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We have our first off-the-field incident of the John Idzik era with the New York Jets. Possible starting running back Mike Goodson, who signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract with the Jets in March, was arrested on drug possession and weapons charges, New Jersey state police spokesman Stephen Jones told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Goodson was found with a friend intoxicated on Route 80 in New Jersey at 3 a.m. Friday morning. He was taken to jail and charged with marijuana possession, possession of paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a loaded handgun and possession of a hollow-point bullet.

This puts Idzik in a sticky situation. All eyes within the Jets and outside the team will be watching to see how the first-year general manager handles the first arrest under his watch.

Will Idzik lay down the law? The Jets have been a circus for a while, and player arrests certainly contribute to that image. Idzik came to New York to clean up the Jets and get the focus back on football. It’s possible that he could have zero or low tolerance for drug and alcohol-related incidents.

Or will Idzik look the other way this time with Goodson? He was one of Idzik’s first signings in free agency. Goodson has the potential to win the starting job at running back, or at least play a significant role on offense. New York doesn’t have much talent on offense to lose. Perhaps Idzik provides Goodson a second chance.

Idzik can set a tone either way with the Jets' organization after Goodson’s arrest. There are pros and cons to each decision that Idzik must consider. Also expect the NFL to look into Goodson’s case once the legal system runs its course, which might lead to a suspension to start the 2013 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.

 

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has been a lightning rod before, during and after the NFL draft. The media is following Smith’s every move and analyzing.

The latest will be Smith’s decision to hire a new agent. I was among several reporters who caught up with Smith this week in Los Angeles during the NFLPA's Rookie Premiere event, which has seminars on the business of football and promotes community service for first-year players. At the event, Smith said he’s taking his time on selecting his next representation.

“I interviewed some guys, but there is no rush to make a decision,” Smith said. “I got a lot of time. Right now, my main focus is everything I do inside that [Jets] facility.”

There has been some speculation that Smith will pick hip-hop mogul Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports to represent him. Smith would only say his meeting with the new agency "was good."

Smith also commented on this week’s retirement of quarterback David Garrard, who told the Jets his knee wasn’t getting any better and he had to step away.

“I texted David and I just wished him well. I know how these things are,” Smith said. “I understand he wanted to be part of the team. But his body was breaking down and he made the decision that was best for himself.”

New York’s quarterback race is now down to four: Smith, Mark Sanchez, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. The Jets are implementing a new West Coast scheme under new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. The quarterback who adjusts to the new offense the fastest will have the inside track.

“Mornhinweg is a guy who is going to press the issue. He wants to score points and we all want to score points,” Smith said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, and we have to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

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.

Former New York Jets quarterback David Garrard went on The Herd with Colin Cowherd Thursday to discuss his retirement. Garrard was competing for New York’s starting job but said his knee injury wasn’t going to get better.

"It was swelling on me and it was sore," Garrard said. “I wasn’t able to continue out there with the team.”

Garrard said the practices weren’t rigorous at this point and his knee was having trouble. So he “couldn’t imagine” trying to make it through training camp and the rest of the year with his balky knee. Garrard also provided some insight into the Jets' locker room and the other quarterbacks.

Click here to listen to the full interview.

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.

If there was any doubt about the immediate future of quarterback Mark Sanchez with the New York Jets, all questions should have been answered Wednesday.

Sanchez and his $8.25 million guaranteed salary will remain in New York through the entire 2013 season. Veteran quarterback David Garrard’s decision to walk away from the Jets due to a balky knee sealed any possibility of New York releasing Sanchez. New York’s quarterback competition has been reduced to four quarterbacks. But in reality, there are only two legitimate options: Sanchez and rookie Geno Smith.

There was some debate of whether Sanchez would last in New York. The Jets would like to get rid of his huge salary but didn’t want to take the enormous cap hit. However, Garrard had an opportunity to beat out Sanchez and provide the veteran leadership needed in New York's quarterback room.

But post-Garrard, the Jets definitely need Sanchez now. He’s the only Jets quarterback with extensive experience. Sanchez is a four-year starter who has won playoff games and advanced to the AFC title game in back-to-back years following the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms have one career start among them.

Garrard, 35, would have served as a good person for New York’s young quarterbacks to lean on. He also has playoff experience and spent most of his career in a West Coast offense, which gave him an advantage under new Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. But a balky knee makes it all a moot point at this stage.

It's going to be either Sanchez or Smith under center in Week 1 for the Jets when they host Darrelle Revis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But perhaps the biggest winner is McElroy or Simms, who now have a chance to latch on as New York's third quarterback.

Now that the 2013 NFL draft is in the books, the New York Jets are undergoing a major makeover in their front office.

The latest report comes from Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who reports New York will hire former Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves to join the team's front office. New York also didn’t renew the contracts of former Jets assistant GM Scott Cohen and former director of football administration Ari Nassim this week, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

Changes to New York’s front office should not come as a surprise. First-year general manager John Idzik has made an immediate impact since joining the Jets. He started by cutting overpaid veterans to get under the salary cap. Then, Idzik made two major decisions: he traded star cornerback Darrelle Revis and cut popular backup quarterback Tim Tebow. Remaking the front office now is Idzik's next focus.

Graves brings a lot of experience to the Jets. He starting in the NFL in 1982 and worked with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and most recently the Cardinals.

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.

The AFC East blog continues it “Hope and Concern” series in the division.

Here are the biggest reasons to be hopeful and concerned about the 2013 New York Jets:

Biggest reason for hope: General manager John Idzik

The Jets began the offseason in a large salary-cap deficit. Thanks to Idzik, they came out of it under the cap for 2013 and have more room for future seasons. Idzik came to New York with a solid reputation with the Seattle Seahawks and showed he’s knowledgeable with roster management in his first offseason. For example, Idzik made the wise football decision to cut Tim Tebow and a necessary but tough decision to trade star cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Jets will most likely suffer this season after tearing down the roster of veteran players. However, Idzik only needed a year to clean up former general manager Mike Tannenbaum's mess. The Jets are finally making a majority of roster decisions that make sense. Idzik’s goal is to put New York in a position to contend in the next two or three years.

Biggest reason for concern: Lack of talent

As we mentioned, the Jets have to field a team this season and it probably won’t be pretty. New York lacks talent at this point nearly across the board. The Jets could not afford to keep their quality free agents due to a very tight salary cap. New York has major issues on offense. The Jets are unsure at quarterback and lacks playmakers at wide receiver and tight end. New York’s offensive line also underachieved in 2012. New offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will try to implement a West Coast offense but doesn’t have much to work with. Jets head coach Rex Ryan is in a must-win year and probably has his weakest roster since taking over the Jets in 2009. Ryan will have to put forth arguably his best coaching effort to date just to keep his job.

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.

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.