ESPN NFL

INDIANAPOLIS -- The big injury news during Super Bowl week is the left ankle of New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The extent of the injury hasn't been revealed by the Patriots, who would only say Gronkowski is day-to-day. But Gronkowski's father, Gordy Gronkowski, said his son has a high ankle sprain, which is one of the worst forms to the ankle joint.

Assuming Rob Gronkowski's dad is accurate, the AFC East blog caught up with ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell to examine the issues of the injury. Bell provided insight into the challenges Rob Gronkowski potentially faces.

Stephania, besides the location, what are some differences with a regular ankle sprain and a high ankle sprain?

Stephania Bell: Standard ankle sprains tend to be what we call lateral ankle sprains. Many people refer to them as basketball sprains, because it's what you see a lot in basketball when a guy goes up for a shot and maybe lands on another player's foot. His ankle rolls and turns in, which sprains and injures the ligaments on the front and lateral side of the ankle. In a high ankle sprain, the injury is usually a little bit different. The foot is typically pointed outward and is a rotational injury most of the time. If you go back and look at the view of when Gronkowski sprained his ankle, you can actually see some of that when he got caught from behind. It kind of forced his foot to twist so his toes were pointing outward. So that rotational component injures the ligament that basically attaches to the top of the ankle, which is called the "high ankle." It attaches the two lower leg bones where the roof of the ankle is formed.

Players often complain that the injury is very painful. Where does the pain come from?

SB: What makes it difficult functionally is every time you step on your foot, it creates a force that wants to spread those two lower leg bones apart. Every time you take a normal step and your shin bone, if you will, advances over your ankle, which is what normally happens when you step forward, those ligaments are under stress. They are attached there to help prevent those two bones from spreading. When there's injury there, because of the stress on those ligaments, that's why it's so painful. That's why when you saw Ben Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain, he couldn't step into his throws. Why couldn't he step into them? He couldn't put that full weight over the ankle because he couldn't advance the leg bone over the ankle joint without recreating that severe pain. And [Steelers center] Maurkice Pouncey, the reason he couldn't play in the Super Bowl with it is because of the stance he has to get in. That really stresses full weight bearing over that ankle joint.

You mentioned Roethlisberger and Pouncey, who play quarterback and center, respectively. Does Rob Gronkowski have any advantage or disadvantage over those two playing tight end?

SB: I think it's tough for him. Every time he takes a step it's hard to have your normal mechanics. Part of what Gronkowski does is he moves down the field. So everything mobility wise will be compromised. It's going to be harder for him to run. I'm not saying he won't be able to. One thing that's important to emphasize is we don't know the degree of his injury. So it's hard to know what kind of problem it will be. But the bonus the Patriots have is two weeks. Last week I wasn't surprised at all that he didn't practice. The idea is to keep him non-weight bearing, keep him in a boot, protect that area and accomplish as much healing in that area as you can. Really the key is to ensure he has as much maneuverability as possible by the time he gets to the game.

The New England Patriots are favored to win their first Super Bowl since the end of the 2004 season. That capped a run of three championships in four years, which happened to be the most recent NFL dynasty.

But are the Patriots quietly building another dynasty? New England is the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in the past dozen years. If any organization is consistent enough to pull it off, it's New England.

Here are five reasons the Patriots have a chance to once again reach dynasty status:

Reason No. 1: Patriots will beat the Giants

Whoops! Did I reveal my prediction too soon? Oh well. There was no point in waiting. The Patriots will beat the Giants on Feb. 5 to win the fourth Super Bowl of the Bill Belichick era.

This is not only revenge for the Patriots, this is double revenge. New England lost to New York during the 2011 regular season and in Super Bowl XLII. Teams simply don't beat New England three times in a row. Belichick and Tom Brady are too good and too locked in to allow it. New England's defense is also playing much better in the postseason.

New York has looked impressive in wins over the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. But New England will present some unique matchup problems and will attack New York's 29th-ranked pass defense. The Patriots also have allowed just one sack in two playoff games. If the Patriots' pass protection is successful, the Giants are toast.

