No More Negotiating for Mike Wallace and Steelers and More AFC North News

Steelers fans should enjoy Mike Wallace this season, because he could be gone before the next begins.
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Now that the season has begun, writes Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the time has passed for the Pittsburgh Steelers and star wideout Mike Wallace to negotiate a long-term deal.

Wallace will now play out the 2012 season with the $2.7 million first-round tender he signed when returning to the team just over a week ago. The only option is for a contract to be hammered out after the season wraps, or to give him the franchise tag. With the latter being almost prohibitively expensive for the cap-strapped Steelers, it looks like they'll either strike a deal or this will be Wallace's last season in Pittsburgh.

Baltimore Ravens

Running back Bobby Rainey made the Ravens' 53-man roster, but if he wants to be one of the 46 dressed on game days, he'll have to shine on special teams.
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Jeff Zribiec of the Baltimore Sun reports on Baltimore Ravens running back Bobby Rainey and how, though he's made the 53-man roster, Rainey would like to prove himself on special teams in order to actually earn himself some on-field playing time. Rainey, says Zribiec, is not done competing.

James Reagan of Bleacher Report breaks down the five keys for a Ravens win tonight against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton and the Bengals have to prove they weren't just a 2011 one-hit-wonder.
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Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Cincinnati Bengals have a lot to prove in tonight's season opener against Baltimore, including that they deserve to be considered in the same class as last year's AFC North champions.

We've seen the five keys to a Ravens victory; here are the five keys that Andrew Dunn of Bleacher Report says will lead to a Bengals win on Monday night.

Cleveland Browns

Could Brandon Weeden be the first step in the Browns ultimately drafting Matt Barkley next year?
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Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer breaks down what rookie Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden did in Sunday's loss to the Eagles and hopes that we won't see this performance again.

Could another quarterback change be in the Browns' future? Michael Schottey of Bleacher Report asks whether or not Cleveland could wind up with Matt Barkley in the 2013 NFL draft.