Good Morning, AFC North!

Leon Hall’s rehab progresses to all football drills

Leon Hall tore his Achilles for the second time in Week Seven last season and has been rehabbing the injury since then in hopes of making it back to the field in time of training camp and the regular season. That process took a step forward recently with Geoff Hobson of the team’s website reporting that Hall has been cleared to do all football drills.

Hall’s return to health would be a boost to the Bengals defense, but it probably won’t dissuade them from considering a cornerback in the first round next month.

Hall returning to form would be a big boost for Cincinnati. With an aging secondary and Kirkpatrick still struggling, the Bengals still could draft a CB in the draft.

 

 

 

Could NFL conduct rules come into play for Browns owner Jimmy Haslam?

Ten people who worked for his family-owned Pilot Flying J have pleaded guilty to charges tied to defrauding trucking companies that bought diesel fuel at Pilot’s service station plazas. Haslam has not been charged, and he has maintained he had no knowledge of any rebate shortages.

After Browns Director of Communications Zak Gilbert contacted NFL offices, league spokesman Brian McCarthy responded in an email to what he described as a “non-story”:

“There’s been no effect on the team’s football or business operations. Mr. Haslam has fully participated in the committee and league meetings over the past year, including the recent annual meeting in March in Orlando. As the commissioner said at that meeting when asked by one media member, there’s been no reason for us to take any action as of now and we don’t have any indication that will occur.”

In other news, The Browns signed FB Chris Pressley. Pressley is a former Bengal who didn’t live up to expectations.

 

 

 

Shortly after Terrance West finished working out for the Ravens on Monday, the former Towson star running back got a text message from coach John Harbaugh saying he intends to stay in touch. West is hoping his performance during the Ravens’ local prospect day is the start of a budding relationship with his hometown team, which is expected to draft a running back in May.

West has visited the Tennessee Titans and had private meetings with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He has six to seven upcoming visits, [including Minnesota and Seattle]..

Wake Forest wide receiver Michael Campanaro (River Hill), Towson cornerback Jordan Love, Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small (Cardinal Gibbons).

The Ravens are likely to draft a RB in the draft, regardless of the outcome of Ray Rice’s legal issues.

 

 

 

A look at the expected cap costs to sign the 2014 draft class

As reported yesterday the Steelers have a little over $380,000 in cap space.

After displacement, the loss of Woodley will create an additional $7.505 million in cap space [on June 1st] that will be needed in part to sign what looks to be nine selections right now in the upcoming draft.

Using estimate rookie contract figures provided by OverTheCap, who were incredibly accurate with their projections last year, the total cost [is] $6,098,643 in actual dollars to sign the 2014 draft class for their first year, presuming the Steelers stay in each of these slots come draft day.

After all the salary cap accounting procedures are taken into consideration, the cap hit of the draft class will come out as $2,018,643.

Woodley will account for dead money against the cap both this season and next, as he was designated a post June 1st cut. The salary cap, however, is projected to rise enough to accommodate that number.

 

The Sideline Report Announcement from Surge: If anyone is interested in going to Radio City Music Hall for the Draft for The Sideline Report work product only, these are the slots I can fill: Photographer, Press Box (Writers, Radio), TV Personality Interviews

Please contact Surge directly through email or the messaging system in the bottom left if you’re interested. Alternatively, you can let Dooommeeeedd or Ravenous128 know you’re interested in the comments section. The deadline is before April 18th. The 2014 NFL Draft begins Thursday, May 8th and ends on the 10th.