AFC North Preview

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

What I like: Slowly but surely, the Steelers have moved away from the smashmouth, run-the-ball-down-your-throat offense during the Bill Cowher days to a more balanced, pass-first attack under Omar Epps' twin brother, Mike Tomlin. The presence of big, strong-armed Ben Roethlisberger has something to do with that, as has the team's recent string of shying away from drafting big, physical run blocking wideouts like it did with Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress and instead opting for speedy playmakers like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. Brown and Wallace, and Big Ben to some extent, represent the new era of Steelers football. That's not to say that the team can still bust you in the mouth with the running game. Rashard Mendenhall proved himself worthy of carrying the torch of the long lineage of powerful Pittsburgh backs from Franco Harris to Barry Foster to Bam Morris to "The Bus" by rushing for nearly 1,300 yards and finding the end zone 13 times. The emergence of Mendenhall and Wallace last season makes the Steelers more frightening this year offensively, especially considering they won't be without Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season this year.

On defense, it's the same tried-and-true formula. Casey Hampton heads the best 3-4 defensive line in football, which also features a returning Aaron Smith at DE, rugged and hairy vet Brett Kiesel and some new blood in "Ziggy" Hood and first rounder Cam Heyward. Behind them, controversial James Harrison and newly-paid LaMarr Woodley form the best bookend pass-rushing duo in football and Lawrence Timmons and James Farrior are no slouches on the inside either. S Troy Polamalu, fresh from stealing the Defensive Player of the Year award from Clay Matthews last season, returns yet again to help form the league's best run D.

What I don't like: As crazy as this might sound, last year's abysmal offensive line might be worse. Tackles Max Starks and Flozell Adams are gone and the team is relying on Jon Scott, who has bounced around to three other teams and has yet to prove himself as a starter, to watch Roethlisberger's blind side while Willie Colon returns at right tackle after missing all of last season. While Big Ben's size and nimble feet have made up for the O-line's deficiencies in years past, Roethlisberger still takes way too much punishment by holding onto the ball longer in hopes of going deep. With Byron Leftwich out for the season, the team's primary backup is Charlie Batch, who has been adequate in spots but doesn't possess Ben's ability to dodge the rush. In the running game, Mendenhall's big year was good to see but there are concerns after a season where he racked up 385 carries(The Curse of 370......Google it!). Also, for as good as this defense is, it has yet to do anything to address its inability to stop teams from spreading it out and exposing their lack of depth in the secondary. Veteran corner Ike Taylor was brought back but the team failed in bringing in any fresh faces to keep them from getting torched by the Green Bays, New Englands and San Diegos of the world.

Bottom line: The Steelers have the benefit of having an all-world defense, a balanced offense, some top-notch coaching and, most importantly, the number of division rival Baltimore. They'll win the North and make yet another postseason run, but there are too many red flags keeping them from making a trip back to the Super Bowl. The offensive line remains a mess, the secondary is still too thin and, while breakout years from the likes of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are anticipated, they aren't a certainty. They also need to lighten the load on Mendenhall. who saw his carries increase by almost 150 from '09 to '10. The Steelers benefit from getting a divisional litmus test when Baltimore comes calling in Week 1, but this will be the year that the team's arrogance in neglecting its fatal flaws comes back to haunt them.

2. Baltimore Ravens

What I like: If not for a costly Ray Rice fumble, some sketchy penalties and a couple misreads on deep passes, we might be talking about Baltimore as the defending AFC champs and not Pittsburgh. Much like their hated rivals, the Ravens are a team slowly making the transition from old school smashmouth pigskin to something a bit more fan-friendly(unless that fan is my buddy Carlos, who could watch his Ravens run the ball 75 times a week and not get bored). The Ravens made a couple slick moves in the offseason. They helped out their breakout star, Ray Rice, by not only adding the best blocking fullback in the game in Vonta Leach but also bringing in former rushing champ Ricky Williams to give Rice a breather. Baltimore also upgraded its offensive line by switching promising yet oft-injured OT Jared Gaither for former Vikings Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie. Mt. McKinnie has taken a step back in recent years but he's still a solid tackle and his presence allows the team to move Michael Oher to his more natural position at right tackle. The Ravens also repented for past sins by finally adding some speed to the receiving core a year after trying to infuse some life in the passing game with a slew of possession receivers like T.J. Houshmanzadeh. Lee Evans was acquired from Baltimore and the team used a 2nd round pick on Maryland burner Torrey Smith. Those two, combined with the physical Anquan Boldin, will stretch defenses and open things up even further for the electrifying Rice.

On defense, you know the big names by now. Ray Lewis and his anabolic steroid-infused body returns for what has to be his 100th season, hungrier than ever after coming up short yet again in the playoffs. He'll be flanked by pass-rushing dynamo Terrell Suggs and will have all-world safety Ed Reed behind him. The defensive line also adds more girth by swapping out Kelly Gregg and installing 400-pound tackle Terrance Cody to team up with Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata. Ngata and Cody(if Cody can stay on the field) gives the Ravens its biggest, baddest interior defensive line combo since the Sam Adams-Tony Siragusa days.....and we saw how that panned out. The team also addressed its other huge issue in the secondary by drafting talented-but-mercurial corner Jimmy Smith out of Colorado.

