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There is some disturbing news coming out of Buffalo this weekend, where text messages from star defensive end Mario Williams were released by his ex-fiancée's attorney. Williams is currently in a legal battle over an engagement ring worth more than $780,000, and new details emerged that Williams allegedly had "dramatic mood swings” last year during their engagement.

"No money in the world should leave me with suicidal thoughts," Williams said in the text to his ex last November.

In another text Williams said, “I need to go back n my shell. There's no telling what Ill do to myself at this point. I'm sry Ill disappear from now on."

Should the Bills be concerned about Williams?

Buffalo invested $100 million in Williams and made him the highest-paid player in franchise history. He had an up-and-down first season with the Bills in 2012 but still led the team with 10.5 sacks. Williams dealt with a nagging wrist injury and apparently wasn’t in the best frame of mind at times last season because of issues in his personal life.

Lawsuits can get ugly when they involve former lovers, and it appears this is one where no punches will be pulled. Williams recently wrote a Twitter message assuring everyone that he is fine.

"I'm still here and always will be," Williams tweeted. "I'm too strong for ridicule and the childish extremes those will do to try and taint a person’s name when in reality you make me stronger, hungrier and more determined."

The best thing Williams can do at this point is prove he's ready to move on with his life. A big year on the football field in 2013 certainly can help in his recovery while also boosting Buffalo’s stock. That would be a win-win for Williams and the Bills.

This is a tough thing for Williams to go through, especially when details of his personal life are being released to the public. Maybe the Bills should have a brief talk with him just to make sure everything is kosher. The Bills are counting on Williams heavily this year, and he needs to be sound physically and mentally.

Longtime readers of the AFC East blog know I detest grading drafts before rookies play their first NFL game. But there is nothing wrong with examining potential.

The “P” word is exactly what I see when I look at the Buffalo Bills‘ 2013 draft. I see a potential franchise quarterback in first-round pick EJ Manuel. I see potentially two or three good NFL receivers in second-round pick Robert Woods, third-round pick Marquise Goodwin and talented rookie free agent Da’Rick Rogers. I also see an aggressive, potential starting linebacker in Kiko Alonso.

The Bills haven’t tasted the playoffs since the Music City Miracle in the 1999 season. For the past 13 years, the Bills and their fans have been sent home packing after Week 17. They’ve had just one winning season since 2000.

Potentially, Buffalo’s rookie class could lay the foundation for ending the NFL’s longest playoff drought.

“Down the road I think the strength of this draft is going to be in the second round,” ESPN NFL draft analyst Kevin Weidl said. “I really like the Woods pick. I liked him on tape a lot. I think Robert Woods is really one of the more underrated players in this draft. ... Alonso is a guy who is an intense football player and a guy who makes a lot of plays. He flies around the field with sideline-to-sideline range, I thought.”

However, Manuel is the centerpiece of this group. The Bills shocked a lot of people by making him the first quarterback off the board with the No. 16 overall pick. ESPN draft expert Todd McShay was among the biggest critics, calling it a mistake and a wasted pick. Most agreed Buffalo took Manuel earlier than it needed to.

But the Bills fell in love with Manuel’s size, accuracy and athleticism. The rookie has a lot of tools to work with and will compete with veterans Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job in training camp. Manuel can silence his critics by winning the job this year and playing well.

I caught up with Manuel and Goodwin at this week's NFLPA Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles, which taught first-year players on the business of football and promoted giving back to the community. Count Goodwin among those who believe Manuel will develop into a franchise quarterback with the Bills.

“If I can describe him in one word, he’s A1,” Goodwin said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve been surrounded by, and he’s an even better person. He’s my roommate right now, and I’ve definitely got to know him on a personal level. It’s been great. I text him every day. I talk to him every day. So it’s been great.”

Weidl says Manuel has a lot of physical tools to succeed but still plenty to learn.

“The wild card in this mix is EJ Manuel, and the focus of this draft class will always be EJ Manuel,” Weidl said. “Manuel, when you look at him, he’s everything you want in a quarterback in terms of physically. He’s got size, above average arm strength, he’s got mobility, and when you see how he carries himself, he’s a true professional.

