AFC.(American Football Conference team analyses)

Baltimore

WITH OPEN ARMS: Finding a quarterback is the team's top priority in free agency. The team appears well on the way to upgrading the position from a year ago as it pursues free agents Elvis Grbac and Brad Johnson. The team prefers Johnson because he played under coach Brian Billick in Minnesota, but Grbac might come at a cheaper price. Either player has a stronger arm than Super Bowl starter Trent Dilfer and should improve the passing game. However, Dilfer is probably tougher than either one of them.... The team is considering veteran Randall Cunningham as its No. 3 quarterback. In this scenario, Billick plans to promote Chris Redman to No. 2 so the second-year player will get mom repetitions in practice, but Cunningham will be the top replacement if the starter gets injured. Cunningham still has some life left in his arm and legs and, like Johnson, flourished under Billick in Minnesota.

COMFORT ZONE: The team did not pick up the option on veteran FS Rod Woodson's contract, but he probably will re-sign with the Ravens. Woodson prefers to play in a system he is comfortable with, and the Ravens play the same defense he prospered in at Pittsburgh. Plus, the Ravens have a solid chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs, and Woodson is a friend of defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. --Mike Preston

Buffalo

RETURNING THE FAVOR: QB Rob Johnson rewarded the team's faith in him by restructuring his contract to give the team some salary-cap relief. Johnson was scheduled to count $8.29 million against the cap, but his reworked deal is believed to have dropped that figure under $6 million without extending a deal that runs through 2002.... As the team squeezed to get under the league's salary cap, starting LB Sam Rogers and long snapper Ethan Albright surprisingly joined QB Doug Flutie (who was Johnson's rival for playing time), NT Ted Washington and P Chris Mohr on the waiver wire. DE Phil Hansen saved his job by agreeing to reduce his salary. LB John Holecek agreed to restructure his deal. The team still needs to find another $4 million in cap space to sign its draft choices.

FULLBACK SOUGHT: The coaching staff said it needs a fullback who can run and block in the West Coast offense. Several solid fullbacks are available, including Lorenzo Neal, Jon Witman and former Bill Sam Gash.... The dub has made restricted free-agent tender offers to T Robert Hicks, RB Jonathan Linton, G Victor Allotey and C Billy Conaty. That gives the team the right to match any offer the players might get. FS Keion Carpenter and WR Jeremy McDaniel are exclusive-rights free agents who were tendered offers, which effectively ties them to the team. --Allen Wilson

Cincinnati