DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum AFC North.....

Ok, IMO, here is how the AFC north will shape up this off season....

š Baltimore ....Let's face it, it's time for them to rebuild their "D"....so I think it's safe to say that Ray is as good as gone.....my guess is he will end up in Dallas just simply cause he only has a few years left and he will be able to build a nice lil nest egg to retire on with what Jerry Jones will throw at him....with him gone they will re-sign Terrell Suggs to build the "D" around...along with Ed Reed and Ngota....which will eliminate him out of free agency so we won't be able to to sign him.....

Pittsburgh ....Unfortunately, I can't see them really getting rid of anyone, or being to active in free agency....the may cut ties with Nate Washington, but that won't phase this team at all.....I look for them to be serious contenders to repeat.....

Cincy ......I expect a few changes with this team and look for them to be pretty competitive....The get Carson and Keith Rivers back, they have a good back with Benson..who I think looked really good once he got in the groove.....I'm sure they will cut ties with Chad Johnson, my guess is a draft day trade or a trade that will get them a early pick.....not sure what he will command....I think he MIGHT still have a 1st round pick in him, worst case is a 2nd .....with that being said...they will re-sign TJ Housh. I know he was talking about maybe wanting to play in Philly, but I could see this being the landing spot for Ocho Cinco because they have 2 1st round picks....which gives them still a very potent offense and I'm sure they use all of their early picks on "D"...If that plays out, that could be a lil scary...they already have a pretty good secondary, and Keith Rivers to build around...2 1st round picks and a 2nd could make this "D" get good really fast...

Brownies ...and last but not least....Cleveland....I'm thinking they will cut ties with DA...probably for a 3rd would be my guess.....not sure if we can get anything better than that..We end up keeping Stallworthless just due to the fact that it will be to hard to pawn him off onto someone with that sort of money....we will also cut ties with Andra Davis....we will re-sign Jones and Holly and I think we will go for one big name signing....my guess at LB....out of the ones available..I would say the only ones that we would be interested in are Karlos Dansby, Channing Crowder, or Kevin Burnett....these are all ILB's for a reason....I think it is a safe bet to assume that we go OLB at #5 no matter what happens..and I think it's Curry...so with that being said.....I'm thinking Parcells wants Crowder...he is by far the best player on their "D"..so I say he is out......Dansby was a crucial piece to Arizona's Super Bowl run, and I see them losing Boldin...which means that Warner might retire then..either way Dansby stays..they already have $40 mill not counting resigning anyone..so that leaves Burnett.....I think this is the guy Mangini goes after....Jerry Jones will go after Ray Lewis to replace him, and we will sign him.....he is 6'-3" 242 lbs.....and is only 26....a pure ILB who has some talent and I think can be had at a resonable price.....

so....what do ya think...?????...am I .... ...be nice now.....

I could see the offseason panning out this way for all the teams in the NFC North. The only thing I don't agree with is us signing a big name free agent. Only time will tell. I'm ready for spring.

Isn't Bart Scott a FA as well? What do you have Baltimore doing with him? Does he stay or does he go? Wouldn't he look good next to D'qwell?

Baltimore has proven over and over again that Ozzie newsome knows how to assemble a team. Yeah, Ray Ray will be gone, but I wouldn't put a bet on him not figureing out how to lose a Ray Lewis and still be damn tough on D. The O is only gonna get better.


Pittsburgh is a team that is very very well run. They will lose a few guys, but nothing seems to stop them. it starts at the top there,,, and that top hasn't changed..

Cincinnati will, as you say, get Carson back. Will he be able to play all year. He seems to get knicked up easy.. maybe that's just my impression. may not be actual. Benson may or may not be the answer at RB, but they have a high pick so it wouldn't suprise me to see them use there. Ocho Ciinco will either fix his attitude or be a distraction again. I don't understand Ciinci's unwillingness to just cut ties with that loudmouth. they better find a way to keep TJ Hosyourmomma. I think he's a FA that we should look at.

Cleveland. The only team in our division that has transitioned from one FO and HC to another this off season. Mangini is someone of a known commodity but the question is what will he do with the likes of Braylon Edwards and KW2.. can he say or do something that makes them wanna be team players and produce... is there a magic button he can push?

So many questions.. is the team as talented as it appeared in 2007 or is 2008 the real talent level. Were the injuries sustained this past season the reason for the drop in production.... or were we just too predictable?

This is the only team in the division I can't even begin to figure out.. so so many variables and unknowns.

"Unfortunately, I can't see them really getting rid of anyone, or being to active in free agency."

