Aubrayo Franklin News

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here: There's optimism that Phil Taylor will make a "significant impact" this season after the Browns defensive tackle underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle Thursday, a league source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer .

The draft is over and many free agents have been gobbled up as teams are moving forward in their preparations for the 2012 NFL season.

Remi Ayodele, who was part of the New Orleans Saints' 2009 Super Bowl team before signing with Minnesota as a free agent last year, is coming back to New Orleans.

When the New Orleans Saints made their first selection in the 2012 NFL Draft with the 26th pick in the third round, 89th overall, it came off as quite a surprise for fans.

Hicks, 6 feet 5 and 318 pounds, began his career in junior college before making a brief stop at LSU, then heading to Regina in Saskatchewan without ever playing for the Tigers.