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Junior Seau's 20-year career made a widespread impact. That included the AFC East, where the future Hall of Fame linebacker spent the final seven years of his stellar career with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

Seau died on Wednesday, which is a huge loss for the Patriots, Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and the entire NFL community. In the AFC East, Seau will be remembered most for his tremendous work ethic, passion and ability to play a demanding position until he was 40.

Seau came to Miami as a 34-year-old linebacker. It was unknown at that time how much more he had left in the tank. But Seau was one of the studs on Miami's defense, played 15 games in 2003 and led the Dolphins to a 10-6 record. In fact, Miami had winning records in two of Seau's three seasons. The Dolphins have had just one winning season since Seau left Miami in 2006.

Seau came to New England the following season in '06 with even more questions. He was 37. But Seau quickly acclimated himself to the "Patriot way" and played 27 games his first two seasons in New England.

In 2007, Seau was a prominent member of New England's undefeated regular-season team. He recorded 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions for those Patriots, who came up just short in the Super Bowl and remain one of the greatest teams to not win a Super Bowl.

That undefeated regular season and Super Bowl run in '07 turned out to be one of Seau's last great moments as a player. He stuck around for two more seasons in New England but started just two games in that span.

Seau will be remembered as a Charger, first and foremost. But the Patriots and Dolphins will never forget his contributions.

The Miami Dolphins believe they have found their quarterback of the future in first-round pick Ryan Tannehill. Miami took Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in last week's NFL draft.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland called it an "all-in" decision by the entire organization. In many ways, this is a signature moment for Ireland, rookie head coach Joe Philbin and Miami's current regime.

If Tannehill develops into a stud NFL quarterback, Miami has a good chance to turn the organization around and become a force in the AFC East. If he's a first-round bust, the Dolphins can expect several more years of misery.

But Tannehill's success or failure is not totally up to him. There is a lot the Dolphins must do to ensure their prized rookie has the best chance possible to succeed at the next level.

Here is the AFC East blog's four-step plan that Miami should follow with Tannehill.

Step No. 1: Lower expectations

Miami is already failing in this department. I cringed over the weekend when Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he hoped to retire Tannehill's No. 17 jersey someday. This was during Tannehill's introductory news conference. You don't put that kind of pressure on a rookie before his first NFL snap.

It also doesn't help that Tannehill is the first quarterback taken by Miami in the opening round since Dan Marino in 1983. In fact, Tannehill (No. 8) was taken much higher than Marino (No. 27). The pressure to fill those shoes has been immense for a long time. Miami hasn't had a legitimate, franchise quarterback since Marino retired in 2000. Fans expect Tannehill to be that player.

The good news is it's not too late to temper expectations. Tannehill will take the practice field for the first time this weekend during rookie minicamp. It's a chance for the media and coaches to see Tannehill in action and set the bar for where he really stands at the pro level.

For now, one of the best things Miami can do is stop talking about retiring jerseys, winning championships and filling Marino's shoes when it comes to Tannehill. Let the rookie develop his own identity with the team at his own pace.

Step No. 2: Sit Tannehill for a year

That brings me to my next point: Do not, under any circumstances, make Tannehill the starter this year. That would be the biggest mistake Miami could make.

The Dolphins have two veteran quarterbacks ahead of the rookie -- David Garrard and Matt Moore -- and a new scheme on offense. Let Garrard and Moore battle it out this year, while Tannehill holds a clipboard and gets ready for 2013.

Miami's offense is too fragile right now for a rookie quarterback, especially one with just 19 collegiate starts. Everyone is learning first-year head coach Joe Philbin's West Coast offense this year, and there aren't enough quality personnel in place to make the scheme successful.

Tannehill shouldn't be subjected to that right away. The strange thing is the rookie quarterback is probably the most knowledgeable about Miami's offense, considering his strong ties with Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who coached Tannehill in college.

This is a rebuilding year for the Dolphins and they know it. The sooner Tannehill plays, the better the chance he looks like Blaine Gabbert. That would be disastrous for Miami.

The Dolphins should put Tannehill on ice for a year. The only circumstance in which he should play is if Garrard and Moore get injured. Perhaps one exception is starting Tannehill in Week 16 or 17 if Miami has nothing to play for and wants to get Tannehill's feet wet for 2013.

Otherwise, Miami should keep Tannehill on the bench and resist the temptation of short-term buzz and excitement. Tannehill should be treated with the long haul in mind.

