AP Photo/Matt SlocumWith an aging and injured defense, more responsibility will fall on Joe Flacco's shoulders. Defense has been the big brother on the Baltimore Ravens team for more than the past decade. It's been the one responsible for hard-fought wins, playoff victories and even a Super Bowl title. Now, linebacker Ray Lewis is 37. Safety Ed Reed "isn't committed" to football this year. And linebacker Terrell Suggs, the best defensive player in the game last season, is out for an extended period with an Achilles injury. The Ravens can't lean on their defense any longer. It's unfair to ask these defenders to hold teams to 16.6 points per game like last season. If the Ravens want to reach the playoffs for a fifth straight ... Continue reading →
A respected committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton and Matt Williamson -- got together to look into the crystal ball and produce the NFL Future Power Rankings . The projection is for the 2015 season and takes into account five factors: roster (32.5 percent), quarterback (17.5 percent), draft (15 percent), front office (15 percent) and coaching (20 percent). You'll need an Insider subscription to see the entire post, but here's the AFC North portion of it: 5. PITTSBURGH STEELERS Williamson: The "Steeler Way" has been working extremely well for a long time, as Pittsburgh's front office evaluates college talent and its own players as well as any team in the league. They are exceptional. Hensley: The key was the ... Continue reading →
Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here: Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall vowed to play this season and didn't rule out being ready for the Sept. 9 season opener in Denver. “There’s always the possibility,” Mendenhall told Pittsburgh reporters, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’ll be back at some point. It’s just a matter of what point that is.” Mendenhall, who tore the ACL in his right knee on Jan. 1, is entering the final year of his contract. Asked if there was any chance he wouldn't play in 2012, Mendenhall said, “I don’t see that happening at all.” Hensley's slant: There's really no chance that Mendenhall will be ready for the season opener. Even if he tried, ... Continue reading →
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Billy Cundiff is trying to do what Scott Norwood and Gary Anderson failed to do -- remain confident after a monumental missed kick. Cundiff said his confidence is "as high as it's ever been" four months removed from hooking a last-minute, 32-yard field goal that would've tied the AFC championship game in New England. NFL history says that will be tough to do. After Scott Norwood missed a 47-yarder that would've won the Super Bowl in January 1991, he struggled with a career-worst 62.1 success rate the next season and was out of football in 1992. After Gary Anderson missed a game-clinching, 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game, he hit a career-low 63.3 percent of ... Continue reading →
Harbaugh believes Reed will play this year May, 23, 2012 May 23 2:42 PM ET OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes Ed Reed will play despite recent comments that suggest the Pro Bowl safety is wavering. Reed"Ed is a guy that I really trust and I really care about and believe in," Harbaugh said after Wednesday's workout. "There's been no indication that he's not going to play as far as I'm concerned. I don't worry about Ed. He's a mature guy. He's a superstar. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer. He's a leader. We're counting on Ed being here." Reed was among a handful of veterans who didn't attend Wednesday's voluntary practice. He created a stir last week when he ... Continue reading →
The "SportsCenter" special on the AFC North ended with some interesting predictions for the division standings. The Baltimore Ravens were selected by Herm Edwards and Marcellus Wiley to repeat as division champions, and all three analysts have the Steelers finishing third. In the 10-year history of the AFC North, Pittsburgh has ended the season in third place only three times (2003, 2006 and 2009). Here's a recap of the predictions: Herm Edwards: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Browns. "There's a lot of change in Pittsburgh right now and I'm sorry, Cleveland, that's where you sit." Bill Polian: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers and Browns. "I believe the Bengals, because they've had such a great offseason, will win the division. The Ravens will be a close second and be ... Continue reading →
Unlike the other all-time great safety in the division, the Steelers' Troy Polamalu is committed to playing this season. But Polamalu did acknowledge to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he thinks of the end of his career "all the time." Polamalu"People have asked me how many years do you think you can play? My reaction is always, when you live day to day, it's hard to talk years," he said. "It's always been my mantra in life, whether it was my first year as a rookie or year 10, I just live day to day." It's fair to say that Polamalu, who turned 31, has fewer years ahead in his playing career than behind him. But that won't impact this season. The fact that Polamalu was ... Continue reading →
Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here: Nearly a month after the Browns drafted quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round, Colt McCoy didn't complain about his likely fate and remained a team player. "This is the card that's been dealt," said McCoy, who took the first snaps in team drills Tuesday. "I can just say that I'm working as hard as I can. You never know what to expect. One of my favorite quotes by the NAVY Seals is, 'The only easy day was yesterday.' That's just kind of how I have to live right now." He said he has not asked to be traded because "they told me I had a chance to compete." "I ... Continue reading →
Wallace needs to prove he's a fast learner May, 22, 2012 May 22 4:00 PM ET No one doubts Mike Wallace's speed on the field. But the key to his season is how quick he is off of it. Wallace, the team's leading receiver, skipped the team's first practice of the offseason and has yet to sign his $2.7 restricted free-agent tender. He isn't expected to attend any of the offseason workouts and could miss the start of training camp to protest the lack of a long-term deal. This wouldn't be a problem in most offseasons. This one is different for the Steelers because it's the first with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley. According to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there is a 90 percent change from ... Continue reading →
Fujita won't say whether he'll sue NFL May, 22, 2012 May 22 4:58 PM ET Browns linebacker Scott Fujita vowed to clear his name from the Saints' bounty scandal, but he won't say to what extent he'll go to do so. I believe Fujita when he says he is more concerned about this black mark on his name. A three-game suspension doesn't affect a 10-year veteran as much as what an incident like this can do to his reputation. Fujita is a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee. He was a proponent of stronger rules in dealing with concussions after Colt McCoy's incident last year. This suspension makes him look like a hypocrite. The strongest course of action is to follow former teammate ... Continue reading →
