This didn't make today's column, but CBS sent along Randy Cross' thoughts at approximately the halfway point of the NFL season. Here's some of what he had to say:

 On the Ravens: "If this defense can hold up for another 10 games, the Ravens stay in the hunt, but a couple of injuries and 2008 could get real long, real quick." (Either they asked him before the Ravens played their seventh game or he has them going to at least one playoff game.)

On the Steelers: "Mike Tomlin has seamlessly added to the mix a renewed swagger while keeping all the traits of what has always set this team apart.  Short of a medical Armageddon, the Steelers are still clearly the class of the AFC North." (We'll forgive him the misuse of Armageddon. I think he meant Apocalypse.)

On the Patriots: "This will be a playoff team by year's end, but keeping pace with the Bills may prove to be tough. The Patriots need to get in touch with their old 'no stars' approach from earlier this decade."

On the Browns: "Was that Monday against the world champs from New York or Sunday against the Jags the real you or just a bad tease?"

On the Titans: "On defense, the Titans are oppressive, persistent and downright nasty. You owe it to your football viewing pleasure to see the raw power of this defense.  And when you do, concentrate on the defensive line -- a pack of carnivorous predators who race each other every down to the ball."

On the 49ers: "Right now, the Bay Area is where football goes to die.  When it comes to the prospects for the two NFL franchises, the 'Black Hole' isn’t a part of the Oakland Coliseum stands, it is a spot equidistant between the Raiders and 49ers towards which they are both sliding."

# # #

Cross isn't doing Sunday's Ravens game. It will be Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon. Maybe I've missed it, but I'm not sure Gannon has mentioned his shared University of Delaware background with Joe Flacco in his previous Ravens assignments this season.