Step No. 3: Use Dan Marino as a mentor

Here is some free advice for the Dolphins: They should encourage Marino to be Tannehill's mentor.

Marino, a Hall of Famer, is royalty in Miami. I've said several times in the AFC East blog that Marino is an underused commodity by the Dolphins organization. This is the perfect time and situation to tap into that resource.

Marino has already accomplished what Tannehill dreams of doing. Marino also speaks the same language and can relate to Tannehill in ways that the coaching staff and front office cannot.

If Tannehill is trying to fill Marino's shoes, it makes sense for Marino to be in Tannehill's corner throughout the process to provide support. It may not seem like a big thing, but this could go a long way for the rookie quarterback.

Step No. 4: Get better wide receivers

We alluded to the personnel in Step No. 2. The Dolphins aren't ready at receiver to make things easy on Tannehill.

Philbin says the team's doesn't need a No. 1 receiver, but you do need good receivers who can makes plays and get open. A Tannehill-to-Brian Hartline connection is not all that attractive this year. Hartline is Miami's top receiver and he caught just 35 passes in 2011. Davone Bess is a solid slot receiver but may be asked to take on a bigger role due to lack of competition. The other receiver positions are wide open.

I was surprised Miami didn't take a receiver higher in this draft. The Dolphins waited until the sixth and seventh rounds, despite the position being one of the team's biggest needs. You're not going to plug every hole in the draft, but this is one more reason to keep Tannehill on the bench this year.

If the Dolphins follow this four-step plan, Miami has a good chance to get the best out of Tannehill. He has all the physical tools and potential to be a solid NFL quarterback. But it is very important that Miami does whatever it takes to give Tannehill a fair shot.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan likes to exaggerate at times. Look no further than his back-to-back Super Bowl predictions in 2010 and 2011.

But Ryan would be wise to tone down the rhetoric when it comes to newly-acquired backup quarterback Tim Tebow. This is a unique situation in New York, where every comment by the head coach could add more gasoline to an already brewing quarterback controversy that is waiting to explode.

Ryan described Tebow's as "outstanding" in New York's limited practices. Ryan also added "same with Mark [Sanchez]," perhaps realizing that big kudos to Tebow could be taken as a slight to Sanchez, New York's starting quarterback.

The Jets should know that this situation is too delicate. Ryan would be wise not to over-hype Tebow or give a play-by-play account on workouts this offseason that have little to do with their performance in the fall.

If Ryan continues to applaud Tebow immensely in the spring and summer, it just provides more fodder for the New York media and fans the second Sanchez struggles. For example, if Sanchez throws a couple of interceptions in the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills, fans and media would quickly call for Tebow, who already looks "outstanding" this offseason, in Ryan's words.

The Jets' quarterback situation is tense. The pressure already is on Sanchez to produce in his fourth season. The last thing New York's starting quarterback needs is his head coach overselling the backup in May. It's much too early for that.

The most prized free-agent acquisition not named Peyton Manning will not get the jersey number he wants in Buffalo.

New Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who signed a $100 million contract this offseason, will have to find a new jersey to wear in 2012. The No. 90 jersey Williams wore with the Houston Texans is occupied by Bills veteran defensive end Chris Kelsay, who is not giving it up.

"I've worn it my entire career here," Kelsay told the Buffalo News. "A lot of times in a situation like this, the guy will buy it from you. But I'm not really interested in that."

Kelsay, a nine-year veteran, is one of the longest-tenured Bills. He says he's attached to the number. In fact, every jersey from No. 90-99 is occupied in Buffalo.

Williams will have to pay one of his teammates who are more willing to make the switch soon.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday morning in the AFC East:K

• Jets head coach Rex Ryan says quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow both look great.

Morning take: It's Ryan's job to make sure both quarterbacks keep their confidence. Even if one looks better than the other, he can't say it.

• Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix said he's happy with the selection of corner Stephon Gilmore versus linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Morning take: This is what Nix has to say, but we will never know for sure if Kuechly was ranked higher on Buffalo's board. The Carolina Panthers took Keuchly one spot higher, making it an easier choice for the Bills.

• Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said he never intended for Spygate to turn out the way it did.

Morning take: Mangini has been very apologetic and wants to make amends with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. But the feeling hasn't been mutual.

• When will Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill play?