“But the questions I had is on the field off his tape. He wasn’t always naturally accurate and he forces his receivers to adjust at times. And when the bullets are flying, especially under pressure, he didn’t always show the poise I’d like to see at quarterback. He didn’t always get deep in his progressions.”

The Bills have struggled in recent years making big plays in the passing game. Former starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick did not have the arm strength to successfully throw deep, and Buffalo lacked big-play receivers.

Enter rookies Woods, Goodwin and Rogers, who all have big-play capability to go with Manuel’s size and arm strength. If Manuel can grow over the next couple of years with his athletic and talented rookie receivers, the Bills could have a dangerous passing offense to go with dynamic running back C.J. Spiller.

“They are great receivers who run great routes,” Manuel said. “The best thing about Robert is he always wins [one-on-one battles]. Marquise, a lot of people talk about his speed, but he runs good routes too.”

New Bills general manager Doug Whaley told the AFC East blog this week that he’s excited about his rookie class — and for good reason. But the team also took on some character risks.

Alonso, Rogers and safety Duke Williams, who will compete for a starting role, all had off-field issues in college. Alonso had multiple alcohol-related incidents while at Oregon and also was arrested for burglary and criminal mischief in 2011. Rogers’ long list of issues include an arrest, a suspension and a failed drug test that resulted in him being kicked out of the University of Tennessee. Williams was suspended three times at the University of Nevada for various incidents. He reportedly got into a fight with a teammate in 2010, which led to one suspension. He also was arrested for theft in 2009.

The Bills said they examined those players’ backgrounds and believe their issues are behind them. That remains to be seen. Buffalo was willing to add good talent in exchange for character concerns.

The Bills also could have their kicker of the future in sixth-round pick Dustin Hopkins, who was a teammate of Manuel at Florida State and set the NCAA record for points scored. Hopkins will compete with longtime kicker Rian Lindell, who is 36 and entering his 15th season. According to Weidl, Hopkins is a good kicking prospect who has a chance to unseat the veteran.

If everything falls into place, the Bills could have a franchise quarterback, a starting linebacker, at least two contributing receivers and a kicker from one draft class. Rarely does everything go according to plan in the NFL, but the Bills appear to have more hits than misses in this draft, which was not always the case for this struggling franchise.

The Bills will not erase 13 years of losing overnight. But in the near future, we may look back at this 2013 draft class as the tipping point for when Buffalo finally started changing its losing ways.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at key players for each AFC East team who are coming back from injuries:

New England Patriots: There is no bigger injury concern in the AFC East this offseason than Rob Gronkowski. The Pro Bowl tight end has had three surgeries within the past year to fix his broken arm, and he is scheduled to have a fourth surgery next week. The timeline for Gronkowski’s return is approximately 10 weeks. That will put Gronkowski on pace for training camp if there are no setbacks. Gronkowski is arguably the best tight end in the NFL when healthy, and he’s certainly New England’s best red zone threat. After losing starting receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd this offseason, the Patriots really need a healthy and productive Gronkowski to thrive on offense this year.

New York Jets: It’s easy to forget about Santonio Holmes. Due to a serious foot injury, the former Super Bowl MVP was virtually nonexistent last season after playing just four games. The Jets’ passing game was in shambles as a result. But Holmes returns this season as New York’s No. 1 receiver and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. The Jets are rebuilding and don't have much talent on offense. There will also be a four-way quarterback competition between Mark Sanchez, rookie Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. Holmes is one of the few players the Jets have on offense who has consistently produced throughout his career. It’s unknown if Holmes will return to his pre-injury form, but he should be better than any receiving threat the Jets have.

Miami Dolphins: One year ago, cornerback Brent Grimes was coming off a Pro Bowl season and viewed as one of the up-and-coming stars at his position. But a season-ending Achilles injury in 2012 dropped his stock, and now Grimes is trying to get back to his Pro Bowl form in Miami. The Dolphins signed Grimes to a one-year “show me” contract this offseason. No team was willing to make a multiyear commitment while Grimes still recovers from his torn Achilles. The Dolphins are taking a risk that Grimes will be 100 percent before the start of the regular season. He’s projected to be Miami’s No. 1 cornerback. The Dolphins were ranked 27th against the pass in 2012 and desperately need him. He also will provide veteran leadership to Miami’s two rookie corners: Jamar Taylor and Will Davis.

