OPEN CAMP:

July 31, Latrobe, Pa.

LAST SEASON:

QB Ben Roethlisberger's unprecedented rookie year (13-0 in regular season) and power RBs Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley carried Steelers to best regular season in franchise's 72-year history after 6-10 record in 2003. Hosted AFC championship game, lost to New England.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS:

WR Cedrick Wilson, TE Heath Miller, WR Fred Gibson, CB Bryant McFadden.

IMPORTANT LOSSES:

WR Plaxico Burress, LB Kendrell Bell, RG Keydrick Vincent, RT Oliver Ross, TE Jay Riemersma.

CAMP NEEDS:

Get Roethlisberger comfortable quickly with Wilson, signed from the 49ers, and Gibson, a fourth-round draft pick who could play immediately. G Kendall Simmons, back after missing last season with knee injury, and second-year T Max Starks must settle in quickly on right side of OL.

EXPECTATIONS:

Almost certainly won't be better in regular season and Roethlisberger must rebound from rookie mistakes in postseason.

OPEN CAMP:Aug. 1, Westminster, Md.LAST YEAR:Hoped for trip to Super Bowl, but went 2-4 down stretch and failed to qualify for playoffs. Scored 10 points or fewer in five games, and were outscored 106-87 in fourth quarter.IMPORTANT ADDITIONS:CB Samari Rolle, WR Derrick Mason, LB Tommy Polley, G Keydrick Vincent, WR Mark Clayton.IMPORTANT LOSSES:CB Gary Baxter, WR Travis Taylor, G Bennie Anderson, LB Peter Boulware.CAMP NEEDS:New offensive coordinator (Jim Fassel) and new defensive coordinator (Rex Ryan), which means both units will use training camp to adjust. Most importantly, newcomers Mason and Clayton must work with QB Kyle Boller to revive passing attack that ranked 31st last year.EXPECTATIONS:Having filled holes at CB and WR, Ravens expect to make playoffs and make run at Super Bowl - if Boller does his share and defense makes strides.

OPEN CAMP:July 29, Georgetown, Ky.LAST YEAR:Had second consecutive break-even season under Marvin Lewis, best back-to-back finishes since 1989-90. QB Carson Palmer worked through usual growing pains in first season as starter. Kept offense intact re-signing RB Rudi Johnson, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and C Rich Braham.IMPORTANT ADDITIONS:Chuck Bresnahan promoted to defensive coordinator; DT Bryan Robinson; LBs Dave Pollack and Odell Thurman - top two draft picks expected to play a lot in a retooled defense.IMPORTANT LOSSES:LB Kevin Hardy.CAMP NEEDS:Lewis is changing training camp routine to have his team fresh for September, hoping to avoid another slow start. Four of first six games are on road.EXPECTATIONS:For first time since days of Sam Wyche and Boomer Esiason, Bengals are expected to win. Haven't had winning season or made playoffs since 1990, one of longest streaks of futility in NFL history. After consecutive 8-8 seasons during Lewis' rebuilding, anything less than nine wins would be major disappointment.

OPEN CAMP:July 29, Berea, Ohio.LAST YEAR:After starting 3-3, Browns lost nine straight and coach Butch Davis quit with five games left. Browns had 15 players on injured reserve and didn't have enough depth to replace them. Free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia was a disaster.IMPORTANT ADDITIONS:New coach Romeo Crennel arrives with five Super Bowl rings and staff that knows what it takes to win. First-time general manager Phil Savage is regarded as one of league's top personnel evaluators. QB Trent Dilfer is leader club has lacked in recent years and rookie WR Braylon Edwards could become his favorite target. Free agent Gs Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman will anchor revamped offensive line.IMPORTANT LOSSES:TE Kellen Winslow Jr.'s motorcycle accident is another blow. Injuries slowed DE Courtney Brown, former No. 1 overall pick who left for Denver along with underachieving and overfed DT Gerard Warren.CAMP NEEDS:An outside pass rusher in Crennel's 3-4 defense. RBs Reuben Droughns, Lee Suggs and William Green will battle for starting job, with one of the losers likely to be traded.EXPECTATIONS:Crennel will need a few years to turn what has been arguably NFL's most dysfunctional team. Emphasis is as much on character and team as talent, a philosophy Crennel saw work firsthand in New England. Five wins would be success.