Can The 2010 Tight End Class Become As Prominent As The 1983 Quarterback Class?

By: Tyler Ward

The 2010 NFL Draft class of tight ends could potentially be the best class of that position in NFL history. Even though they are just two years into their professional careers, they are already shaping up to be Pro Bowl caliber players.

Let's take a look at some of the prospects of the 2010 tight end class:

* 1st round, 21st overall: Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
* 2nd round, 42nd overall: Rob Gronkowski, New England
* 3rd round, 70th overall: Ed Dickson, Baltimore
* 3rd round, 93rd overall: Tony Moeaki, Kansas City
* 3rd round, 95th overall: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
* 4th round, 113th overall: Aaron Hernandez, New England
* 4th round, 114th overall: Dennis Pitta, Baltimore
* Undrafted Free Agent: Jake Ballard, New York Giants

This class could go down as one of the best classes of any one skilled position in the league's history, much like the 1983 quarterback class.

That draft class, 28 years ago, is famed because there was so much hype surrounding these players before they were selected in the draft and most of the quarterbacks ended up having solid NFL careers. You may recognize two of the names in that draft class... No. 1 overall pick John Elway and future record-breaker Dan Marino, two of the most prolific players in NFL history. Elway went on to be one of the most clutch players of his time and won two Super Bowls with the Broncos in the late 1990's. Marino went on to become an elite quarterback for the Dolphins, although he never won a Super Bowl. He currently holds many all-time passing records, including the single-season passing yards mark, which is bound to be passed this season by Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees... or all three.

The 1983 draft also featured Jim Kelly, who went on to play in four consecutive Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills, but was never able to win the big game. Tony Eason led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl appearance, but was beaten by Walter Payton's Chicago Bears, 46-10.

Todd Blackledge and Ken O'Brien went on to have solid careers in the NFL, but were never able to live up to the expectations that surrounded them. Although they were extremely serviceable, they are considered busts, when comparing them to other quarterbacks in the class.

That's where last year's class of tight ends comes into play. These tight ends have great potential, even though they have been at the professional level for not even two seasons. They have already showed that they will be in the NFL for a long time, as most of them are key components on their respective teams. With the way some of them are playing right now, there is a very good possibility that we will never see a tight end draft class like this again.

Jermaine Gresham, who played collegiately at Oklahoma, was the first tight end off the board with the 21st overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals. Although his stats aren't flashy, Gresham has proven to be one of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton's favorite targets this season. Forming a trio with Dalton and rookie receiver A.J. Green, Cincinnati could have one of the league's most potent passing attacks if they all develop correctly in the next couple of seasons.

Physically, Gresham is an intriguing and amazing specimen who is practically a wide receiver trapped in a tight end's body. He's one of the biggest at his position with long arms and huge hands. He's too fast for linebackers to cover and too big for cornerbacks to defend, making him a solid prospect that is treacherous throughout games.

Gresham is also a very dangerous threat down field and is able to make terrific catches due to his long arms and great hands. Additionally, Gresham is a great run-blocker and has helped out running back Cedric Benson numerous times throughout the 2011 season.

Given time to develop, he should become a top-five tight end in the NFL if all of the pieces fall the right way. Currently, Gresham has played in eleven games this season, registering 43 receptions for 452 yards and five touchdowns. During his rookie campaign, the former Sooner caught 52 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns.

Conceivably, Gresham has all of the right tools to become a great player and he will have many Hawaii visits in front of him.

Arizona's Rob Gronkowski was the next tight end chosen, as he was tabbed with the 42nd overall selection by the New England Patriots, who were trying to fill their biggest need. And they sure fixed their need and did it quickly with the selection of Gronkowski.

In 2011, the former Arizona Wildcat has become quarterback Tom Brady's favorite target as of late -- even more so than Wes Welker, who has practically been the main option over the last couple of seasons. Gronkowski has shown that he is one of the best at his position after setting the single-season record for touchdowns (15) by a tight end against the Redskins on Sunday -- and there is still three games to play. He also has the second-most touchdowns (25) through his first two seasons in NFL history -- only Randy Moss in 1998-99 has more (28) through his first two seasons.

Often, Gronkowski has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten, who is currently one of Tony Romo's main targets with the Dallas Cowboys. He has shown that he could perhaps be better than Witten, who has been one of the top tight ends since he was drafted by Jerry Jones and Co.

Gronkowski is perhaps the best tight end in the league when it comes to yards after the catch, as he always seems to get a good bulk of yards once he catches the ball, something most defenses dread.

Like Gresham, Gronkowski is a better-than-average run-blocker who consistently shows good balance and strength to absorb hits from defensive linemen and linebackers. He is one of the best blocking tight ends when the Patriots actually run the ball with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

The future great also has some of the best hands in the NFL and that is scary when you are already in an offense that consists of Welker and Tom Brady as your quarterback. Gronkowski has feasibly been the best tight end in the NFL this season and it looks like he'll continue down that path for years to come with many Pro Bowls in his future.

Watch out opposing defenses, Gronkowski will be a force once he reaches his full potential. Through not even two seasons, he has registered 113 receptions for 1,634 yards and 25 touchdowns.

With the 70th overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens chose Ed Dickson, who played collegiately at Oregon and was widely considered to be the best tight end in college football in 2009. He is currently the starter on an offense that usually revolves around running back Ray Rice, but he is still able to contribute to a team that likes to use tight ends during games.

Although quarterback Joe Flacco is still developing, Dickson has become one of Baltimore's security blankets when it comes to the passing game. He usually thrives in short-yardage situations, as shown by his stats -- 48 receptions, 458 yards, three touchdowns.

Dickson is not an explosive runner by any means, but he is still able to outrun players in the second level. Dickson is also able to get off of the line quickly, which mainly helps in short-yardage situations. Although his stats aren't great, he has shown to be one of Flacco's most consistent targets even though he is just in his second year.

The ex-Oregon Duck also has great hands and is able to make tough catches, especially in traffic. With his size and athleticism, Dickson is also a red-zone threat, primarily due to his extraordinary leaping ability. His touchdowns don't show it, but he is a beast in the end-zone, as he is able to either catch touchdowns or draw interest from other defenders.

Dickson will be a solid tight end in the future, once he fully develops. He may not be a perennial Pro Bowl nominee, but he will still flourish in his own way and could become Flacco's main receiving target.

The second tight end chosen in the third round, Tony Moeaki, was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 93rd overall selection. He is currently on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but should be able to return healthy by the start of the 2012 season.

Although he has a history of injuries that has stunted his development, Moeaki still has the potential and upside to become a solid tight end in the NFL if he could remain healthy. While at Iowa, he missed time almost every single year he attended -- dislocated elbow in 2007 (missed majority of season), broken wrist in 2008 (missed spring practice), broken foot, pulled hamstring and concussion in 2008 (missed significant time in regular season) and missed time in 2009 due to an ankle injury.

Despite the injury concerns, the Chiefs still believe that Moeaki can become a serviceable tight end for the Chiefs and I'm inclined to agree with them. He has great potential simply because of his size and build. He has the ability to use his size as a mechanism for blocking techniques. With that, he is a superb run-blocker that is able to hold blocks and get off the line quickly.

If he can remain healthy, he could become a great weapon in the Chiefs' offense.

Last season, the former Hawkeye caught 47 passes for 556 yards and three touchdowns and likely would have increased those numbers if he didn't tear his ACL prior to the start of the regular season.

Perhaps the most surprising player this season was chosen with the 95th overall selection last year -- and his name is Jimmy Graham, who chose to play football over basketball after he was told that he really didn't have a future in basketball or NBA.

A former basketball player who rarely did anything on the court, Graham only played one season of football at the University of Miami. But with his sensational leaping abilities in basketball, he became an intriguing NFL prospect and thus, was selected in the third round of last year's draft to the NFL's most explosive offense.

