AFC North: Each team's biggest weakness

Baltimore Ravens: I'd like to be snooty and say Ozzie Newsome, mostly because he again mortgaged the future of the franchise on a QB with a strong arm and a questionable track record. But I won't. Mostly because I've grown accustomed to terrible QB play from the Ravens. It's not even a weakness anymore. It's just the way it is. So instead I'll say it's the defensive backfield. Obviously Ed Reed and Chris McAlister are money, but Samari Rolle is old and last year suffered from seizures. Not a good combination for a position that doesn't afford you much margin of error. Also, Fabian Washington is a question mark. Last week I sat down with his former roommate, Raiders CB Stanford Routt, who told me that he thinks Fabian will be great in Baltimore. But they're boys, so he has no choice but to say nice things. Still, I trust him; however, until I see it on the field, and until there's a bit more depth back there, it's still our biggest weakness. Yeah, I said our; I don't care what you think about me not suiting up.

Cincinnati Bengals: Leadership. First-round draft pick Keith Rivers is an unlikely candidate for arrest, but everyone else on that roster is fair game.



Cleveland Browns: This one was easy. Cornerback. This morning Phil Savage said on Sirius NFL Radio that the team will try to upgrade at corner, but it will not target a big-time name like Ty Law or Lito Sheppard. Cleveland doesn't have the budget. Instead, he hopes the Browns will be able to do a player-for-player trade, or perhaps give up a late-round selection to improve its defensive backfield, which is w-e-a-k. For once, the team finally has enough depth at other positions, and the team could execute a trade without making one area strong at the expense of another.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Although Pittsburgh upgraded itself in the middle by signing seven-year veteran and former Carolina Panthers center Justin Hartwig, the team is hurting in the trenches. The Steelers lost G Alan Faneca to free agency after he signed a deal with the New York Jets, making Faneca the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Good for him, and also good for the rest of the AFC North, which is happy to see him go. The Steelers waited until the fourth round to draft an O-lineman, selecting Tony Hills out of Texas. Hills used to play tight end, and he also has a history with injuries. You can't really blame the team for not going O-line in the first round, though. With Rashard Mendenhall still on the board, it was a no-brainer for the Steelers to pick up some insurance for Willie Parker.

Who robbed Rashard Mendenhall?

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint early Monday morning in South Chicago, near the Lakefront. I had no idea Hillary Clinton's campaign was that hard-up for cash.

Who robbed Rashard? Blogimore fingers a few suspects:

Mike Brown: Since taking over the reins of the Bengals in 1991, Cincinnati's team owner has enjoyed one of the worst records in all of professional sports. It's been terrible, and Brown can't even take credit for being the guy in charge during the advent of the Ickey Shuffle, which predates his power by a few years, and which clearly has been the best thing to come out of Cincy since... ever.


The only thing coming out of Cincy these days are mugshots, which is why Brown is playing the role of stick-up kid. To build chemistry with his troops. And also possibly to get extra spinach so that he can rework Ocho's contract. Ironically, none of the reasons that Brown might rob Rashard have anything to do with increasing Cincy's chances of winning. Mike Brown fears change. Especially positive change.

Ocho Cinco (speaking in third-person): "Dude's gotta get paid, ya feel me? Ocho Cinco wanna cop some of these fresh new kicks, yo, and that shiz don't come cheap, son. They like a full grip, maybe more. Plus he might have to get 'em redone in Eagles green if Mike Brown don't come correct. Where my coin at, Mikey? Where my coin at?!"


Mike Mayock: After spending months telling the world that Mendenhall will better than Darren McFadden, Mayock might have gone "Falling Down" on us, upset at the fact that Mendenhall power-dropped to the bottom of the first round. Or perhaps he's looking for a scapegoat when McFadden turns out to be the better pro. Nah. With Pittsburgh's offensive line, and with Willie Parker in the backfield, you know Mendenhall will put up numbers. Mayock knows it, too. Regardless, Mayock's obsession with Mendenhall puts him squarely in the crosshairs of speculation. Love makes you do funny things.

Ray Lewis: Just kidding. Ray would never hurt anyone. Plus he's already rich as hell. And even if Ray Ray did want to rob Mendenhall, he wouldn't use a ski mask. He's Ray Lewis. He would take that shiz like it was fourth-grade lunch money.

Kosuke Fukudome: Already popular on the North Side, Fukudome doesn't understand yet that it's not important to also be popular on the South Side. But he's stubborn like that, and to be popular on the South Side requires that Fukudome up his street cred. Hopefully he doesn't start wearing Kanye-tight Polos. That won't help his case. Hanging out with Weezy might, but he'd have to go to New Orleans for that, and there isn't much baseball in New Orleans. Mostly just drinking and topless women. Be careful, Cubs fans, you're about five strands of beads and a few Hurricanes away from losing your franchise player.

Steelers complain about officiating

At least three Steelers (Larry Foote, Clark Haggans and James Harrison) whined about what they saw as poor officiating during Pittsburgh's 31-29 loss to Jacksonville.

Harrison: "I have nothing to say about that. I ain't got no fine money to give away for talking about them blind refs, so I got nothing to say."

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Jags win! Steelers go home!

The final score was actually 31-29 (not 31-28) but it doesn't matter. The only thing that's important is that the Steelers lost and the Jags move on. If the Titans lose on the road tomorrow against the Chargers, David Garrard will have a chance to face off against the 16-0 Patriots D.

If first-year Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin doesn't go for the two-point conversion about halfway through the fourth quarter, he wouldn't have had to go for it a second time shortly thereafter, and we would be in OT right now.

Thanks, Coach!

Ravens OC prediction: Mike Mularkey

Former Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel is off to UCLA. Obviously he needs to be replaced. Preferably by someone who is better at calling plays than Brian Billick. God help me if owner Steve Bisciotti continues to let Billick call the plays next year. God help me if Billick is even around next year.

My guess as to whom will replace Neuheisel?

Mike Mularkey: Currently Mularkey is an assistant coach with the Dolphins. Snooze. Before that he was head coach of the Bills. Yawn. Mularkey does have a claim to fame, though, and it is his time spent as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He loves trick plays, and unlike Billick's, they worked. He masterminded an offense that for three years averaged more than 10 wins per season, and which always seemed to catch Baltimore's defense off guard, back when that was still rare, back when Charm City still had a secondary.

And he's familiar with the AFC North.

Before he was hired as head coach of the Bills, I secretly wanted the Ravens to hire him to replace Billick. I was always amazed by Mularkey's ability to figure out Baltimore's D. If Bisciotti can land Mike Mularkey as the team's new offensive coordinator, it would be a great follow-up to today's satisfying and long overdue win.

Bittersweet victory against the Steelers

Even though the Steelers didn't really show up, and even though the Ravens nearly blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead, it was still nice to get a win today. And what better way to end a nine-game losing streak and cap a 5-11 season than with a win against Pittsburgh? The victory was Baltimore's fifth in a row at home against its toughest division rival.

Troy Smith looked pretty good. Not great but at least good enough to compete for the starting job next year. He looked better than Boller most of the time, and obviously better than Steve McNair, whose A.A.R.P. card should be arriving any day now. My hope is that the Ravens won't draft a QB in this year's draft, at least not on day one. Let Boller and Smith fight it out next year.

NFL Draft: Ravens pick 8th
Had the Ravens lost today, they would have secured the seventh-overall selection. With their first-round pick, Baltimore should take a corner or defensive end. Someone to replace Suggs perhaps. Honestly, I'm not sure I want T-Sizzle back. His play this year was average, and he'll be looking for an off-season payday. Let someone else give it to him.

Jonathan Ogden retiring?
I'll be surprised if Ogden returns for a 13th NFL season. Thanks for a great run, J.O. You've been an offensive force in Baltimore for a decade now, which makes you a member of a very small fraternity (Jamal Lewis, Matt Stover, end of list). A Super Bowl ring, 11 Pro Bowls, and a guaranteed bust in Canton is a damn fine career.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Kevan Barlow

Today the Pittsburgh Steelers cut RB Kevan Barlow, who previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.

"Barlow, a third-round pick by San Francisco in 2001, has rushed for 3,984 yards on 1,022 carries in six NFL seasons. He gained a career-high 1,024 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry in 2003."

