Top: Jermaine Gresham (left), Montario Hardesty.
Bottom: Maurkice Pouncey (left), Terrence Cody.
In the NFL, you know a divison is strong when experts are picking a team that just won the Super Bowl two years ago to finish third out of four teams. Such is the case with the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals shocked everybody last season by sweeping the other 3 teams and winning the division title. Although I personally doubt they will repeat that success, the Bengals had a strong draft and have added some potential weapons with this year’s rookie class. One player who is sure to have an impact is tight end Jermaine Gresham, a stud out of Oklahoma who was injured in his senior year but is going to be a great pro if he’s healthy. He will be a key target for QB Carson Palmer eventually this season. Other potential receiver help for Cinci (remember they already have Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens) came in the form of Jordan Shipley, Colt McCoy’s favorite target at Texas, and Dez Briscoe, an underrated player who should make the roster. The Bengals added defensive help in defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins and DB Brandon Ghee. If nothing else, the Bengals’ draft list includes the most players with name recognition. Of course, that doesn’t always translate into production on the field. The Baltimore Ravens are a chic pick to win the division this year, based mostly on their convincing playoff win over New England last season and the rapid development of QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice. The Ravens don’t have a lot of help coming from this season’s rookie class however, especially with Sergio Kindle out for the season following an accident. The Ravens do have possibly the largest rookie to take the field this year in defensive lineman Terrence Cody, a space-eater in the middle who could contribute if he can get in football shape. The Steelers are looking to rebound from a disappointing season and will have to do it without former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes and for at least a quarter of the season without QB Ben Roethlisberger. They are looking to return to their old identity of a rugged run-first offensive team that pounds the ball, and may wind up trying to do it with 2 rookies starting on the offensive line, with Maurkice Pouncey, either at guard or center, being one of them. The Cleveland Browns are entering a new era under Mike Holmgren, and a lot of people feel that at some point this season the keys to the offense will be turned over to rookie QB Colt McCoy. But the most impressive rookie on the Browns’ roster may be RB Montario Hardesty. The feeling is he will get lots of action, sharing the running game load with Jerome Harrison. The biggest question with him is whether or not he can stay healthy. The Browns also drafted some immediate help for their secondary in cornerback Joe Haden, sure to be in the starting lineup, and safety T.J. Ward.