The AFC North is a pretty interesting division this year.  The Cleveland Browns have HUGE upside, Cincy is worse than an 8th grade football team, Pittsburgh is quickly becoming a nightmare to defend against, and Baltimore is shaky in every catergory across the board... except running back.  I will cover all of this and more in this blog post...

First off, the Browns.

The Cleveland Browns are on my list for Comeback Team of the Year.  They found their quarterback of the future (future being used loosely) in Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards is a solid No. 1 Wideout with Super Star potential, the Offensive Line is like a steel wall, and Kellen Winslow is one of the most productive tight ends in the game.  Plus, Jamal Lewis is one of the most consistent and underrated backs in the league.  Two 1,000 yard, 10 TD seasons in a row? Money in the bank!  The OLine is revamped after signing Eric Steinbach and drafting Joe Thomas, a monstrous tackle from Wisconsin.  Another point, Laurence Vickers, the Fullback, is one of the best in the game at his position.  The defense, while inconsistent and downright awful at some points, did show flashes of brillance last season.  I think the potential is there, and we could see a playoff contender this year.

Best Player- Braylon Edwards

Playoffs- Yes

 Now for the Cincinnati Bengals...

Wow. Where to begin!  First of all, half of the inmates at jails across the country probably had a stint with the Bengals.  Chris Henry, one of the better receivers on the team, has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely.  Ocho Cinco (Chadwick Johnson) is holding out for more cheddah, and Rudi Johnson's stats are on decline, going down faster each year, along with more injuries.  The defense is wafer thin, and the offensive line is average at best.  Carson Palmer is one bright spot, along with T.J. Whos-yo-mama.  It seems like the Bengal front office forgot that you are supposed to have a tight end, so they are just having auditions pulling people off the street.  Other than that, they look stellar this year. 

Best Player- Carson Palmer/T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Playoffs- No freakin' way

We continue with a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers...

The Steelers haven't looked this good since the days of MEAN JOE GREEN!!!  Big Ben is steady eddie, Willie Parker and first round draft selection Rashard Mendenhall are spliting carries, and Santonio Holmes is a great pairing with the more physical Hines Ward, who actually is wearing down, but can still draw attention, especially in the redzone.  The offensive line is getting older, and won't be as dominant as it once was, especially with the loss of Alan Faneca to the Jets.   The defense is getting old as well (James Farrior - 12 years in the league, Deshea Townsend- 11 years).  However, the Steelers secured Ben Roethlisberger to a long term deal, and acquired reciever Limas Sweed out of Texas in the draft.  He has star potential.  Bottom line, even with the line a little outdated with some raw talent, this team should be a threat for years to come. 

 Best Player- Willie Parker/Big Ben

Playoffs- Yes

We conclude with a glimpse at the Baltimore Ravens...

Wow.  That is all I have to say about the Ravens this year.  They haven't even named their starting QB yet!!  The team drafted Joe Flacco out of Delaware in the first round, showing Kyle Boller that this could be his first and last year at the helm.  The offensive line took a hit when perennial all-pro Jonathan Ogden retired, and the defense is growing gray hair.  Ray Lewis is 33, Ed Reed will be 30 in September, and Kelly Greg, the nosetackle, is 31.  The team gave Terrell Suggs, an outside linebacker, the franchise tag, and fired headcoach Brian Billick.  Willis McGahee is a great player, and can be counted on for a huge season.  The birds also drafted Ray Rice, a personal favorite of mine, out of Rutgers.  A big sleeper for me is their second third round pick, Tom Zbikowski, a hard-hitting free safety out of Notre Dame.  The receiver core is a shambles, with Derrick Mason being 34 and Mark Clayton only an average wideout.  In conclusion, I think that the Ravens had a great draft, but are still in rebuilding mode.  They won't return to prime time until they add a good MLB to replace Ray Lewis, who is slowly detiorating. 

Best Player- Willis McGahee

Playoffs- No

This has been another 2008 NFL season preview... if I receive any positive comment, I will continue on to another division.     Thanks