What I don't like: I always like to stick with my Jersey boys but I'm out on Joe Flacco. I know he's made strides coming from Delaware to the pros but I continue to lose confidence in Jersey Joe being the guy that takes this team over the hump. This year, the pressure falls squarely on his shoulders. The offensive line is improved. The running game is revamped and the team has speed on the outside at wide receiver for the first time in years. The skids are greased for Flacco to blow the doors down, but I went from Flacco's success being a near-certainty to a more wait-and-see approach. Defensively, I'm wondering where the pass rush is coming from outside of Suggs. Outside of T-Sizzle's 11 sacks, the next best Raven was Ngata at 5.5. Last year's second round pick Sergio Kindle is being relied upon to pressure QBs but he's coming off a skull fracture that sidelined him all season. The team is also relying on some unproven guys in the secondary and hoping Reed and his myriad of injuries can hold it together to keep the defense from getting gashed.

Bottom line: On paper, the Ravens are a better team than Pittsburgh and are actually a tougher matchup against the AFC's elite(Jets, Chargers, Patriots) than the Steelers are, but they have to prove they can get over the hump and topple their Steel City rivals.....and I don't just mean in Week 1. Many potential Ravens Super Bowl runs have been halted by a close loss to Big Ben and company but, this year, the Ravens did what the Steelers didn't: Improved their weaknesses. How far the Ravens go will depend on both Flacco taking the next step and the team as a whole not having brainfarts on the big stage like they did against the Steelers in the Divisional round last year. The Ravens are a scary dark horse but they have to prove they can conquer Pittsburgh and, most importantly, themselves.

3. Cleveland Browns

What I like: Honestly, not much. The Browns' biggest strength is they aren't as dysfunctional as their Ohio brothers in Cincinnati. Colt McCoy is entrenched as the starter and the team might have a legit back in Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis. Defensively, Cleveland has an underrated cornerback tandem in Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown and they are expecting big things out of massive first round pick Phil Taylor at DT and 2nd rounder Jabaal Sheard at DE in the team's new 4-3 scheme under Dick Jauron.

What I don't like: McCoy has a lot of young weapons to choose from but none of them are proven. Mohamed Massaquoi is the team's #1 but his head is still ringing from getting knocked out by James Harrison last year. Josh Cribbs is better suited as a returner and rookie Greg Little is coming off suspension from the NCAA. Those guys are being asked to revitalize the passing game. As for Hillis, he was a good story last year going from throw-in in the Brady Quinn deal to 1,000 yard rusher but I never, EVER, bet against the Madden curse and he has down year written all over him. As for the defense, it takes a while to adjust to change in schemes, especially when you don't have the personnel and especially in a lockout-shortened offseason. Taylor and Sheard are being asked to jump into the lineup and stop offenses dead in their tracks based off little under a month of practice. Good luck with that.

Bottom line: I'm still confused by the Browns' sleeper love. McCoy has proven his doubters wrong and has established himself as a decent starting QB who knows how to win and doesn't make too many stupid mistakes. He's tough and he's gritty and the team feeds off that. Still, this team has too much unproven talent around to expect them to just put it all together all of a sudden. This a team with a new head coach, a new defense and a lot of young players with their heads on a swivel. Sure, they're a leg up on the Bengals because they are run by an actual competent being in Mike Holmgren but they are still a couple years away, especially with how heavy this team is at the top.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

What to like: The Bengals tore up the blueprint and started anew this season, waving bye-bye to Carson Palmer(well, not really, he'd just rather stay home than play for the Bengals and the team is too stupid to trade him) and Chad Ochocinco and tabbing TCU QB Andy Dalton and Georgia WR A.J. Green as their franchise cornerstones. In a normal year, that would be ok but the lockout robbed Dalton and Green from building chemistry and getting adjusted to the offense. Meanwhile, RB Cedric Benson is back and so is his assault charges. Defensively, Nate Clements is in and Jonathan Joesph is out. The defense is the team's lone bright spot with a talented linebacking trio in Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and ex-Niner Manny Lawson. The defensive line has some young talent in ends Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap. Leon Hall will team with Clements to form a good cornerback duo(though not as good as when Hall had Joesph) and the team rolled the dice on a couple young safeties in former Jag Reggie Nelson and another former Niner in Taylor Mays.

What I don't like: The Bengals have been a disaster this preseason. Dalton looks downright befuddled out there and there isn't anyone on the roster that can shield him from the wolves. Benson is a knucklehead who wasn't worth bringing back but Cincy did so anyway and he awarded them by getting pinched on a domestic assault beef and going to jail. Green is a supremely talented wide receiver but there's no way he can make an impact this year being so far behind the learning curve. The offensive line is going to make life worse for Dalton and, while the defense will be good, it won't be able to stave off opposing offenses while the snail-paced offense puts up points.

