Armond Armstead Retires
Patriots defensive tackle Armond Armstead has announced his retirement, according to an article on the team’s website. The 23-year-old has battled an assortment of conditions throughout his career, resulting in him missing the entire 2013 season.
Coach Bill Belichick released a statement:
“It has been a pleasure being around Armond, as he gave everything he could to play for us. Armond worked extremely hard since joining us last February. He’s had a lot of adversity personally that he’s had to deal with – unusual compared to most other players – but he’s always had a great attitude, worked hard and really did everything we asked him to do. While it is unfortunate he will not be able to play football, Armond is an outstanding young man who has a very bright future in whatever path he chooses.”
Armstead played three seasons with the USC Trojans, compiling 59 tackles and four sacks in 17 starts. The school’s staff would not medically clear him for the 2011 season, resulting in the player suing the school. Armstead claimed that a prescribed painkiller caused a heart attack.
After going undrafted in 2012, Armstead signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He was named to the league’s All-Star game after finishing with 43 tackles and six sacks. In early 2013, the Patriots inked the defensive lineman to a three-year deal. Prior to the 2013 season, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. Belichick said that the player had undergone surgery to treat an infection but believed it had nothing to do with his previous heart ailment (via Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe).
East Links: Pats, Bills, Eagles, Giants
The NFL may have a reason to look into the reported 33 pages of text messages (via Jenny Wilson of the Hartford Courant) between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former tight end Aaron Hernandez. As ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio writes, the league’s recent labor deal limits the amount of interaction between coaches and players during the offseason. The text messages, which were sent between February and May 2013, suggests some kind of communication.
However, the rule, which states “players’ activities may not be directed or supervised by any coaches,” can be interpreted very broadly and might not suggest a violation. Furthermore, the previous Peyton Manning/Adam Gase controversy proved that the league is willing to ignore some transgressions.
Let’s see what else is happening in the NFL’s East divisions…
- ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak gives Bills linebacker Randell Johnson a 75 percent change of making the squad, adding that Kiko Alonso‘s injury certainly helped his case.
- The Eagles have plenty of options moving forward if Nick Foles struggles in 2014, writes Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com. Since Foles is signed through 2015, the Eagles could delay extending the quarterback and draft a rookie to add some competition.
- Giants guard Chris Snee is “still on track” to recover from his various ailments and should be ready for the start of training camp, reports Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The veteran’s presence would be huge for the offensive line, but there are still plenty of question marks regarding his durability.
- Prince Amukamara, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walter Thurmond and Zack Bowman have pretty much locked up their respective spots on the Giants cornerback depth chart. ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano discusses who will earn the final cornerback spots, siding with Trumaine McBride and Jayron Hosley, who is suspended for the first four games. The writer suggests that Charles James and Bennett Jackson could also be in the running.
AFC Notes: Ravens, Broncos, Raiders, Jets
While it seems as if Andre Johnson may not be in attendance when the Texans open training camp later this month, teammate Arian Foster says he plans to support whatever decision Johnson makes.
“I understand where he’s coming from,” Foster said, per John Brannen of Click2Houston.com. “I really do. This is a business and people forget that it’s a business. He’s at the point of his career where he doesn’t want money now. He just wants to go win.”
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun expects the Ravens to keep six wide receivers, with five locks. In Zrebiec’s view, Jeremy Butler, Deonte Thompson, and LaQuan Williams will be the primary competitors for that sixth and final spot.
- In his latest mailbag, Mike Klis of the Denver Post doesn’t rule out the possibility that the Broncos will make one more noteworthy signing this summer, suggesting that he thinks a veteran running back could be added to the roster.
- Oakland mayor Jean Quan wants to postpone the City Council vote on the Athletics’ new lease agreement with O.co Coliseum while a few details on the agreement are clarified, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. “She is confident they will join her in supporting a lease that secures the team’s near-term future in Oakland, protects the ongoing Coliseum City negotiations with the Raiders, and lets us all move forward working on new ballparks for both teams,” Quan spokesman Sean Maher said.
