In today's edition of Around the AFC North, we take a look at how the Pouncey twins could end up in Pittsburgh together, what Terrell Owens says about the Bengals last season, and where fullback Le'Ron McClain will end up.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pouncey Twins Re-United in Pittsburgh?
One position the Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to upgrade this offseason is offensive guard. When the draft rolls around, the team will have the opportunity to do something rare in the league: have twin brothers playing next to each other on the line. Mike Pouncey plays offensive guard and will be in this year's draft class. Many people have been mocking him to go in the first round to Pittsburgh, and Maurkice Pouncey has supposedly told his brother that the Steelers are interested in him.
Getting Mike Pouncey would be a great move for the Steelers if they get can get him for a good price-something along the lines of a trade up consisting of us sending a team our 1st, 3rd, and 5th for a 1st and 4th would be acceptable. Ultimately I think Pouncey will be a very good player in this league, but I don't think he'll be at quite the same level as Maurkice. He posses a very solid skill set already and has a high ceiling. Pairing him with a coach like Sean Kugler and a player like his brother, the Steelers offensive line could go from merely solid to one of the better units in the league.
Cincinnati Bengals: T.O. Still Giving Sound Bytes
While he kept quiet during the regular season, Terrell Owens is providing more and more sound bytes as the offseason progresses. In his latest interview with NFL Network, he talks about the Bengals being a dysfunctional organization:
"I think if you look at the talent we had in that locker room this year and we mustered four wins, that should let you know something is not right," Owens said. "Throughout the year, I saw some things that really wasn’t right.
"I’ve made a comment about if you’re trying to win some championships, it starts from the top down. (Warren Sapp) mentioned Mike Brown; I think even before I got there, they said the owner was a little different. Obviously, I saw that. You start with the head coach, and then you start with the staff on both sides of the ball. … Offensively, we really didn’t have the coaching that we really needed to muster what we had on the offensive side of the ball."
Baltimore Ravens: McClain or Vickers?
I think most of us are satisfied by fullback Lawrence Vickers, but Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain could be an option next season too. McClain has not only been a key blocker for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, he has proven he can run with the football and catch the ball effectively. Having been named to the Pro Bowl twice in his career already, McClain is a tough runner who would seem to pair well with Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. The downside is that he has gotten into some trouble with his attitude on the field.