Four Down Territory: Links to the Best in AFC East Coverage, 2/16 Edition

Most of the talk on Wednesday around the AFC East centered around the draft, with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock giving a conference call to reporters and sharing his thoughts on the draft. Of course, the free-agent rumor mill kept spinning, with news about Peyton Manning's rehab and speculation around the league.

Let's take a look at it all in Thursday's "Four Down Territory."

New England Patriots

Jeff Howe of NESN.com shares his 20 weekly Patriots thoughts and has an interesting perspective on free-agent wide receiver, who just signed with player agent and Patriots front office nemesis Tom Condon. Howe says this could be just the thing to finally break the barrier between Condon and the team.

B/R featured columnist Tony Santorsa has an interesting question: Should the Patriots target free-agent defensive end Cliff Avril? He was a sack machine in the 4-3, but if the Patriots are switching back to the 3-4 next year, it may not be a fit. 

About Mayock: Several Patriots reporters were on hand to ask questions, and Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe writes that Mayock thinks the Patriots should be "all about defense" in this April's draft. There were a lot of interesting nuggets from the Mayock press conference, and I'll have a post up later today.

Miami Dolphins

B/R contributor and creator of NEPatriotsDraft.com James Christensen has a great approach on how to fix the Dolphins' quarterback situation. Peyton Manning is just one of many options, in addition to Matt Flynn and Robert Griffin III.

More from B/R, contributor Alessandro Migglio gives us his seven-round Dolphins mock draft, a must-read for fans looking to get familiar with a wide spread of prospects both high and low in this year's draft.

New York Jets

The Giants vs. Patriots matchup in the Super Bowl was tough for Rex Ryan to swallow, a theory which he confirmed to Jenny Vrentas of the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger. That should only motivate Ryan and the Jets in 2012.

And in that regard, B/R Jets featured columnist Aidan Mackie writes about free agents the Jets have a high and low chance of signing. From this perspective, if they are going to land any free agents, they'll have to restructure some salaries and cut ties with a few players.

Buffalo Bills

Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes that the draft pick acquired for Marshawn Lynch from the Seattle Seahawks is now a fifth-round pick, not much of a consolation for those who have watched Lynch rediscover "Beast Mode" with the Seahawks.

B/R featured columnist Robert Quinn has three players he doesn't think should be with the Bills next year, and though all are big names, he has a logical point behind each move.

Follow @ErikFrenz