The AFC North has long been thought of as a traditional, old-school, hard-nosed, smash-mouth, run-it-down your throat, defensive-minded division. But this season, you have arguably 3 of the NFL's top quarterbacks playing in the same division. Big Ben has two rings and is leading the Stillers with a pass-first, run-second approach. Carson Palmer has great talent and is leading a resurgent Bengals team (as long as he can stay healthy). But Joe Flacco may end up being the class of the class. While only half-way into his second season, he seems to have it all - the arm, the intelligence, and the mentality. Even in the 3 nail-biters that we lost, Joe made the plays when they counted to keep the Ravens in the game. We are witnessing the maturation of a superstar before our eyes.

ESPN has a great article on Bawlmer's own Joe Cool --
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4597239

--- DAVID KATZ.