AFC East Weekly Buzz

This is a weekly look at what’s happening inside the division of the AFC East. While training camp is still about a month away, every team in the league has something newsworthy going around it.

With that in mind, here’s a look at who and what are turning heads for all four teams in the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills

Team Sales Process Begins Big Step

According to ESPN’s Mike Rodak, the Bills “transaction” team has begun contacting potential bidders this week. Rodak also states that while there is no exact timetable, it is expected that the bidding process will close at the end of the summer, with a potential new owner approved and in place by early 2015.

Rodak profiled five potential bidders for the team:

Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, who has freed up $1.75 billion by selling oil acreage, according to the Buffalo News’ Tim Graham;

Donald Trump, who has been the most vocal about buying the team and keeping it in Buffalo;

Tom Golisano, the former Buffalo Sabres owner, who confirmed his interest in early June (via Rodak), but recent comments indicate he will not get into a bidding war;

Jon Bon Jovi and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Toronto Raptor’s and Toronto Maple Leafs, concerning fans that the Bills could make a future move to Canada under this ownership group, which couldn’t occur before at least 2020;

C. Dean Metropoulos, the owner of Pabst Brewing Company who unsuccessfully bid for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. A Metropoulos spokesman confirmed his interest in buying an NFL team earlier this month to the Buffalo News.

How the recent sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion could affect the selling process for the Bills in terms of sudden change in ownership leading to a number of interested bidders that could drive the price up has yet to be seen.

New York Jets

Pryor Talking and Bringing Big Game to Big Apple

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Ashley Fox profiled safety Calvin Pryor, the Jets’ first-round pick in May:

Pryor’s head wasn’t spinning after his first minicamp. His mouth was running, yes, to the point that second-year quarterback Geno Smith quipped that Pryor had not earned the right to chirp. Yet. But that is Pryor’s nature, and he is a perfect fit for the Jets. Pryor is, as Jets head coach Rex Ryan noted after selecting him, in the mold of Seattle safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas: big, brash, a vicious hitter with range, who is able to blitz from various spots on the field, and an enforcer for the back of the defense. “It’s how we want to play defense,” Ryan said at the time, while noting: “Big hits still win games.” Added New York general manager John Idzik: “He just plays like a Jet.”

Pryor, listed at 5’11”, 207 pounds, is a physical stout safety who hits hard, forcing a school-record nine fumbles in his career at the University of Louisville. Pryor also has the ability to cover, picking off seven interceptions in college, and already has gotten reps with the first-team defense.

While Pryor could be competing with veteran Dawan Landry, who won the “Iron Jet” award for best-conditioned New York Jet player of the off-season, for a starting spot, Fox believes Pryor’s play-making ability could get him on the field sooner rather than  later. If Pryor can become anywhere near the caliber of player of Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas have become, I’m pretty sure Jets fans will be happy.

New England Patriots

Browner Impressing Thus Far

On Tuesday, ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss addressed cornerback Brandon Browner’s current performance with New England in his Patriots Mailbag:

Hey Mike, a lot of talk has been about the adjustment Darrelle Revis has had to make and how he looks, but given the fact that he’s arguably the best DB in the league I’m not too worried about him. Not a lot of talk on Brandon Browner though, How has he looked, is he fitting in well with everyone, and do we have to be worried about another suspension? With that being said, I’m very excited about the defense this year. – Troy (Skokie, Ill.) A: Troy, I’ve been impressed with Browner from the six practices we’ve watched this spring. How that translates to the field after he misses the first four regular-season games due to suspension remains to be seen. What stands out to me is his size (6-foot-4, 221 pounds) and how he can get his hands on receivers and forcefully re-route them. It’s also tough to throw the ball over him because of his size. If he continues to play like he did in spring camps once the pads come on — and given how he excels with a physical style of play, there’s fair reason to think he will — I can envision him helping the team. Safety Devin McCourty has also pointed out that he’s fit in well to the overall program.

Browner, who signed with the Patriots this off-season after three years in Seattle, has a unique skill set as a large and tall corner who can take receivers out of a play physically, the closest thing to a modern day Mel Blount. After his four-game suspension, Browner should be capable of being a match-up specific cover man against joker tight ends and big wide receivers like Demaryius Thomas (week 9) and Calvin Johnson (week 12).

Browner recorded six interceptions in his first season with the Seahawks in 2011, becoming a Pro Bowl alternate in the process. In the two seasons since, Browner has only picked off four passes, but he appears to have both the talent and opportunity to return to his 2011 form in New England.  

Miami Dolphins 

Post-Pouncey Injury Options at Center

On Tuesday, Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote that he is confident that Nate Garner, a backup offensive tackle, is “the most realistic option to replace Mike Pouncey as the Dolphins’ starting center while the 2013 Pro Bowler spends the next three months recovering from a hip procedure he had done on Monday.”

Kelly sees Garner as the Swiss Army Knife of the offensive line due to his versatility. Garner, since being claimed off waivers in 2008, has started 19 games for Miami, including five last year, two of which were at center.

Kelly also states that current right guard Shelley Smith could also be an option at center, as he has practiced snapping at every practice Kelly has attended. If such a move were to be made, Garner, David Arkin, and rookie Billy Turner would compete to start at right guard.

Assuming Pouncey misses the first month of the regular season, whoever the Dolphins choose to play at the center position will have three tough weeks. The first three games against the Patriots, Bills, and Chiefs include match-ups against Pro Bowl interior defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, Kyle Williams, Marcel Dareus, and Dontari Poe.

For more AFC East news, come back next Thursday!

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