- The Jets‘ signing of Eric Decker doesn’t have much downside, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, who identifies Decker’s contract as the best on the team. On the other end of the spectrum, David Harris‘ deal is the least team-friendly on the Jets’ books, in Fitzgerald’s estimation.
- Jordan Cameron (Browns), Julius Thomas (Broncos), and Devin McCourty (Patriots) are among the players that could be candidates for the franchise tag in 2015, says Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today.
AFC East Notes: Bills, ‘Fins, Pats, Jets
The Bills are coming off a disappointing 6-10 season during which rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel struggled (when he was able to remain on the field), and are now facing new ownership. Add the scrutiny placed on star players like C.J. Spiller and Mario Williams, and Buffalo is potentially facing a make-or-break season, writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. General manager Doug Whaley doesn’t dispute that the 2014 season is important for the Bills, but claims the team will not wilt under the pressure. “This is a results-based business,” Whaley said on draft night. “Every year we’re out to win as many games as possible and to make the playoffs. So that does not factor into what we do day-to-day, the ownership issue. Our issue is making the playoffs. That could be last year, this year, next year.”
- Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore has been largely successful when given a chance to start, but he seems to be wholeheartedly embracing the role of backup for 2014, per George Richards of the Miami Herald. “I would love it if we won every game, and I never played,” said Moore. “That means Ryan [Tannehill] is killing it. But limited time, getting in late in the year is tough. You know that’s the role of the No. 2 quarterback. That’s just the way it is.”
- Rich Cimini of ESPN.com previews the Jets’ quarterback depth chart, and notes, as PFR’s Zach Links wrote in his recent Offseason in Review, the Geno Smith/Michael Vick dynamic will be highly intriguing come training camp.
- Duron Harmon is the favorite to start at safety for the Patriots alongside Devin McCourty, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com in his assessment of New England’s second-year players.
Extra Points: Dreessen, Cutler, Ferguson
- Speaking with Vic Carucci & Dan Leberfeld on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Broncos tight end Joel Dreessen weighed in on the Jimmy Graham ruling, saying the decision struck a nerve and that he agreed with Tony Gonzalez’s take on the situation: “It’s kind of frustrating that guys who get asked to do probably the second most after the quarterback is kinda down there on the pay scale.”
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune listed 12 NFL training camp storylines to watch, including Jay Cutler‘s new deal. “The Bears signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a $126 million contract extension that is essentially a $54 million deal for the next three seasons before it goes year-to-year,” says Biggs. “It’s a huge payday that general manager Phil Emery based on future performance, as Cutler’s resume includes only one postseason victory.”
- Last year was an “uncharacteristically bad year” for Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, says the New York Post’s Brian Costello, who believes 2013 will prove to be “an aberration and not a sign of decline.” However, Costello does caution: “Ferguson has the highest salary cap figure on the team at $11.7 million. After a few restructurings to help the team gain salary cap space in 2012 and ’13, the bill is now coming due for the Jets. Ferguson’s cap numbers are huge for the next four years. If Ferguson’s play slips, the Jets might have to consider releasing him before the 2016 season, when they could save $9 million in cap space by cutting him.”
- Branden Albert of the Dolphins and Jairus Byrd of the Saints topped ESPN’s list of free agents who will transform teams. The last three seasons, Albert has allowed just 4.6 pressures per 100 pass blocks, good enough for third in the league over that span. As for Byrd, he allowed a paltry 0.23 yards per coverage snap last season, third-best in the league.
- Answering questions about the Eagles’ projected roster, PhillyMag.com’s Tim McManus said he doesn’t expect many “curveballs,” i.e. surprises, when the team’s 53-man is finalized. McManus expects LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles and Chris Polk to serve as the running back trio, and he expects Brad Smith to stick as the fifth receiver. The one mild surprise could be Travis Long forcing veteran Brandon Graham out, though that would mean employing two backups at defensive end (Long and first-rounder Marcus Smith) with no NFL experience.
- Entering training camp, 49 Patriots players are “sure-fire locks” or “near locks,” in the estimation of ESPN New England’s Mike Reiss, who breaks down the projected roster.