A lot of people, particularly in the AFC East blog, have criticized my Patriots predictions all season. But I have been right about them every single time. New England was my Super Bowl pick in August, and I've never wavered.

The Patriots will win Super Bowl XLVI over the Giants, which will give them a chance to repeat and begin to chase dynasty status next season.

Reason No. 2: Brady shows no signs of slowing down

Last week we did a story on how much longer Brady can play at a high level. Everyone we spoke to says he still has several great years left in his Hall of Fame career.

Brady, 34, had one of his best seasons in 2011. He threw for the second-most yards (5,235) in NFL history and finished with a passer rating of 105.6. He almost single-handedly carried the Patriots to an AFC East title and a No. 1 seed.

Brady says he wants to play until he’s 40. That will be difficult. But after another great year, it’s hard to doubt him.

It's safe to say Brady will be an elite quarterback for at least the next two or three seasons. Three years is just enough time for New England to make a run at multiple Super Bowls. The Patriots will be a strong contender as long as Brady is healthy. He’s had only one major injury his entire career.

Reason No. 3: Patriots have draft capital and cap room

Guess which AFC East team has the most salary-cap room and first- and second-round picks this offseason? It’s the Patriots.

Belichick has done a masterful job of fielding a championship-caliber team while simultaneously positioning New England well for the future. The Patriots have two first-round picks and two second-round picks thanks to previous trades. The Patriots also have approximately $20 million in cap room to spend in free agency.

Expect most of those resources to go to New England's 31st-ranked defense. Belichick is a defensive-minded coach and I wouldn't be surprised if he spends at least three of those first four picks on that side of the football. That is where the Patriots need depth and impact players.

Leading receiver and pending free agent Wes Welker will take up a chunk of New England's cap space, assuming he re-signs. But the Patriots can still add two or three difference-makers in free agency.

A cover corner? A hard-hitting safety? A deep threat at receiver? The Patriots have the ability to plug all these holes next season.

If this year's Patriots are good enough to win a championship despite their flaws, why can't next year's team? New England should be even better next season.

Reason No. 4: AFC quarterbacks are average

Name the elite quarterbacks in the NFL: Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and you might be able to throw Eli Manning's name in the mix now. Most of the elite quarterbacks play in the NFC.

This year's AFC playoff field included quarterbacks Tim Tebow, T.J. Yates, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco. The overall quarterbacking in the AFC is average and lopsided compared to the NFC. That is a huge advantage for the Patriots.

New England has arguably the only elite quarterback in the AFC. (We are taking the injured Peyton Manning out of the equation for now.) Brady's closest competition is Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Like Brady, Roethlisberger has won multiple Super Bowls. But years and injuries are piling up for Roethlisberger and the Steelers; they didn’t win a playoff game this season. The core in Pittsburgh is past its prime.

Brady and the Patriots are fortunate they don't have to contend with quarterbacks like Rodgers and Brees, unless they reach the Super Bowl. In the AFC, they can continue to beat the Tebows and Flaccos of the world for the next few seasons.

Reason No. 5: Young tight ends

Contractually, Patriots stud tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will be together for at least two more seasons. Both signed four-year contracts after being drafted together in 2010.

Gronkowski and Hernandez are both 22 and already in the top 10 at their position. A case can be made that "Gronk" is the best at his position, although it’s safer to place him in the top three.

As long as Gronkowski and Hernandez are together, New England’s offense will be hard to stop. Opponents have yet to figure out how to slow them down. Their development also made it easier for Brady to make quick reads and throws over the middle. That keeps the pass rush off Brady.

There is no doubt that Gronkowski will be a Patriot for a very long time. He’s the better all-around tight end, and New England will offer Gronkowski a big contract extension in the next year or two.

Hernandez’s case is a little more unpredictable. He’s clearly a No. 1 tight end, but how long will he be willing to play second fiddle? That’s clearly not an issue now. Both players are having fun learning and growing together. But two years from now, when Hernandez is in his prime and becomes a free agent, would he be willing to rejoin the Patriots as a No. 2 tight end? Also, can New England pay top-10 money to two players at the same position?

But those questions are down the road. Right now, New England is four quarters from securing another Super Bowl win.

Will a Super Bowl victory jump-start another Patriots dynasty?

Tom Brady...Tim Tebow...Joe Flacco...T.J. Yates.

Which quarterback would you prefer leading your team in the postseason?

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's one-and-done exit from the playoffs leaves a huge gap between the remaining playoff quarterbacks in the AFC. The field is pretty much Brady, who has three rings, and everyone else.

Tebow, Flacco and Yates have all been inconsistent this season. Brady is the only Pro Bowler of the group and proven commodity who has played well deep into the playoffs.

Here is our ranking of the four remaining AFC playoff quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots

2011 stats: 5,235 yards, 39 TDs, 12 INTs

QBR: 74.2

Analysis: Brady is elite, and he's far and away the best quarterback remaining in the AFC playoffs. New England relies on Brady more than ever, and he produced the second most passing yards in NFL history this season. The only two quarterbacks in Brady's class are in the NFC: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. The chances of Tebow, Yates or Flacco outperforming Brady in the playoffs are slim -- and that is a huge advantage for New England. Last month we predicted the Patriots would win the AFC and advance to Super Bowl in Indianapolis. The Brady factor is the biggest reason. As long as Brady performs well, New England will be tough to beat, especially at Gillette Stadium.

2. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

2011 stats: 3,610, 20 TDs, 12 INTs

QBR: 57.9

Analysis: Flacco is notorious for not playing well in the playoffs. He has a chance to buck that trend with second-seeded Baltimore this season. Flacco's natural ability puts him at No. 2 on our list of remaining starting quarterbacks in the AFC. He can make all the throws. Flacco just hasn't done it in the playoffs. This has been somewhat of a strange season for Flacco. In some ways he's taken a step back. His passer rating, completion percentage, yards and touchdowns all dropped from the previous year. But Baltimore is winning and needs Flacco to step up his game in the playoffs.

3. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

2011 stats: 1,729 yards, 12 TDs, six INTs

QBR: 27.2

Analysis: Was Tebow's passing performance against Pittsburgh a fluke, or has he turned the corner? Tebow made some big throws in the playoffs and finished with a career-high 316 yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh showed no respect for Tebow's arm and paid for it. Statistically it was a sound strategy, considering Tebow's 46.5 completion percentage this season. But Tebow has proven he can win games, despite his QBR being ranked 32nd out of 34 quarterbacks. But Tebow is still playing when a lot of quarterbacks with better numbers are sitting at home.

4. T.J. Yates, Houston Texans

2011 stats: 949 yards, three TDs, three INTs

QBR: N/A

Analysis: Yates, a rookie fifth-round pick, is ranked last of the remaining AFC playoff quarterbacks. He only has six starts under his belt and is 3-3 in those games. Fortunately for the Texans, they have a great running game that can protect Yates. That is paramount against Baltimore, because Yates most likely will not win with his arm. The best strategy for Houston is to try to run the ball well and hope Yates can make a few big plays through the air. Houston Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson is a tough matchup for Baltimore if Yates can get him the football. The Yates-to-Johnson combo worked great last week in eliminating the Cincinnati Bengals.

The New England Patriots finished the regular season 13-3 and earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Now, they can sit back and watch teams battle it out in the first round of the playoffs.

But which team would Patriots fans rather see at Gillette Stadium in two weeks? There are three possibilities.

Would New England be better off facing the young Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)? Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has never played in the postseason. Chances of Dalton outplaying Brady in New England would be slim.

What about Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos (8-8)? The Patriots beat Denver earlier in the regular season and would face a familiar opponent.

Finally, would New England be better off with a rematch against the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)? Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is limited with an ankle injury and just lost starting tailback Rashard Mendenhall. Is this a good time for the Patriots to get revenge against the Steelers, who beat New England in the regular season?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on which team provides the easiest matchup for New England in the divisional round. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

"Here's an opening statement you can take to the bank: The New England Patriots will win the AFC East." -- AFC East blog, Nov. 11, 2011

Remember six weeks ago when I guaranteed the Patriots will win the AFC East? The statement sparked plenty of doubt and harsh criticism. Simply scan through the comments section of that blog and see for yourself.

