Doc's NFL Notebook
'08 Steelers Opponents
By James Santelli

Cincinnati Bengals (Week 7, Week 12)
MLB Odell Thurman was released by the Bengals on May 19, following his reinstatement to the NFL from a two-year suspension. Though no specific reason was given by the team concerning Thurman's release, the 24-year-old linebacker did not participate in team activities for over a week following his grandmother's funeral. The move marks an end to Thurman's three-year Bengals career; one that saw him lead the team with 148 tackles in his 2005 rookie season, followed by a four-game suspension for missing a league drug screening. The suspension was extended following a DUI charge which was later dropped... Free agent RB Shaun Alexander visited with the Bengals on May 5, but did not sign a contract. Alexander was released by the Seahawks in April following a 2007 season which saw him average 3.5 yards per carry, the lowest of his eight-year career. The Bengals finished 24th in the NFL with an average of 97.2 rushing yards per game last season. Starting RB Rudi Johnson missed five games in 2007, and averaged only 2.9 yards per carry.

Cleveland Browns (Week 2, Week 17)
The 2008 season will be the last for OLB Willie McGinest. "This will be it," said the 36-year-old McGinest to SI.com. "This will be my 15th season. I've worked hard; I think I've done everything I set out to accomplish." McGinest, the team captain, is entering the final season of his three-year contract with the Browns… GM Phil Savage signed a contract extension with the Browns through the 2012 season on May 2. Savage became general manager prior to the 2005 season following a stint as the Baltimore Ravens player personnel director. The 43-year-old executive helped put together the team that improved from 4-12 in 2006 to a 10-6 record in the 2007 season, just barely missing the playoffs. This signing follows head coach Romeo Crennel's agreement to an extension through 2011… Backup CB Kenny Wright was released by the Browns following an April arrest in Texas. Wright has been charged with misdemeanor counts of marijuana possession, unlawful restraint, and evading arrest. The nine-year veteran started one game in 2007, his first season with the Browns, recording 6 tackles.

Baltimore Ravens (Week 4, Week 15)
TE Quinn Sypniewski will not play in the 2008 season. The second-year backup suffered a knee injury during April minicamp after colliding with OLB Antwan Barnes, and likely won't recover until early 2009. The Colorado product started nine games in place of injured Todd Heap last season, recording 34 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown. Lee Vickers, who has two career catches, will be the team's No. 2 tight end... A grievance Terrell Suggs filed against the Ravens ended with the creation of a new position. The former Arizona State Sun Devil was designated with the franchise tag by the team as a linebacker, a one-year deal worth $8 million, even though Suggs played more snaps as a defensive end in the 2007 season. The defensive end franchise tag Suggs requested is worth $8.879 million. The franchise tag is determined by averaging the cap hit of the five top-paid players at the position. A compromise was reached with the NFLPA creating the defensive end/linebacker position. Suggs will earn about $8.5 million in 2008.

Houston Texans (Week 1)
After a leg injury that nearly ended his career, OT Charles Spencer is back in football. The former Pitt Panther broke his left leg in Week 2 of the 2006 season, and was kept off the field for over a year and a half. Following two surgeries and months of rehab, Spencer returned to the Texans during a post-draft minicamp. The 26-year-old Spencer is expected to compete with 11-year veteran Ephraim Salaam, who started all 16 games last season, for the starting left tackle spot.

New York Giants (Week 8)
Michael Strahan's future in football remains up in the air. The all-time active leader in sacks said that he has already made his decision, but told reporters, "I just want to make sure it's 100 percent…because either way it's a heck of a commitment." Strahan skipped Giants training camp in 2007 while considering retirement, yet still managed to post nine sacks, 12th in the NFC. Should Strahan decide to hang up his cleats for good, the position will be in the capable hands of 4th-year backup Justin Tuck, who finished last season with 10 sacks and 65 tackles.

San Diego Chargers (Week 11)
Though LaDaininan Tomlinson remains one of the league's elite rushers, LT will enter the 2008 season with a new supporting cast. 37-year-old FB Lorenzo Neal was released by the team in April, despite being an All-Pro selection in each of the last three seasons. The opening left by Neal will likely be filled by 6th-year fullback Andrew Pinnock, who has played his entire career with San Diego, and started 3 games for the team in 2007. Back-up Michael Turner left California for a starting role with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a six-year contract reportedly worth $34.5 million. Diminutive Darren Sproles, the fourth-year back out of Kansas State, will spell Tomlinson this season. Sproles racked up 37 carries for 164 yards, and recorded 2 touchdowns for the Chargers last season.

Dallas Cowboys (Week 14)
Two Pro Bowlers, RB Marion Barber and CB Terence Newman, were signed to contract extensions through 2014. Though Barber has only had one pro start, he leads the NFC with 24 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons, and his new deal gives him more guaranteed money ($16 million) than any other NFC running back. The 25-year-old will share carries with first-round selection Felix Jones of Arkansas. Former first-rounder Newman earned his payday after making his first trip to the Pro Bowl last season. The Kansas State product is now in the top tier of highly-paid corners following the signing of a six-year, $50.2 million extension. In just 11 starts last year, Newman recorded 50 tackles and 4 interceptions, the latter tying a career high.