Bottom line: After years of showing promise and looking like a contender, the Bengals are back to being a sad sack laughingstock. Dalton and Green might inevitably be a good combo but this won't be the year they come together. Benson is 2 yards and a cloud of dust and he's the team's best shot at scoring points. Right now, the Bengals will be lucky to win four games. It confounds me why they haven't tried to get something for Palmer, who seems content to sit at home in California and clip coupons while watching the franchise he helped build burn to the ground. The biggest question that will face the Bengals this season will be whether they'll suck enough to land Andrew Luck and if they should throw money at Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden in hopes they can save this waste of a franchise.

AFC North Preview

Our breakdown of the upcoming 2010 NFL season continues with the AFC North. Dave will be providing the on-field commentary, while Gabe chimes in with his fantasy outlooks for the division.

DAVE:


1. Baltimore Ravens: The more I read about the Ravens, the more reluctant I become about putting them atop of the division. This is now the fourth time I've had to revise this piece because of an injury of some sort to one of the key members of the team. First, there was free safety Ed Reed, who will be placed on the Physically Unable To Perform List and will miss the first 6 games of the season(if he comes back at all) with the hip injury that nearly forced him to retire last season. In Reed's absence will be a couple of young pups with upside. Former Notre Dame boxer/safety Tom Zbikowski would probably be the leader to replace Reed. Zbikowski has exceptional speed and we all know he can lay the hammer down. There's also former Cowboys free safety Ken Hamlin, who was signed in the offseason as Reed insurance. Hamlin is adequate but the knock on him during his Dallas stint was his inability to make tackles in open space and the tendency for being a liability in coverage. In this scheme, that would make him the anti-Ed Reed. Another deep sleeper would be former Cincinatti Bearcat Haruki Nakamura. He's been solid on special teams and he's athletic enough to at least give Hamlin and Zibby a run for the chance to replace Reed. All three are decent options. None of them are the kind of Hall of Fame playmaker that Reed is. Yes, the Ravens put themselves at risk of giving up big plays when Reed takes chances and loses, but how many games have been swung in Baltimore's favor thanks to Reed's gambles? Outside of Reed, there's the recent bad luck in the health department with their two top selections. Promising pass-rushing linebacker Sergio Kindle suffered a skull fracture that will keep him out for most of the preseason, which will set his development back a bit. While the Ravens certainly aren't at a dearth of pass-rushers, a guy like Kindle could help make up for the problems they have in the secondary(even with Ed Reed). Fellow second-rounder Terrence Cody failed his conditioning test, much to the surprise of noone, and you wonder where that places his immediate future with the team. Most recently, free agent acquisition CB Dominique Foxworth tore his ACL, ending his season before it even started. That makes an already bleak secondary look all the more pedestrian. As it stands, a veteran front seven and an offense with a ton of potential are the only things provoking me to keep the Ravens at the top spot.

Then, there's the offense. The Ravens upgraded their passing game by acquiring wideout Anquan Boldin from Arizona. Boldin is the perfect type of receiver for Baltimore's style of play: tough, physical, aggressive, loves contact. He gives QB Joe Flacco a reliable target after the last couple of years dealing with Mark Clayton's stone hands and the geriatric Derrick Mason. Another newcomer is former Saint/Eagle/Patriot/Brown receiver and vehicular manslaughter-er Donte Stallworth. Stallworth is the speed element to complement a core filled with possession receivers. As much as the presence of Stallworth and Boldin helps the passing game, the knock on both men is their inability to stay healthy. Boldin constantly finds himself the victim of his hard-knock style of play that has been his calling card since coming into the league. Stallworth, like most track star like receivers with rail-thin physiques, seems to be always plagued by hamstring and various leg ailments. He's also been out of football for a little over a year after his hit-and-run beef a couple years ago. As we saw with Mike Vick last year, it takes time for someone to just jump back into football(especially those whose game is solely based on speed). If Boldin and Stallworth can provide the aerial improvement that is expected of them, expect a breakout year for RB Ray Rice(CHOP WOOD!). With defenses no longer needing to stack eight in the box and daring Flacco to throw, that leaves a lot of running room for Rice behind that massive offensive line(led by monstrous tackles Jared Gaither and Micheal Oher). Although, Gaither is believed to be on the trading block, and with the team's newfound need for able bodies in the secondary, he may be dealt for some help in that defensive backfield. If that happens, this is a different looking Ravens ballclub.

On paper, this is still the top team in the AFC North and if they find someone to at least be adequate in replacing Reed and shore up the secondary, then Baltimore becomes the Jets' biggest obstacle on the road to the Super Bowl. However, the last few weeks, the ball hasn't bounced the Ravens' way and it makes you wonder whether this just an abberation or a sign of things to come?