Most readers thought this was the year the New York Jets would capture the division. Some even thought the Buffalo Bills had a shot. Well, we've seen how that turned out.

Now it's time to take it a step further. Here is another prediction you can take to the bank: The Patriots (11-3) will represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVI.

Sorry Steelers, Ravens, Texans, Broncos and Jets fans. This is the year New England runs through the AFC playoffs.

Here are four reasons why you will see the Patriots in Indianapolis in February:

Reason No. 1: Tom Brady

When it comes to quarterbacking in the AFC, there's Brady and there's everyone else. Brady is the biggest trump card New England has. No team in the conference can match it.

Here are potential quarterbacks Brady could face in the playoffs: T.J. Yates, Tim Tebow, Mark Sanchez, Joe Flacco and an injured and gimpy Ben Roethlisberger.

Brady is 3-0 against Sanchez and Tebow this season by a combined score of 108-60. We've already seen how those scenarios play out. Those three games against the Jets and Broncos weren't close.

Houston's Yates is a rookie fifth-round draft pick and former third-string quarterback. Do you think Yates can out-duel Brady in Yates' first postseason? Flacco of Baltimore has been inconsistent this year and is notorious for not playing well in playoff games.

The Steelers' Roethlisberger is Brady's biggest competition at quarterback. Pittsburgh is the only AFC playoff team to beat New England this season. But Roethlisberger isn't the same player after suffering a high-ankle sprain. He had three interceptions and a fumble in Monday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Roethlisberger at 50 percent cannot beat Brady clicking on all cylinders. High-ankle sprains are serious injuries that take at least a month (if not more) to heal. It could be even longer for Roethlisberger if he continues to play on it leading up to the postseason.

The two playoff quarterbacks with the best chance of out-dueling Brady in the playoffs are Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. But both are in the NFC and have to deal with each other first. New England will only have to worry about one of those quarterbacks once the Patriots get to Indianapolis.

Reason No. 2: Home-field advantage

The road to the Super Bowl most likely goes through Gillette Stadium. All the Patriots have to do is beat a pair of AFC East bottom-feeders -- the Miami Dolphins (5-9) and the Bills (5-9) -- at home the next two weeks.

That will be a huge advantage for the Patriots in the playoffs. New England is 5-1 at home this season and 22-1 in its last 23 games at Gillette Stadium. (The Patriots did drop of pair of playoff games, but we will get to that later.)

With two home games to finish the regular season and probably home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Patriots won't play on the road until they reach the Super Bowl. At that point, it will be a neutral site against the best team from the NFC.

Teams like the Jets (2-5) and Ravens (3-4) have looked awful on the road this year. The Steelers (4-3) have been slightly above average away from Heinz Field. That could come into play if those teams travel to New England in January.

Also, for all the criticism New England's defense has received, the group plays its best football at home. New England is allowing just 18.2 points per game at Gillette Stadium, versus 23.5 points per game on the road. The Patriots' offense will score plenty of points. Therefore, New England will be very tough to beat if its defense maintains its home scoring average in the postseason.

Reason No. 3: Patriots are hottest team in the AFC

Remember the Packers last year? They got hot toward the end of the season and rode the wave all the way to the Super Bowl.

This year's New England team is even hotter than the Packers were in 2010. The Patriots have won six in a row and most likely will enter the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak.

Momentum means a lot this time of year. The Patriots have it. No other team in the AFC can make that claim. The Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Broncos and Jets are all coming off losses. Behind the Patriots, the hottest team in the AFC is the San Diego Chargers (7-7), who have won three in a row but may not make the playoffs.

Overall, the AFC is a flawed conference this year. The Steelers have a horrid offensive line and a gimpy quarterback playing on one leg. The Ravens are an enigma on the road. The Texans are trying to win playoff games with a rookie at quarterback. And the Jets and Broncos don't have enough offensive firepower and simply aren't good enough to make a title run.

There are no complete teams in the AFC and that leaves it wide open for a hot team with home-field advantage like the Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl.

Reason No. 4: Motivation not to be one-and-done

As hard as it is to believe, the Patriots haven't won a playoff game since the 2007 season. That will change this year when a focused and motivated New England team takes the field in January.

