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

• Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington provides a cautionary tale about pursuing injured quarterbacks like Peyton Manning.

Morning take: Pennington's career is all but officially over after multiple shoulder surgeries. Manning has a neck injury, which is more unpredictable. But Manning also is a much better quarterback, making it worth the risk.

• Here is video of a New York Giants "fan" who rooted for the wrong quarterback: Mark Sanchez of the Jets.

Morning take: This is pretty funny. This person must have been a huge Giants fan since 2012.

• What are your season grades for the New England Patriots players?

Morning take: Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork are among the standouts. But click the link to see which New England players didn't make the grade.

• Former Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed said it's tough waiting for the Hall of Fame.

Morning take: If there was a year for Reed to get in, this was it. The 2012 class is not star-studded. It will get tougher for Reed next year and in subsequent years as bigger names come down the pike.

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

• ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Miami Dolphins have scheduled second interviews with Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles.

Morning take: With time running out, this is most likely Miami's final list. Which coach of this group would Dolphins fans prefer?

• Steve Wyche of NFL.com thinks the New England Patriots will draft a wide receiver in the first round?

Morning take: It’s an interesting thought, consider Deion Branch is on his last legs and Chad Ochocinco isn’t a good fit. But I still think New England would be better off drafting defenders with its two first-round picks.

• The Associated Press reports that New York governor Andrew Cuomo is seeking millions in funding to renovate Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Morning take: This is part of the plan to keep the Bills in western New York. The stadium lease runs out in 2013, so Buffalo is on the clock.

• Former Dolphins and New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington says Tony Sparano is the right fit for the Jets' offense.

Morning take: There are plenty of skeptics based on what we saw from Miami’s offense under Sparano the past few years. The biggest question is whether Sparano will be able to develop quarterback Mark Sanchez in his fourth season.

Dan Henning went all D.B. Cooper when he parachuted from the Miami Dolphins after last season. He was largely blamed for the Dolphins' offensive woes and might've been the most unpopular member of the organization -- until Stephen Ross publicly humiliated Tony Sparano.

By then, Henning had stepped down as offensive coordinator and disappeared.

Six months later, Palm Beach Post reporter Ben Volin tracked him down. Henning talked about his three seasons, which were supposed to be just two when old pal Bill Parcells convinced him to come out of retirement in 2008.

Dolfans expected big things from their boys last year. They'd won the AFC East title in 2008 and slipped to 7-9 the next season, but Chad Henne had a season of NFL starts to his credit and was the clear starter. Ricky Williams was coming off a 1,000-yard season and the Dolphins traded for Brandon Marshall, the presumed missing piece to unlocking the offense.

The Dolphins floundered. They finished 30th in scoring and 21st in yardage. A once-proud ground game also checked it 21st. Their passing offense was 16th.

Henning was the popular scapegoat. I never bought into that sentiment. Henning and quarterbacks coach David Lee were considered progressive-minded wizards when they installed the Wildcat offense and helped the Dolphins go from 1-15 to the division title.

"What we accomplished, with what we took over, was a very good thing for everybody’s feelings down there, that there was still a spark," Henning told Volin. "And there was a great deal of enjoyment in being able to turn it around like that."

The difference, of course, wasn't that Henning got stupid overnight. The loss of Chad Pennington at quarterback was what dropped the team's collective IQ.

But Henning said he still believes in Henne.

"I feel like Chad will get the opportunity to turn it around; I really do," Henning said. "He's always ready to do what you ask him to do, very studious about the game, good questions, aware of personalities and idiosyncrasies with player personnel that he has to deal with. No problem working with Chad Henne."

Scratch Chad Pennington as an option for the Miami Dolphins' -- or anybody else's -- quarterback depth chart next season.

The Dolphins also can forget keeping him around as a coach or hands-on mentor for Chad Henne.

Pennington told the Charleston Daily Mail he plans to skip the 2011 season while he recovers from shoulder and knee injuries and will work for Fox Sports. The two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, who will turn 35 next weekend, said he might consider returning to the field in 2012.

