Category: Around the North

Around the North: Steelers lose key defensive coach to the Vikings

A key defensive coach is now departing the AFC North

As the Cleveland Browns look to be competitive within the AFC North in a make-or-break 2023, their rival has lost a key defensive assistant. Departing from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brian Flores has been hired as the next defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. Flores was a candidate for the defensive coordinator job in Cleveland before they opted for Jim Schwartz instead.

This has other repercussions for the Browns and the rest of the AFC North as well, as Flores was a finalist for the head coaching gig for the Arizona Cardinals, along with the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals Lou Anarumo. Now the chances are growing that two bright defensive minds may be departing the division.

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Around the North: A third Bengals coach is interviewing for a promotion elsewhere

Could a Bengals assistant be heading out of town?

Another Cincinnati Bengals assistant is interviewing this week for a promotion. Despite the Bengals giving quarterback coach Dan Pitcher a raise the assistant is still set to interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans can understand why as he would be getting a chance to call plays as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Bengals fans are upset with the idea as many think he is a well-respected and talented coach. He is credited with helping Joe Burrow elevate his game to a franchise quarterback level the past couple of seasons. Cleveland Browns fans however would be happy to see him leave the division and the conference.

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Around the North: Former Bengals WR A.J. Green hangs up his cleats

A.J. Green will no longer give the Browns fits as the former Bengals wide receiver has hung up his cleats.

The 2010s were littered with games where wide receiver A.J. Green and cornerback Joe Haden would go toe-to-toe in epic showdowns when the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals would faceoff. And now both players have decided to hang up their cleats as Green announced his retirement today. The AFC North will not be the same.

Playing for both the Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals, Green stacked together a career with seven Pro Bowls to his name. He finished his 12-year career with over 10,500 yards receiving and 70 touchdowns on 727 catches. With Haden and Green now both out of the league, we truly are in a new era of NFL football.

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Around the North: Bengals DC Lou Anarumo one of three finalists for Cardinals HC gig

The heat is picking up between the Cardinals and the defensive coordinator of the Bengals, Lou Anarumo

Much to the joy of those who follow and cheer for the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals are getting closer to needing to replace their top-tier defensive coordinator. As the Arizona Cardinals are wrapping up their head coaching search, Lou Anarumo has been named as one of three finalists to replace Kliff Kingsbury according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Along with Brian Flores and the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, Mike Kafka, Anarumo is left in great company.

Getting an elite defensive mind out of the AFC North would do wonders for the Browns and the rest of the division as the Bengals have now hit back-to-back AFC Championship games.

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Around the North: Ravens up to four finalists for offensive coordinator gig

A divisional rival has been busy looking for their new offensive coordinator.

As we continue to follow news around the AFC North as well, the offensive coordinator search of the Baltimore Ravens is among the most interesting among divisional rivals. After the Ravens parted ways with Greg Roman, they have been quite busy looking for their new man to run the offense. Thus far, it looks like five names are among the coaches in contention.

While it was already reported that former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken has received a second interview, so have two others as the pass game coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Brian Angelichio, and Dave Canales, who is the quarterbacks coach of the Seattle Seahawks, have also received second interviews. The former offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Byron Leftwich, has also spoken to the Ravens about their vacancy.

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Around the North: Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gets second interview with Cardinals

The Bengals may need a new defensive coordinator.

As the NFL offseason continues, coaching hires are concluding the league. There are two teams left to hire head coaches, and one is giving the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals a second interview. The Arizona Cardinals are bringing Lou Anarumo back in as a finalist for their head coaching gig.

Both Anarumo and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan are getting courted for head coaching gigs after leading the Bengals to back-to-back AFC Championship games. This is good news for the Browns, as a shakeup in continuity to an AFC North rival may allow them to get back into competitive action.

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Around the North: Could the Bengals really trade Tee Higgins?

Could the Bengals really trade wide receiver Tee Higgins?

The Cincinnati Bengals, who are now dealing with running back Joe Mixon, have gone to back-to-back AFC Championship games, and a lot of that is due to the trio of quarterback Joe Burrow, and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Much to the liking of those who follow the Cleveland Browns, however, can the Bengals afford to keep all three in place long-term?

Cincinnati writer Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic seems to think the Bengals may have a tough decision on their hands:

“How plausible is it to pay top dollar to two different receivers and an elite quarterback, with all the expectations Ja’Marr Chase will receive a huge deal once eligible starting in 2024? How do the Bengals handle negotiating once again with agent David Mulugheta, who also represented Jessie Bates through the contentious and unproductive last two seasons, butting heads over guaranteed money?… If the numbers are outrageoud and it’s clear the two sides won’t see eye to eye, the Bengals could go the route taken by multiple teams in recent seasons and deal the receiver for a top draft pick and start the cycle over with a rookie receiver.”

Dehner is not saying the Bengals will trade him, and he is not reporting rumors. But there are definite parallels to draw between Higgins and the Bengals to the Tennessee Titans and A.J. Brown. This is a situation for the Browns and the rest of the AFC North to monitor.

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Around the North: Ravens giving a former Browns’ OC a second interview

The Ravens are interviewing the former Browns’ offensive coordinator today.

While the Cleveland Browns wrapped up their coordinator search early, landing on Jim Schwartz as their new defensive coordinator, a division rival in the Baltimore Ravens are still looking to replace Greg Roman. Today, they are interviewing a former offensive coordinator in Cleveland, Todd Monken, for their vacancy at offensive coordinator. This is his second interview.

The Ravens have also interviewed the current offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy, as his contract is set to expire. As the Ravens look to keep their quarterback Lamar Jackson happy, who will the Ravens land on to go head-to-head twice per year in the AFC North?

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Around the North: Warrant issued for Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon

A warrant has been issued for and AFC North rival

The Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs in the AFC Conference Championship game by the Kansas City Chiefs, and now the news has gotten worse for the AFC North winners and rivals of the Cleveland Browns. Running back Joe Mixon has a warrant issued for his arrest on a charge of aggravated menacing after allegedly holding a woman in downtown Cincinnati at gunpoint.

The warrant states that Mixon told the woman, “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you now. The police can’t get me.” This is not the first time Mixon has been mixed up in a situation involving violence with women as he was in hot water after being seen on camera hitting a woman when in college.

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Around the North: A division rival could lose both coordinators

Both coordinators are set for head coaching interviews.

The in-state rival of the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals, fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, ending their season. A day after reports came out that both their offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will interview for head coaching jobs. Both coaches will interview with the Arizona Cardinals with Callahan drawing interest from the Indianapolis Colts as well.

The Bengals won back-to-back AFC North titles and both coaches have done impressive jobs with their units. If the Bengals were to lose one of them it would be a good thing for the Browns. Something to keep an eye on is if Brian Callahan gets a head coaching job will he be able to lure his dad Bill Callahan away despite the extension?

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