Standing at 6'7", Graham is able to tower over most, if not all, players on opposing defenses. He has exceptional strength and height, which makes him a down field threat in the Saints' offense. Graham is also perhaps the most dangerous tight end on goal-line and red-zone situations as quarterback Drew Brees just has to lob it up and Graham will come down with it practically every single time. He could eventually be known as the most dangerous tight end in the entire league.

Thought of as a reach in the third round, Graham has proved all of his doubters wrong, as he has become a fan favorite in New Orleans. He flourishes in Sean Payton's system and has proved that he is a humongous threat with 80 receptions for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns. With the season he's having, Graham has become the first tight end in Saints history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau.

At the combine before the 2010 draft, Graham showed impeccable speed for a player for his size (4.56 in 40-yard dash) and astounding athleticism (10-foot broad jump and 38.5 vertical jump). With those components, Graham is virtually unstoppable, as he is faster than linebackers and taller than cornerbacks. Graham has struck fear in opposing defenders this season, as he is perhaps the biggest and most genuine threat in the vertical passing game.

This season, he has already shown that he is one of the best up-and-coming tight ends in the league and he hasn't even reached his full potential yet -- defenses should start quivering now.

With the 113th selection in the draft, the Patriots chose their second tight end of the draft, choosing former Florida Gator, Aaron Hernandez.

Hernandez is usually on the field for most snaps, as the Patriots primarily run a two-tight end set that features Hernandez and fellow 2010 draftee Rob Gronkowski. Although his stats pale in comparison to those of Gronkowski's, Hernandez is still a formidable tight end that is considered to be one of the top up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL.

He was one of the most successful players at Florida and was a key part on their two championship teams. He blossomed into Tim Tebow's favorite target and his stats at Gainesville were exceptional, as he graduated as one of the most decorative tight ends in the school's history. Former head coach Urban Meyer had some kind words for him, stating "Aaron was one of the very best at his position I have ever been around. He has all the tools to be successful at the next level."

Primarily known for his pass-catching abilities than his blocking techniques, Hernandez is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. He knows how to get open and has great hands, which he uses excessively in the Patriots' offense.

Tom Brady likes to use the former Gator in red-zone situations, as evident by his stats. He has caught 59 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns this season, while only playing in eleven games. Last season, he registered 45 receptions for 563 yards and six touchdowns, while starting in just seven games.

He also has good speed for a tight end (4.6 in the 40-yard dash) and is a considerable threat down field. With a two-tight end set the Patriots use, Hernandez will be able to get better and better.

The Ravens also chose their second tight end of the draft with the following selection, as they picked Brigham Young's Dennis Pitta with the 114th overall selection. His stats may not be as promising as the others in this class, but he still has the ability to become a solid tight end in the NFL.

The 6'5" Pitta is an extremely reliable receiving tight end, as he catches incredibly well and rarely drops passes. Pitta can also make spectacular catches, especially when it's over his shoulders. He is very acrobatic for a player of his stature, even though he lacks speed and explosiveness.

With Baltimore, he has been primarily used as a blocking tight end, usually lining up as a fullback or on the offensive line where tight ends normally are placed. His stats aren't great, as he has just 31 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns this season. However, Pitta definitely has the potential to become a top-15 tight end in the league.

The last player in this class wasn't even chosen in the first seven rounds and was forced to become an undrafted free agent. A former Ohio State Buckeye, Jake Ballard took over the starting reins after Kevin Boss tested the free agent market and left for the Oakland Raiders.

Not many people expected Ballard to play this well prior to the 2011 season, but he has become one of Eli Manning's primary targets over the course of the season.

With his 6'5" stature, Ballard has developed into a valuable starting tight end. He has great size, while weighing in at 250 pounds, which makes him a solid run-blocker for the Giants, as well. Ballard is also a good pass-catcher and has been a threat in the vertical game for a majority of the season. He has also become one of Manning's favorite down field receivers, as he has registered a good amount of receptions that totaled over twenty yards.

It looks as though Ballard will retain the starting role and become the next Kevin Boss for the Giants, maybe even better. He turned out to be quite a steal for New York, as he has caught 37 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns this season. His 15.9 yards per catch rank among the top for starting tight ends in the NFL.