2. Pittsburgh Steelers*: In any other year, the Ravens' misfortune would be Pittsburgh's gain. The problem is, the Steelers have a couple losses of their own to deal with. First and foremost, you may have heard that QB Ben Roethlisberger got himself into a bit of trouble in the offseason by doing things he wasn't supposed to with women who may or may not have been so willing to participate. That misbehavior will see Big Ben sit out for the first four games, at the least. In his place will either be former Steelers backup Byron Leftwich or rising second-year QB Dennis Dixon. Because of Dixon's athletic prowess, he may have the edge here but Leftwich showed in his last stint that he's more than capable of leading the Steelers. The other loss in question for Pittsburgh is former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, who was jettisoned to New York after the team grew tired of his numerous off-field antics. Holmes' spot will more than likely be filled by second-year man Mike Wallace. Wallace had a breakout year last year, but how much of that was attributed to being matched up against nickel corners, safeties and linebackers where he could overwhelm them with his impressive size/speed combo? Now, Wallace will be up against legit corners and won't have the element of surprise. There's also the chemistry factor. When Big Ben returns, there's naturally going to be some rust and he isn't as familiar with Wallace as he is with "The Most Hated Man in the NFL" Hines Ward and tight end Heath Miller. The Steelers luck out by having a relatively easy schedule in Ben's absence(with the exception of a game against Baltimore), but don't be surprised if Ben's return starts with a lot of looks to Miller and Ward and a steady dose of power back Rashard Mendenhall.

That's who is gone. Here's who is back. For starters, cornerback Bryant McFadden returns to Blitzburgh after a cup of coffee with Arizona last season. McFadden may easily be Pittsburgh's best corner, but that isn't really saying much. Pittsburgh also welcome back two guys who were missing due to injuries last season. S Troy Polamalu became the latest victim of the Madden Curse, as his season was pretty much wrecked since hurting his knee in the opener. His healthy return makes the Steelers much more formidable in the secondary, which was a problem last season with Troy and his hair absent. Another underrated return is DE Aaron Smith, who had his '09 season cut short by injuries. When Smith is right, he's one of the best 3-4 ends in the game and his return combined with the continued progress of last year's first-rounder "Ziggy" Hood as well as massive NT Casey Hampton in the middle will ensure that Pittsburgh is back to having one of the five best defenses in the NFL(having bookend pass-rushers at linebacker like LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison helps. As does underrated middle linebacker James Farrior). The acquisition I am most excited about, and Steelers fans should be excited about, is first-rounder Maurkice Pouncey from Florida. Pouncey is outstanding run blocker on the interior, a skill honed while opening holes for Tim Tebow for years with the Gators. Pouncey holding down the middle of the offensive line, be it guard or center, allows Mendenhall to do what he does best: pound the ball inside. The Steelers are still a bit suspect on the outside of the offensive line as RT Willie Colon is done for the year already, but Pouncey's presence certainly helps quite a bit. All in all, if Big Ben can get his head right and Polamalu stays on the field, the Steelers are a playoff team, but right now, those are two big IFs.

3. Cincinnati Bengals*: I've come full circle on the Bengals. Initially, I thought a roster loaded with notorious headcases like Chad Ochocinco, Pac-Man Jones, Antonio Bryant, Tank Johnson, Cedric Benson and now Terrell Owens would be a recipe for disaster. Now, I find the idea of all these outcasts to be a cool idea, almost in a "Expendables" or "Ocean's Eleven" kind of way. There's a chance that these men, long chastised for their history of being disruptive malcontents, could use their standing as miscreants to band together. After all, who would understand T.O.'s diva antics better than Chad Ochocinco? Who would be better for Pac-Man Jones to confide with about a second chance than Cedric Benson? The only thing holding the Bengals back from being a legit contender is the reputations of their infamous stars. They are the NFL's most dangerous powderkeg. They can be explosive or they can implode with just one little spark.

If you're Carson Palmer, you have to be both anxious and nervous over your new set of toys. Palmer went from Ochocinco and a band of nobodies to a recieving core that now includes Bryant(fresh off back to back 1,000 yard seasons with Tampa Bay), Owens(arguably one of the 20 best receivers of all-time, even if he is coming off a subpar season in Buffalo and has lost a few steps), first-round pick TE Jermane Gresham(who was a top-10 talent before blowing out his knee last season), third rounder Jordan Shipley(perhaps a quicker, younger Wes Welker) and last year's holdover Andre Caldwell(a long shot to stick with the team, but still quality depth). Plus, Palmer can always turn around and hand off the pill to last season's 8th leading rusher in Benson. Benson got himself into a little hot water with a domestic assault beef, but won't be suspended. If Palmer and head coach Marvin Lewis keep all that ego in check, who wants to face this offense this season. I mean, Baltimore got swept by Cincy last year and now their secondary looks a lot worse this season. We could be looking at a repeat champion in the AFC North.

On defense, the guy to watch is DE/LB Michael Johnson. He's tall(6'6), lean and crazy athletic. The big knock, however, is motivation(like with most of the Bengals). The same can be said for rookie DE Carlos Dunlap, who has the same kind of potential that Johnson has, but doesn't always utilize it on the field. Dunlap and Johnson aid a pass rush that already has Robert Geathers(10.5 sacks just a couple years ago) and a returning Antwan Odom(the NFL's leader in sacks midseason before injuries cut his '09 short). There's also Tank Johnson, who can be as disruptive on the field as he is off of it, and massive DT Pat Sims. The linebacking crew is led by two former Trojans: MLB Rey Maualuga and OLB Keith Rivers. Both are speedy, athletic hard hitters who also suffer from being a wee bit injury prone. The gem of the defense is the secondary. The Bengals possess the most underrated cornerback tandem in the NFL in Leon Hall and Jonathan Joesph(both had 6 INTs a piece last year, good for a tie for 5th). The team also brought back former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams as well as signed former Giant/Dolphin Gibril Wilson. Wilson was subpar with Miami last year, but could return to his New York form and give a boost to a defense that was already top 7 in the four major defensive categories last season(points allowed-6th, total yards-4th, rushing-7th, passing-6th).

