AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• Per Fox 19’s Joe Danneman, Bengals WR A.J. Green reiterated he’s open to signing an extension to remain in Cincinnati for 2020: “If something should get done, then I’m here. I want to be here. I think they want me here. We’ll see what happens.”
• Bengals RB Joe Mixon also said he would like to sign an extension with the team: “At the end of the day, I want to be a Bengal for life.” (Ben Baby)
• Mixon added he hasn’t thought as far ahead as skipping workouts or holding out but he didn’t rule out that possibility: “I’ve always been all about the team. But if it comes to a point where I gotta think about me, that’s just what’s going to have to happen.” (Baby)

Browns

• Per NFL Media’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, Browns WR Jarvis Landry said the team needs more leadership in its next head coach: “Someone who demands respect, someone who respects his players and someone who respects opponents.”
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Patriots OC Josh McDaniels and former Ohio State HC Urban Meyer as potential head coaching candidates for the Browns. 
• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport lists Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski, Ravens OC Greg Roman and Saints DC Dennis Allen as other potential options. 
• McDaniels is expected to accept the Browns’ interview request, per ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
• Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson writes if McDaniels were the hire, he would expect him to bring in Patriots exec Dave Ziegler as his general manager and the Haslam family firing current GM John Dorsey.
• If Stefanski is the hire, Robinson points out he’s a favorite of Browns consultant Paul DePodesta and it likely means DePodesta takes more power ahead of Dorsey. 
• Former Packers HC Mike McCarthy is another option. (Tom Pelissero)
• The Browns are not interested in former Lions HC Jim Caldwell. (Kinkhabwala)
• Landry is waiting on results from an MRI on his hip to determine if he needs hip surgery, which would wipe out his entire offseason with a 6-8 month recovery timetable. (Nate Ulrich)
• Barry Jackson reports that Browns VP of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith is a candidate to return to his alma mater, Univ of Miami.
• According to Ian Rapoport, the Browns attempted to claim CB Tony Brown, but the Bengals had the top waiver priority. 

Ravens

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Ravens DC Don Martindale has emerged as a strong head coaching candidate and he would hire LSU OC Joe Brady in the same position on his staff. 

Steelers

Steelers LB Bud Dupree entered his contract year with no extension and something to prove. After he finished 2019 with a career-high 11.5 sacks, Dupree more than proved his abilities. But because of Pittsburgh’s tight cap situation, he might be waiting a little longer for another team to give him that long-term deal elsewhere. 

“You always want to finish what you start,” Dupree said via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “That lets you know you had a good career. … But, at the end of the day, the new NFL, it’s business. Lot of stuff going on our team, got a lot of stuff that we need to fit on this team, too. … I don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the day, but I know it’s business and I know the situation that we’re in that we need to fix.”

• Pryor points out the Steelers could save $4 million in cap space by releasing G Ramon Foster, though that would leave a big leadership void. 
• Steelers QB Mason Rudolph said he should be recovered from his shoulder injury in six to eight weeks after having surgery to reset his SC joint. (Pryor)