Morning take: Probably not this year. The Dolphins will say all the right things, but I don’t see him getting on the field early this season. We will have more on this later today.

Loyal readers of the AFC East blog know that the Buffalo Bills are my sleeper pick for 2012. So I wasn’t surprised to see that I rated Buffalo much higher (No. 16) than the rest of the panel (No. 23) Tuesday in ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings.

The Bills aren't getting much credit for their strong offseason. But that's a good thing for Buffalo.

The AFC East blog has confirmed a report in the Buffalo News that free-agent quarterback Vince Young will work out for the Bills Wednesday. It's an interesting note from Buffalo, which had a great offseason.

Here are some thoughts on Young and the Bills:

• The Bills have an opening at quarterback and proved this offseason they will be aggressive. The Bills easily could have been content with finding a developmental quarterback in the later rounds of the draft. But the Bills feel they can make a jump this year and are looking to see if they can find a more proven backup behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo also has a veteran quarterback in Tyler Thigpen on the roster. The Bills could carry three if they choose to sign Young.
• Buffalo's Wildcat package also plays a role. The Bills struggled to run the formation effectively last season with receiver/quarterback Brad Smith. Young is a much better passer than Smith and could make Buffalo’s Wildcat package more dangerous with the threat to throw.
• An interesting side note is Young would be paired with defensive end Mario Williams in Buffalo, if he signs. That would match two of the top three picks from the 2006 draft. There was a lot of debate whether the Houston Texans should draft Williams or Young No. 1 overall. The Texans wisely chose Williams, and Young went No. 3 to Tennessee. Williams has been much more productive over his career and recently signed a $100 million contract with the Bills.

The NFL draft is over. So let's talk about it.

Join me at 4 p.m. ET for our latest chat on the AFC East. We will talk all about the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Here is the link. Don't miss it.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh brought up an old but sore topic Tuesday with the New England Patriots.

Harbaugh mentioned the Patriots' three championships have been "stained" due to Spygate. He later clarified in a statement that he was just repeating public perception. Harbaugh added that he believes New England earned its titles.

But the fact that Spygate still comes up with New England is proof that the Patriots must win another Super Bowl to fully erase the scandal.

It's unknown how much illegally taping an opponent's sideline helped the Patriots during their title runs. Maybe it was a little. Maybe it was a lot. But the overwhelming perception, right or wrong, is Spygate played a significant factor in New England's three Lombardi trophies.

New England has since gone to two Super Bowls in an effort to dispel that perception. One of those included a 16-0 regular season. There is no denying Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches ever and Tom Brady is an all-time great quarterback.

However, merely going to the Super Bowl is not enough for the Patriots in the post-Spygate era. They must win it all or the "stain" remains. New England has zero championships after the scandal, and that is brought up constantly when mentioning the Patriots' legacy.

It's ironic that this season's Super Bowl is in New Orleans -- home of the Saints and their recent bounty scandal.

The Patriots, who are favorites again in the AFC, have lived with their own scandal for several years and have a chance to fully move on from it by winning another title in the Superdome.

ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings are back!

The NFL draft is in the books and free-agency is all but done. Now it's time to reassess the rosters.

Here is how the AFC East fared:

New England Patriots

Power Ranking: No. 2

Walker's vote: No. 2

Analysis: It's no surprise the reigning AFC champs are firmly at No. 2. They are the favorites once again to win the conference and the division. New England did a good job of drafting all defensive players until the seventh round. The offense is elite, and the defense needs to catch up. An underrated aspect to the Patriots' season is they have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Barring significant injury, I don't see any reason why they won't run away with another division title.

New York Jets

Power Ranking: No. 20

Walker's vote: No. 18

Analysis: New York's offseason acquisitions of quarterback Tim Tebow and top draft picks Quinton Coples and Stephen Hill didn't do much for its Power Ranking. The Jets come in at No. 20, which I think is a little low. Expectations are not high for this club, which could play in New York's favor. The talent to have a winning season remains, it's just a matter of whether this team can stay together. Chemistry issues and infighting ruined the Jets last season.

Buffalo Bills

Power Ranking: No. 23

Walker’s vote: No. 16

Analysis: The Bills continue to be near the bottom of the Power Rankings. But I like it, because it makes my pick of Buffalo a true sleeper in 2012. The national perception of Buffalo isn't great. Much of that is earned since the Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999. However, I think the Bills have some great pieces for a chance to end the drought. I voted Buffalo much higher at No. 16. That gives the Bills credit, but not too much before they have a chance to prove anything on the field.

