AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Alonso, Jets, Davis

Can the Patriots be stopped by any team in the AFC this year? Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh certainly thinks so.

“I think the Patriots are definitely beatable,” Suh told ESPN (video link). “It’s just a matter of playing a good game, almost a perfect game in a lot of ways because they’ve got great coaching and obviously great players and talent on their side of the ball. So you’ve got to be going on all cylinders. Without question, I have a ton of respect for them, but without question, they’re definitely beatable as everybody is in the league.”

While you mull the mortality of the Patriots, here’s a look at the AFC East:

• The Dolphins have yet to tell any of their linebackers where they will be playing in 2017, but one team source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald that the most logical option is having Lawrence Timmons in the middle with Kiko Alonso at weakside. In the past, Alonso has been reluctant to move from inside linebacker, but it appears that he is going to have to make the shift in order to suit the offseason addition of Timmons. Alonso indicated back in March that he would be a good sport about switching positions for the former Steeler. He was probably a bit more amenable to the idea after inking a three-year extension worth up to $29MM.
• If Demario Davis is going to be a contributor for the Jets in his second go ’round with the team, he’ll have to do better in coverage, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Davis was always a good run stuffer for Gang Green, but teams routinely targeted him on wheel routes and gained yards at his expense. The Jets reacquired Davis in a June swap that saw Calvin Pryor go to the Browns. Many thought that Davis would be dropped from the roster, but he should be able to stick around after agreeing to a pay cut. The release of David Harris also created a need for the team at middle linebacker.
• Former Dolphins tight end Evan Rodriguez is hoping that his performance in the American Flag Football League last week will help him catch the attention of NFL teams. “I feel like this gave people a different view of me,” the former second round pick told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. “I know I was a big guy that coaches wanted to use as a physical guy with my size, and this flag football league let me take advantage of my size and show my athleticism for a big guy.” Rodriguez, who was drafted by the Bears in 2012, also had stints with the Bills and Buccaneers. He has not seen live NFL action since 2014 and he has not been on a roster since the Bucs cut him prior to the 2015 season.