This class has also featured role players such as Seattle's Anthony McCoy, St. Louis' Michael Hoomanawanui, Green Bay's Andrew Quarless, Indianapolis' Brody Eldridge, Atlanta's Michael Palmer, New York Jets' Jeff Cumberland, and Arizona's Jim Dray.

Clearly, this class of tight ends has great upside and could possibly become one of the most elite classes in NFL history. All the players listed above have played significantly through their first two seasons and most will likely keep it that way for many more seasons.

Fifteen years from now, we will look back on this class and be amazed at how great it was. Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski are already top-five tight ends, while Jermaine Gresham, Ed Dickson, Tony Moeaki, Jake Ballard and Aaron Hernandez are already knocking on the door of the top-ten tight ends list.

This class will be just as famed as the 1983 quarterback class: Write it down.

NFL Star Ochocinco Tries Out For MLS Team (Video)

By: Stephen Patterson

Think the superstar wide receiver can cut it in the MLS? Let us know in the comments section.

Cincinnati Bengals Need To Move Past the Mediocrity, Not Resign To It

By: Stephen Patterson

The Cincinnati Bengals and Marvin Lewis needed to part ways and move on. The Bengals clearly haven't lived up to their expectations in his eight seasons as head coach, and he clearly needed a change of scenery to start over with a new team.

The only way Lewis can turn things around in Cincinnati and put the franchise back on the right track is if the team is willing to commit to a nearly complete overhaul of the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Lewis is clearly a solid head coach, as he has lead the Bengals through some very tough times and taken them to levels the team had never really reached before. However, some of the key players on the team have proven they can't take the Bengals any further than they have made it in the previous eight seasons.

Carson Palmer and Marvin Lewis looked as though they needed to part ways after the season in some fashion, and if Lewis is returning as the head coach, that means Palmer needs to be out the door as soon as possible.

However, for some reason Lewis wants to keep Palmer around, insisting he is the team's quarterback for next season. If Cincinnati wants to win in the near future, they need to move on at the quarterback position because Palmer will never be able to lead this team much further than he already has.

He is a solid quarterback, don't get me wrong. He is capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level every season and putting up insane numbers, but for some reason, he has never developed one of the most important things a quarterback needs to be a truly successful winner—consistency.

One week Palmer will throw for 300 yards, a few touchdowns and lead Cincinnati to a breathtaking victory over a top notch team.

However, he will implode and cost the team the next game by throwing untimely interceptions based on poor decisions and bad protection, usually causing him to battle to stay healthy regularly.

He has never shown any reason he can be a player that people should be confident in to lead a team to three or four consecutive wins in the postseason.

That's not going to change at this point in his career, and if by some miracle it does, it won't happen in on the team he has spent his entire professional career playing for up until this point.

Even if he does return next season, he likely won't have either of the Bengals' two superstar receivers from this season to pass the ball to, which probably isn't going to do anything for his already shaky confidence in Cincinnati.

Terrell Owens, who rejuvenated his career this year with a solid season and showed he has at least one season left in him to play at a high level for a contending team next year, is almost certainly going to a better team next year.

Chad Ochocinco, arguably the best wide receiver the Bengals have ever had, also will likely be playing for a new team next season, as he and Lewis aren't exactly working under a tight relationship anymore.

Without those two explosive receivers, the Bengals have virtually no aerial assault heading into next season, which means they probably will struggle to match their four wins from this season barring some major unforeseen moves.

It's now the league of the quarterback and which team can move the ball through the air the best, fastest and most efficiently. The Bengals will have none of these qualities moving forward with Palmer and Lewis still paired up and without T.O and Ochocinco.

Cincinnati holds the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft, and they have the opportunity to draft any quarterback not named Andrew Luck, which is something they really need to consider.

At least with a new quarterback, the team will be on the right path to rebuilding, not prolonging the inevitable process once they realize bringing back Palmer along with Lewis would be a mistake.

