In Their Helmets: What Every AFC North Team Is Thinking Today

There's a lot to think about for the teams in the AFC North, with free agency approaching, draft-related activities heating up and of course, the fact that what they do even in February can and will inform so many aspects of their 2012 seasons.

So what's preoccupying the minds of the Steelers, Browns, Bengals and Ravens today? Read on to find out.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Are Thinking About the Future

What the Pittsburgh Steelers are doing today is all about tomorrow, but without a crystal ball to show them what the future holds, they'll have to make decisions and hope they are in the team's best interest come September.

While this is nothing new for any team in the NFL, the Steelers are facing a plethora of issues they haven't had to deal with in some time.

There's the question of what to do with wide receiver Hines Ward. Ward, who is 35 years old and owed $4 million in 2012, is reportedly on the cusp of being released, and the team is currently engaged in a delicate balance between giving due respect to the longtime player and fan favorite and doing what's best for the upcoming season and beyond.

Cap space is also at a premium for the Steelers this year, and releasing Ward and moving forward with their younger receivers would save them much-needed money.

They've already restructured the contract of linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Lamarr Woodley and cornerback Ike Taylor and might seek to rejigger the paydays of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison to further free up cap space.

What the Steelers hope to do with that money is ink receiver Mike Wallace to a long-term deal rather than use the franchise tag on him, which could cost the team as much as $13.7 million in 2012.

It looks more likely, however, that the team will put a first-round restricted free-agent tender on Wallace and gamble that no other team would be willing to part with a first-round draft pick and sign him to a lucrative contract.

The Steelers have a lot on their minds, to be sure, and how they handle these issues will determine just how the team both looks and performs in the upcoming season.

The Cleveland Browns Are Still Thinking About Peyton Hillis

According to CBS Sports' Mike Freeman, the Cleveland Browns are still split on whether they should retain and re-sign running back Peyton Hillis or if it's time to let him go.  

The Browns have a good reason to not keep him around—their No. 4 overall draft pick, which they could easily use on Alabama running back Trent Richardson. But that pick could also be used elsewhere with the Browns having a number of needs on both offense and defense.

It's likely that Hillis is looking for at least $10 million per year guaranteed, and it's not, in my opinion, worth paying so much for a running back who seems to be inconsistent and prone to flights of temper.

The only way I see the Browns keeping Hillis around is as a No. 2 back to Richardson and paying him as such, with Hillis begrudgingly agreeing to such an arrangement.

However, it seems more likely that those in the front office finally swing over to the pro-Richardson camp and let Hillis walk rather than retain him at any price.

The Cincinnati Bengals Are Thinking About Cornerbacks

The Cincinnati Bengals are in the enviable position of having the most salary cap room to work with this offseason as well as having nine draft picks, including two in the first round. This means if they use these two advantages intelligently, they are on their way to building what could be a very dominant team for years to come.

One area they need to address is cornerback. Though the Bengals were a Top 10 passing defense, they could use help in the secondary, especially when it comes to picking off passes—they notched just 10 interceptions in 2011.

There is a deep draft class of cornerbacks this year, and a number of talented free agents are also set to hit the open market. But one, former Oakland Raider Stanford Routt, is already capable of signing with a new team, and the Bengals have chosen to kick his tires, scheduling a meeting with him for this Friday.

Routt didn't live up to expectations in Oakland last season, but the defensive scheme also didn't play to his strengths. He's generated a good deal of interest around the league already, having visited with the Buffalo Bills, currently is meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs and is reportedly being courted by the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings as well.

Though Routt may not end up a Bengal, it's clear the team is willing to examine all options available to them in hopes of upgrading their secondary this offseason.

The Baltimore Ravens Are Thinking About Joe Flacco

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is about to get a contract extension, with discussions between the team and his representatives likely to begin at next week's Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.  

Despite 2011 being Flacco's worst statistical year since his rookie season, he managed to take the team to the playoffs, making it all the way to the AFC championship game.

Much of Flacco's struggles last season had to do with a young receiving corps that he didn't have much time to work with before the start of the regular season. With a full offseason to get in sync with Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss, he should have an improved 2012.

Helping him along will be former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, who is now the Ravens' quarterback coach.

Though Caldwell has made it clear that he's not trying to mold Flacco into being the next Peyton Manning, his decade of experience working with the future Hall of Famer should only serve as a boost to Flacco's future.

Keeping Flacco performing consistently well and increasing his chemistry with his receivers is of the utmost importance to the Ravens' chances for success in 2012 and beyond. Running back Ray Rice was the team's leading receiver in 2011, and that strategy is neither sustainable nor wise.

With a new, high-paying deal, the Ravens are putting their full confidence in Flacco's ability to become a true leader. Having that type of support from ownership to management to the coaching staff, is a good sign that Flacco will be able to meet those expectations.

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