AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• Paul Dehner Jr of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Bengals are expected to move on from veteran DE Michal Johnson this offseason. 
• Other Bengals’ free agents who haven’t been a focus for Cincinnati to re-sign this offseason include LB Vinny Rey, OL Andre Smith, OL Jake Fisher, DL Kasim Edebali and QB Tom Savage.
• Dehner Jr says the next step for the Bengals this offseason will be exercising the fifth-year option on CB William Jackson III before working on contract extensions for players in contract years like WRs A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. 

Ravens

Former Ravens LB Terrell Suggs says GM Ozzie Newsome retiring factored into his decision to move on and sign with the Cardinals.   

“It was probably hands down the most difficult decision I ever had to make it my life,” Suggs said on FOX’s Undisputed this week, via Lisa Redmond of NBC Sports Washington. “Through and through, I’m an Ozzie Newsome guy. Once I knew Ozzie was going to step down as G.M., you know, I kind of had to question my future in a Ravens uniform.” 

Steelers

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said he and the team aren’t putting a lot of stock in the recent stories about QB Ben Roethlisberger‘s lack of leadership.

“We feel comfortable knowing Ben is our quarterback and our leader,” Colbert said via Mark Kaboly.  “Ben is an unquestionable top quarterback in this league, a Hall of Fame quarterback. He’s won Super Bowls.”

Colbert also said contract talks with Roethlisberger are still ongoing, per Aditi Kinkhabwala.  

“This is probably his last contract as an NFL player, so it’s significant,” Colbert said. 

• Regarding the trade of WR Antonio Brown, Colbert said: “We were open to looking into the trade possibilities. We found something that we were excited about and we made the deal without hesitation.” (Kaboly)
• With 10 draft picks, Colbert says his team is open for business on draft day: “When you have 10, you have more ammunition to either take 10 players or use ammunition to trade up.”  (Jeremy Fowler)