Extra Points: Lee, Jaguars, Bengals, Fitzgerald
NFL teams split an eye-popping $6 billion in revenue last season, writes ESPN.com’s Darrel Rovell, who figured out the total number by looking into the Packers’ financials. That money was divided equally among all 32 teams. The national revenue dollars the Packers and the rest of the league’s teams have received continue to climb over the years, with the total pie up 56 percent, factoring for inflation, since 2006. The most significant jump will happen next season, as new television deals with each of the league’s partners, along with the new CBS Thursday Night package, pushes the league’s media revenue from the networks alone to an average of more than $5 billion a season. More from around the NFL..
- Jaguars second-round pick Marqise Lee is only four of 256 draft picks who are unsigned and Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida-Times Union wonders why. Lee’s contract is slotted at a total value of $5.174MM over four years, including a $2MM signing bonus. A veteran agent tells O’Halloran that if agent Andrew Kessler of Athletes First is holding out for an un-slotted deal is wasting his time. Kessler could be holding out for workout money, but that would only be a disparity of $2-3K and that shouldn’t hold up a deal.
- More from O’Halloran, who writes that of the 17 undrafted rookies on the Jaguars‘ roster, there are two that stand out above the rest. Wide receiver Allen Hums has made a strong impression on coaches in the wake of injuries to others at the position. Tight end Marcel Jensen, meanwhile, has healed nicely from sports hernia surgery and is making a strong case to be on the roster.
- Andy Dalton is still trying to figure out a new deal with the Bengals and star wide receiver A.J. Green doesn’t want to work with any other quarterback, writes Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “We came in together and that is the great thing for me and him,” Green said. “I know he’s my guy. I don’t want any other quarterback throwing me the ball. I think he feels the same way about me.”
- The Patriots need a big target like Andre Johnson, writes CSNNE.com’s Jimmy Toscano. Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Kenbrell Thompkins, and the rest can’t be counted on to stretch the field in 2014.
- There was plenty of speculation, but Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald didn’t hear anything about the Patriots making a run for him at the trade deadline, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “[I heard] nothing at all. I mean, I heard stuff that was being said. But there was never a time where the team approached me. Nothing like that,” said the wide receiver, who is friendly with quarterback Tom Brady.
- The NFL will name former Vikings and Ravens center Matt Birk as its director of football development, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Birk will work with players, coaches, and front office execs.
Latest On Andre Johnson
The quiet period in the NFL calendar got a little more interesting today, when Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that Andre Johnson wants the Texans to trade him, and that there are four teams with interest in making a deal for the wide receiver. Since that story broke, a number of writers have suggested, via Twitter or in columns of their own, that Houston won’t be inclined to move Johnson because a trade would result in nearly $12MM in dead money on the team’s cap.
While I agree that a trade is unlikely, pointing to the potential dead money on Houston’s cap as the primary reason the club would prefer to keep him seems a little off to me. Since it’s after June 1, only $4.64MM of that dead money would count against the team’s cap in 2014, with the remainder ($7.32MM) being applied to 2015’s cap. Those are significant numbers for a player no longer on the roster, but Johnson’s cap hits if he remains a Texan are much higher — $14MM+ this season and $16MM+ in 2015. Trading Johnson would actually open up cap room this year and next for the club. It would just mean that a larger percentage of cap space is being committed to a veteran no longer on the club.
Trading Johnson wouldn’t be the best way for the Texans to manage their cap. But if the team could get a decent asset, such as a future draft pick or two, without taking on a sizable contract in return, there’s no reason why the club shouldn’t explore the possibility, regardless of that dead money. I just don’t think the Texans will get an offer at this point in the NFL year that makes a deal worth their while. We’ll have to wait and see how the situation plays out.
Here’s the latest on the Johnson situation:
- A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) that Johnson would restructure his contract to help a potential new team get under the salary cap but will not take a pay cut. Meanwhile, Rapoport (on Twitter) sees the Raiders as a possible landing spot if Johnson would greenlight a deal to Oakland since he shares an agent with GM Reggie McKenzie.
