AFC North Division Preview (Part II)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2009: 9-7) With Big Ben suspended, the Steelers look to get off to a rocky start. Still, it’s never wise to count the Steelers out, proven to be the division’s most reliable winners over the past decade. This simply may not be the Steelers’ year however as Hines Ward turned 34 this off-season and Santonio Holmes has landed in ‘green’-er pastures with the Jets. Rookie receiver out of Ole Miss, Mike Wallace, showed some signs of promise but with a QB transition midseason inevitable, it may prove difficult to get the offense clicking until it’ too late. Perhaps the true fate of the Steelers upcoming season lies out of their hands entirely. Commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted in recent weeks that he may be willing to reduce Roethlisberger’s suspension from its current 6 game span to begin the season, pending good behavior of course. The quarterback who has now matched his Super Bowl rings with sexually charged scandals (currently sitting at 2 apiece), has “been doing what he’s been asked to do and frankly more,” according to Goodell, with many speculating the suspension could be cut to 4 games. With Byron Leftwich at the helm, a speedy return is essential to maintain any reasonable shot at post season aspirations. Some Pittsburgh faithful cling to tempered hope based on Leftwich’s solid back-up performance spelling Roethlisberger in the 2008 season. Such foolish optimists need only ask Atlanta, Jacksonville and Tampa fans how a Leftwich-led team turns out. 4. Cleveland Browns (2009: 5-11) Not-so-bold prediction of the season: The Browns will lose the AFC North. Though Colt McCoy might provide some long term hope for Browns fans (depending on who you ask of course, as the Browns didn’t seem to sold on him themselves, passing on him multiple times before their 85th selection), this season looks to be a long one in Cleveland. Rookie Montario Hardesty should form a nice tandem with Jerome Harrison, who closed out last season nicely. WR Mohommed Massaquoi also had some fine moments in his rookie season, though none of this should matter in the big picture for 2010.