Brady and coach Bill Belichick will not allow the Patriots to be one-and-done for the third year in a row. The stakes are too high.

Their legacies are on the line. The Hall of Fame pair do not want to be remembered for losing early-round playoff games in the second half of their Patriot careers as much as their three Super Bowls in the first half. It's starting to get to that point, especially if the Patriots suffer another early exit this season.

It's been four years since New England last experienced playoff success. That's an eternity for Brady and Belichick, who are accustomed to winning big games. Time also is running out for Brady to make another Super Bowl run. He's 34 and only has a few elite years left. The Patriots will not squander this opportunity.

Expect to see Brady versus Brees or Brady versus Rodgers in Super Bowl XLVI.

Who needs Andrew Luck?

According to the Total Quarterback Rating, the Miami Dolphins sure don't.

Dolphins starting quarterback Matt Moore played the most efficient game of his career in Sunday’s 31-3 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Moore was 17 of 23 for 244 yards and three touchdowns. He registered a stellar 97.7, which was the highest total in Week 9.

Moore was better than Aaron Rodgers (94.5), Tom Brady (56.3) and Ben Roethlisberger (80.2). Does that make Moore the long-term solution for the Dolphins? Probably not.

But Moore can do Miami and coach Tony Sparano a big favor by continuing to play well. Miami can win some games in the second half of the season if Moore consistently plays at this level.

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

• How much is New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to blame for the team's struggles on defense?

Morning take: New England still is a great team. But the defense has a lot of flaws and Belichick has been unable to fix it, despite his reputation as a defensive guru. Most of that falls on his desk.

• Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says there will be no coaching change after Tony Sparano lost his 10th straight game dating to last season.

Morning take: Miami put forth a solid effort against the Giants. The Dolphins aren’t winning. But they proved the past two weeks they are not giving up on their head coach.

• The Buffalo Bills' nine sacks against the Washington Redskins were the most since 1964.

Morning take: Of all the great Super Bowl teams in the 1990s, none got to the quarterback like the Bills did Sunday. Buffalo’s defense has a lot of momentum going into next week’s game against the New York Jets.

• Speaking of the Jets, their recent drafts are still up for discussion.

Morning take: Obviously, a lot will hinge on the success of quarterback Mark Sanchez. The development of 2010 first-round pick Kyle Wilson also is another one to watch.

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

• Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reports Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams could land on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Morning take: Williams tried to play through the pain but wasn't the same player. According to the report, Williams will stay off his foot a few more weeks and then determine if he can play football again this season.

• Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post explains how the Jets (4-3) still can win the AFC East.

Morning take: Although not impossible, winning the division sounds like a stretch for New York. The Jets have a better chance competing with the Bills for second place and shooting for the wild card.

• Sherrod Blakely of Comcast Sports Net New England explains how the Patriots can contain Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Morning take: Keeping Roethlisberger in the pocket and getting him down when you have the chance are key for New England. Roethlisberger is most dangerous when he can extend plays and continue to look downfield for big gains.

• Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post writes Miami Dolphins players are taking exception to tailback Reggie Bush's comments that the team "stinks."

Morning take: I happen to applaud Bush for his honesty. His comments weren't popular in the locker room. But no one debates if Bush was telling the truth.

The best game in the NFL this coming weekend takes place in Pittsburgh. That is where the reigning AFC champion Steelers (5-2) will host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (5-1).

New England is favored coming off the bye week. But is that correct? Pittsburgh is heating up and won three games in a row. The defense is ranked third in the NFL and the offense has big-play capability with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and speedy receiver Mike Wallace.

But New England also has played very well this year and holds the best record in the AFC. Brady has given Pittsburgh headaches in his career. Will New England continue to beat Pittsburgh in big games?

Using our SportsNation poll, take your pick in Sunday's high-profile matchup between the Patriots and Steelers. You can also share your thoughts and predict a score in the comments section below.

Here are the latest happenings Thursday evening in the AFC East:

• The winless Miami Dolphins (0-5) bought the remaining tickets to avoid their second blackout of the season Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says marquee quarterbacks -- such as Tom Brady of the New England Patriots -- get more protection from referees.
• Recent history suggests the Buffalo Bills' offense could explode after the bye week.
  