IN your comments about the Steelers. I remember reading on the board, I believe it was a post from Shep who carries a lot of credibility with me regarding FACTS. Stated that the Steelers will have around 20 players eligible for FAgency. Thats a lot of guys to sign/replace - especially with the agents cashing in on their recent SUPER BOWL Victory...Steelers will have to pay an arm n a leg to retain many. We can assume they will lose many. Ergo be buys in the FA market much to their shagrin.

JMHO

Per http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2008/falist2330.htm the following are the steelers FAs. I am listing the steelers FAs only, as the list is quite extensive and you can check the link for anyone else you may be curious about. Forgive me if I missed anyone while scanning the list.

Qb - Batch and Leftwich both UFA
TE - Sean McHugh RFA
Wr - Nate Washington UFA
Oline - Chris Kemoeatu UFA, Willie Colon RFA, Trai Essex UFA, Marvel Smith UFA, Max Starks UFA
Dline - Orpheus Roye UFA
LB - Keyaron Fox UFA, Andre Frazier UFA, Arnold Harrison RFA,
CB - Fernando Bryant UFA, Anthony Madison RFA, Bryant McFadden UFA
S - Anthony Smith RFA
Special Teams - Mitch Berger UFA


That is 18 so I would consider that close to 20. What strikes me though is how few players of significance there are on the list. Fortunately most of those are on the oline which is already a weak point for them. Another weak point for the steelers is the defensive backfield which is the other area the steelers are losing players to FA. But I don't think any of these guys are players they will worry about. And with their pass rush they will do ok with any group of solid players at DB.

That's that thing about the Steelers Eo,, nothing seems to phase them.. maybe they lose 10 players (I highly doubt that, but let's say they do) I promise you, they will reload over the next two years and be right back in the thick of it again.

My belief is that it's because the foundation is in place. they seem to know exactly what to look for and how to identify it when it's in front of them. that skill has served them well in those years that you might called rebuilding or reloading years.

Looking at them, I'd NEVER count them out...even if they lost 10 players...

I'm hoping Bill Cowher takes another job and takes Kevin Colbert with him.

It the beauty of the comfort level of having a team built...then its primary objective is to sustain it. Keep hitting on draft picks - make some 2nd tier FA moves maybe a big one here n there but minimal.

But develop within and when all things are working I think the rate of successful development increases cause all around are on the same page and know what they are doing. That type of environment help rookies develop.

We are trying to reach that Area of evolving - We are closer than ever before...or not ever but a long long time. Once there we got to be pretty to very good on our early draft picks and get a winner here n there in the later rounds to keep the flow going!

JMHO

We got a ways to go EO... but if Mangini can get us there, then he's the MAN.

Pittsburgh..
The good. They are the champs and could repeat in 2009. They won the Lombardi Trophy without their Top 2 Draft picks from 2008.
The Steelers are the best coached team in the NFL.
In the draft they could end up taking the best OT or C available.

The bad....this team has few weaknesses. Limas Sweed needs to make his imprint on the offense in 2009.

Baltimore.
The good. The Ravens have found their franchise QB and franchise LT for the future. The Ravens are deep at RB. Mark Clayton is coming of age at WR.
Dwan Landry will be back in 2009.

the bad. Ray Lewis could be gone. He is the emotional catalyst of the Ravens. The Ravens need to get younger at CB. They need another WR to replace Derrick Mason.
If this team was in another divison they'd be the favs.

Cincinnati
The good. Carson Palmer will be back in 2009. Chad Johnson has stated he's a Bengal and going nowhere. Cedric Benson could prove to be the steal of 2009. The Bengals defense finished #12 in the NFL with 11 different lineups last year,minus Keith Rivers.
Oh yeah Bill Cowher said the Bengals will be a playoff team in 2009.

the bad. The Bengals allowed 51 sacks in 2008. Levi Jones has played 2 full seasons in 7. They need to take a LT in the Draft.
The Bengals need to stay healthy in 2009..they led the NFL in games lost by starters in 2008.

Cleveland.
The good. Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel are gone. This team will play hard every game for Eric Mangini.
Look for Braylon Edwards to rebound in 2009. Shaun Rogers was the only playmaker on the defense in 2008.D'qwell Jackson needs a impact LB around him.

The bad. The right side of the o-line needs to be torn down and rebuilt. The defense needs a monster at LB that offenses have to gameplan against.
Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are being wasted without a pass rush.
Jamal Lewis needs a replacement.
Still the QB position is up in the air..thats been the only consistant since 1999.

Very well said...I agree.........