"I'm actually going to take this year off, get healthy and do some work for Fox Sports," Pennington told Daily Mail assistant sports editor Rick Stevens. "I'm going to evaluate things and see where I am physically."

Fox Sports spokesman Lou D'Ermilio tweeted confirmation Saturday morning and said Pennington will be a game analyst for the network.

Pennington suffered another major injury to his throwing shoulder a few snaps into his lone Dolphins start last season. He tore a knee ligament while playing a pickup basketball game in March.

He said playing hoops was "a dumb decision. ... I haven't played [football]. I wasn't training real hard at the time because I was doing some shoulder rehab, and my legs weren't ready to play basketball. So it was just dumb."

Pennington was a free agent. So is last season's other backup quarterback, Tyler Thigpen. The only signed quarterback on the roster aside from Henne is Tom Brandstater, a third-year pro out of Fresno State who has spent time with the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.

Football Outsiders senior writer Mike Tanier has been charting the top five quarterbacks of every NFL team. In his latest column, he broke down the AFC East's best. You should click on the links to read Tanier's reasoning and interesting stats on each selection.

A first-round pick from the famed 1983 draft class appears on every list.

Buffalo Bills

1. Jim Kelly
2. Joe Ferguson
3. Jack Kemp
4. Drew Bledsoe
5. Doug Flutie

Quick take: It's strange to see Flutie on the Bills' all-time list. When I arrived in Western New York 11 years ago, the area was hotly divided over him and Rob Johnson. Some fans wanted Flutie to just go away. But I agree with the list and, as Tanier, points out in his piece, this goes to show how few great quarterbacks there've been over the years.

Miami Dolphins

1. Dan Marino
2. Bob Griese
3. Jay Fiedler
4. Don Strock
5. Earl Morrall

Quick take: The Dolphins have a two Hall of Famers in their history, but you can see how much trouble they've had finding a replacement for Marino when you consider their fourth- and fifth-best quarterbacks are known for being quality backups. Granted, Morrall came off the sideline to help maintain the undefeated 1972 season. But he started 14 times over five seasons with Miami and just 40 percent of his career games.

New England Patriots

1. Tom Brady
2. Drew Bledsoe
3. Babe Parilli
4. Steve Grogan
5. Tony Eason

Quick take: This is the only AFC East team with an active quarterback on the list. The rundown couldn't be more straightforward to me. Maybe you could flip Grogan and Parilli because of longevity and the neck roll.

New York Jets (from a previous Football Outsiders column)

1. Joe Namath
2. Chad Pennington
3. Ken O'Brien
4. Vinny Testaverde
5. Richard Todd

Quick take: Tanier notes that if you wanted to rank Sanchez fourth right now, then he wouldn't argue. Neither would I, although I'd be more comfortable with Sanchez replacing Todd on this list. Tanier also claims if Pennington had avoided one of his lost seasons, he might be the greatest quarterback in Jets history -- from a statistical standpoint.

FoxSports.com writer Adam Caplan broke down all the factors facing Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's transition to the NFL.

Caplan quotes an unnamed scout who says of Pryor: "You need to get him with a team willing to be very patient. Heck, I'm not so sure he's even a quarterback at this point. He's far away from being able to handle what's going to come at him at our level. You don't really see him being asked to make a lot of tough throws. That won't be the case going forward."

With that in mind, Caplan gave five appropriate places for Pryor to play quarterback. Two of the locales are in the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills: "While journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played fairly well last season, he’s in the final year of his contract. It also remains to be seen if Levi Brown, whom the Bills selected in the seventh round of last year’s draft, has a future with the team. And keep in mind, head coach Chan Gailey likes to develop mobile quarterbacks. He did a nice job of developing former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart."

Miami Dolphins: "Starter Chad Henne is in the final year of his rookie deal, and Miami doesn’t have a true developmental quarterback on its roster. Tom Brandstater, who was signed as a free agent last season, was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by the Denver Broncos."