Who knows, maybe they will somehow get blessed with the Sam Bradford of this season's draft and be competing immediately in the playoff race while they revamp everything. But that won't be a possibility with the same leadership on the field and sidelines and with fewer quality weapons.

Antwan Odom Suspended Four Games

By: Tyler Ward

Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Antwan Odom has been suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the performance-enhancing drugs policy. The suspension will go into effect immediately and will miss the following four games, starting with their October 24th game against the Atlanta Falcons. He will then miss games against the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts.

The report did not name a specific drug, but Odom apparently took some of his wife's weight loss supplement. Odom's attorney, David Cornwell, said that the NFL's drug policy should be less strict.

Cornwell stated, "Antwan did not take a steroid or any other performance enhancing substance. While driving after midnight from Alabama to Cincinnati to report to training camp, Antwan's wife mistakenly opened her prescription pill bottle instead of Antwan's and gave him one of her prescription weight-loss pills instead of Antwan's medicine. Naturally, Antwan's preseason urine test was positive for his wife's medicine."

The attorney would then go on to say, "The NFL did not dispute the facts in this case and accepted the Cincinnati Bengals' weight records showing that Antwan's target reporting weight was 275 lbs. and that he actually reported at 255 lbs., confirming that Antwan had no reason to take a weight-loss medicine. The steroid program's administrator, Dr. John Lombardo, testified that no competitive advantage was gained by this mistake and that no physical difference would be apparent to Antwan from taking his wife's medicine as opposed to his own."

Odom has struggled so far this season and left last week's game against the Buccaneers with an undisclosed injury. So far this season, Odom only has four tackles and zero sacks.

The former Alabama player was forced to have surgery last October to fix a torn Achilles tendon. He was immediately placed on injured reserve after the injury and was having the best season of his career. At the time of the injury, Odom was tied for the league-lead in sacks, with eight. After Odom went down, the Bengals struggled against the run and were never the same. He was their top pass-rushed and was expected to continue the pace this season. But, he has not lived up to expectations and he may not get the chance to.

With Odom being sidelined, the Bengals will start veteran Frostee Rucker. Rucker has five tackles and a sack so far this season.

AFC North Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Baltimore Ravens (Head Coach: John Harbaugh)

Key arrivals: WR Anquan Boldin, WR Donte Stallworth, S Ken Hamlin, QB Marc Bulger, DL Corey Redding, DT Terrence Cody (draft), LB Sergio Kindle (draft), TE Ed Dickson (draft), TE Dennis Pitta (draft)

Key departures: WR Kelley Washington, CB Samari Rolle, DE Dwan Edwards, QB John Beck

Joe Flacco

TW: The Ravens are going to be one of the best teams in the league this season. The addition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin is what sends them over the top. QB Joe Flacco has needed receiving help since he got drafted and with Boldin, Flacco could be due for a huge season. They also added Donte Stallworth, who could give the Ravens a deep threat - with those two additions, the Ravens arguably have the best receiving core in the NFL, consisting of Boldin, Stallworth, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and tight ends Todd Heap, Ed Dickson, and Dennis Pitta. RB Ray Rice could be a sleeper for the MVP award, as he is an all-around threat. Rookie tight end Ed Dickson, in my opinion, was the best tight end in the draft and he could possibly be the replacement to former Pro Bowler Todd Heap. Surprisingly, their defense could hold them down, as Ed Reed has been injury-prone the last few seasons. But, if Reed is not ready for the start of the season, Ken Hamlin could fill in admirably, as he has shown that he is one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the league. Their top two draft picks, NT Terrence Cody and LB Sergio Kindle, will have to play well and stay injury-free if the Ravens want their defense to be at it's finest. Ray Lewis, however, will be ready and still has enough in his tank to be considered one of the best defensive players in the NFL this season. Irregardless if their defense is subpar, the Ravens are definitely one of my favorites to make the Super Bowl.

- TW's Prediction: 13-3

SP: If Baltimore can stay healthy throughout the season, especially towards the end and during the postseason, they are one of my favorites to win it all this year. There defense has been exceptional over the past decade, and even with young new faces Terrence Cody and Sergio Kindle (depending on his status), they are still very dangerous when healthy. The secondary will be a big question mark for the Ravens, as injuries have already plagued Ed Reed (hip), among others. The team will probably bring in help throughout the season to help play at CB because of all the injuries at that position. The offense will be one of the best in the NFL this season. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, Joe Flacco now has enough options to shred almost any defense in the league at will. Ray Rice is also one of the Top 5 running backs in the league and will most likely put up big numbers again this season with defenses spread thinner due to the improved passing game.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

2. Cincinnati Bengals (Head Coach: Marvin Lewis)

Key arrivals: WR Terrell Owens, WR Antonio Bryant, S Gibril Wilson, CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, K Mike Nugent, TE Jermaine Gresham (draft), DE Carlos Dunlap (draft), WR Jordan Shipley (draft), WR Dezmon Briscoe (draft), DT Geno Atkins (draft)

Key departures: WR Laveranues Coles, RB Larry Johnson, OG Bobbie Williams, K Shayne Graham

TW: I like what the Bengals have done, especially in the draft this year. The Bengals, like the Ravens, will have one of the best receiving cores in the NFL. The duo of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco could form one of the best tandems. Carson Palmer, for the first time in his career, actually has an opportunity to have an all-around offense. Their running game has been ressurected with Cedric Benson - the first time since the Rudi Johnson era. Their defense could potentially be one of the best in the league, especially with the additions of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins. Antwan Odom has to play well in his return, as he was a sack machine last season before having a season-ending injury. Other than Odom, their defensive line is questionable. Jonathan Joesph and Leon Hall should play well this season, as they are both Pro Bowl-caliber players. However, they have a hard schedule ahead of them, playing teams like Indianapolis, New Orleans, Baltimore (2x), New York Jets, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburgh (2x), and San Diego. I think the Bengals will have a tough road ahead of them, but they are definitely a threat to make a postseason run.

Chad Ochocinco & T.O.

- TW's Prediction: 10-6

SP: The Bengals had one of the most active offseasons in the NFL this summer, adding a whole new core of receivers and upgrading several key positions on defense. While the additions of Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens will undoubtedly improve the receiving core for the Bengals, the question remains to be answered if that pair of receivers, along with Chad Ocho Cinco, can all co-exist together on the same team. The health of Carson Palmer is also something Cincinnati must always be concerned about, as he has been injured quite a bit throughout his career. The Bengals are definitely one of those teams that has almost no chance to win games without their star QB. On a different note, look for Jermaine Gresham to have an immediate impact this season and be one of the top rookie TEs. They have a solid defense, which is one of the main reasons they won this division last season, and if anything, it has only improved in the offseason. Unluckily for Cincinnati, even with all of their offseason additions, they will not be able to capture the same success as last season, and will fall slightly short of a second consecutive division title.

- SP's Prediction: 10-6

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Head Coach: Mike Tomlin)

Key arrivals: WR Antwaan Randle El, WR Arnaz Battle, QB Byron Leftwich, S Will Allen, LB Larry Foote, CB Bryant McFadden, OT Flozell Adams, C Maurkice Pouncey (draft)

Key departures: WR Santonio Holmes, RB Willie Parker, CB Deshea Townsend, WR Joey Galloway

James Harrison

TW: Without Ben Roethlisberger for four games, it's going to be hard for the Steelers to get in the groove and win games. They got rid of Santonio Holmes, so they may have difficulty through the air. Although they added Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle, neither are really #2 receivers. Their offensive line seems to be sketchy again this season, especially with their first preseason game last weekend. Flozell Adams, used as a left tackle his whole career, was moved to right tackle after signing with the Steelers this offseason - in the preseason game, Adams looked like he didn't know what he was doing at all. They did, however, add Maurkice Pouncey through the draft, so that should give the line some hope, but it looks like Roethlisberger will have another pressured season. RB Rashard Mendenhall has to remain healthy if the Steelers want to do anything on the ground. They got rid of Willie Parker, who could have played as an excellent #2 running back. Mewelde Moore will now be the backup to Mendenhall, so it's a very questionable ground game, especially if Mendenhall goes down with an injury. Their defense may help them out, as they brought back LB Larry Foote - along with Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, and James Harrison, Pittsburgh should have a great linebacking core. But, I don't think the Steelers will mesh entirely well and they will end up having a subpar season.