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via these Twitter links) throws cold water on the idea that the Patriots can land Johnson in a trade with the Texans. The Pats are currently $6.4MM under the cap, Johnson will earn a $10MM base, and trading Danny Amendola will add $2.25MM to the Pats’ cap. So, unless Johnson agrees to a heavily backloaded new contract, it’s not a likely pairing. The Pats can clear come space by cutting Dan Connolly and extending Devin McCourty and Stephen Gostkowski, but that’s a lot work to do before dealing for Johnson.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears a similar story to what Rapoport reported earlier today — after meeting with the Texans‘ new coaching staff and being reassured that the club wasn’t in full rebuild mode, Johnson had been willing to report to OTAs and minicamp this spring in order to receive his $1MM bonus. However, because the bonus hinged on the 32-year-old’s full participation in offseason activities, the Texans turned down that request. If there’s a rational explanation for why the team wasn’t willing to pay that $1MM to mend the fences and allow Johnson to save face, it “has yet to make its way into the eyes and ears of the media,” writes Florio.
- In his full story on Johnson from this morning, Rapoport noted that the wideout feels he has earned a measure of goodwill from the Texans, since he has restructured his contract three times at the team’s behest. That’s part of the reason why he’s upset about the $1MM slight. Of course, as Brian McIntyre points out, none of those three restructures – which saw a total of $18.5MM in salary or roster bonuses converted into signing bonuses – involved pay cuts, so it’s not as if Johnson was making huge sacrifices (Twitter links).
- Florio and NFL.com’s Marc Sessler both ran through a list of potential suitors for Johnson, should the Texans start to seriously explore trades. Predictably, there’s plenty of overlap, with the Browns, Ravens, Patriots, Panthers, and Chiefs showing up in both pieces. Florio also identifies the Falcons, Chargers, and Rams as possibilities, while Sessler names the Seahawks and Jets.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Browns, Gordon
The Steelers have been a perennial playoff contender in the AFC for the better part of the last 15 years, finishing below .500 just once during the 2000s, and winning two Super Bowls during that period. However, they’re one of a few AFC clubs, along with the Patriots and Broncos, whose title windows could conceivably close within the next three years or so, writes Field Yates of ESPN.com. In his Insider-only piece, Yates digs deeper on the three AFC teams, specifically focusing on Ben Roethlisberger‘s role in determining whether or not Pittsburgh remains in the Super Bowl hunt going forward.
Here’s more from around the AFC North:
- The Browns would like to extend the contracts of quarterback Brian Hoyer and tight end Jordan Cameron, but given the complicated nature of the negotiations, there’s a good chance talks will continue into training camp and beyond, writes Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
- Sources tell Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that Josh Gordon may ultimate receive a singular punishment from the NFL for his alleged failed drug tests and DUI, though it’s not clear yet whether that suspension will be for a full season. In any case, while some of Gordon’s Browns teammates feel betrayed after the wideout promised last year that he wouldn’t be in trouble again, every league official that spoke to Freeman believes Gordon will play in the NFL again, either in Cleveland or elsewhere.
- ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley examines some former Ravens who are still counting against the team’s cap in 2014, including Titans safety Bernard Pollard and Giants linebacker Jameel McClain.
Offseason In Review: New England Patriots
Notable signings:
- Darrelle Revis (CB): Two years, $32MM. $11.5MM guaranteed. Second year is team option.
- Julian Edelman (WR): Four years, $17MM. $6MM guaranteed.
- Brandon LaFell (WR): Three years, $9MM. $3MM guaranted.
- Brandon Browner (CB): Three years, $15.15MM. $1MM guaranteed.
- Ryan Wendell (G): Two years, $3.25MM. $850K guaranteed.
- Michael Hoomanawanui (TE): Two years, $2.4MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Patrick Chung (S): One year, $1.1MM. $60K guaranteed.
- Danny Aiken (LS): One year, $725K. $55K guaranteed.
- James Anderson (OLB): One year, minimum salary benefit. $15K guaranteed.
- Will Smith (DE): One year, minimum salary benefit. $15K guaranteed.