I agree with Caplan about the Bills. They do have a void at backup quarterback and would like to develop one for the future. Brown doesn't seem to be that guy. He wasn't good enough to make the team out of training camp or even be signed to the practice squad. The Bills didn't bring back Brown until they waived Trent Edwards in-season. Last season's primary backup, the disappointing Brian Brohm, is a free agent.

As for the Dolphins, it's hard to imagine them grabbing a player like Pryor after their experience with Pat White. The Dolphins didn't have the patience to wait around for him to develop NFL passing skills. Also consider that on the Dolphins' depth chart are Chad Pennington and Tyler Thigpen. Both are free agents, and while Pennington is recovering from knee surgery, either could be back.

Let's skim the AFC East mailbag to see what's on your minds these days.

Neil in Jackson, Miss., weighed in on the recent post about the Miami Dolphins' chances to go from a losing team to the playoffs in 2012. I wrote the Dolphins wouldn't be able to compete with the New York Jets or New England Patriots and other formidable wild-card candidates "until they get high-quality and consistent performances from their quarterback."

Neil's response was common among Dolfans lately: Rip Mark Sanchez.

"I'll readily concede he stepped up in the playoffs," Neil wrote, "but nothing in his career so far has demonstrated consistency. Quality QB play is more important than ever, but the Jets continue to prove you can be a threat to win titles without it."

That's true, but the Jets also have continued to prove they're far better at competing on a weekly basis (back-to-back AFC Championship Games) than the Dolphins (7-9 twice in a row) over the past two years.

The Jets can get away with Sanchez at quarterback because he has been better than Henne and because they're more complete on both sides of the ball. Sanchez is only 24 years old, appears to be improving and has a knack for clutch finishes regardless of how erratic he was over the first three quarters. He might not play consistently, but he consistently wins.

For the Dolphins to catch up, they need better quarterbacking. The other positions didn't change drastically when Chad Pennington gave way to Chad Henne in 2008. They added one of the NFL's most prolific receivers last year and arguably got worse.

In response to a Memorial Day post about Buffalo Bills guard Bob Kalsu, the only pro football player to die in Vietnam, Joseph wanted to make sure we knew the New York Army National Guard established Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariya, Iraq, in 2003.

"It is located about 20 minutes, by Black Hawk helicopter, from Baghdad International Airport," Joseph wrote. "As a Black Hawk crew chief, we go there several times a week. When I was stuck in Kalsu for several days due to bad weather, I saw the plaque outside of the HQ that describes both Bob Kalsu and why they named the FOB after him."

I wasn't aware of that. Pretty cool tribute to an American hero. Thanks for pointing that out, Joseph, but thank you even more for your service to our country.

Paul in Lexington, Mass., shared his thoughts to a question posed by a recent AFC East chat: Should the Patriots be automatic favorites in 2011? I've actually predicted -- in pencil because we haven't had free agency yet -- the Jets will win the division.

"Past is prologue," Paul contended. "Absent Bill Belichick, Tom Brady or Vince Wilfork getting hit by a bus, the Patriots should win the division by multiple games. They are by far the deepest team in the division."

Apparently drawing parallels to their background as overlooked Kent State quarterbacks, Paul also predicts Julian Edelman will have a Josh Cribbs-type year on punt returns and that unsigned Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins will be back.

I disagree with Paul's grandiose plans for Edelman, but I can't argue the Patriots are a great club.

Again, it's all in faint pencil at this point anyway.

Aftershocks from Jim Tressel's resignation at Ohio State could cause star quarterback Terrelle Pryor to petition for the NFL's supplemental draft.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing an unnamed NFL source, reported Tuesday that the league plans to hold a July supplemental draft if they have applicants.

Pryor is the subject of his own investigation for improper benefits and probably doesn't have anything to gain hanging around Columbus another autumn.