- TW's Prediction: 8-8

SP: After a disturbing offseason and yet another off-field distraction for Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers will now have to play without him for at least the first four games of the season. My guess is that the troubled QB will miss the first six games of the season, the maximum he was suspended for, and even upon his return, the team will struggle. When you have someone like Roethlisberger in your locker room, it is a major distraction for everyone else and it causes a small divide as certain players side with or against the troubled star. Also, the loss of Santonio Holmes, who was dumped in the offseason for practically nothing after a nightclub incident, will affect this team on offense a lot more than most people think. Mike Wallace and Hines Ward will still be good, don't get me wrong, but Holmes has been that teams best receiver the past two seasons. And while many scouts, fantasy football experts, and analysts are high on Rashard Mendenhall this year, I personally don't think his numbers will be that impressive. If Pittsburgh is going to have any chance this season at having a respectable record, it will because of their stellar defense led by Troy Polamalu and James Harrison.

- SP's Prediction: 6-10

4. Cleveland Browns (Head Coach: Eric Mangini)

Key arrivals: LB Scott Fujita, TE Ben Watson, QB Jake Delhomme, QB Seneca Wallace, RB Peyton Hillis, LB Chris Gocong, CB Sheldon Brown, OL Tony Pashos, WR Bobby Engram, TE Alex Smith, CB Joe Haden (draft), QB Colt McCoy (draft), RB Montario Hardesty (draft)

Key departures: LB Kamerion Wimbley, QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson, DT Corey Williams, S Brodney Pool, OL Hank Fraley, WR Mike Furrey

TW: Surprise! The Browns are the gutter team in the AFC North! Didn't see that one coming, did ya'll? They added a lot via free agency, but in the end, it just won't work out..at least for this season. I think the Browns could do mildly well in a few years, but not now. Jake Delhomme is on the decline and with the Browns receiving core, the quarterback play could be iffy. Their running game is very underrated, as Jerome Harrison could possibly be a 1,000 yard back. Cleveland also drafted Montario Hardesty, so he should fill in as a decent backup. Mohamed Massaquoi could also have a breakout season, but it depends on how well Delhomme (and potentially Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy) plays. Their defense will probably be middle of the pack, much better than last season since they acquired Pro Bowler Sheldon Brown and LB Scott Fujita in free agency. They used their #7 pick in this year's draft to select Florida CB Joe Haden, who could be a favorite to take the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. I like what Holmgren has done for the Browns, but I don't think they'll be a .500 team this season. They will struggle this season, but look for them to do much better in the next couple of seasons.

- TW's Prediction: 4-12

Jerome Harrison

SP: Luckily for the Browns, not many people have high expectations for them this season, and even the few people in Cleveland that do expect success won't be too disappointed, as LeBron James has already ripped the hearts out of most of them. Needless to say, it's highly unlikely the Browns will be around fighting late in the season for a postseason berth. It's much more likely that they will be battling for a high draft pick while stacking up losses. While Mangini will likely start the season with Jake Delhomme at QB, I expect Colt McCoy to getting some snaps in before the end of the season. Neither one of those quarterbacks are likely to win a lot of games this season, and they should be applauded just for keeping their team in games and give their RBs a chance to win for them. Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty will probably scoring a majority of Cleveland's touchdowns this season. The defense also has many holes in it, and if they are unable to stop opponents, things could get pretty ugly pretty quick. This is a rebuilding year for the franchise, but most within the organization expect at least moderate improvements in some aspects of the team. Hopefully their goals aren't set too high.

- SP's Prediction: 5-11

T.O. Signs With Cincinnati Bengals

By: Stephen Patterson

Terrell Owens has signed a one-year/$2 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The deal also includes another $2 million in incentives according to reports. Owens has spent most of the offseason unable to find a new home after spending last season with the Buffalo Bills. Most of his troubles finding a new team revolved around his past issues and antics while with other teams.