• Here's a preview of E60's profile on New York Jets receiver Santonio Holmes.

Let's check our AFC East mailbag.

Chazz Steiner from San Antonio, Texas, wants to know if the Miami Dolphins would be better off targeting Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn over Stanford's Andrew Luck.

James Walker: The Dolphins, if given the chance with the top pick, should take Luck, Chazz. No questions asked. Flynn looked good in the preseason, but he is a former seventh-round pick and still a bit of an unknown. Luck is an unknown, too. But many scouts believe he could be a special talent that you can build a franchise around. You don't pass on that if you're Miami.

Paul from Everett, Mass., writes: What if Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore fails?

Walker: Miami signed veteran backup Sage Rosenfels for insurance, Paul. Moore and Rosenfels doesn't exactly strike fear in opponents. But I was in Miami's locker room this week, and players had good things to say about Moore. We will have a story on Miami's new quarterback this weekend (hint, hint).

Daniel from Port Allegany, Pa., writes: Do you think it's too bold for a Bills fan to think that the AFC East title will be on the line Jan. 1 at Gillette Stadium?

Walker: Slow down, Daniel. That's pretty bold. There's a lot of football left to play. I don't think the division is going to come down to that New Year's Day game. Barring injury, I still peg the New England Patriots as the favorites to win 11-13 games. I don't think Buffalo can keep pace with that. But there is a good chance at least one team will have some playoff implications on the line in that game. The NFL scheduled division games at the end of the year to make them more meaningful.

Tom from Southwest Ranches, Fla., writes: The Bills are dragging their feet on signing Fitz right now. Do you think he would make an attractive free agent QB or is he just a product of a good thing with this offense and Chan Gailey right now?

Walker: I think it's a little bit of both. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a journeyman quarterback who couldn't cut it with other teams. But he's a great fit for the Bills and their spread system, and that's what matters. I think Buffalo will work out an agreement with Fitzpatrick at some point. He's worth more to the Bills than to any other team.

John The Pats Fan Richmond, Va., wants to know what the contract status of Patriots receiver Wes Welker is.

Walker: Welker is in the final year of his contract. I recently mentioned in the blog that New England should extend Welker's contract sooner than later, because the price tag continues to go up during his monster season. But the Patriots are not in a rush. New England wants Welker, and Welker wants to stay in New England. So things most likely will work out. It's more of an issue of "when," not "if."

Graham Stott via Twitter writes: Do you see the Patriots doing any dealing before the trade deadline to improve the defense?

Walker: The Patriots could use another body or two on the defensive line. But I don't see New England making a trade. This time of year, most teams want draft picks before the trade deadline. The Patriots rarely trade draft picks for players. They prefer to acquire picks.

Marc from Hoboken, N.J., wants to know how concerned Jets fans should be with the offensive line.

Walker: I would say very concerned, Marc. Even Jets receiver Santonio Holmes is concerned. The Jets are losing for a variety of reasons. But I would peg the offensive line as the biggest reason the team is on a three-game losing streak. The Jets can't run consistently or protect Mark Sanchez most weeks. What are they to do? The strange thing is that we saw plenty of hints this could happen in the preseason. But we chose to ignore it, thinking it would be corrected when the games counted. That hasn't been the case.

Spyder from Santa Fe, N.M., wants my take on New York Jets rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.

Walker: As a Temple alum, I've been watching Wilkerson for a couple years now. He was a man among boys in the Mid-American Conference, and now his abilities are really being challenged in the pros. You see flashes of what he can do, such as his safety against the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the defensive end position in the 3-4 thrives off consistency, and that's where Wilkerson needs to improve. Wilkerson can make splashy plays. But I want to see him be more stout and hard to move against the run. There have been a lot of gaps in the running game against New York's defense in recent weeks.