The supplemental draft is set up for prospects with circumstances that've changed since the filing deadline for the regular draft. Teams bid a round they'd be willing to draft a prospect. If they have the best bid, then they get the player and lose the corresponding pick in next year's draft.

Would an AFC East club be interested in taking a shot at Pryor?

Pryor is a tremendous athlete, but not a polished passer. He would be an NFL project. In March, Mel Kiper rated Pryor the fifth-best quarterback in next year's draft, but dropped him out of his top five in subsequent lists. And that factored in another year of college seasoning for Pryor.

Maybe Pryor would be worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick for a team willing to gamble. Or he could be had for a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills have room for a developmental quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the incumbent starter. Last year's second-stringer, Brian Brohm, is a free agent. Third-string quarterback Levi Brown was a seventh-round pick who couldn't make the roster out of training camp. General manager Buddy Nix has stated the Bills will sign a free-agent quarterback, too.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins also have spot on their depth chart -- for now. But would they have the patience? The Dolphins didn't want to invest any longer than one season in Pat White, and they used a second-round pick on him. Chad Henne is the only known quantity. The Dolphins didn't draft a quarterback, and last year's backups, Chad Pennington and Tyler Thigpen, are free agents. Pennington also is recovering from a knee injury.

New England Patriots: There appears to be no room at the inn. Tom Brady was the MVP last season. Top backup Brian Hoyer is back. They also drafted Arkansas passer Ryan Mallett. Pryor would waste a roster spot unless the Patriots wanted to convert him to receiver or tight end.

New York Jets: The Jets still list six quarterbacks on their roster and a seventh on their inactive list. Mark Sanchez, Mark Brunell, Kellen Clemens, Kevin O'Connell, Erik Ainge, Drew Willy and rookie Greg McElroy. No need to go fishing with Pryor.

Parity isn't collectively bargained anymore. Whenever the NFL resumes, we can expect the competition level to remain relatively balanced -- even if the performances are sloppy because of missed workouts.

With parity in mind, ESPN analysts Tedy Bruschi and Herm Edwards mulled over the top candidates to go from a losing record last season to the playoffs in 2011.

The AFC East had two losing teams last season, but neither the Miami Dolphins nor Buffalo Bills made the conversation.

Bruschi brushed aside the easiest answers, the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, and made a compelling case for the St. Louis Rams. Bruschi pointed out quarterback Sam Bradford is on the rise, and the Rams came one victory away from winning the flaccid NFC West last season.

Edwards went in a similar direction and picked the San Francisco 49ers, saying it will pivot on whether Jim Harbaugh can prop up quarterback Alex Smith.

Back to the Dolphins and Bills, I don't see either team making the playoffs next season. The Dolphins have the possibility to field a playoff-caliber team, and what I mean by that is a squad that would be competitive if they made the tournament. But the odds are stacked against them.

The Dolphins would need to conjure up quarterback play they didn't have last season in addition to the New England Patriots and New York Jets falling off in addition to enough contenders from other divisions not winning enough games.

The AFC seems too deep for the Dolphins until they get high-quality and consistent performances from their quarterback, whether it's Chad Henne or somebody not yet on the team. Then again, Chad Pennington showed what one reliable veteran could do in 2008.

The Bills still are a rebuilding team. They have the same competitive issues in the AFC East as the Dolphins, but lack the overall roster talent.

What key event significantly changed the fortunes of the Dolphins -- for better or worse? Give us your take and we'll give you our definitive moment on May 26.

The Miami Dolphins have had some glorious moments in their illustrious history, but later years haven't measured up to the 1970s.

Miami's course was set in 1970, when owner Joe Robbie signed Baltimore Colts head coach Don Shula. The Dolphins went on an amazing run under Shula's guidance, including the NFL's only undefeated season in 1972. Shula led the Dolphins to five Super Bowls, including three straight in the 1970s. They won two championships.

