With the dog days of summer ahead of us, it’s a good time to check on three NFL teams of rooting interest: the Bengals, Browns and Steelers. All three have made significant gains in the off-season but still have question marks as we head into the NFL draft and head closer to summer camp and the pre-season.
The Cleveland Browns may have improved the most of any team in the AFC North during the off-season. The additions of linebacker Willie McGinest and defensive tackle Ted Washington should help a Browns defense that was awful against the run in last season. Cleveland also picked up wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and center LeCharles Bently. These additions, along with the return of healthy wideout Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., should bolster an offense that was sluggish at times in 2005.
In order for the Browns to be a serious playoff contender they will have to get by the two clear favorites in the North, the Bengals and Steelers, who have both made significant steps towards returning to the playoffs in ’06.
The Steelers made an incredible run during the playoffs last year to win the Super Bowl, but a repeat performance will require them to fill in some holes. Veteran running back and all around good guy Jerome Bettis retired. Wide receiver Antwan Randle-El, defensive tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen and safety Chris Hope all left the champs to free agency.
The Steelers also released back-up quarterback Tommy Maddox and cornerback Willie Williams. The fates of cornerback Ike Taylor and a few other role players have not yet been decided and will be determined in the coming weeks.
The good news for Steelers fans is that they have managed to retain a good core of their championship team and added veterans Rodney Bailey and Ryan Clark to the defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals have some questions hanging over their heads. Will Carson Palmer be ready to go by the beginning of the season? Should the Bengals sink big money in a capable back-up quarterback? Can the defense stop the run this year?
Well, the Bengals took a big step in answering at least one of those questions by press time. The additions of pro bowlers defensive tackle Sam Adams and safety Dexter Jackson (who are both Super Bowl winners) along with the healthy return of safety Madieu Williams should bolster the run defense.
Another year under the belts of linebackers Odell Thurman and David Pollack shouldn’t hurt either. The Bengal’s defense looks to be improved, but at press time the team was still courting two potential back-up quarterbacks who could start if need be. Detroit’s Joey Harrington and St. Louis’ Jamie Martin are both capable back-ups who can lead a team to victory if called upon. However, I know everyone in Bengal country is hoping and wishing that Carson is back for the beginning of the ’06 campaign.
I didn’t forget about Baltimore. They look to be in the worst situation. They have an old defense, which lost one of its best players in Will Demps. They also are burdened with an awful quarterback, a recently tentative running back in Jamal Lewis, and no receiving threats to speak of. The Ravens are bad, and I don’t see them getting any better. Because of that and the fact that I have never seen a Ravens jersey or hat on this campus, that is all the space they get.
With the draft still to come and more free agent signings, everything is still up in the air (except for the Ravens, who are bad). One thing is for sure the AFC North will once again be a dog fight, at least between three teams. (Did I say the Ravens are bad?)