Comment and complaint department

Chuck from Vero, Fla., writes: All I hear now from friends of mine that are Dolphin fans and articles about the Dolphins is that Chad Henne is not the answer and we should "Suck for Luck." Has anyone actually given Henne a chance besides the organization? It’s not his fault that the team is this bad right now. Henne is Big Ben of the Dolphins. That's how I see it. He was doing so much better before he was lost to shoulder surgery. Dolphins need to bring him back and need a new coaching staff. If they want to draft another QB then draft someone later in the draft. There are much more glaring holes to fix than QB like our secondary especially free safety. Strong safety is secure but (Yeremiah) Bell isn't getting any younger. This organization makes me feel embarrassed to be a Dolphins fan. I still support them but I'm given up on the season.

Walker: Your plan for the Dolphins is definitely in the minority, Chuck. As I mentioned before, the Dolphins can't pass on Luck if given the opportunity to draft him next April. Henne is a free agent coming off a season-ending injury. He showed strides in four games — but not enough to warrant building your franchise around. Miami tried that route for four years; it didn't work. Also, no offense to Henne, but I covered Ben Roethlisberger for three years, which included two Super Bowl runs, and Henne is not the "Big Ben of the Dolphins." I almost made you "Homer of the Week" for that comment, Chuck.

Christian Q from Tampa, Fla., writes: As a life-long fan, the decade demise that has been the Dolphins has been difficult to tolerate. The latest blow definitely has to be that in two weeks we may very well be honoring the visiting team's starting QB. I don't even know how to feel anymore!

Walker: Yeah, I thought the Tim Tebow thing was a little strange when the Dolphins announced it this summer. It was an odd promotion in theory and geographically. It's only worse now that Tebow is the starter in Denver. But promotions are not what's going to turn the Dolphins around. The team needs to win games and win at home to bring fans back to Sun Life Stadium.

Ed Cucci from Manchester, N.H., writes: Why do so many in the media make so much out of meaningless statistic "Yards Per Game?" Yards mean nothing. Games are decided on points. You can give as many yards as you want as long as you don't give up a lot of scores, and that how it has always been with Patriots. They are 4-1 because they score more points than their opponent and score when they need to. In fact, there are 14 teams that given up more points that the Patriots including the NY Jets who are "supposed" to have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Huh? The Saints have too. How come you never hear about them having a bad defense? So when you claim they have the worst defense, it's not true at all. You should write a little ditty about how useless the "yards" stat really is. It's all about the points baby!

Walker: While I agree that the scoreboard is what matters most, Ed, that doesn't make yards allowed meaningless. Truth be told, I think Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is New England's best defense right now. He's been so good that it puts pressure on opposing offenses to keep up, and at times, makes teams one-dimensional. I don't think the Patriots' defense can carry the team right now without Brady.

A.J. from Virginia Beach, Va., writes: Why is everyone writing off the Bills still? I understand people think we haven't played anyone but we've beaten a Chiefs team before their momentum went completely away, a Raiders team that many are pegging as legitimate, Patriots who are top-3 in the NFL to most, and now the Eagles who despite their start clearly have talent. Not only that but Fitzpatrick looks better than ever and this team is for real! Go Bills!

Walker: I'm not sure people are writing off the Bills anymore, A.J. There were some questions after the Bengals loss. But a good, bounce-back performance against the Eagles quieted most of the critics. I think they have a good shot for at least the wild card thanks to their fast start.

Norm from, Oneida, N.Y., writes: James, you need to go to all the Bills games this year or at least the big ones. Bills beat the Pats and Eagles while you were at the game. Come on you know you want to go to the Buffalo Bills vs. New Jersey Giants next week.

Walker: I see people won't let the New York/New Jersey thing go in the AFC East, Norm. I won't take credit for the Bills starting 4-1. But I will be at the Bills-Giants game Sunday, as well as the Dolphins-Jets game on Monday. I'm looking forward to a fun weekend of AFC East football.

If you have any questions, comments or complaints, feel free to send them to our AFC East inbox.

James Harrison, the combustible Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, delivered a mushroom-cloud interview with Men's Journal.

Harrison blasted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a few other targets, including Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and the surveillance-minded New England Patriots of a few years back.

"I should have another ring," James Harrison said. "We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots, who we beat during the regular season, stole our signals and picked up 90 percent of our blitzes [in the AFC Championship Game]. They got busted for it later, but, hey, they're Goodell's boys, so he slapped 'em $500,000 and burned the tapes. Was he going to rescind their Super Bowls? Man, hell no!"