Buffalo Bills: Mark Anderson has become the forgotten defensive player in Buffalo. Just one year ago, the Bills made Anderson one of their big free-agent signings. But a knee injury forced Anderson to miss 11 games, and he recorded just 12 tackles and one sack. The Bills brought in Anderson to add a pass rush. He had 10 sacks with the Patriots in 2011 and aims to get healthy and return to form under new Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Buffalo needs as many pass-rushers as possible to assist Mario Williams, who led the Bills with 10.5 sacks last season.

 

Quarterbacks are the lifeblood of any NFL organization. With a franchise quarterback, a team can consistently contend. Without a quality quarterback, it's difficult to even make the playoffs.

Therefore, it’s never too early to take a look at 2014 quarterback rankings from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Here is an early projection of the top signal-callers in next year’s draft.

• No. 1: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
• No. 2: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
• No. 3: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

The 2014 quarterback class is stronger than this year’s -- assuming Bridgewater and Manziel indeed decide to leave school early. The top three are Heisman Trophy candidates with a lot of hype. If this trio stays healthy and productive, teams will be looking at each prospect as a future first-round pick.

The AFC East saw two teams draft top-rated quarterbacks this year. The Buffalo Bills selected EJ Manuel No. 16 overall in the first round, and the New York Jets took Geno Smith No. 39, near the top of the second round. If both players show promise this season, the entire division could be out of the quarterback market.

The New England Patriots are set at quarterback with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and young backup Ryan Mallett. The Miami Dolphins also believe they have a franchise quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. The 2012 first-round pick showed flashes as a rookie and is set to enter a crucial second season.

It has been a whirlwind offseason for new Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley. He spent the past several months on the road scouting for the NFL draft, and now Whaley is settling into his new position this week as Buffalo's general manager.

Whaley was officially promoted from within to take over for former general manager Buddy Nix and took some time Thursday to discuss his new position with the AFC East blog. Whaley has a big job ahead. The Bills have not been to the playoffs since 1999, which is currently the NFL's longest playoff drought.

Turning the franchise around starts at quarterback, which is a position Buffalo hasn’t had a long-term solution for since the days of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. This year the Bills have three players vying for that spot: rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel and veterans Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson. Whaley said he’s not afraid to go into the season with a rookie quarterback if that's how the situation plays out in training camp.

"My philosophy on quarterbacks has always been the same," Whaley told the AFC East blog. "The best guy plays."

There are also new challenges ahead for Whaley that he didn't have to worry about as assistant general manager. One of the biggest issues facing the Bills is the pending contract dispute involving Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, who is unhappy about getting the franchise tag. This will be Whaley's first big challenge as GM and a situation to keep an eye on with the Bills this summer.

“We want to keep our good players and Jairus is obviously a good player,” Whaley said. “We have an organizational goal not to negotiate in the media and want to keep it that way. But we will continue to negotiate with Jairus.”

The New England Patriots -- lead by coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady -- have been the mountain every AFC East team has tried to climb for the past dozen years. The Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets consistently discuss closing the gap with New England.

Whaley spent 10 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and knows what it is like to consistently contend and win championships. Whaley added it’s his ultimate goal to eventually make the Bills the “Beasts of the East.”

The Buffalo Bills, as expected, promoted former assistant general manager Doug Whaley to the top spot as general manager on Thursday. It comes just three days after former general manager Buddy Nix stepped down to take a lesser role with the team.

This decision has been in the works for months, as Buffalo’s front office prepared for the transition to Whaley. Nix, 73, took on a less-taxing role as special assistant earlier this week now that the NFL draft is complete.

Whaley is thought of very highly in the organization and was being groomed for the GM role. Before joining the Bills, he spent 10 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which included two Super Bowl titles following the 2006 and 2009 seasons. We will have more on this move this afternoon in the AFC East blog.

It was not a very good year for AFC East defenses in 2012. Three teams in the division finished with rankings in the 20s.