So why do I have a team that seems to be so loaded 3rd in the division? Well, beyond the obvious risk taken by putting this many volcanic personalities together, the schedule makers did the Bengals no favor either. Beyond the four games they'll have to play against Pittsburgh and Baltimore(Granted, they swept both last year, but still), the Bengals have road games against the Patriots, Panthers, Colts, Jets and Falcons as well as home games against the Super Bowl champion Saints, the much-improved Dolphins and the dwindling Chargers. Outside of two games against the Browns and a game against Tampa Bay at home, there aren't many gimmes for Cincy. Regardless, the T.O. signing made the Bengals the team to watch in the NFL, not just for the reality show drama, but because, on paper, this team has enough depth at each position to make its first Super Bowl run since the late 80's.

4. Cleveland Browns: If Cleveland residents thought LeBron skipping town was tough to watch, wait until they see the Browns this season. Which problem area shall I start with? Well, for one, new Browns personnel man Mike Holmgren saw fit to retain Eric Mangini despite no evidence from last season(or really, the last few seasons) to suggest that was the right move. Holmgren also thought it was wise to throw a multi-year contract at turnover machine Jake Delhomme to be their stop-gap QB and then traded for aging, undersized backup Seneca Wallace. In the end, the best QB on the roster may be 3rd round pick Colt McCoy, who had a storied career at Texas but slid in the draft thanks to concerns about size, health, arm strength and the fact that he talks like one of the kids from Dukes of Hazzard. Whomever is taking snaps behind center will have quite the quagmire at running back to worry about. Holdover Jerome Harrison is coming off a solid final three games of the season but is caught up in a contract situation that threatens the likelihood of him seeing significant playing time this season. Instead, those touches may go to powerful rookie Monterio Hardesty out of Tennessee. The receiving core is just as uncertain. With the Browns entering the first full season without Braylon Edwards, the big man on campus will probably be Mohammad "Chainsaw" Massaquoi, who showed flashes of being a competent go-to guy last season. He'll be joined by dynamic return man Josh Cribbs and fellow second-year wideout Brian Robiskie in the group of guys Delhomme will be intending to throw to when he's getting picked off left and right by opposing secondaries.

On defense, the team drafted CB Joe Haden out of Florida and traded for veteran Sheldon Brown from Philadelphia to bolster the secondary. As for the other parts of the defense? Dreadful. The team waved bye-bye to top pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley and nose tackle Shaun Rogers is facing a suspension after trying to bring a gun through an airport. Fellow defensive lineman Corey Williams was sent to Detroit, leaving even more of a void in the front seven. To put it plain, the team is a mess. If Holmgren and/or Mangini are as smart as they are believed to be, McCoy is starting for this team by Week 8 because they'll be so far out of it, it will be pointless to keep the vets in. There isn't a member of this franchise another team may want except for maybe ILB D'Qwell Jackson. Other than that, much like their neighboring Cavs, the Browns are years away from respectability and fans have quite a few train wrecks to experience before this team is watchable again.

GABE:

1. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens will win the division. They have greatly improved their offense with the additions of Boldin and Stallworth. Their one defensive weakness was the secondary even before the Ed Reed injury. I think they are too strong everywhere else on the field though.

Fantasy Focus:

Running Backs - Ray Rice is a stud. Last year he had 332 touches, 2041 total yards, and 8 TD's. More importantly, he is one of the very few clear cut workhorse backs in the NFL. He is not mired in a running-back-by-committee (RBBC) situation. Barring injury, expect Rice to post similar numbers this year. Willis McGahee will get some goal-line carries but is only worth a late, late (like next to last) pick if you've drafted Rice and want to handcuff, or need a bench RB in a touchdown-only league.

Quarterbacks - Joe Flacco is on the rise. Last year he posted over 3,600 passing yards and that was without the talent he has this year. He also isn't afraid to pull it down and run on occasion. That may be worth a bonus touchdown or two throughout the year. I think he's a sleeper pick to end up as a top-10 fantasy quarterback this year.

Receiving - The Ravens welcome Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth this year. Boldin is going to have to adjust to being an no. 1 receiver but should still put up borderline WR1 numbers. Last year's top target Derrick Mason is getting up there in age, but he's consistent and should still be a reliable WR3. (I love Derrick Mason, in a fantasy way. I've had him so many years in a row in my big money league that my wife thinks it's not football season unless I'm yelling "Throw it to Mason!!" during Ravens games.) Stallworth might be worth drafting in deep leagues. Mark Clayton will be a bust. Tight End Todd Heap has fallen off. At this point he is probably a decent TE2 option only.

