AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. writes the Bengals are prepared for RB Joe Mixon to hold out as he enters his contract year in 2020 if the two sides can’t agree to an extension. 
• He adds if Mixon shows up wanting a deal like what the Panthers just gave RB Christian McCaffrey — $16 million a year — that will be the end of negotiations and Cincinnati will start looking for a replacement. 
• However, Dehner doesn’t expect the Bengals to add more than a late-round or undrafted running back in 2020. 

Browns

Former Vikings HC Brad Childress has retired a few times now. He first retired as an assistant with the Chiefs, but then sandwiched a short stint as a head coach in the now-defunct AAF with two tenures as a senior advisor for the Chicago Bears. Earlier this year he didn’t rule out filling the same role for new Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, but now Childress says he’s retired for good. 

“People say, ‘Is he really retired? Is he really, really retired?’” Childress said via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “Yeah. Last year was my last year. I just felt like it was time to move on. It’s about time. I put my toe in the water in retirement and pretty soon you’ve got to jump in. It’s more about spending time with my family and grandkids and that type of thing.”

• TCU CB Jeff Gladney has had a virtual pre-draft meeting with the Browns. (Justin Melo)

Ravens

For most running backs, the age of 30 is like a cliff where their production and health dramatically tail off. However, Ravens RB Mark Ingram has gotten better with age over the course of his career and rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season at the age of 29. Ingram doesn’t see himself slowing down for a few more years. 

“Yes, that’s how I feel, man. I’m just blessed and thankful the Lord has my body feeling this way,” Ingram said via Tom Velente of the team’s website. “I’m with a great team that takes care of me, and I feel like I can play this game at a high level – at the highest level – for at least another four or five years. I feel like that. I honestly do.”

• Per the Athletic’s Ben Standig, Rams DT Michael Brockers‘ agent, Scott Casterline, said his client didn’t want to leave Los Angeles, but the Ravens were his top choice after Los Angeles’ offer was behind four other interested teams: “[Michael] didn’t want to leave the Rams, but if he was going to have to, the Ravens were his first choice.”
• However, Casterline thinks gossip from another team’s medical staff made Baltimore leery of Brockers’ sprained ankle despite two independent doctors clearing it. 
• After the Ravens made a new offer that was lower than what was initially agreed to, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta gave Casterline permission to look around with other teams: “They allowed me permission. I wouldn’t have done it behind their back.”
• Despite Casterline telling them the Rams were still interested, the Ravens didn’t change their new offer to Casterline and Brockers: “It got to a point where (Baltimore) made a take it or leave it offer — and I left it.”
• Los Angeles upped its offer and re-signed Brockers to a three-year, $31 million deal with $14 million guaranteed: “They made it happen. They did something they don’t normally do, in my opinion.”
• TCU CB Jeff Gladney has had a virtual pre-draft meeting with the Ravens. (Justin Melo)

Steelers

• The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly expects the Steelers to grab an offensive lineman or two in the middle rounds to help restock the team’s youth and depth at the position.