- Josh Hull (LB): One year, minimum salary.
Notable losses:
- LeGarrette Blount (RB)
- Andre Carter (DE)
- Austin Collie (WR)
- Dane Fletcher (DE)
- Steve Gregory (S): Released
- Matthew Mulligan (TE)
- Isaac Sopoaga (DT): Released
- Brandon Spikes (LB)
- Will Svitek (OT)
- Aqib Talib (CB)
- Adrian Wilson (S): Released
Extensions and restructures:
- Vince Wilfork (DT): Extended through 2016. Two years, $11MM. $2.6MM guaranteed. Reduced 2014 cap hit from $11.6MM to $6.683MM.
- Tommy Kelly (DT): Restructured contract. Reduced base salary from $1.95MM to $955K in exchange for a $100K signing bonus, additional per-game roster bonuses, and playing-time incentives.
Trades:
- Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 105) and a sixth-round pick (No. 179) from the Jaguars in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 93).
Draft picks:
- Dominique Easley, DT, Florida (1.29): Signed
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois (2.62): Signed
- Bryan Stork, C, Florida State (4.105): Signed
- James White, RB, Wisconsin (4.130): Signed
- Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford (4.140): Signed
- Jon Halapio, G, Florida (6.179): Signed
- Zach Moore, DE, Concordia-St. Paul (6.198): Signed
- Jemea Thomas, DB, Georgia Tech (6.206): Signed
- Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan (7.244): Signed
Other:
- Exercised Nate Solder‘s fifth-year option for 2015 ($7.438MM).
- Have discussed extension for Devin McCourty.
- Received one compensatory draft pick.
- Attempting to recover bonus money from Aaron Hernandez.
- Signed 13 rookie free agents after the draft.
The Patriots didn’t come into this offseason with a ton of cap space but somehow they found a way to make some solid upgrades and fill holes with what little they had. Pound-for-pound, it might have been one of the best offseasons of any team in the NFL.
Things didn’t look so great for the Patriots when the Broncos plucked free agent cornerback Aqib Talib earlier this offseason. After all, how do you respond to losing one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL? Answer: sign a better one. New England was able to convince Darrelle Revis to come aboard on a deal that basically amounts to a franchise tender, making their secondary even stronger. Revis’ status beyond this season is anything but certain, but in the interim, Bill Belichick & Co. must be champing at the bit to get the season started. If all goes according to plan, Revis Island will reestablish itself in Foxboro before he moves on elsewhere, giving New England cap space to work with beyond this season.
The Pats also made another strong upgrade to their secondary with their signing of Brandon Browner. Yes, the cornerback will be sidelined for the first quarter of the season thanks to his suspension, but he’s a bargain on a deal that tops out at $3.46MM and will leave the Pats without any real penalty should they cut bait. If Browner stays on the straight and narrow, he could be a strong partner on the other side of the field for Revis, with veteran Kyle Arrington there to man the slot. Former Eagles safety Patrick Chung, who was signed to a $1.1MM deal, will be an asset in reserve as well as a strong special teamer. Safety Adrian Wilson, who tore achilles during preseason last year, will be seeking employment elsewhere.
There was also change in the front seven. Veteran linebacker Brandon Spikes left to join up with the Bills and the Pats will work from within to help fill the gap. Dont’a Hightower will shift back over to middle linebacker with Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins likely joining him in the starting lineup. Hightower is a deceptively fast LB who should be able to do just fine with his increased coverage demands. Collins, who found the spotlight in last year’s playoffs, has the athleticism to keep the pressure on opposing QBs.
To bolster the d-line, the Patriots picked up talented defensive tackle Dominique Easley out of Florida. Easley was arguably the most explosive defensive lineman in the draft but fell to the Pats at No. 29 thanks to an injury history that includes two torn ACLs. If he’s healthy, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him stand as one of the best talents from the 2014 draft. If he’s not, then the Pats’ d-line will be hurting. Veteran Will Smith will also be on board to provide additional depth.
