AFC East Notes: Jets, Bowles, Dolphins

There was some talk of Todd Bowles being on the hot seat earlier this year, but it’s now time for the Jets to commit to the head coach with an extension, Manish Mehta of the Daily News argues. Bowles’ current deal expires after the 2018 season.

His message never changed. He never wavered. He never complained. That was huge for us. That kind of steadiness for us is bearing fruit right now. It’s why we won the game [against the Chiefs on Sunday],” quarterback Josh McCown said. “Because of how he handles himself and carries himself day in and day out.”

Many believed that the Jets were doomed to be cellar-dwellers in 2017, but they are 5-7 including competitive losses against the Patriots and Panthers. Giving Bowles an extension – even a one-year add-on – could give the Jets a sense of stability going forward.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Julius Thomas is unlikely to be back with the Dolphins at his scheduled salary cap hit of $6.6MM, but it seems possible that he could be back with the team at a reduced salary, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Thomas hasn’t put up the monster numbers that were once expected of him, but the tight end has been quietly productive. “I see it different than it seems everyone else does,” coach Adam Gase said. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do. I wish there’s been situations we’ve called plays for him and haven’t been able to get the ball to him either by coverage or the ball didn’t go there for whatever reason. When we’ve asked him to do things in the running game he’s given me max effort. He’s been there every day for us in practice and at games. Yeah, would I love him to have 12 touchdowns? Sure. We haven’t been able to have that many snaps until the last five games. That’s where he’s made his money. I think he’s had the third-most touchdown catches in the NFL since 2013 or something like that. He’s done exactly what we’ve asked. [Sunday] was a good example. That’s a big play. We wanted to get up. That’s the first guy I went to.”
  • Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been hit with a one-game ban for his after-the-whistle hit on Bills cornerback TreDavious White.
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