Joe Robbins - Getty Images
9 months ago: CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer argues with head linesman Kent Payne #79 during an NFL preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Colts won 17-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
In today's edition of Around the AFC North, we take a look at Jay Gruden's and Mike Zimmer's status with the Cincinnati Bengals, whether Hines Ward would take a pay cut to stay with Pittsburgh, and whether the Ravnes can stop the Texans' running game.
It sounds like Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden was a hot commodity for head coaching positions. Reports indicate that the Jaguars and Rams wanted to interview him for their head coaching vacancies, but he was content in staying in Cincinnati for 2012. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Gruden "said he has unfinished business and likes the direction of the offense." Gruden could be another hot candidate in 2013 if the Bengals' offense builds off of what they accomplished this past season.
There is a different story when it comes to Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The Buccaneers and Dolphins are interested in Zimmer, who already interviewed with the Dolphins. Per reports, Zimmer is at the top of Miami's list, so he could very well be their next head coach.
This builds off of a story we posted the other day in which Hines Ward stated that he did not plan on retiring. He does, however, understand that he'll likely need to take a pay cut.
"I'd probably have to restructure my contract," Ward said of the pay cut. "That's fine with me. I recognize that. I'm telling you I want to be here, I'm telling you I'm willing to do that. And I understand the ramifications -- we have the cap number and stuff, but I want to be here."
"Obviously, I was a starter, and then it went the way it did. That's fine, I don't have a problem with not starting. But I want to play, I want to try to win another Super Bowl. I want to do it for this organization. I want to help this team out. I still think I can help this team, on the field, off the field with the younger guys, still be there for the team. I'm willing to do all that."
Will Baltimore's defense be able to stop Arian Foster and Ben Tate?
The success of the Houston run game depends on the success of T.J. Yates getting the ball to his receivers consistently enough to keep Pollard from playing in the box. This is where the injury to Owen Daniels may really hurt the Texans. Pain won't be the issue in that hand as there are drugs for that, but will it be reliable enough to catch the ball? We'll see.
0 recs | 29 comments
I think Baltimore is too much for the Texans. The way it looks now I would rank teams this way.
1. Packers
2. Saints
3. New England/Baltimore (tie)
5. San Francisco
6, Texans
7. NY Giants
8. Denver
The top two are much better than the rest. AFC down year
champion64 - January 11, 2012
The Giants probably have the second/third best defense remaining in the playoffs and the 4th best QB. Depending on if the Giants get Good Eli or Bad Eli I think they are a very tough out. I would have them at least ahead of the Texans based on their QB situation alone.
PaduaDSP - January 11, 2012
You may be right. Eli is a little schizophrenic. I dont see them beating the Packers, but you are right if you are rating them, probably because of the current QB situation they are ahead of the Texans, so flop those two and we are good.
champion64 - January 11, 2012
Baltimore shouldn’t make it past this weekend’s game.
Chris Pokorny - January 11, 2012
I have a feeling they will. I dont know why. I dont think Baltimore is all that great. I dont think New England is all that great. But Baltimore did go 12-4 in the hardest divsion in football so maybe they have a little left. I think their D is suspect. I actually think they could sneak past New England, who by the way I hope kills Denver.
champion64 - January 11, 2012
Move G-men up to #3, then it’s good.
Spidey - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I think New England is better than baltimore by a lot, and I think the Giants are better than you give them credit for.
rufio - January 12, 2012
I actually think the Giants are going to beat the Packers this weekend. Call it the Golan hunch.
Kimble_79 - January 12, 2012
How weird of an end to the season would it be to see Denver vs SanFran in the SB?
Kimble_79 - January 11, 2012
Jay Gruden has an interesting resume. Never heard of someone going from head coach to QB to head coach for one team before.
Brownie's Year - January 11, 2012
I like changing colors.
Chris Pokorny - January 11, 2012
I miss the pink DBN.
North Coast Flea - January 11, 2012
It took a while to get used to.
Brownie's Year - January 11, 2012
Me too
Chris Pokorny - January 11, 2012
That was short lived.
Chris Pokorny - January 11, 2012
Are you using font tags?
Doc's Kid - January 11, 2012
If Zimmer gets the HC job in Miami, how will that effect the possibility of them moving up to get RG3?
Brownie's Year - January 11, 2012
Topic for Discussion...
With the current meltdown going on with the Jets & taking into account the salary cap issues….all things considered i’d say we got the better end of the Mark Sanchez/Alex Mack trade….
sleepy042 - January 11, 2012
Well, sort of. Glad we didn’t invest all that money and effort in Sanchez, and Mack turned out fine. But of everyone else we got in that trade (Coleman, Ratliff, Elam, Veikune), none are even still on the team.
bbstirrd - January 11, 2012
Elam started though and Coleman rotated in at DE.
North Coast Flea - January 11, 2012
Yeah and Sanchez was the QB on a team that went to two straight AFC championship games. Still glad we didn’t pick him though
bbstirrd - January 11, 2012
Had more to do with the people around him than he himself imo.
North Coast Flea - January 11, 2012
I voted for Ratty.
JustBob - January 11, 2012
Hines Ward unbelievably is a liability any more in Pittsburgh. Maybe the best thing he does is block as a wide receiver. I would be shocked to see him still in Pittsburgh next year.
champion64 - January 11, 2012
Sorry…should have posted blockquoted phrase properly…
Please don’t ban me like BSC did for all those .gif files after the Tebow TD!!
Kosar19 - January 11, 2012
OT the just showed a clip from the Houston/Cinci game where Arian Foster was breaking up an argument between Vickers and Jerome Simpson. They were apparently arguing over politics.
BTW, Jerome Simpson is a free agent and I still want Vickers back.
HenryDawg - January 11, 2012
Chris seems to be in a fun mood today
SpecialBrownie - January 11, 2012
This is a great article by Chris Brown, who also writes at Smartfootball. More or less everything he writes is worth reading, but his Grantland posts are particularly simple to understand and easy to read, even if you aren’t a football nerd like me.
Anyway, the article is about the Texans’ zone scheme and he talks a little bit about why everyone doesn’t “just copy” that running game. Its way more than just deciding to run the outside zone play.
rufio - January 12, 2012
Interesting stuff in there and some of the other posts linked to that one. I especially liked the one explaining how SF retooled their playbook. Thanks.
JustBob - January 13, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Dawgs By Nature to post a comment.