Defense/ST - The defense has added lots of young talent, but the secondary is a concern. The front seven is still strong enough to make this a top-10 fantasy defense.

2. Cincinnati Bengals - I'll take Cincinnati to get through their tough schedule (opening against New England and Baltimore, and a stretch in the middle of year when they play five games out of seven against 2009 playoff teams) and win more games than Pittsburgh starting the season without Roethlisberger.

Fantasy Focus:

Running Backs - Cedric Benson joined the fantasy elite last year after struggling in Chicago. He is now a legit no. 1 fantasy back. I expect Benson to produce much like he did last year, with the ubiquitous barring injury. This team is now a running team and he'll get the touches. Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard are only worth drafting to handcuff Benson.

Quarterback - Beware of the bust. Carson Palmer was expected to return to form in 2009 and didn't. He will turn 30 this year and probably won't get back to where he was three years ago. He is no longer a fantasy starter, but could be a good option for a bye week spot start.

Receiving - Speaking of guys whose best days are behind them....Chad Ochocinco. He was best when he had a great no. 2 receiver taking some of the pressure off of him. This year the Bengals brought in Antonio Bryant, and he ain't scaring anybody. I think Chad is mid-level WR2 at this point. His elite days are over. Bryant will be a decent back-up WR option. I wouldn't take any other Bengals WR's. They are a run-first team now so their third and fourth receivers won't get many looks. Rookie TE Jermaine Gresham should get some red-zone targets and have value in touchdown-only leagues, but don't expect much value otherwise.

Defense/ST - Cincinnati has been loading their defense with young talent. They will most likely end up as a middle of the road fantasy defense, but they have the potential to do more.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers - I think being without Roethlisberger to start the year is going to be too much for the Steelers to overcome.

Fantasy Focus:

Running Backs - I love Rashard Mendenhall this year. The RBBC mess Pittsburgh has had in recent years is gone. He enters the season as the man in Pitt. Mendenhall is a bit of a sleeper and will end up a top-10 back this year. If he falls past the first round in your draft, grab him, it will be a steal. Keep and eye on rookie Jonathan Dwyer too, especially in keeper leagues. Should Mendenhall get hurt Dwyer will be ready to fill in.

Quarterback - Roethlisberger is out for six weeks. Dennis Dixon is probably going to start. Dixon is probably not going to be worth having on your fantasy roster. Roethlisberger is going to be on fire when he comes back. Because of the suspension he should be available late in drafts. Get a starter and then stash Big Ben on your bench until he comes back.

Receiving - Hines Ward and Mike Wallace could be looked at as Pittsburgh options 1 and 1A. Ward is getting old and Wallace is young. They should both be looked at low level WR2 or high WR3 options, depending on the size of your league. The rest of the WR's are familiar names (Antwaan Randle El, Limas Sweed, Arnaz Battle, etc.) but are not worth any fantasy consideration. Tight end Heath Miller is a reliable option. He should finish somewhere in the top 10 for fantasy TE's, closer to ten than one though.

Defense/ST - Last year they were suffering a Super Bowl hangover and lost Troy Polamalu for most of the season and were still an elite group fantasy-wise. Polamalu is back and healthy and that will only make this unit better. Expect them to be a top-10 unit again.

4. Cleveland Browns - They stink. They would probably finish behind the Bengals and Buckeyes in a poll of the best football teams in Ohio.

Fantasy Focus:

Running Back - Rookie Montario Hardesty and 2009 breakout Jerome Harrison give this team a full fledged RBBC. Harrison is better pick right now because of his experience, but is a borderline RB2 option. Hardesty will get his chances though. Watch this situation closely because if one of these guys struggles the other one will jump to take the lead role.

Quarterbacks - The Browns got rid of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and brought in Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and drafted Colt McCoy. This is the fantasy equivalent of trading in an '87 Toyota Tercel for an '85 Dodge Omni with 4 more horsepower. (The 4 horsepower represent McCoy's potential.) They are all fantasy garbage. Avoid this QB situation at all costs.

Receiving - The only WR's on this roster worth drafting are Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs, and Cribbs is only worth it if you get points for return yards from individuals. He is not worth it for his offensive production. Massaquoi is a borderline fantasy starter at best, and that's only in deep leagues. He is a back-up in any league with 12 teams or fewer. Don't touch any of their tight ends.

Defense/ST - This unit has value because of Cribbs. He is the best return man in the league. This D was eighth in the league in sacks last year, but they traded Kameron Wimbley, their best pass rusher. Bottom line, the defense is going to stink, but their special teams are amazing. They are an average unit overall that will boom or bust week to week, depending on Cribbs' performance.

Once again, I don't care about kickers, and neither should you.

