Sunday Six-Pack of AFC East News and Thoughts, 3/25 Edition

Here's a collection of thoughts on the recent news and the free agency frenzy around the AFC East.

1) I think the report that Tim Tebow came to the Jets because he "sees a clear path to resuming his career as a starter" is ridiculous. The report, which comes from Gary Myers of the New York Daily News, seems to forget that his other choice (if he even had a choice) was the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Statistically, there's no question that he has a better shot at starting in Jacksonville over New York. Plus, with a new regime taking over in Jacksonville, there's no emotional ties to Blaine Gabbert, who was drafted 10th overall in 2011, whereas the emotional ties between Rex Ryan/Mike Tannenbaum and Mark Sanchez are well-documented.

2) I think Tebow could be to Sanchez what Peyton Manning was to Tebow: A way out for the front office and coach. As Myers points out, very few back-up quarterbacks ever join a team with guaranteed playing time. If Sanchez starts to falter (again), the Jets have an easy out to give Tebow more playing time, perhaps eventually start him, and the transition could be as seamless as Pachelbel's Canon.

3) I think the Bills are following the Texans' blueprint for winning a quarterback-dominated division. They even used the same player as a building block, acquiring Mario Williams to bolster the pass rush. That was their biggest weak point for the Bills' defense last year, as the team accumulated just 29 sacks.

The Bills watched the Patriots lose three games in 2011 to teams that can rush the passer effectively, and the Giants were able to do so despite major problems on the back end of their defense. The Bills made the wise choice switching to a 4-3 front to increase their ability to do so. Even if it was a pricey move, adding Mark Anderson to the mix only helps the cause.

4) I think the influence of Josh McDaniels was felt in New England during free agency. It's not hard to connect the dots: the last time the Patriots aggressively addressed the wide receiver position was in 2007, McDaniels' second year as offensive coordinator.

The Patriots certainly needed the help at receiver, especially in terms of an outside-the-numbers "X" receiver, but with such a bevy of new and old weapons, look for the Patriots to break out the spread sets with frequency, incorporating tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in as receivers in five-wide formations. 

5) I think Deion Branch's one-year contract is insurance against a catastrophe at receiver, in which none of the free agent acquisitions pan out. Branch figures to lose playing time to the likes of Brandon Lloyd and/or Donte Stallworth, and both are much better X receivers than Branch.

What's more, the Patriots added Anthony Gonzalez, who (when healthy) provides a similar skill set to Branch. As important as Branch has been to the offense, a high number of snaps for him in 2012 would likely be a worst-case scenario for the Patriots.

6) I think Stephen Ross is crazy if he thinks his phone call to 20-year season-ticket holder Jason Lawrence doesn't come off as simply a PR move. In the span of one phone call, he said

1. he would have cut his leading receiver Brandon Marshall if they hadn't found a trade partner,
2. the Dolphins could have had Matt Flynn if they really wanted him, and
3. the Dolphins didn't want Tebow because he's not a fit for the offense.

Tebow's not a fit in any NFL offense, so that answer seems erroneous, but I could understand avoiding him simply because of the circus it brings. I'm confused, however, on the first two points.

How could you justify cutting Marshall with no compensation just two years after signing him to a new contract? And if the Dolphins didn't want Matt Flynn, why'd they even bother bringing him in? Did they think that they'd uncover some great mystery about Flynn that Joe Philbin had somehow missed in the three seasons they had worked together?

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