Miami Dolphins

Power Ranking: No. 27

Walker’s vote: No. 27

Analysis: I agree with Miami's placement. The Dolphins are solid on defense but could struggle on offense. Is Matt Moore the starting quarterback? Is it David Garrard? Who are the wide receivers? Miami patched some holes in the draft but certainly not enough. The Dolphins have a long way to go before they are a contender. Expect 2012 to be a rebuilding year.

Before the Tim Tebow distraction in New York, there was the Brett Favre distraction.

This offseason, the New York Jets have to deal with both.

The Jets still have residue from the Favre fallout. According to the Associated Press, two female massage therapists claim they were subjected to sexual harassment and job discrimination. They claim Favre sent raunchy and unwanted text messages during the 2008 season and are reportedly seeking damages from Favre, the Jets and a team massage coordinator.

The case is going to trial and Favre reportedly has to testify in court. The Jets say the charges are baseless.

With a potential quarterback controversy looming and in-house chemistry issues to address, the Jets have enough distractions this offseason. This is another thing that adds to the Jets' plate.

We have another interesting poll this week in the AFC East, and it's on one of the hottest topics in the division.

The question: What kind of career will Miami Dolphins first-round pick Ryan Tannehill have in the NFL? Tell us what you see for Miami's newest franchise quarterback.

Is Tannehill a future bust? Many scouts wondered about his lack of experience and just 19 career starts. His stock skyrocketed in the offseason after showing his physical abilities in workouts. But that's always dangerous. Miami's track record drafting quarterbacks hasn't been great. They haven't had a franchise player at the position since Dan Marino retired.

Will Tannehill be an average starter? The AFC East already has two average starting quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills. Will Tannehill have a career comparable to those two?

Or Will Tannehill rise above that level and become a solid franchise quarterback? That would be great for Miami to have their long-term solution and a player who can hold the position for the next seven years. This is for quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Joe Flacco and Jay Cutler, who are all solid starters at the position.

Finally, will Tannehill become an elite quarterback? Is he a future Pro Bowler at the position?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on Tannehill's NFL future. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Buffalo Bills announced their undrafted rookie class for 2012.

Here is the list:

• Aaron Corp, QB, Richmond

• Chris Douglas, RB, Missouri State

• Cris Hill, CB, Virginia Tech

• Delano Howell, DB, Stanford

• Paul Madsen, OL, Colorado State

• Shawn Powell, P, Florida State

• David Snow, OL, Texas

• Nick Sukay, DB, Penn State

• Ian Wild, DB, Mercyhurst

• Garrick Williams, LB, Texas A&M

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday morning in the AFC East:

• New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said rookie first-round pick Dont’a Hightower will have many different roles.

Morning take: The Patriots love versatility and Hightower can play inside or outside. The Patriots will switch between a 3-4 and a 4-3 defense, where Hightower can be moved around.

• Will rookie defensive end Quinton Coples and receiver Stephen Hill start for the New York Jets?

Morning take: That's the expectation. New York needed a boost at both positions and hope it got it with Coples and Hill. Both have to learn on the fly.

• The Miami Dolphins will give rookie free-agent quarterback Jacory Harris a shot at rookie mini-camp.

Morning take: The former University of Miami player is a long shot. Miami has veterans David Garrard and Matt Moore and just drafted first-round pick Ryan Tannehill. There's no room for a quarterback on the roster.

• The Buffalo Bills signed rookie free-agent quarterback Aaron Corp of USC.

Morning take: There is a spot open as Buffalo's No. 3 quarterback. So Corp will get a chance. I'm surprised Buffalo didn't draft someone to groom for the future.

The week after the NFL draft always is interesting. We will have plenty of post-draft coverage, as well as more interesting things to keep an eye on in the AFC East blog.

Here is a preview of things to come this week:

• On Tuesday we will unveil our post-draft Power Rankings. Teams have improved their rosters all over the league by adding young talent. Expect some change from our previous rankings.

• Also on Tuesday, be sure to check out our weekly chat. We will discuss all the latest with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

• At the end of the week, the AFC East blog will be live at the Dolphins training facility for rookie mini-camp. We will be keeping tabs on first-round quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the rest of Miami's rookie class to provide an early idea of how they look.

Check back with the AFC East blog regularly this week.