But there have been a lot of changes for the division via free agency and the draft. Let’s take a look at updated defensive rankings for the AFC East entering the regular season.

No. 1: Miami Dolphins

Analysis: The Dolphins ranked 21st in total defense in 2012. But Miami was decent against the run and only allowed 19.8 points per game, good for seventh in the NFL. The Dolphins’ biggest issue was their inconsistent pass defense. Miami gave up too many big passing plays and it cost the Dolphins some games. The Dolphins aggressively attacked their cornerback position by signing former Pro Bowler Brent Grimes and drafting Jamar Taylor and Will Davis in the second and third rounds, respectively. The Dolphins also added another pass-rushing threat with No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan. If Miami stops allowing big passing plays, the Dolphins’ defense will be tough to beat.

No. 2: New England Patriots

Analysis: The Patriots were 25th in total defense in 2012. But I project New England to make a sizable jump in 2013. The Patriots made solid strides last year in red-zone defense and points allowed. But New England gave up too many chunk passing plays in between the 20s. The Patriots were 29th in pass defense last season. The return of No. 1 cornerback Aqib Talib to the secondary is huge, in addition to starting corner Alfonzo Dennard overcoming his legal issues and the Patriots signing hard-hitting safety Adrian Wilson. New England’s pass rush should also improve, led by a healthy Chandler Jones. There is a lot to like about the Patriots’ defense this season, especially with head coach Bill Belichick calling the shots. I wouldn’t be surprised to see New England move up 10 spots or more from last year’s ranking.

No. 3: New York Jets

Analysis: Here is one thing you can count on with the Jets under head coach Rex Ryan: He will field a very good defense. New York has been in the top 10 in total defense since Ryan took over in 2009. The Jets, despite their ugly 6-10 record, was ranked No. 8 in total defense last season. But look for the unit to take a step back in 2013. New York’s scheme remains strong, but this is the least amount of talent Ryan has had in his five seasons with the Jets. New York traded the best cornerback in the NFL -- Darrelle Revis -- to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and lost Pro Bowl safety LaRon Landry, linebacker Bart Scott and defensive linemen Sione Po'uha and Mike DeVito. The Jets will try to replace these established veterans with younger players, many of whom are rookies or players with just one year of experience. Defense will still be the Jets' strength, but they won’t be as strong on that side of the ball than in previous years.

No. 4: Buffalo Bills

Analysis: I had a hard time ranking the Bills’ defense. This group has talent on paper, but Buffalo never came close to putting it all together last season. The Bills ranked No. 22 in total defense in 2012, 31st against the run. It will be the job of new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to get the most out of his talent. Buffalo has some quality players on defense. Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, defensive tackle Kyle Williams, defensive end Mario Williams and former first-round picks Marcell Dareus and Stephon Gilmore are all talented. But collectively, the Bills’ defense grossly underachieved. The linebacker play must improve dramatically. I’m also concerned about two major holes at cornerback and safety.

I'm sure there will be plenty of debate about these rankings -- and really, the AFC East is wide open on defense this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these teams lead the division defensively; all four have a chance to be competitive. It most likely will come down to which team can consistently execute defensively and stay healthy over a 16-game season.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday in the AFC East:

• The Miami Dolphins spent $204 million in total contracts this offseason. But does it guarantee a playoff run?

Morning take: It absolutely does not. Miami must put it all together on the field in order to earn respect. But the Dolphins have enough talent on paper to contend for a wild-card spot this season.

• The New England Patriots released starting defensive tackle Kyle Love soon after learning he has Type 2 diabetes.

Morning take: The NFL is a cruel business and the Patriots are one of the more emotionless teams. Love played well for New England last season but joins former teammate Brandon Deaderick as recent cuts on the defensive line.

• Free-agent receiver and return specialist Joshua Cribbs signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Morning take: The New York Jets were a strong target for Cribbs, but a balky knee forced general manager John Idzik to wait. It is clear Oakland doesn’t have the same level of concern.

• Buffalo Bills defensive end Mark Anderson hopes to make up for a poor 2012.

Morning take: Anderson came to Buffalo with expectations after recording double-digit sacks with the Patriots in 2011. This is an important time for Anderson to show he can get healthy and contribute to the Bills this upcoming season.

The rookie signings continue in the AFC East. The latest is from the Buffalo Bills, who signed second-round linebacker Kiko Alonso to a four-year contract, according to the team’s website.

Buffalo is hoping Alonso can make an immediate impact in its revamped linebacking crops under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Alonso is an aggressive player who adds toughness. That is very much needed in Buffalo, which had the NFL’s 31st-ranked run defense last season.

Alonso also is one of several Bills draft picks who had some off-the-field issues in college. There are questions of whether these rookies will gain focus once they reach the NFL, and Alonso's progress in Buffalo will be one to watch.

Let’s take a look at whose stock is up and down in the AFC East.

Falling

1. New England Patriots receivers: I’m just not convinced that New England has a strong receiving corps. This was once a strength of the Patriots and now it’s a weakness. Often injured Danny Amendola leads the group, which also includes Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins and Julian Edelman. The Patriots also signed another veteran to add to the pile: Lavelle Hawkins. The Patriots could be fortunate if rookie Aaron Dobson or Josh Boyce turn out to be fast learners. But counting on rookie receivers to immediately adjust to the speed of the NFL game is always a roll of the dice.

2. Quinton Coples, New York Jets defensive end/outside linebacker: Coples entered the draft in 2012 with the reputation of turning it off and on during games. It turns out that’s also the case in the weight room. Coples angered Jets head coach Rex Ryan last week for his poor work in the weight room. Ryan needs the former first-round pick to play well next season when Coples transitions to an important role as an outside pass-rusher. Coples has the talent but needs to focus. It’s hard to get away with turning it off and on in the NFL. Now is the time for Coples to put in the extra work to become a consistent player.

3. Buffalo Bills’ guard position: The Bills probably made the right decision in free agency not to overpay for former guard Andy Levitre, who signed a $46 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. However, I’m not sure the Bills did enough this offseason to find a quality replacement. Buffalo is working relative unknown Chris Scott with the first team at left guard during this week’s organized team activities. That’s a far drop-off from Levitre. Do not underestimate the importance of quality interior linemen in Buffalo’s offense. One of the reasons running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson had huge running lanes and the quarterback had good pass protection was due to solid guard play from Levitre and returning starter Kraig Urbik.

Rising

1. Doug Whaley, Buffalo Bills general manager: As expected, 73-year-old Buddy Nix stepped down as Buffalo’s general manager this week and handed the post to Whaley, his former assistant GM. This had been in the works for a while. Whaley was doing many of the general manager duties in Buffalo for the past year or so and is now ready to take over. Whaley spent a decade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which included two Super Bowl titles, and two years with the Bills waiting for this opportunity. The Bills are a team with a young nucleus and a young general manager looking to get them to the next level.

2. Geno Smith, Jets quarterback: Smith did a good job over the weekend of setting aside criticism and focusing on football. He had a solid rookie minicamp for the Jets and showed why the team made him the second quarterback off the board in this year’s draft. The hype machine is already building for Smith in New York after just one weekend. One report from the New York Post already indicated that Smith is the favorite to win the starting job and the coaching staff is “smitten” with the rookie after only a few practices.

3. Robert Woods, Bills receiver: Woods stole the show at Buffalo rookie minicamp last weekend. In a time that was meant to showcase new quarterback EJ Manuel, Woods was the rookie who shined brightest for Buffalo. The second-round pick reportedly had six catches in his first practice and displayed good hands and route running. Woods was arguably the most polished receiver in this year’s draft and is showing why early on. He has the inside track to start opposite veteran receiver Steve Johnson in Week 1.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday the AFC East:

• Miami Dolphins second-year player Jonathan Martin says he’s trying to add 20 pounds this offseason in preparation to play left tackle.

Morning take: Martin is one of the most important pieces for Miami’s success this season. If he flops at left tackle, it has the potential to stall the Dolphins’ entire offense on the ground and through the air.

• Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams says his legal efforts to get his former fiancée to return her engagement ring will have no bearing on his performance.

Morning take: Focus is important when playing at the highest level. Williams is having personal issues, but the Bills have to assume he can block it out and perform on the field.

