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.

Interview with Torry Holt

Thanks to Reebok for getting me on the phone with Torry Holt, who hasn't lost his killer instinct, even after nine seasons in the league: "I'm lining up against defensive backs with the approach that I'm going to win. I'm going to defeat you no matter what."

Holt still has plenty of game. Last year he started 16/16 games for the eighth time in nine seasons, and he ended the year with 93 receptions for nearly 1,200 yards. His seven touchdowns probably matched Baltimore's team output for the entire season.

My zero-evidence-gut-reaction take on the Rams' best wideout is that he's a cool guy. It seems like he has his head screwed on straight, and he spoke in a way that suggested something other than canned answers. So that's cool. But take my opinion for what it's worth: $$$$$ nothing.

Holt and I spoke about Ocho Cinco, Roger Goodell, the evolution of the WR position, and also what both he and the Rams did during the offseason to improve upon the team's 3-13 record last season. At the end of our call, I wished Holt luck, with the caveat that said luck does not apply whenever the Rams play the Ravens, to which he replied, "I'm going to destroy the Ravens."

With Baltimore's secondary in shambles, I'd have to agree; unfortunately, the only way a Ravens/Rams matchup is going to happen this season is if both teams reach the Super Bowl, which seems like a stretch. A big stretch. But crazier things have happened. Like Pacman Jones going 48 hours without making it rain. Or the Knicks finally firing Isiah.

Holt wants to thank fans for their years of support, and he also wants you to visit Dick's Sporting Goods and pick up some new kicks, specifically the Hex Ride Rally, which he says is a "training shoe that is flexible, light and durable." That's my quid-pro-quo plug for today. Enjoy.

Evolution of the WR position
"The wide receiver position is a highly developed spot on the football team. There is more attention, and guys today are bigger, faster and stronger. Some of the bigger guys -- Plaxico Burress, Randy Moss -- are running better routes now than the smaller guys."

Chad Johnson's offseason antics
"I don't have a problem with it. His style is his style. I've done similar things. Not as much as some other guys, but what they do is what they choose to do. If you play at a high level consistently, you can write your own ticket. That's what I believe. Chad, T.O. and Randy... it's up to their discretion what they do."

Life beyond St. Louis
"I plan to play out my two years out in St. Louis. If it doesn't work out with regard to an extension, then I would love to play in my home state of Carolina. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

How he spent the offseason
"After the Pro Bowl, I didn't do anything. I drank some wine. I like Merlot and Chardonnay: Kendall Jackson, Opus One, Sonoma Reserve."


No amount of Chardonnay can erase the memory of last season's 3-13 record

"I also read books: fiction and non-fiction, and also some magazines. Right now I'm reading, "The Inner Game of Tennis." I can't remember the author. Tennis and golf are individual sports, unlike football, which of course is a team sport. I have a lot of respect for those guys because they're able to focus and channel their energies. They compete against themselves. They don't have teammates to keep them focused. Anyway, I got away from football, and I spent time with my family. I refreshed and let my body heal up. At minicamp last week, I was still able to create separation, still able to catch some balls."

Improving the St. Louis Rams
"New offensive coordinator Al Saunders is going to open things up a bit. The first thing Rams fans will notice out of the gate is the speed with which we're playing the game. Also that we're having fun, and of course we need to execute plays. Minicamp was very vibrant, a lot of energy. Lots of attention to detail. Coach Saunders is teaching us how to play the game. It was a very promising minicamp."

Disciplinarian Roger Goodell
"He sent a message in his first year: Straighten your ass up. Do what you're supposed to do. Don't be tired of doing the right thing. Stay within the code no matter who you are. Just stay on the straight and narrow. Don't hurt yourself, your team or the league. What he's doing, the impact that he has had, it's outstanding."

Brawlimore Ravens

Ray Lewis said a lot of nice things about new coach John Harbaugh after practice the other day -- blah blah blah, canned answer, blah blah blah -- but Harbaugh is an unknown commodity, and he has to be careful not to lose control of the locker room before the season starts. He already has a QB controversy on his hands, and the last thing he needs is unnecessary distractions.

Yesterday a brawl erupted at minicamp. Nearly all 85 players present were involved, but the fisticuffs started with OT Oniel Cousins and DT Amon Gordon . Cousins was a day-two draft selection last month. Gordon has played three seasons in the league, amassing a grand total of 23 tackles. Here is what DE Trevor Pryce had to say: "If you can fight, go join the UFC. Can you play football? Can you help us not be 5-11 again? I could give a crap about the rest of it."