Brownout

You may have heard that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns made a trade today. No, the Eagles didn't ship soon-to-be-dealt QB Donovan McNabb to Cleveland. Instead, the Eagles and Browns agreed to a deal sending disgruntled CB Sheldon Brown to Cleveland. The arrival of Brown to a team that shares his surname got me thinking: What if everyone in Cleveland's starting lineup had the last name Brown? With that said, take a glance at your new look Cleveland Browns:

Quarterback: Dave Brown(Former NFL QB with the Giants and Cardinals, 1992-2001) - As Gabe can attest, no franchise would want to have their offense led by the perennially awful Dave Brown. After all, he finished his nine-year career with 44 TDs and 58 picks and he spent most of his pro career perfecting his squat on the bench. Worse than that, he went to Duke. Gross. So why is he here, you ask? Well, a veteran with Brown's experience is always good to have around to tutor your heir apparent. In this case, Dave Brown will be mentoring my QB-in-waiting, Jarrett Brown(whom West Virginia fans already are familiar with and whose name we will be hearing at some point during Draft weekend three weeks from now).

Running back: Jim Brown(Hall of Fame NFL running back with the original Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965) - I flirted with the idea of moving Jim Brown to fullback and giving this spot to one of the more conventional, modern-day running backs like Donald Brown or Ronnie Brown or even Chris Brown. However, at the end of the day, this is Jim "Motherfuckin'" Brown. He is on the Mt. Rushmore of Cleveland sports legends. You don't play him out of position to make room for someone else. If you do, he'll bash in your windshield with a shovel....

Running back #2: Ronnie Brown(Miami Dolphins 2005-present) -....That's why we decided to scrap the old school fullback and instead employ a stable of younger backs to give Jimbo a breather(after all, the man is 73 years old). Ronnie Brown leads that pack. Proficient in the Wildcat offense, Ronnie can be used on the ground, in the air or out of the flat. He's a nice swiss-army knife to have alongside the battering ram that is Jim Brown.

Wide Receiver: Tim Brown: ('87 Heisman winner, L.A./Oakland Raiders 1988-2003) - Who better to have running routes for you than "Touchdown Timmy"? Tim Brown was one of the NFL's great wide receivers, a statement that will eventually solidified with a bust in Canton, Ohio. He was an excellent return man, both in college and in the pros, and he ended his career with a breathtaking resume: 2nd all-time in receiving yards, 3rd in receptions, 3rd in TD catches, and 5th in combined net yards.

Wide Receiver # 2: Troy Brown(New England Patriots, 1993-2007) - After Timmy, the pickings got slim. Troy Brown narrowly beat out Reggie Brown simply because of his ability to do it all. Not only was Troy Brown a solid route-runner who managed to win three Super Bowl rings with the Pats, but he was a capable return man(which is a duty he will share with Tim) and could even play some nickel cornerback if asked.

Tight End: Kwame Brown(NBA center, Washington Wizards/L.A. Lakers/Memphis Grizzlies/Detroit Pistons, 2001-present) - It was hard finding a tight end named Brown who had a football background, so we went with the next best thing. Who better to have in the red zone and in jump ball situations than a man who's 6'11, 270 pounds? Kwame Brown may have failed in the NBA after stealing LeBron's thunder by becoming the 1st player to go #1 overall straight out of high school, but perhaps he can find some pro success by beating LeBron to the punch once again and moving from basketball to football. Kwame's lack of prowess banging on the inside on the hardwood makes him a non-factor in the blocking game, but I think he'll be able to use his size to overcome the occassional bad throw.

Left Tackle: Jammal Brown(New Orleans Saints, 2005-present) - Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Saints' Super Bowl run is the fact that it came without the former 2005 first rounder. Brown might no longer have a home in NOLA, but he's still only 29 and he's worth the injury risk at 6'6, 313lbs.

Left Guard: James Brown(FOX/CBS sportscaster) - Look, there just aren't many notable Browns who can man the left guard spot. J.B. has knowledge of the pro game from all of his years doing pregame shows with FOX and CBS and, as we've seen on television, he has the girth to be adequate inside. The only red flag with J.B. is the lack of mean streak that stems from years of hucking it up with his broadcast mates and overselling jokes like Ed McMahon.

Center: Jason Brown(Baltimore Ravens/St. Louis Rams 2005-present) - I know, you've never heard of Jason Brown either, but he's been a starting center in the NFL for the better part of the last five years, so he'll have to do.

Right Guard: Bobby Brown(R&B legend, former member of the R&B supergroup New Edition) - Many who remember the young Bobby Brown will shout that he's too slim to be play the interior of the offensive line. Well, those people need to cool it now. The newest edition of Bobby Brown hasn't been doing much humpin' around, as he was last seen being large and in charge on Celebrity Fit Club. With his singing career in the crapper, if the former Mr. Whitney Houston wants to try his luck holding up nose tackles....well, that's his prerogative.

Right Tackle: Levi Brown (Arizona Cardinals, 2007-present) - Pretty much a toss-up between Levi and current Texans left tackle Duane Brown, but Levi has experience at the right tackle spot, is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and, at 6'5 and 325 pounds, is far too large to be told "No".

