, and strictly from a football perspective, has Roethlisberger's on-field stock taken a hit despite not playing a game? Rank the top quarterbacks.

• Vote: Is Pittsburgh's slide a one-year fluke or a sign of trouble?
• Chat: ESPN Boston's Tedy Bruschi, 12 ET | NFC South's Pat Yasinskas, 1 ET

It's not a good morning to be Ben Roethlisberger. You just got beat by Brady Quinn, a quarterback who completed six passes in 60 minutes of football (granted, that's three times as many passes as Derek Anderson completed in the Browns' only other win this season). Your team scored a grand total of six points against the Browns, a team that gave up 38 points to the Lions less than three weeks ago.

And according to common sense and 90 percent of SportsNation, your team is done.

All of four months ago, here's how SportsNation sized up the quarterback class of 2004.

And after the Steelers lost to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns in the last month? Well, vote at the end of the post and see for yourself. It's not pretty for Big Ben.

• Your Rankings: Who are the leading candidates for NFL MVP?
• Chats: Chris Mortensen wrap | Matt Williamson, 12 ET | Mel Kiper, 1 ET

Should we offer a moment of silence for fantasy football owners coming to the realization that Saints safety Darren Sharper has scored more touchdowns this season than Steven Jackson, Brandon Jacobs or Anquan Boldin?

The Saints are just outside the top 10 in total defense at the moment, which is kind of remarkable when you think about how often their opponents have the whole field to work with after yet another Saints touchdown and yet another Saints kickoff. Sharper may not be the sole reason for the success, given that he shares the field with guys like Charles Grant and Jonathan Vilma, but as a newcomer with a league-best six interceptions and three touchdowns, he's becoming the face of it.

When push comes to shove, 67 percent of SportsNation prefers a great defense to a great offense. But are you ready to give a guy like Sharper MVP consideration?

• Wednesday Chats: Chris Mortensen, 11 ET | Matt Williamson, 12 ET | Mel Kiper, 1 ET

Why didn't AIG have this kind of foresight? As recounted in the Wall Street Journal, Fantasy Sports Insurance launched this year to offer fantasy football owners some peace of mind on their high-dollar investments. Drafted Adrian Peterson but worried about an injury ruining your season? Buy insurance on him and recoup your league fees if he gets hurt (although in Peterson's case, based on his chat with SportsNation, Frank Gore insurance would have been a better investment).

One of the only 50 stars the company offered to insure? Cedric Benson. The same guy who averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season while rushing for a career "best" 747 yards. Forget insurance; we're going to these guys for our draft cheat sheet next year.

Thanks in no small part to Benson, who has 487 rushing yards in five games, the Bengals are 4-1. But does that make him a better MVP pick than Carson Palmer, let alone Peterson, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning or other standouts?

Where do Benson and Palmer rank on your MVP ballot?