November 18, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed (20) in pass coverage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL just announced that Ravens safety Ed Reed’s one-game suspension has been overturned and been changed to a $50,000 fine. He will be ready to play this Sunday when the team heads to San Diego to face the Chargers, a team that bested them last season by a score of 31-7.

Former NFL assistant coach Ted Cottrell, who oversaw the appeals process, had this to say to Reed regarding the suspension:

I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline.  However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay. P layer safety is the league’s primary concern in the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action.  I hope in the future you will focus on ensuring that your play conforms to the rules.

Dec 11, 2011; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers (24) is called for pass interference against New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress (17) during the game at Met Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent receiver Plaxico Burress. The 35-year-old has been a free agent since last season when he recorded 45 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jets, who opted not to bring him back after his one season there. He originally spent five seasons (2000-04) in Pittsburgh, so there is familiarity there. The singing does show just how banged up the Steelers are, as they have already ruled out Jerricho Cotchery for Sunday’s AFC North game against the Cleveland Browns, as he recovers from a rib injury.

While Head Coach Mike Tomlin has not ruled out injured Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown for Sunday’s game against the Browns, his status is a bit concerning going forward, given the team felt they needed to take a chance on Burress, something 31 other NFL teams were unwilling to do. One has to wonder how bad Brown is hurt right now as he suffers through a high-ankle sprain which has caused him to miss the past two weeks.

With Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich suffering from injured ribs(what’s with the Steelers and rib injuries) , the team also opted to sign free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer, who was with the Patriots in the preseason, but was cut in favor of Ryan Mallet, and has attempted only 43 passes in his NFL career.

With all of the injuries the Steelers are suffering through, the Baltimore Raven are now poised to claim their second-straight AFC North crown, and Sunday night’s 13-10 victory over the Steelers was the Ravens’ 12th straight in the AFC North, which ties the Colts for the longest division win streak since the division realignment in 2002, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Hopefully, the Bengals can end that dominance in Week 17 in front of a packed Paul Brown Stadium

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December 6, 2010; Foxboro, MA, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) is intercepted by New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty (32) in the 4th quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

I posted on Twitter last night that I would go crazy if the Bengals ended up signing Braylon Edwards after there were reports posted about the Bengals potentially being interested in adding him to their roster. There are some mixed feelings right now in Bengaldom about if the team should go ahead and sign a veteran free agent wide receiver, or leave their receiving corps the way it is. I firmly believe that Cincinnati should stick with the current roster. Here are some reasons why I feel this way.

First off, the Bengals have not had a good track record in the signing of aging, injured, or inconsistent veteran wide receivers. To replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the team signed Laveranues Coles in 2009 to a 4-year; $28 million contract to try to fill the void. After a lackluster performance with 43 receptions for 514 yards and 5 touchdowns, Coles was released in 2010. The following season, the Bengals decided to bring in Antonio Bryant to replace Coles. Bryant signed a similar deal with Cincinnati for 4-years, $28 million. He never played a down for the team. In that same season the Bengals also brought in Terrell Owens, who albeit played well that year, became a huge distraction when the team wasn’t winning, concentrating more on reality television than on football.

In 2010 the Bengals drafted Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas with the 191^st overall selection in the sixth round. Briscoe was a steal in that draft. He had a great frame, good size, great hands, and was a very crisp route runner. The Bengals liked Briscoe during camp and the preseason, but had to cut him and try to sign him to the practice squad because of the veteran wide receivers already on the roster. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers snatched Brisoce before the Bengals could get him on the practice squad. I still think Briscoe could be a solid number 2 wide receiver, but Cincinnati will never know.