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New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to have his fourth arm surgery, which has a 10-week timeline for recovery. Gronkowski also may have additional surgery to fix a disc in his back.

ESPN NFL reporter John Clayton examines New England’s level of concern for its Pro Bowl tight end. Gronkowski is going in for his fifth surgery since 2012.

The New England Patriots need help at wide receiver after the departures of 2012 starters Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.

Patriots second-round pick Aaron Dobson will be one of those key players competing for a starting role with the reigning AFC East champions. Dobson comes to New England with a spectacular highlight reel at the University of Marshall.

The AFC East blog caught up with Dobson during a community event in this week's NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles to discuss a variety of topics.

Aaron, how good is it to spend time with NFL rookies this week who are going through the same adjustment?

Aaron Dobson: It’s definitely fun, just out here in LA. We’ve all known each other just going through this [draft] process, and now we’re getting to know each other even more and giving back to the kids.

Marshall was the only college to offer you a scholarship and now you’re a second-round pick for the Patriots. Were you a late bloomer?

Dobson: I really just think it was where I was playing high school football. West Virginia is not a highly-recruited state. I think it was more me being from there. But I got the opportunity at Marshall and I made the best of it. Now I’m in a position I wanted to be in my whole life. So I wouldn’t take it back for anything.

What’s your thoughts on catching passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and learning New England's offense?

Dobson: It’s just great to be in the league and catching passes from any quarterback. But it being Tom just makes it icing on the cake. It’s great and I’m exciting to be a New England Patriot. The offense is definitely something I have to learn. I have to put my mind to it and be focused. I’m taking it day-by-day to learn it and get comfortable with it.

How did you make so many one-handed catches at Marshall?

Dobson: It’s all instinct. I’m just going for the ball and I attack the ball very well. That’s how it happens. I can bring them in with one hand and I can catch with two hands. It’s just being focused, really.

Congrats on the graduation. How important was getting a degree before leaving school?

Dobson: Thank you. It was real important. I got out in three and a half years. I graduated in December, so it was great. My mom is real happy. She’s glad I got my degree and an NFL contract. So it’s just a blessing.

Rob Gronkowski is an elite tight end for the New England Patriots. He’s a big target who gets open, has strong hands and blocks well.

But it’s also fair to officially tag Gronkowski with the “injury-prone” label. The latest news comes from USA Today and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, who both report that Gronkowski could be headed for back surgery. It would be performed in the same time frame as Gronkowski's upcoming fourth arm surgery, which will sideline him for approximately 10 weeks.

Gronkowski's back issue is not considered serious. But the overriding theme is that Gronkowski, 24, is already becoming damaged goods. He entered the NFL with back problems, which is why New England was able to draft him in the second round. Gronkowski also had major ankle surgery in 2012 and three operations (soon to be four) on his broken left arm. New England's physical marvel is starting to look like a crash-test dummy just three seasons into his career.

I've written numerous times that Gronkowski has the ability to be a Hall of Famer if he stays healthy. But the past two years have shown that that will be difficult. Gronkowski plays with reckless abandon, and it will be tough to change his playing style. At the same time, his body isn’t holding up to the physical pounding.

If Gronkowski does have back surgery next week, in addition to fixing his arm, it will be his sixth time going under the knife since early 2012. At some point, all of these injuries and subsequent surgeries will catch up to Gronkowski.

It may not be noticeable now in Years 1-4, but Gronkowski doesn’t appear to be the type of player the Patriots can expect to stay healthy and perform at a high level for a decade or more.

The AFC East blog concludes this week’s “Hope and Concern” series with the reigning AFC East champion New England Patriots.

Biggest reason for hope: improved defense

It is easy to point out the future Hall of Fame pair of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick in this spot. But they get the credit every year for keeping New England in the title hunt. What will get New England over the hump to end its nine-year title drought will be improved play by the defense. The Patriots’ offense has been a well-oiled machine for years, but it hasn’t resulted in a championship. New England was at its best during the dynasty years in 2001-2004 because the defense was one of the best in the NFL. New England was ranked 25th in total defense last year, including 29th against the pass. Belichick put a lot of work into strengthening that side of the football this offseason. The Patriots re-signed No. 1 corner Aqib Talib, in addition to adding former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and veterans such as defensive lineman Tommy Kelly. Second-year players like defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont’a Hightower are also expected to make the jump. If New England’s defense can get stops in big games, that will make a major difference.