Defensive End: Courtney Brown(Cleveland Browns/Denver Broncos 2000-2006) - Fans of the current Browns team just cringed a little. If this list was made two years from now, we may have went with current Panthers pass-rusher Everette Brown over the former #1 overall pick flameout. Courtney Brown only managed 19 sacks in his 6 year career since being taken with the top pick in 2000 over guys like Brian Urlacher and Shaun Alexander and there was no questioning the guy was a wee bit soft. Courtney only played in 26 games from 2002-2004, but he had a cute little nickname: "The Quiet Storm", which is both a suitable term for Courtney's lack of impact and an ode to one of the best hip-hop songs of the last 10 years.

Defensive Tackle: Gilbert Brown (Green Bay Packers, 1993-1999, 2001-2003) - Speaking of great nicknames, how about "The Gravedigger"? Listed modestly at 6'2, 340 lbs(some reports had him at around 380), Big Gilbert's forte was stopping runners coming up the middle dead in their tracks. He won't give you much in terms of pass rush(just 7 sacks in 8 years) but he clogs up the inside better than Peter North.

Defensive Tackle: Tony Brown(San Francisco 49ers/Carolina Panthers/Tennessee Titans, 2004-current) - Tony's a bit of a journeyman, bouncing around from team to team over the past half decade. He didn't really generate a buzz until last season, when he notched five sacks for the Titans as the replacement for Albert Haynesworth. He's now a restricted free agent with a first-round tender and SI's Peter King has been endorsing teams in the latter part of Round 1 to make an offer to the former Memphis standout. Unlike Gilbert(and, technically, Courtney) Tony Brown has the ability to get to the QB and is still relatively young at 29.

Defensive End: "Bad Bad" LeRoy Brown(fictional character in the legendary Jim Croce song of the same name) - Obviously, it's hard to find measurables for the figment of the imagination of a 70's pop singer. However, when your resume is "badder than ol' King Kong, meaner than a junkyard dog", you have to imagine LeRoy Brown is one bad motherfucker. Look, when you're "the baddest man in the whole damn town", you have a spot on this defense(especially when the guy on the other side of the defensive line is Courtney Brown).

Outside Linebacker: Chad Brown(Pittsburgh Steelers/Seattle Seahawks/New England Patriots 1993-2007) - A three-time Pro Bowler with 79 career sacks, Brown's ability to get to the backfield will make up for the lack of pass-rushing experience on the defensive line.

Middle Linebacker: Bushido Brown(part-time character in the Aaron McGruder comic strip-turned-TV show "The Boondocks") He's a kung-fu bodyguard hired by Oprah with a bad ass afro. 'Nuff said.

Outside Linebacker: James Brown("The Godfather of Soul", R&B/funk legend, 1933-2006). Yes, I know, James Brown is no longer with us and, yes, I know, James Brown wasn't exactly a prolific athlete, but for shit's sake, he's "The King of Funk". He's "Mr. Dynamite". When you're "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business" AND "The Sex Machine", that means you have a motor that just won't quit. Plus, who is going to come up with better celebrations after a sack or a pick-6 or a big tackle than James Brown? Don't tell me you can't see people coming from the sidelines rushing to put a cape over "Soul Brother Number One" after he's done leveling a quarterback. HIT ME!

Cornerback: Sheldon Brown(Philadelphia Eagles/Cleveland Browns, 2002-present) - Besides being the inspiration behind this piece, Sheldon Brown is also one hell of a cover corner. In 8 seasons, the former South Carolina product has 19 picks, 119 passes defensed as well as 7 sacks. His arrival to Cleveland probably puts the Browns out of the Joe Haden market in this month's draft and finally gives the Browns a defensive back capable of shutting down the top receivers in the division.

Cornerback: Willie Brown(Denver Broncos/Oakland Raiders 1963-1978) - Speaking of resumes, how about the legendary career of Willie Brown? 9-time Pro Bowler. Hall of Famer. 5-time First Team All-Pro. One of Sporting News' 100 Greatest NFL Players of All-Time. 19th all-time in interceptions with 54. Former owner of the longest interception in Super Bowl history(75 yards in SB XI, which was broken by Pittsburgh's James Harrison's 100-yard return in SB XLIII). If you find someone better, then I've never heard of him.

Free Safety: Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown(Star of the Back To The Future trilogy, inventor of the "Flux Capacitor") - We could have easily went with journeyman C.C. Brown on this one, but when you are the "student of all sciences", you clearly have the smarts to read what the offense is trying to do.

Strong Safety: Chris Brown(singer, domestic abuser) - It's never the right time to make domestic abuse jokes, but the strong safety position is intended for guys who know how to hit and, well, as Rihanna might be able to attest, Chris Brown doesn't just run it, run it, he sure knows how to pack a punch. (Yes, yes, I know, I'm going to Hell. Ladies, feel free to send me all the hate mail.)

Kicker/Punter: Charlie Brown(Legendary cartoon character from the "Peanuts" comic strip) - Josh Brown and his atomic leg would have been the logical pick here but, after decades of being deprived the ability to show off his kicking skills by Lucy van Pelt, we figured it would be nice to give the little a guy a shot with some double duty.

Head Coach: Larry Brown(Legendary NCAA/NBA coach for far too many teams/schools to name, 1972-present) You have to have a guy like Larry Brown running things, if for no other reason than to watch the old man trade away half the roster after the team's first loss.