• How would you handicap the New York Jets’ quarterback battle?

Morning take: It’s a five-way race that is wide open. You have to assume Mark Sanchez has a slight lead as the incumbent. But all the quarterbacks are learning a new West Coast system under new Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

• The New England Patriots signed third-round pick Duron Harmon.

Morning take: Harmon was a controversial pick for the Patriots, but the best thing he can do is get the business side out of the way. Now, it’s up to Harmon to prove head coach Bill Belichick correct.

Rookie mini-camps and organized team activities are underway in the AFC East. So let’s chat about it.

Join me at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday for our latest chat on the division. We will discuss all the happenings with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Here is the link. Do not miss the AFC East party.

Few players were criticized in the first half of last season more than Buffalo Bills star defensive end Mario Williams. After signing a $100 million contract in 2012 -- by far the richest in Bills history -- much was expected of the former Pro Bowler in a season Buffalo was expected to make the jump from pretender to contender.

But Williams got off to a slow start because of inconsistency, a nagging wrist injury, and perhaps getting used to a new defensive system. However, a strong finish helped Williams save face and register double-digit sacks (10.5) for the third time in his career. It's also clear that Williams still strikes fear in his opponents.

Fellow NFL players ranked Williams at No. 72 on the league's top 100 this week. Despite an up-and-down year, opponents still respect the abilities of the former No. 1 overall pick. Williams has the size, athleticism and length to be a double-digit sack player every year.

Buffalo will run a hybrid 3-4 and 4-3 scheme this season under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Williams will be a huge focal point, and Pettine will try to put his best pass-rusher in position to get to the quarterback. The Bills are counting on Williams to build off the final seven games of 2012, when he registered six of his 10.5 sacks.

The AFC East blog continues its "Hope and Concern" series this week in the division.

Let's take a look at the Buffalo Bills, who finished 6-10 last season:

Biggest reason for hope: Young talent

Buffalo’s roster is filled with young talent. Most of the Bills’ best players are 26 or younger. That group includes dynamic tailback C.J. Spiller, Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, No. 1 cornerback Stephon Gilmore, No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, left tackle Cordy Glenn, rookie quarterback EJ Manuel and rookie receiver Robert Woods. This is a young nucleus that should be able to grow together in the next few seasons. Last year, Buffalo proved to be a team unable to make the jump despite high expectations. There are no lofty expectations put on the Bills this year. The lack of pressure could work in favor of these young players who are still learning how to win at the NFL level.

Biggest reason for concern: Quarterback

It’s the same old story for the Bills: Does this team have a franchise quarterback? The search continues in 2013 as Buffalo brought in veteran Kevin Kolb in free agency and drafted EJ Manuel with the No. 16 overall pick. The Bills hope their long-term and short-term answers are with these two players. Veteran journeyman Tarvaris Jackson also is in the mix. Kolb has been a bust in two previous stops with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. The Bills hope that he could be a stopgap option for this season while Manuel learns the NFL game. Manuel was a controversial pick in the first round. He has a lot of good tools to work, but needs to be coached up at the NFL level and taught how to put it all together. If the Bills can answer their quarterback quandary, that would go a long way to making the team competitive this upcoming season.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday the AFC East:

• Do the Miami Dolphins have a weakness at running back?

Morning take: Some who didn’t watch Miami often last year could view it that way. Lamar Miller is a virtual unknown to many NFL fans, but he was very good with limited opportunities. Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee also provide quality depth. I think Miami’s tailbacks are better than advertised.

• New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan had nice things to say about first-round pick Dee Milliner.

Morning take: Milliner will have a chance to win the starting job in Week 1. He will battle Kyle Wilson, but both players will have important roles on the defense. So Milliner must stay ready.

• The New England Patriots made a somewhat surprising move to release defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick.

Morning take: Deaderick made five starts for the Patriots last season and was a valuable player in New England's rotation. But the free-agent additions of veteran Tommy Kelly and Armond Armstead made Deaderick expendable.

• Former Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix says the time was right to step down.

Morning take: Nix talked about stepping down for a while and finally made the move Monday. If rookie EJ Manuel turns out to be a franchise quarterback, Nix made good on his final major decision with the team.