Biggest reason for concern: wide receiver

The Patriots had the NFL’s top-rated offense and the highest-scoring offense in 2012. The offense certainly wasn’t broken, which makes it baffling why New England would make so many changes at wide receiver. The Patriots got rid of 2012 starters Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd and replaced them with a relatively unknown cast of receivers. Danny Amendola, who’s had a lot of injury concerns, will fill one stop. But the No. 2 and No. 3 receiver positions are wide open. Players like Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins, Lavelle Hawkins, Julian Edelman and rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce will all compete for playing time. The best two or three receivers will get roles in New England’s offense. Brady has worked with questionable receivers before and made them better. The Patriots need Brady to repeat that feat again this upcoming season. If Brady and the passing game takes a step back, New England will not be as good as last season.

» 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.

 

Nine years ago I was a cub reporter covering the Cincinnati Bengals for the Columbus Dispatch. Chad Johnson was entering his fourth season and starting to come into his own.

I watched Johnson come of age with the Bengals and also covered his decline with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Now, Johnson has a warrant out for his arrest in Florida this week after skipping probation following last year’s domestic incident and divorce from former wife Evelyn Lozada.

Here is one person hoping this isn’t the beginning of a bad downward spiral for the former Pro Bowl receiver.

Full disclosure: I always liked and got along with Johnson. He’s not a bad guy, just a little left of center and very unpredictable. But as a person who interviewed him on a regular basis throughout his entire career, I always appreciated his originality and viewed him as mostly harmless and comical.

But in the back of my mind I wondered what life would be like for Johnson after football. Johnson is the kind of guy who craves the spotlight and loves being the center of attention. In a weird way, I think that was a large part of his motivation to become such a great receiver. It was never about Super Bowls or the fake Hall of Fame jacket he once wore. Johnson worked hard because he loved to entertain and welcome people to the “Chad Johnson Show” on Sundays.

However, this latest legal issue probably ends any chance of Johnson making an NFL comeback. He's become too toxic for teams to touch and Johnson, 35, isn't getting any younger.

Johnson stayed out of trouble his entire 12-year career but now has two run-ins with the law in the past nine months. I don't think that's a coincidence. Johnson must find structure and purpose in his post-football life -- before it’s too late.

 
Rob Gronkowski is officially on the clock.

The longer the New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end waited, the more likely he would miss the start of the 2013 regular season. That is why it was smart for Gronkowski to go under the knife now for a fourth surgery on his left arm.

Another procedure was essentially inevitable for Gronkowski. His arm was not healing properly, and he suffered an infection after his third surgery.

An already-rough offseason is about to get rougher for Gronkowski. Ten weeks of recovery await, and the “Summer of Gronk” will be spent mostly rehabbing his arm instead of his usual party adventures around the country.

Gronkowski can no longer afford room for error in his recovery. The post-surgery timeline takes him right into training camp. Another setback could result in Gronkowski missing preseason games or even a portion of the regular season.

New England is expected to rely even more on its tight ends this season since 2012 starting receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd are no longer on the roster. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady needs Gronkowski and fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez more than ever. Hernandez also is recovering from major shoulder surgery and aims to be ready for training camp.

The Patriots must take the field in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills with or without Gronkowski. His decision to stop delaying surgery greatly increases his chances of being on the field in Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 8.

New England’s title hopes the past two years were dashed, in large part, because Gronkowski could not stay healthy. He is a difference-maker New England cannot win a championship without.

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.”

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 New England Patriots’ pass defense struggled mightily in 2012. The Patriots were 29th in passing yards allowed and gave up too many chunk plays. That eventually cost New England in the playoffs, where the team lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game.

New England cornerback Kyle Arrington discussed the future of the Patriots on ESPN's "First Take" Tuesday and looks ahead to the 2013 season. Is New England’s title window still open?

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.