AFC NORTH
PIERSON’S FAVORITE
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Where: St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: S Ryan Clark, DE Rodney Bailey.
Gone: FB Jerome Bettis, S Mike Logan, DE Kimo von Oelhoffen, WR Antwaan Randle El, S Chris Hope, QB Tommy Maddox, CB Willie Williams.
Top rookies: WR Santonio Holmes, S Anthony Smith, WR Willie Reid.
What’s up: QB Ben Roethlisberger survived a motorcycle crash, but will he be ready for heavy practices? Scrapes with the law by top draft pick Holmes have tested coach Bill Cowher. Defending a Super Bowl title is never easy.
DEFENDING CHAMP
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Where: Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.
When: July 29.
New arrivals: S Dexter Jackson, DT Sam Adams, QB Anthony Wright, WR-KR Antonio Chatman, WR P.K. Sam, QB Doug Johnson.
Gone: QB Jon Kitna, TE Matt Schobel, WR Kevin Walter, LB Nate Webster.
Top rookies: CB Johnathan Joseph, OT Andrew Whitworth, DE Frostee Rucker.
What’s up: QB Carson Palmer promises to be ready for the season after rehabbing from serious January knee surgery. He was knocked out early in playoff loss to Steelers. Outspoken WR Chad Johnson promises Steelers are old news.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Where: McDaniel College, Westminster, Md.
When: July 30.
New arrivals: QB Steve McNair, RB Mike Anderson, DT Trevor Pryce, DT Justin Bannan, P Leo Araguz, DB Corey Ivy, LB Tim Johnson, LB Gary Stills.
Gone: DT Maake Kemoeatu, DE Anthony Weaver, P Dave Zastudil, RB Chester Taylor, S Will Demps, QB Anthony Wright, S Chad Williams, WR Randy Hymes, TE Darnell Dinkins.
Top rookies: NT Haloti Ngata, OL Chris Chester, CB David Pittman.
What’s up: Old pro McNair moves from Tennessee to archrival Ravens and supplants young Kyle Boller, justifying decision by Jerry Angelo to pass up Boller for Rex Grossman in 2003 draft. LB Ray Lewis needs to prove he’s not on last legs.
4. Cleveland Browns
Where: Browns
Facility, Berea, Ohio
When: July 26 (July 23 rookies).
New arrivals: C-G LeCharles Bentley, WR Joe Jurevicius, P Dave Zastudil, DE Willie McGinest, DT Ted Washington, G Bob Hallen, QB Ken Dorsey, TE Darnell Dinkins, K Jeff Chandler, T Kevin Shaffer.
Gone: QB Trent Dilfer, WR Antonio Bryant, DE Kenard Lang, T L.J. Shelton, TE Aaron Shea, LB Ben Taylor, C Jeff Faine, G Kevin Garmon, S Chris Crocker, DT Jason Fisk, TE Keith Heinrich, DB Ray Mickens.
Top rookies: LB Kamerion Wimbler, LB D’Qwell Jackson, WR Travis Wilson.
What’s up: Ohio natives Bentley, Jurevicius, Zastudil and Hallen join the cause. Coach Romeo Crennel adds old defensive linemen he tutored in New England, McGinest and Washington. They need young QB Charlie Frye and rehabilitated TE Kellen Winslow to come through.
NFC NORTH
DEFENDING CHAMP
PIERSON’S FAVORITE
1. BEARS
Where: Olivet Nazarene College, Bourbonnais, Ill.
When: July 27.
New arrivals: QB Brian Griese, CB Ricky Manning Jr., CB Dante Wesley, WR Alex Bannister.
Gone: CB Jerry Azumah, QB Jeff Blake, S Mike Green.
Top rookies: S Danieal Manning, CB-KR Devin Hester, DT Dusty Dvoracek.
What’s up: The only NFL team neither to lose nor add a front-line player, the Bears believe they are ready to win. Griese provides best depth at quarterback in years. Can Lovie Smith keep RB Thomas Jones, LB Lance Briggs and CB Nathan Vasher happy? Big camp for RB Cedric Benson and WRs Mark Bradley and Airese Currie.
2. Minnesota Vikings
Where: Minnesota State-Mankato.
When: July 30 (July 27 rookies).
New arrivals: Coach Brad Childress, RB Chester Taylor, OL Jason Whittle, LB Ben Leber, PK Ryan Longwell, FB Tony Richardson, G Steve Hutchinson, QB Mike McMahon.
Gone: Coach Mike Tice, QB Daunte Culpepper, WR Nate Burleson, S Corey Chavous, CB Brian Williams, RB Michael Bennett, LB Sam Cowart, DE Lance Johnstone.
Top rookies: LB Chad Greenway, CB Cedric Griffin, C Ryan Cook, QB Tarvaris Jackson.
What’s up: One year after exit of Randy Moss, Culpepper leaves after he reminded Childress too much of selfish Terrell Owens. Team starts by revamping running game to help soon-to-be 38-year-old QB Brad Johnson. Vikes were 9-7 despite off-field turmoil and Culpepper injury, so Childress expects adjustment.
3. Green Bay Packers
Where: St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis.
When: July 28.
New arrivals: Coach Mike McCarthy, S Marquand Manuel, DT Ryan Pickett, K Billy Cundiff, WR Mark Boerigter, LB Ben Taylor, DT Kenderick Allen, CB Charles Woodson.
Gone: Coach Mike Sherman, LB Na’il Diggs, K Ryan Longwell, KR Antonio Chatman, QB Craig Nall, C Mike Flanagan, RB Tony Fisher, WR Javon Walker.
Top rookies: LB AJ Hawk, OL Daryn Colledge, WR Greg Jennings, LB Abdul Hodge, G Jason Spitz.
What’s up: Brett Favre hopes he returned to a better team than the 4-12 disaster he helped create with career- and league-high 29 interceptions. Losing WR Walker to Denver won’t help. Getting a healthy RB Ahman Green back is vital. Hawk and Woodson will shore up a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL.
4. Detroit Lions
Where: Lions Facility, Allen Park, Mich.
When: July 27.
New arrivals: Coach Rod Marinelli, QB Jon Kitna, WR Corey Bradford, TE Dan Campbell, QB Josh McCown, OT Barry Stokes, S Idrees Bashir, OL Rex Tucker, CB Jamar Fletcher, G Ross Verba, LB Paris Lenon.
Gone: Coach Dick Jauron, CB R.W. McQuarters, QB Joey Harrington, QB Jeff Garcia, G Kyle Kosier, LB Wali Rainer, DT Dan Wilkinson.
Top rookies: LB Ernie Sims, S Daniel Bullocks, RB Brian Calhoun, T Jonathan Scott.
What’s up: Marinelli took pal Lovie Smith’s advice in hiring offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who must manufacture a quarterback.
