Category: AFC NORTH

Bengals RB Joe Mixon takes huge pay cut, illustrated devaluing of running backs

The paycut Joe Mixon took should be something every NFL running back keeps a close eye on including Najee Harris.

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The big news out of the AFC North yesterday was that Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon restructured his contract to stay with Cincinnati that included a significant pay cut over this season and his next to stay with the team.

In terms of money, the numbers are significant. Mixon took a $4.39 million pay cut this season and a $4.67 million pay cut next season. Mixon was due $10.1 million this season with a $12.79 cap hit. Mixon made a professional decision and decided playing for one of the best teams in the AFC was better than perhaps making more money elsewhere.

This whole situation illuminates the discussion going on this offseason about the devaluing of running backs in the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has already talked about this in the current offseason and now he watches it happen in his neighborhood.

Even Harris, who is a former first-round pick, cannot feel confident about his long-term future with the Steelers when you have Jaylen Warren, and undrafted free agent playing so well behind you. No one is saying Harris is going anywhere but the Mixon situation is a perfect example of the way the culture of the NFL has shifted and how one elite running back has responded to it.

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One Amazon Prime Day deal for fans of each NFL team in 2023

Find the Amazon Prime Day deal that supports both your favorite NFL team and your wallet.

The 2023 NFL draft and offseason will soon be in the books. That means your favorite team is soon to be hitting the field.

Will you be ready?

With the upcoming football season right around the corner, fans of every team have no reason to not be ready thanks to Amazon Prime Day 2023.

There are offers on gear for all 32 NFL teams that will be hard to pass up. Whether you’re in the parking lot prepping for your seat just a few rows away, watching from the comforts of home, or celebrating “Victory Monday” with a brand new item, we’ve got you covered.

Like a last second play to the end zone (or hoop or goalazo), don’t waste any time in chasing down these deals. Start right here with our top items for NFL fans in the team-by-team collection below:

Interested in more than just the NFL? Check out our other Prime Day deal lists: NBA fans | Golf deals | Running deals | Camping deals

Steelers have worst odds to win AFC North in 2023

The Steelers have better odds to finish last in the division than the first this season.

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It has been more than 30 years since the Pittsburgh Steelers finished last in their division. The 1988 season seems like a lifetime ago, but everything old could be new again in 2023. And even though Pittsburgh has the longest streak in the NFL of not finishing last in its division, the oddsmakers at BetMGM have the Steelers with the worst odds to win the AFC North this season.

Here are how the odds break down:

Cincinnati Bengals +125

Baltimore Ravens +250

Cleveland Browns +400

Pittsburgh Steelers +500

We understand that having the longest odds to win the division doesn’t mean Pittsburgh will finish last, but it does mean the oddsmakers think it is more likely the Steelers finish fourth as opposed to first.

The Steelers have made some big moves this offseason to put themselves back into playoff contention. There’s no denying the Bengals are the class of the AFC North and the team Pittsburgh has to worry about above anything else. The Ravens and Browns are so inconsistent that it’s hard to tell how good they will be, which adds another layer of drama to the upcoming season.

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Ranking the starting quarterbacks in the AFC North

Where does Kenny Pickett rank among AFC North quarterbacks?

In today’s NFL, success is directly related to a team’s level of quarterback play. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have a great young single caller in Kenny Pickett but how does he stack up against the rest of the AFC North? Here is our ranking of the four starring quarterbacks in the AFC North.

QB Lamar Jackson requests trade from Ravens

More drama for the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s hard not to smile a little when bad things happen to AFC North teams. On Monday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took to social media to release a statement indicating he has requested a trade. Jackson says the Ravens have not met his value and are not interested in doing so.

Here is Jackson’s full statement:

I want to first thank you all for all of the love and support you consistently show towards me. All of you are amazing and I appreciate y’all so much. I want you all to know not to believe everything you read about me. Let me personally answer your questions in regards to my future plans. As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl. You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again.

If the Ravens cannot find a trade partner, this drama could drag well into the offseason and we couldn’t be happier.

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Browns must prepare for a new OC as Ravens part ways with Greg Roman

The Browns will have a new offensive coordinator to face twice per year.

The Cleveland Browns will now have to prepare for a new offense this upcoming season when they play the Baltimore Ravens twice per season. Today, the Ravens announced they have parted ways with their offensive coordinator Greg Roman. This looks to be an attempt to mend the fences with quarterback Lamar Jackson to keep him in Baltimore long-term.

This is the third piece of coordinator new this week to break in the AFC North alone as the Browns hired Jim Schwartz as their defensive coordinator, the Ravens have parted with Roman, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to retain Matt Canada despite three bad seasons.

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Browns fans rejoice as Steelers retain Matt Canada as offensive coordinator

Bringing joy to those in Cleveland, the Steelers will retain their offensive coordinator.

The Cleveland Browns rivals in Pittsburgh have decided to retain offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Canada hasn’t had a lot of success so far in Pittsburgh with his offenses ranking 21st and 26th in points scored in 2021 and 2022. Browns fans should be happy with this development and what it means for Cleveland in 2023.

The offense Canada has run has been bland, not very creative, and relatively predictable. Some in Pittsburgh are not happy with the move and what it means long-term for Kenny Pickett. It will be interesting to see if things change for the better in 2023. But for now, Browns fans should be happy with this announcement.

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Bengals’ bend-but-don’t-break defense will be tested against the Bills

The Cincinnati Bengals have created a defense without “stars,” but with all kinds of performers. Laurie Fitzpatrick looks at how it was created.

The Cincinnati Bengals are currently on a nine-game win streak. The offense is rolling, and the defense, despite barely coming away with a victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round, still got the job done. Throughout the season their defense is allowing 227 points per game (23rd), but they also have an impressive 50% scoring percentage in the red zone; and over their last three games, opponents are only scoring 33.3% of the time.

The Bengals defensive line gets to the quarterback quickly, and their defensive backs disrupt at the catch point. They allow the least number of seconds per play in the league, 27.5, and they lead the league in opponent incompletions per game, with 14.2; per teamrankings.

The defense as a whole is closing out games.

Jessie Bates III’s interception against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, Vonn Bell’s forced fumble against the New England Patriots in Week 16 and then Sam Hubbard’s fumble recovery and 98-yard touchdown win in the wild-card game. Just three examples of the defense stepping up.

The Bengals are sitting at a +6 turnover differential. That is what keeps them in games and makes them an extension of their offense. With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on the offensive side of the ball, the defense tends to get overshadowed, but in the end, we all know that defense wins games, and that defense has won games for the Bengals.

Now, it’s on to Buffalo for the divisional round. Let’s see how this defense might be able to upset Josh Allen and his friends.

Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca opens up about epilepsy and the Steelers under Mike Tomlin

Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca spent a Q-&-A to raise epilepsy awareness with STEPS Toward Zero, and shared thoughts on Mike Tomlin.

If you need to clear a path, ask Alan Faneca.

The Hall of Fame guard opened up numerous running lanes for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998-2007 and later for the New York Jets (2008-09) and Arizona Cardinals (2010).

Faneca, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, is partnering with SK Life Science to open up the lanes of awareness about epilepsy with the STEPS (Seize the Truth about Epilepsy Perceptions Survey) Toward Zero campaign.

The six-time All-Pro sat down with Touchdown Wire to answer questions about his experience with epilepsy and also shared insights on the Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin.