BALTIMORE RAVENS
+ The Ravens fired quarterback coach Jim Zorn on Thursday. Rather than replacing the position, head coach John Harbaugh "decided that Cameron will have more hands-on duties with the quarterbacks." Not that the Bengals would do it, but they should hire Zorn as an offensive specialist for the sole reason of beating the Ravens in 2011. You know, do to them what they did to use with Willie Anderson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who had vast amounts of knowledge on the Bengals offense.
+ The Ravens also hired Teryl Austin as their defensive backs coach, a position vacated after Chuck Pagano was promoted to defensive coordinator. Austin was the former defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.
+ Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason had successful hernia and finger surgery.
+ News that the Bengals are now able to franchise players was in part of what NFL officials told reporters at the league office on Thursday. Along with the Bengals debate on whom to franchise, if they choose to use it, also moves to Baltimore. Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will be a restricted free agent this year, but since the CBA could change the definitions between the differences of a restricted and unrestricted free agent, the Ravens may use their Franchise Tag. Personally, I hope they forget all about it and he leaves Baltimore altogether. But even dreamers can dream.
+ Brian Reed, safety Ed Reed's younger brother, was all-but identified on Thursday. Ed Reed remembered his brother, saying he "had some mental stuff going on before, [but] there was truly no sign of this happening."
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
+ The Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro rookie center Maurkice Pouncey will miss the Super Bowl with a broken bone in his left ankle that may have damaged ankle ligaments as well. It was originally called a high ankle sprain.
+ Reports have surfaced (from ESPN) that Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could leave Pittsburgh in favor of "joining good friend Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona" with his contract expiring after this season. LeBeau quickly shot down those rumors saying, "I promise you: If I'm coaching, it will be the Pittsburgh Steelers."
+ Quick. Tell us who Kevin Colbert is. Behind The Steel Curtain talks about the most unheard of General Manager in the NFL.
+ ESPN's David Fleming says that while the Pittsburgh Steelers could be one of the greatest franchises of all-time, they're also one of the dirtiest.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
+ With Jim Zorn fired by Baltimore this week, Dawgs by Nature wonders if Zorn could go to Cleveland as either a quarterbacks coach or an offensive coordinator.
+ Browns President Mike Holmgren is closer to calling quarterback Colt McCoy "the man."
+ Could the Browns be one team looking at former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress?