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Let's see what's in the weekend mailbag.

Akhilesh from Massachusetts writes: Why do you think the Patriots drafted Tavon Wilson, a low-ranked safety, in the second round? Is it just that Bill Belichick knows something others don't or was it poor drafting?

James Walker: Wilson was a player Belichick really liked -- apparently more than anyone else. Drafting Wilson that high is certainly a risk. The Patriots might have been able to wait another round or two. This puts some pressure on Wilson to perform. If he turns out to be a solid starter, no one will care where he was drafted.

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Jorge Garcia from Mexico City writes: Which Patriots veteran do you see being released when all the final roster cuts are in?

Walker: You have to look at the deep group at receivers. There's no way the Patriots will keep all 11. I think players like Chad Ochocinco, Anthony Gonzalez, Donte' Stallworth and Julian Edelman will all have to fight hard for roster spots.

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Jim from Toms River, N.J., writes: What's the possibility Donald Driver lands in Miami and what would that mean for the Dolphins?

Walker: If Driver is cut by the Green Bay Packers, which looks like a possibility, Miami will be high on his radar. For one, a starting job is waiting for Driver in Miami, and that won't be the case in most places. Second, former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is now the head coach in Miami. There's a comfort level there. But none of this is possible unless Driver is released.

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Shaggy Lewis from Shreveport, La., writes: What are the chances Terrell Owens signs with Miami?

Walker: Zero. Miami is rebuilding and does not want players with character questions in its locker room. Owens would not be a good fit.

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Ben from Buffalo writes: It seems to me that the No. 2 receiver spot on the Bills is completely up for grabs. Given the lack of production from the guys they put out there last season, do you think T.J. Graham is the front-runner?

Walker: It’s too early to pick a front-runner. But Graham would make it very easy on the Bills if he was ready right away. That was the hope when the Bills drafted Graham in the third round. But that could be asking a lot. David Nelson is better in the slot, and if Graham and Donald Jones can step in, Buffalo's passing offense could be solid.

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John from Germany writes: If you were C.J. Spiller, would you be a little upset that you're not the starter? If you are, would you leave the Bills at the end of your rookie contract?

Walker: Spiller has a gripe. But the reality is that he's not a better running back than Fred Jackson at this stage of their careers. Spiller has three more seasons on his rookie contract. By then, Jackson most likely will be ready to step aside. So it's not a certainty that Spiller walks down the road.

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Chris from MA writes: I feel like I am beating my head against the wall. But could it make any more sense for the Jets to bring in Vernon Carey?

Walker: I'm surprised Carey hasn't gotten more interest. He's probably going to be one of those veterans who signs after there is a camp injury. The Jets won't sign him because they are pretty tight on salary-cap space.

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Ben from Baltimore writes: Do you think Mark Sanchez still has the potential, with the right weapons and players stepping up, to have a comeback year?

Walker: I didn't like what I saw from Sanchez last year. It was my first year in the AFC East, so that was the most I've watched him on a week-to-week basis. Sanchez is in his fourth season, and I don't think his ceiling is much higher than what we've seen. But that doesn't mean Sanchez isn’t capable of playing better, or being a better decision-maker, or lowering his fumble and interception totals. These are things the Jets hope he cleans up in 2012. I doubt Sanchez will ever become an elite quarterback, but if he can make those aforementioned improvements, the Jets can win with him.

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AFC East Homer of the Week

This week's homer is a BIG Chad Henne supporter.

Enjoy.

Rick from Miami writes: James, I don't think you are dumb but please look at the facts before you write something stupid. Henne had played the equivalent of two seasons and has improved each season. He carried a team with no run game or pass defense in 2010 to seven wins and would had more if he had any run support of the defense. Look at the stats. Miami was top 16 in passing ypg with Henne and dropped to 23rd with Matt Moore. That shows Miami only won six games because of their D and run game. Stop bad-mouthing players before you read he facts. Henne is better than Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez and a whole bunch of current starters. Maybe you should read the facts instead of going with idiotic public opinion. Dan Marino thinks Henne can start in this league. Do you know more than Marino about QBs? I think not. Henne will take the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs before Miami wins six games in a season.

Walker: I'm always shocked by the number of Chad Henne supporters still out there in Miami. