Reaction to Today's Hottest Issue for Every AFC North Team, February 7 Edition

The NFL season may be over, but that doesn't mean the news slows down. With the Combine, free agency and NFL draft looming, there are storylines popping up every day. Here are my takes on the biggest issues facing every team in the AFC North for today, February 7, 2012.

The Pittsburgh Steelers hire former Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach as New Offensive Coordinator; Does Chaos Ensue?

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger apparently took issue to the dismissal (or resignation, depending on which version suits your fancy) of longtime offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, requesting a meeting with team president Art Rooney II last week to discuss the future of the offense.

Whether that meeting had any effect on Rooney and the team's ultimate decision to hire former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley to fill the vacancy is yet unknown. What is known, however, is that Haley is anything but the buddy-buddy "yes man" that Roethlisberger relationship had with Arians.

Haley is more run-oriented than Arians and not afraid to get in his quarterback's face. Roethlisberger is in for quite the change in his working environment through the offseason and beyond.

The Cincinnati Bengals Have a Ton of Cap Space in 2012 and a Glut of Draft Picks

Thanks to savvy free agency maneuvering, including trading quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders during the 2011 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have nine picks in the 2012 draft and $40 million in cap room as well.

According to Joe Goodberry of Cincyjungle.com, that leaves the team with $12-14 million with which to sign free agents.

The Bengals managed to outperform expectations in 2011, surprisingly reaching the playoffs as a Wild Card entrant. With a proper draft strategy and the acquisition of a few key free agents, Cincinnati will be a top contender in the AFC North for some time.

Here's to hoping their smart 2011 draft wasn't just a one-time fluke for the oft-criticized Mike Brown-led Cincy front office.

The Cleveland Browns Need to Think Hard About Their QB Situation in the Offseason

2010 third-round draft pick Colt McCoy hasn't proven he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he holds the position for the Cleveland Browns simply because they lack better options.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert confirmed that, headed into the offseason, McCoy remains the team's No. 1 quarterback, with backup Seneca Wallace having not shown enough to unseat him.

However, that appears to simply be a game of semantics. Look for the Browns to seriously consider taking Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in the 2012 draft or snagging a start-worthy quarterback once free agency commences in mid-March.

McCoy completed 57.2 percent of his passes, for 2,735 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 13 starts in the 2011 season. If the Browns are going to be competitive in the difficult AFC North division, they need to consider a quarterback upgrade their highest offseason priority.

The Baltimore Ravens are Extending Quarterback Joe Flacco's Contract; Need to Make Sure He Performs at a High Level

The Baltimore Ravens have no reason to embroil themselves in a quarterback controversy this offseason, with the team one completion away from making it to the Super Bowl just a few short weeks ago.

That game represented one of the best of quarterback Joe Flacco's year, with the now fifth-year passer completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 306 yards, two scores and one interception. However, it represented just the fifth game in which he threw for over 300 yards this season.

Flacco is set to receive a contract extension this offseason, which he has certainly earned. He needs to be more consistent, however, if the Ravens are going to remain one of the NFL's most dominant teams.

Flacco doesn't need to be Tom Brady, that's for sure. But if he could be less erratic in his game-by-game yardage totals and the team can properly use running back Ray Rice to take some pressure off of Flacco, then the team as a whole will be in a better place.

Without improvements on offense in 2012, Flacco won't have to worry about his job security, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will likely find himself without a job.