Tempers flared. Punches were thrown. Egos were inflated, bruised, and eventually order was restored. After years of easy offseason workouts under Brian Billick, some Ravens fans see the wrangling and intensity as good news. I'm not sure I agree. On one hand, who really cares if guys throw a few punches in May; however, it's worth bearing in mind that discipline was a major problem for the Ravens last year.

Bengals blogger in trouble... plus Elisha Cuthbert!

A Bengals blogger (Stripe Hype) is in hot water for misusing images owned by the team. In layman's terms, copyright infringement: "The Bengals claim we used copyrighted photos and logos. However, we’ve been asking for access for months as a media outlet to be able to interview players, take our own photos, etc."

Not being granted permission to take original photos isn't exactly the best defense against copyright infringement. In fact, it's not a defense at all. C'est la vie. In the spirit of copyright infringement, here is an Elisha Cuthbert photo that has nothing to do with football, but that I'm posting anyway because she's hot.

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.

Congratulations, Keith Rivers

It's not often that I take time out of my day to praise the Steelers, Browns or Bengals. I think maybe the last time it happened was when the Steelers drafted Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda. And that was two Drafts ago. So it doesn't happen often, and when it does I suppose I try to make it as obscure as possible so that no one notices. Even the die-hardest of fans probably won't care that I'm praising a punter. Even if he is on the Steelers.

Speaking of punters, I met former Loch Raven H.S. standout, Sean Landeta, who punted for about 65 years in the NFL and played for at least four or five teams, I think. I know he won at least two Super Bowls. I met Landeta at the NFL Draft. He was searching for the press box, and ironically he was standing in the middle of it when he asked me for directions. I meant to track him down later for a picture, but I got distracted by all of the crazy late-round action on day two, and it slipped my mind. Maybe next year.

Anyway, props to the Cincinnati Bengals for drafting Keith Rivers, who I guarantee you won't get arrested for any of the nonsense that seems to befall the Bengals what seems like every three days. Earlier this year, I visited USC Pro Day, where I got to know Keith personally and also watch him workout for NFL scouts and coaches. He's a solid linebacker who should start for Cincy immediately, and also for many years to come. Congratulations, Keith.

Keith Rivers: USC Pro Day



Keith gets drafted by the Bengals



PS: The Ravens will crush Cincy this year. Twice. Keith alone can't stop the fury of Kyle Boller and the explosive Baltimore offense.

Flacco, Fabian and Troy Smith

As a Baltimore fan, anytime you hear the words "arm strength" and "upside," your mind heads straight for Kyle Boller, which is why I can't say that I'm thrilled with Joe Flacco. Even if he pans out, trading up to #18 was a stretch, and fbkid15 agrees. Baltimore probably could have bypassed Flacco at #26 even, and then waited until he dropped to them at the top of the second. Even then, I think it would have been a stretch.

[Full disclosure: I'm a Troy Smith supporter.]

I had hoped Baltimore would take a corner in the first round, but instead it's former first-round selection CB Fabian Washington, who played under Rex Ryan's twin brother Rob in Oakland: "They sound alike, they look alike, other than the haircut, and they say the same jokes. Everything's the same, so you feel like you went out of one office and right back in the same office."

Washington ran a 4.29/40 in 2005, making him the fastest player clocked during that year's NFL Combine. He'll pair up nicely with Chris McAlister, but he needs to be a better tackler, which is why Oakland benched him last year after the Broncos game. He became expendable as soon as the Raiders scooped up DeAngelo Hall in the offseason. Then in February, Washington was arrested for a scuffle with his girlfriend. He took responsibility for the offseason incident, apologized, and will avoid prosecution if he stays out of trouble for long enough. It sounds like maybe this guy just needed a change of scenery. If he plays like a former first-round selection, and all we gave up was a fourth-round pick, that's a good deal. Still, I wish the Ravens would have picked up more support in the defensive backfield. They chose a couple of safeties on day two, but those guys are special-teamers, not starters.

There hasn't been much word on QB Troy Smith, who played well in limited action last year. It seems that the front office is content to let Smith, Boller and Flacco battle it out for the starting job, though my guess is that Boller gets the starting nod. If that's the case, chances are Smith will drop to #3 on the depth chart, which would be a shame. Smith has potential, but he may never get a fair shot because the front office is in love with Flacco. We never gave Derek Anderson a chance to perform, and look at what he's doing now in Cleveland. Since we already know Boller is a career backup, my vote is to let Smith be the starter, plant Flacco on the bench, and let Boller do what he does best, which is stay out of the way and play only when needed.

Blogimore's QB Power Rankings:
1) Troy Smith
2) Kyle Boller
3) Joe Flacco