Barlow was always one of my favorite players when he played in San Francisco. That's all I've got for you on the subject of Kevan Barlow.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Steely McBeam

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new mascot: Steely McBeam. The name was chosen out of more than 70,000 entries submitted by fans.

I know this because the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette dedicated three paragraphs to the news (link to article), which sounds about right for a name-the-mascot contest. But at the bottom of the article: "More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."

More details? What more is there to say? The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new mascot. His name is Steely McBeam. A fan submitted the name. End of story. Perhaps a footnote regarding the fact that Steely looks like Bill Cowher.

But the following day's newspaper dedicated 22 paragraphs to Steely ("Say hello to Steely McBeam"). You could announce a quarterback change with fewer words than that. One more paragraph and they would have equaled the number of interceptions thrown last year by Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Deshea Townsend, charges dropped

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Deshea Townsend was at the scene of a fight that resulted in him facing criminal charges. Today the charges were dismissed by a judge. Here's what Townsend's lawyer had to say: "There were six witnesses, and four said he wasn't involved in the fight and two said they weren't sure who was involved in it."

Seems pretty clear that this wasn't Townsend's fault, but my guess is that he's being criticized at this very moment by the 'holier-than-thou'est of all professions: sports-talk radio hosts.

Give Townsend a break. Sure, his friend might have been involved in the fight, but you can't pin that on Townsend. And the argument that he should choose his friends more carefully holds no water, at least not with me. Americans have enough trouble taking responsibility for their own actions, yet we expect athletes to be responsible for their friends' actions. Talk about unfair.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Will Alan Faneca skip camp?

The Steelers host their first mandatory mini-camp this week, and the biggest question is whether or not Steelers G Alan Faneca will attend. The veteran skipped a voluntary camp, but the camp was just that: voluntary. He's made it clear he wants a new contract, though, and holding out for the entire season is a possibility.

That said, it'd be a big mistake. For starters, he has $4.3 million coming to him this season. But only if he plays. If he sits out this season, he will lose that money forever, and even a new contract won't make up that much of a difference. Also, he doesn't need a new contract today. He's still young enough to cash in on a big payday next year. Maybe not as big as he'd like, but he's certainly not completely on the decline. The Ravens fan in me wants to see him skip camp and rock the boat, but the football fan in me hopes he shows up on time and honors his contract.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Sepulveda smack-down

Two days ago I thought the Steelers drafting Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in the fourth round was a good idea. And after watching this video, I still do. The video shows a 51-yard Sepulveda punt from, I don't know, last season, the season before, the season before that -- really, when is not important. What's important is that he chases down the runner himself and smacks the life out of him. This guy could've played linebacker in college, and he wanted to, but it's probably best for both him and Mike Tomlin that he didn't.

Coach Tomlin on drafting a punter

Coach Mike Tomlin, on not only drafting a punter, but trading a sixth-round pick to move up seven slots to grab him: “That is a legitimate phase of football. We are going to put our money where our mouth is in regards to that. He is a left-footed punter and he punts it a great distance with great flight time. He is a very talented guy and we supported that all the way.”

I hate to say it, but I agree with him. Maybe not on blowing the sixth-round pick to trade up, but on taking a gamble with a fourth-round pick and selecting a punter. Against Baltimore, if you win the game of field position, chances are you're going to win the game. Current Steelers punter Chris Gardocki hasn't had a punt blocked in 17 years, which sort of makes him the Ray Lewis of punting. And with that sort of success in the punting game and an aging punter, you've gotta start thinking about the future. This new guy apparently boots the ball a mile and puts a weird spin on it, which makes it more difficult for returners to catch, apparently. That could be bad news for the Ravens (hopefully) newest kick returner, Kansas State WR Yamon Figurs, who apparently may suffer from occasionally slippery fingers.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (round 7)

An all-around good 2007 NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They strengthened the pass rush, secondary and offensive line, and got themselves a tight end and even a punter, too. With the strength of the Bengals offense (and Baltimore's improved offense) it's not surprising to see Mike Tomlin & Co. focus so heavily on defense. They ended their draft with some offense: Florida WR Dallas Baker, whose biggest strength is his consistency. He could be good for Ben Roethlisberger, and Big Ben could be good for him.