They haven't won another title since, but Dan Marino thrilled Dolfans for nearly two decades. Marino rewrote the NFL record books with 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns and is considered the greatest quarterback never to win the Super Bowl.

More recently, the Dolphins made history by rebounding from a one-victory season to win the AFC East championship in 2008. They tied an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season with a rookie head coach, rookie general manager and a new quarterback.

Submit your vote with the SportsNation poll. If you vote Other, please give us your suggestion in the comments area below this article.

Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson takes a look at Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne in this week's "Pressure Point" column.

Williamson's opening paragraph:

There wasn't a player who disappointed me more in 2010 than Chad Henne. I expected Henne to take a huge step forward as a full-time starter with an entire offseason to prepare for that role, but he did not. In fact, he played terribly.

Henne has reasons outside his control for not performing up to expectations. The Dolphins' interior offensive line remained a chaotic mess. The running game didn't deliver.

But Henne certainly could have helped himself more.

Williamson remains cautiously optimistic about Henne's future for these reasons:

• Improved interior O-line and rushing attack, opening up play-action passing.
• Another year of familiarity with Brandon Marshall.
• Important players such as left tackle Jake Long, tight end Anthony Fasano and slot receiver Davone Bess already in place.

My take is less bullish than Williamson's. Henne hasn't been able to handle being the starter with nobody of real consequence looking over his shoulder. Chad Pennington always has been seen as an ally, and his injury situation didn't pose a threat to Henne the past two seasons.

Henne probably won't be so comfortably in place in 2011. The Dolphins have insisted Henne will have to compete to keep his job.

Whether the Dolphins draft a quarterback in the first round (they don't own a second-rounder this year) or pick up a veteran via free agency or trade, that player will be lurking behind Henne and a tempting alternative if head coach Tony Sparano gets frustrated enough to send Henne to the sideline.

If you think three Super Bowl titles, a supermodel wife and a 22,000-square-foot mansion have erased the emotional memories of being drafted 199th, then you don't know Tom Brady very well.

Brady and his father recalled his draft day 11 years ago for "The Brady 6," an hour-long ESPN documentary that looks back on that year's class of quarterbacks and how an afterthought turned into one of the game's all-time greats.

During his interview for the film, Brady broke down and wept while remembering.

"We were led to believe that he was going to be drafted, possibly second round, probably third round," Tom Brady Sr. said. "They kept calling quarterback names, and we kept being stunned.

"We were very distraught. With each name it was becoming worse and worse."

Chad Pennington ... Giovanni Carmazzi ... Chris Redman ... Tee Martin ...

At the beginning of the sixth round, Brady couldn't take it anymore and went for a walk. He returned about 22 picks into the round.

Marc Bulger ... Spergon Wynn ...

Brady had to leave the house again.

"It was hard," Brady said. "I remember taking a walk with my dad and mom around the block ..."

Brady stopped for several seconds, lowered his head and began to cry.

"It was just a tough day, you know?" he continued. "I just remember being there with my mom and dad."

Brady's chin continued to quake. He paused again to gather himself.

"Sorry about that," Brady said. "You know, they were just so supportive of me. They take it as emotional as I do. Finally, when the Patriots called, I was so excited. I was, like, 'I don't have to be an insurance salesman,' you know?"

Brady wiped tears from his eyes.

"My family was there," Brady said. "We were all excited, and thank God I got picked here."

ESPN's upcoming hour-long documentary, "The Brady 6," looks back on the New England Patriots' fortune of drafting Tom Brady 199th overall in 2000.

Much of the analysis focuses on the successes and failures of the six quarterbacks taken ahead of Brady.

Chad Pennington was one of the better choices. He was the first quarterback off the board, going to the New York Jets with the 18th pick.

Pennington's abilities were mitigated by injuries. In fact, he's scheduled to undergo knee surgery Thursday after getting hurt last week in a pickup basketball game.

ESPNNewYork.com reporter Rich Cimini provided a medical review and wondered what might have been had Pennington stayed healthy.

