AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

Zac Taylor mentioned that he viewed the Bengals’ job as the best head-coaching position available this offseason. 

“A lot of coaches wouldn’t look at this place the way I did among the jobs that were available this year,” Taylor said, via Pro Football Talk. “For me, this would be close to the number one job. . . . No. This IS the number one job. It’s exactly what I want in a coaching job, everything I hoped for.”

“The Brown family is very big on loyalty in a cut-throat, bottom-line, dog-eat-dog league, when often you might just get two years to turn a program around,” Taylor added. “I just felt this was the right place at the right time. They hadn’t changed coaches in 16 years, and if they were going to change, this organization had the values I embraced.”

• The Bengals announced Monday that they’ve hired Jemal Singleton as RBs coach, Joey Boese as strength and Doug Rosefeld as conditioning coach and director of coaching operations.

Browns

Browns GM John Dorsey spoke to reporters on Monday about the team’s decision to sign RB Kareem Hunt to a contract. 

• Dorsey said the decision to sign Hunt “by means is this a guarantee of anything.” (Ian Rapoport)
• Dorsey added that Hunt as being extremely remorseful for “egregious” actions and “understands the act he’s committed.”
• According to Dorsey, they have a “zero tolerance” policy with Hunt moving forward. (Tom Withers)
• Dorsey says he’s hoping to help Hunt turn things around: “I think we’re all appalled by it…I’m willing to help him be a better man.” (Mary Kay Cabot)
• As for potential discipline from the NFL, Dorsey said they may know in a couple weeks. (Tony Grossi)
• Dorsey was asked about RB Duke Johnson‘s status with the team following this move: “I don’t think it makes him expendable yet.” (Mary Kay Cabot)

Steelers

• Peter King believes the market for Steelers WR Antonio Brown might end up being so low that Pittsburgh’s best option could end up being to keep him, even if they end up releasing him later on if issues persist. 
• King says the upside of making things work with Brown is better than “getting 30 cents on the dollar in a trade because teams don’t trust him.”