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots wisely waited out the market to get a reasonable deal done with wide receiver Julian Edelman. While Edelman looked to be an extremely hot commodity at the start of free agency, the Patriots stayed cool and signed him to a four-year, $17MM deal that has $8MM guaranteed. To strengthen things up further down the depth chart, the Pats signed longtime Panthers receiver Brandon LaFell. Often dwarfed by No. 1 target Steve Smith, LaFell has shown flashes of brilliance in Carolina and should do quite well out of the slot. A three-year, $9MM deal ($3MM guaranteed) seems like a fair deal for both sides.
There will be some change in the backfield this season after LeGarrette Blount left to join the Steelers. Blount wasn’t a central part of the gameplan last season, but he came on strong at the end of the year and showed promise as a power rusher. Fourth round pick James White out of Wisconsin could come in and fill fill his spot on the depth chart admirably, even if he’ll do it with less brute force than his predecessor.
Second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t want to hear it, but there has been non-stop talk of the Northern Illinois signal caller becoming the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Brady isn’t going anywhere right now, so more immediately, Garoppolo is being groomed to blossom into a solid No. 2 starting in 2015 when Ryan Mallett could find himself elsewhere. The Pats were looking hard at other QBs in the draft, including Greg Schiano‘s crush Tom Savage, but ultimately they fell in love with Garoppolo and his lightning quick release.
Not much was expected out of New England this offseason give their cap situation, but they actually restocked quite well and positioned themselves as one of the AFC’s strongest teams in 2014, thanks mostly to the Revis signing. Whether it’s enough to topple the likes of the Broncos or even the boom-or-bust Jets in the AFC East, however, remains to be seen.
Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Poll: Who Will Win The AFC East?
Over the past decade, as teams across the NFL have risen and fallen in the standings from year to year, few – if any – teams were more consistent than the New England Patriots. In the last 11 years, New England has claimed 10 division titles. The only year the team didn’t finish atop the AFC East was 2008, a campaign in which Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 and the Pats still finished with an 11-5 record, losing a division tiebreaker to the Dolphins.
After an offseason that saw the Pats bring back most of their key contributors and add one of the best cornerbacks in football (Darrelle Revis), New England seems to be the safe bet to win the AFC East once again. But the rest of the division appears ready to compete in the short term, and won’t go down quietly.
The Jets, who finished 8-8 in 2013, had trouble scoring points last season, but revamped their offense this spring, adding Eric Decker, Chris Johnson, and Michael Vick in free agency. Johnson’s best years may be behind him, and Vick won’t necessarily get the chance to start immediately, but even so, the veteran additions could give a boost to a unit that lacked the ability to make big plays a year ago.
As for the Dolphins, the East’s other .500 team, their success may hinge on a revamped offensive line, which now features free agent signees Branden Albert and Shelley Smith, as well as rookies Ja’Wuan James and Billy Turner. Miami’s coaching staff, led by head coach Joe Philbin, may be entering a make-or-break year, so they’ll certainly be motivated to find a way to get the Dolphins a couple extra wins and playoff spot.
Finally, last year’s East cellar-dweller – the Bills – swung for the fences on draft day two months ago, trading 2015’s first-round pick to the Browns in order to move up to snag wide receiver Sammy Watkins fourth overall. Watkins should have an immediate impact and will make E.J. Manuel‘s life much easier, but it’s not clear yet if Manuel is ready to take that next step and become an above-average NFL quarterback. Additionally, the loss of Kiko Alonso to a season-ending injury will have a significant impact on a defense that saw its 2013 coordinator (Mike Pettine) depart in the offseason for a head coaching job in Cleveland. Although the Bills still have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, a lot would have to break right for the club to compete for a division crown.
What do you think? Will the Pats take the AFC East for the 11th time in 12 years, or will one of the three upstarts steal it away from New England in 2014?
Which team will win the AFC East?
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New England Patriots 70% (398)
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Miami Dolphins 11% (60)
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New York Jets 10% (59)
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Buffalo Bills 9% (52)
Total votes: 569
Previously:
Who will win the AFC North?
Who will win the AFC West?
Who will win the AFC South?