2007 NFL Draft: Mike Tomlin: day-two interview

New Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was just on ESPN talking about his first two draft picks.

Florida State OLB Lawrence Timmons: "great upside, young guy; scored three TDs last year as a linebacker, blocked a couple kicks."

Michigan DE LaMarr Woodley: "capable of providing edge pressure; high motor, hustler and hitter."

He dodged questions on veteran G Alan Faneca, who may refuse to play if he doesn't receive a new contract. He also was happy to get a punter from Baylor because, to paraphrase, there are a lot of opportunities to punt at Baylor.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (round 5)

Louisville CB William Gay has good instincts, but can get beat deep. The Steelers are reloading on defense in a big way. New head coach Mike Tomlin is loving this.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (round 5)

Rutgers' women's basketball team may be the most-talked-about team at Rutgers this year, but its football team was the story last year. The Steelers chose Rutgers G Cameron Stephenson to help them pound the football, which is what Pittsburgh does best. Not a very sexy pick, but probably a smart one, especially in the AFC North.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (round 4)

The Steelers took left-footed Baylor P Daniel Sepulveda, who sounds a lot like Chris Gardocki, who in 17 years with the Steelers has never once had a punt blocked. Ever. That is ridiculous. Every time the Ravens play the Steelers, I always find myself hoping that Ed Reed sneaks through and bats one down. I don't want Gardocki to retire with a clean record.

Later in the round they took Oklahoma State DE Ryan McBean. A defense-heavy draft so far for the Steel Curtain.

2007 NFL Draft: AFC North, day one recap

The Steelers picked up three guys who all fit Pittsburgh's mold. Florida State OLB and Michigan DE LaMarr Woodley will both put pressure on the quarterback, and Minnesota TE Matt Spaeth is a 6’7” bulldozer, apparently. New head coach Mike Tomlin is probably happy.

The Bengals picked up the cornerback they needed in Michigan’s Leon Hall. Hall’s stock dropped a bit because of a late-season collapse, but he was the best corner available and AFC North fans should be nervous with Hall in tiger stripes. Also, Auburn RB Kenny Hall is made to order for the Bengals offense. I like Kenny Irons.

The Ravens focused on their primary need, shoring up the offensive line. Auburn G Ben Grubbs will almost certainly start in place of former Steelers G Keydrick Vincent, who has been a disappointment. Iowa’s Marshall Yanda can play either guard or tackle, and is good insurance in case Ogden retires after this season or gets injured. The Ravens also got a guy who can return kicks: Kansas State WR Yamon Figurs, maybe the fastest player in the draft.

The Browns hit blackjack at #3 with Wisconsin T Joe Thomas and then let it ride by trading up to #22 to snag Notre Dame QB Draft Day Baby Quinn, a quarterback the Browns think will turn around the franchise. Browns GM and Ozzie Newsome protégé Phil Savage tries to match Ozzie’s 1996 draft, during which Oz landed two future Hall of Famers in the first round, Jonathan Ogden (#4) and Ray Lewis (#26). Or maybe he just felt sorry for Brady, who wanted nothing more than to be drafted #1 overall, and then hid in a private suite when it became clear he'd drop to the bottom half of the first round. The Browns also picked up UNLV CB Eric Wright in the third round.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (3.77)

The Steelers draft Minnesota TE Matt Spaeth, a hard-nosed guy who has played through multiple shoulder injuries. He's big (6'7"), tough and can bowl over defenders, but he's not going to be a downfield threat. He sounds exactly like the kind of tight end you'd expect to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2007 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers (2.46)

New coach Mike Tomlin should be very happy with the team's first two picks: a strong linebacker and a quality pass rusher. Michigan DE LaMarr Woodley led the Wolverines in sacks each of the past two seasons. His presence can be minimized by bigger offensive linemen, but he's a gamer that will grind it out from the first to the final whistle. The Steelers are retooling on defense, which should make for some nice matchups next year with Baltimore, who is doing the same with its offense. Sort of. The Ravens aren't so much retooling an offense as they are trying to build a great one for the first time in team history.