There had been reports over the weekend that the St. Louis Rams had interest in the former Pro Bowl wideout, but the team announced yesterday they didn't intend to sign Owens. The New York Jets also made a late run to acquire the services of the star receiver, with rumors swirling earlier in the day they might attempt to sign him to join their receiving core of Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, but they also failed to get a deal done.

Owens joined the Bills last offseason after a tumultuous, yet fairly successful, three-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys. While his behavior in Buffalo was extremely mild compared to his previous stops, he had one of his worst statistical seasons of his career. He only had 55 catches for a total of 829 yards with five touchdowns, but considering he was catching passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards, those numbers could've been a lot worse.

Since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft, Owens has been a constant headache for many of the franchises he has played with. He clashed with teammates, coaches, and management while with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cowboys before finally seemingly settling down last season with the Bills. Even though he has been a major distraction at certain points in his career, he has been consistently good on the field.

The Bengals have a history of bringing in players with troubled pasts, and they weren't scared away by Owens' past. Both Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco have said they would welcome Owens to the team with open arms and expect him to add to an already dangerous offense. With Carson Palmer under center, he now has Owens, Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant, and Andre Caldwell as his prime targets. And with Cedric Benson carrying the ball and resurrecting his career, Cincinnati is in prime position to make another run at a division title. 

Ochocinco Mix

By: Stephen Patterson

Chad Ochocinco has had some of the best touchdown celebrations in NFL history. He is one of the main reasons there is an automatic flag thrown for excessive endzone celebrations now in the NFL. This video highlights a majority of the celebrations, along with interview clips and on-field highlights, but if you see any missing, feel free to send them to one of us at the site and we will attach it.

A Life Taken Too Soon

By: Stephen Patterson

On December 17th, 2009, the Cincinnati Bengals lost an important member of their team family. Reports broke throughout the early part of the day that the Bengals wide reciever, away from the team due to an arm injury, had been severely injured in an accident involving Henry falling from the back of a moving vehicle. When the story of Henry's passing first out, there was a lot of confusion about what exactly happened that day. Today, there was some news released that may help shed some light on this tragic event.

In a report released by the Brain Injury Research Institute (BIRI) of the University of West Virginia, it has now been confirmed that Henry suffered from Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a form of degenerative brain damage caused by multiple hits to the head.

The scariest part about today's story is the fact that over 50 athletes that have died under mysterious circumstances, or earlier than expected death, have been found to have suffered from CTE. Currently, the only way for scientists to find out if someone has CTE is by performing special tests on the brain post mortum, meaning it is impossible to find the damage in a living person.

The BIRI's findings show that the damage to Henry's brain occured over time prior to the fall from the bed of a moving pick up truck. During his career, both a WVU and with the Cincinnati Bengals, Henry didn't miss any games and there were no reports that he had ever suffered even one concussion. It's scary to imagine this type of damage can occur to the brain without ever having a concussion, or any particularly hard hits to the head.

One of the thing's affected by the brain damage associated with CTE is behavior. Henry's mother and other people close to him have said he complained of headaches and mood swings, both of which can be caused by the chronic trauma. These changes in behavior could help explain Henry's state of mind when the tragic accident took place. According to a witness, Henry yelled "If you take off, I'm going to jump off the truck and kill myself".

Chris Henry is not the first athlete to have his life end tragically short in a death related to CTE. In 2004, former Steeler Justin Strzelczyk was suffering from hallucinations, and following a 40 mile police chase, died when he crashed into a tanker truck. In 2007, professional wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife and seven year-old son before taking his own life.

While it is not known how much force it takes to cause damage to the brain, actions need to be taken to prevent injuries like this from happening in the future. Football equipment companies will probably look to make safer, more durible helmets for younger children to begin using early on in pee wee and other youth leagues. As long as people continue to play hard contact sports, athletes will have to deal with the effects these hits take on their bodies, but hopefully action will be taken to reduce the damage that these athletes endure, especially to the head.