Thoughts on Every AFC East Team's 2012 NFL Free-Agency Strategy

There is plenty to talk about now that free agency has kicked off for the 2012 offseason. Here are some thoughts on the actions thus far of your favorite AFC East teams. 

Miami Dolphins: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here

The Dolphins are clinging to hope with Peyton Manning like lint to a dryer sheet, but the bigger question is whether that hope is futile. If it is, the Dolphins can't afford to wait around forever.

Not only could they be losing out on their own, but they could also miss out on the opportunity to sign free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn, who has a visit planned with the Seattle Seahawks.

It seems fishy to me that the Dolphins are one of the few teams in the Manning sweepstakes that didn't host him for a visit—Joe Philbin actually flew out to Indianapolis.

The fact that Manning has not yet decided means the Dolphins aren't completely out of it yet, but it may not be too much longer before the waiting game starts to catch up to them.

New England Patriots: Business As Usual

No big splashes (yet). Shocked? Don't be.

The last time the Patriots made a big splash, they ended up with a bigger headache in the form of Adalius Thomas (heretofore, Adali-Oops).

On that note, it's worth pointing out that while some might be disappointed by the team's lack of big moves thus far, there are still a lot of solid free agents available and the Patriots continue to kick the tires on them—namely safety LaRon Landry, who is due in Foxboro for a visit with the team on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald.

And while the small moves may not seem like much, they can often be the most rewarding. Look no further than Mark Anderson and Andre Carter. Both were fairly innocuous acquisitions last year and ended up tying for the team lead in sacks (10) and becoming the first pair of Patriots since Andre Tippett and Garin Veris in 1985 to log 10-plus sacks each in a season.

Around this time of year, I'm always reminded of a favorite Belichick-ism: "We're building a team, not collecting talent."

New York Jets: History Repeating Itself

Because of their propensity to restructure contracts to make space for new free-agent signings, the Jets are stuck in a salary-cap bind where they don't have much choice but to restructure some more.

It began weeks ago with left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson getting restructured, then Mark Sanchez.

The Jets really didn't have much of a choice in the matter, especially if they wanted to retain defensive tackle Sione Pouha, but after down years for both Ferguson and Sanchez (the former more likely to bounce back than the latter, in my opinion), this could put the Jets in a similar situation next year.

Buffalo Bills: All Eggs, One Basket

Has anyone not named Mario Williams done anything worth mentioning in the city of Buffalo? Because if so, the media have done a terrible job reporting it.

We are now in the third day of Willliams watch, and the intensity (read: insanity) has reached an apex. How do we know? How about a Twitter account?

But it appears that may not be necessary, as Alex Marvez of Fox Sports writes that a deal "will be done" between the Bills and Williams.

The move would solidify the Bills defensive line for years to come.

Your Take

What do you make of your team's decisions so far? Leave a comment below and get the conversation started.