ESPN analyst Herm Edwards debated resident "First Take" instigator Skip Bayless about the NFL's top five offensive players.

Both selected New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady first and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning second.

Neither Edwards nor Bayless ranked a running back or wide receiver. Bayless, in fact, rated quarterbacks in every slot.

Edwards made a provocative pick with Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long as his fifth-best player, although he named Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas fourth.

ESPN.com's positional Power Rankings got around to quarterbacks Tuesday.

There were few surprises to me on the final list because my ballot was a near-Xerox of the final list. The only eyebrow-raiser for me was New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady not being the unanimous selection among the eight panelists.

Brady easily came out on top, but Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning received first-place votes from NFC West blogger Mike Sando and AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky. Each voted Brady second.

Brady was the undisputed pick for the Associated Press MVP Award and for All-Pro, but Sando explained Manning still deserved the edge.

"Brady has the better stats over the last couple seasons, but the Colts would undoubtedly be far worse off than the Patriots if both teams had backups under center," Sando said. "Once that was established, Brady's recent postseason struggles became a deciding factor.

"These quarterbacks have, to an extent, switched roles recently. Manning has won a championship more recently than Brady has won one. Brady has seven touchdowns, seven picks and one victory in his last four playoff games. Manning has seven touchdowns, two picks and two victories in his last four."

I don't understand the logic there. Even without taking into consideration that Brady posted historic efficiency numbers in a totally revamped system that jettisoned Randy Moss, went from a spread offense to a two-tight end set and utilized a cast of overachievers and rookies, the concept of factoring past success is lost on me.

Power Rankings are a snapshot of the moment and are expected to change regularly, not encompass years of work. But if the reason for selecting Manning ahead of Brady is recent playoff performances that go back a few years, then Ben Roethlisberger should be ahead of Manning, right? Roethlisberger has been to a pair of Super Bowls and won his second title more recently than Manning's only championship.

Manning was third on two ballots, getting in line behind Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers on NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert's list and behind Drew Brees on NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas' list.

This was my ballot:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, Colts
3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
4. Drew Brees, Saints
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers
6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
7. Michael Vick, Eagles
8. Matt Ryan, Falcons
9. Matt Schaub, Texans
10. Joe Flacco, Ravens

Compared to the consensus, I pegged nine of the 10 players exactly and each of the first eight quarterbacks listed. The only disparity was Schaub, who tied for 12th. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning emerges as the group's choice for No. 8.

What are your thoughts?

The NBA admitted it made a mistake by not penalizing Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins for goaltending on the pivotal, go-ahead basket with 65 seconds to play in Sunday's postseason victory over the Denver Nuggets.

That's one of the hotter topics in sports lately.

So what's the most controversial call in AFC East history?

There are a number of candidates to choose from. The Tuck Rule comes to mind. While technically not a blown call, it sure didn't look right.

The Patriots had a magical bicentennial season in 1976, but it came to a screeching stop. Defensive lineman Ray Hamilton was called for a highly questionable late hit on Ken Stabler, allowing the Oakland Raiders to turn a fourth-and-18 into a touchdown five plays later and eventually eliminate the Patriots from the playoffs.

The Music City Miracle still resonates with Buffalo Bills fans certain Frank Wycheck made a forward lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson. The Bills haven't been to the playoffs in the 11 years since.

In 1998, Bills receiver Andre Reed claimed he overheard an official say "Just give it to them" after Patriots receiver Shawn Jefferson made a controversial sideline catch with six seconds left, setting up Drew Bledsoe's winning touchdown pass to Ben Coates.

New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde scored a phantom touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in 1998 on a fourth-down plunge that didn't cross the goal line. The Jets went on to win the AFC East.

Last year, the Miami Dolphins lost a potentially season-changing game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when officials ruled the video replay couldn't determine Ikaika Alama-Francis recovered in the end zone. The Steelers kicked a field goal to win by a point.

Those are just a few that come to mind.

What call do you think is the AFC East's worst of all-time?