Words with Frenz: AFC East Mailbag, 3/30 Edition

The Words With Frenz mailbag is my way of being the AFC East's Radioshack: You've got questions, I've got answers.

Whose job could be on the line this year? Did the Jets make a big mistake bringing in Tim Tebow? What can the Dolphins do at quarterback if they miss out on Ryan Tannehill? Will the Patriots add another running back ?

It's all on the table in this week's mailbag, so let's get right to it.

"

@ErikFrenz Can you give us a player who is entering a make or break year from each AFC East team?

— Arjuna Ramgopal (@AvkarSiv) March 30, 2012"

Great question to start us off, Arjuna. Quite possibly the best question I've ever received in my time doing the mailbag.

New York Jets: Mark Sanchez

Guaranteed money notwithstanding, this was a make-or-break year for the Jets QB even before the acquisition of Tim Tebow. While his contract may not be conducive to a release if he has another below-average season, Jets fans won't hesitate to chant for Tebow if and when Sanchez underperforms.

He has to improve on the field, to be sure, but he must also step up and become the leader the Jets need in the locker room.

Buffalo Bills: Leodis McKelvin

Entering his fifth season with the Bills, McKelvin has yet to live up to the billing as a first-round draft pick. In his four seasons thus far, he's yet to allow a passer rating any lower than 95, according to Pro Football Focus.

There is already at least one report from the Buffalo News that McKelvin's roster spot could be in jeopardy this offseason. He has one year left on his contract, and while the team could still bring him back on a cheaper contract as depth, he has to perform up to a level that warrants that sort of consideration.

New England Patriots: Chad Ochocinco

While fans and some members of the media might not have wanted to give Chad Ochocinco a pass on his 2011 season, it's understandable why he didn't live up to expectations. A lockout-shortened offseason combined with what is a pretty difficult offense to learn, can make for a tough transition for any receiver, even a veteran like No. 85.

This season, there are no excuses. A full offseason program to learn the offense and to develop rapport with Tom Brady, a depth chart full of newly acquired talent at receiver and a restructured contract are all indications that if it doesn't work out quickly for Ochocinco, the team will have no problem parting ways, and with good reason.

Miami Dolphins: Phillip Merling

This was a tough call because so much of what the Dolphins are doing is brand new due to their regime change. Still, Merling has had plenty of time to come into his own, and with the Dolphins switching to a hybrid 3-4/4-3 defensive front, he'll have to make the most of limited opportunities.

Merling signed a one-year deal, according to Rotoworld, which means he's got this year to prove himself worthy or he'll find himself in the unemployment line looking for work as a free agent yet again in 2013.

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I go back and forth on which was the bigger offseason mistake: Keeping Holmes or trading for Tebow. #Jets

— Bart Hubbuch (@NYPost_Hubbuch) March 30, 2012"

So this question wasn't posed as a mailbag question, but it's worth answering.

On one hand, Holmes is a talented player on the field and was one of the figureheads behind the locker room collapse of the Jets. On the other hand, trading for Tim Tebow has the potential to create just as much strife for the Jets as they had last year, and will contribute marginally on the field (20 snaps a game? No way).

Winning fixes everything. Being committed to building a winning organization would help keep Holmes in line. He was a model citizen his first year with the Jets, because they were a winning organization in 2010 and went to the AFC championship. We hardly heard a peep from him when he was with the Steelers, because they were a championship organization in that time (well, that and he had a quarterback who could get him the ball).

Tebow is a great presence in the locker room, but is he going to directly impact the Jets' ability to win football games? He certainly won't give Sanchez a weapon in the red zone, and he's not going to be able to replace Wayne Hunter at right tackle. The only way Tim Tebow will directly impact the Jets' ability to win games is if Sanchez performs poorly enough to warrant putting Tebow in as the starter.

And if that's the case, the point will have already been proven. The bigger mistake was Tebow.

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@ErikFrenz Sounds like the Dolphins will miss out on Tannehill. They'll probably still draft a QB though, right? If so, who are their target

— Arjuna Ramgopal (@AvkarSiv) March 30, 2012"

Whether they miss out on Tannehill depends on whether the Browns make a big-time reach for Tannehill at No. 4 or if they boost his stock at that spot and trade their pick to a team that might want him. Still, I don't see a team trading up into the top five for Tannehill, but you're right that the Browns might be the team to pull the trigger.

If that happens, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden is the next quarterback on the board. While his age (28) might be a red flag, remember that quarterbacks these days are playing into their mid-to-late 30s. The rules that protect quarterbacks should only serve to prolong the careers of quarterbacks.

If Weeden isn't their guy either, the next quarterback on the board is Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins. He's good on the short-to-intermediate throws necessary to be a solid West Coast offensive quarterback, but getting down to fundamentals, his footwork isn't what it should be. 

There are options besides Tannehill, to be sure, but as we get further down the board, there are more and more reasons to stick it out with Matt Moore and David Garrard for 2012 and wait on next year's crop of QBs.

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@ErikFrenz Ok. I find it hard to believe BB will go into camp w 3 RB. Who do they bring in? Obv not Forte, but could we see a trade?

— Keith Fortier (@Phorts) March 30, 2012"

We could see a trade, Keith, but one name I'm keeping in the back of my mind is Sammy Morris. He's a free agent, has experience in the system and the Patriots need a guy like him for a couple of reasons.

First, they like to have veterans in the backfield to complement their young talent. Currently, they have two second-year running backs and Danny Woodhead, who is entering his fourth season in the league.

Second, after losing BenJarvus Green-Ellis, they need a goal-line running back and Morris was one of their options in those situations when he was with the team. 

A big under-the-radar signing, to be sure, and no reason to believe it will happen, but it's possible. Although it may not solve the need for a goal-line back due to his age, it at least gives them more bodies at the position entering camp, as you pointed out.

Alright, guys, that's all I have for you this week. Thanks to everyone who contributed a question, and any further questions can be directed to my Twitter account at the link below.

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