Even so, Pennington accomplished some special things. A preview clip of "The Brady 6" reminds us of Pennington's skills, taking a look back at his special 2008 campaign with the Miami Dolphins.

Pennington fell into the Dolphins' lap in training camp. The Jets cut him to make room for Brett Favre, and all Pennington did was guide a 1-15 team to the AFC East title, an unheard of turnaround. The Dolphins tied the record for fewest turnovers in a season in large part because of Pennington's proficiency.

He was MVP runner-up to Peyton Manning and won an unprecedented second NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Pennington's games against the Jets were bookends to the 2008 season. They met in the season opener in Miami and again in the finale at the Meadowlands with the division on the line.

"The first game, I didn't want to play the game of football," Pennington said in the film. "I wanted to get out there on the 50, put on the gloves and let's go at it. ... I wanted that too much.

"Sixteen weeks after, all that was gone. There was such a peace about it, and it wasn't even like I was playing the Jets. It was, 'We're playing for the AFC East crown. We're playing to make NFL history here.'"

Cameras capture the jubilant postgame scene in the visitors' locker room. First-year Dolphins coach Tony Sparano calls out for "Sunshine" to get some extra praise and then gives him the game ball.

The Dolphins have struggled without Pennington on the field. He has suffered shoulder injuries each of the past two seasons. They've had back-to-back 7-9 seasons with Chad Henne as quarterback, even though they added receiver Brandon Marshall last year.

Did he work out as the 18th pick of the 2000 draft? Not compared to Brady, certainly.

But Pennington was worth it and deserved better luck.

If the Cleveland Browns could make the 183rd pick of the 2000 draft all over again, then I'm fairly certain when they wouldn't have taken Spergon Wynn.

Fifteen picks later, the New England Patriots took a shot on Tom Brady. It happened to work out.

Brady was the seventh quarterback drafted that year. As part of ESPN's "Year of the Quarterback" campaign, NFL Films will look back on the ones who came off the board before him. "The Brady 6" will debut April 12.

To refresh your memory, the quarterbacks taken ahead of Brady were:

• Chad Pennington, 18th to the New York Jets
• Giovanni Carmazzi, 65th to the San Francisco 49ers
• Chris Redman, 75th to the Baltimore Ravens
• Tee Martin, 163rd to the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Marc Bulger 168th to the New Orleans Saints
• Spergon Wynn, 183rd to the Cleveland Browns

Not exactly a loaded draft class. Only one quarterback went in the first two rounds. Pennington can be justified a success at No. 18, especially if you project how effective he would have been if not for injuries. Bulger, a two-time Pro Bowler, was a sixth-round steal.

But to compare, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said as many as seven quarterbacks could be selected in the first two rounds this year.

"The Brady 6" trailer shows analysts recounting Brady's pre-draft scouting report: poor build, too skinny, lacks strength, gets knocked down too easily.

"That kinda gets me fired up," Brady says. "What the hell do these people know?"

Miami Dolphins

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes Dolphins icon Dan Marino would like to trade for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer -- but only for a third-round draft choice.
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel columnist Mike Berardino is shaking his head over another Chad Pennington injury.

Buffalo Bills

• Buffalo News reporter Mark Gaughan wonders if the Bills' strategy will be to skip quarterback with the third pick and target Florida State's Christian Ponder in the second round.
• Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com examines the Bills' best players with two years or less of NFL experience.

New England Patriots

• ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss catches up with punter Zoltan Mesko, who has found an interesting diversion to help him cope with the NFL.
• Boston Herald writer Karen Guregian passes along comments from Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden on Sirius NFL Radio. Bodden is excited about returning from his shoulder injury.

New York Jets

• USA Today's Jarrett Bell catches up with Freeman McNeil. The former Jets running back doesn't think much has been learned from previous labor battles.
• Newark Star-Ledger reporter Jenny Vrentas relays some everyday problems Jets players are having while the NFL is in limbo.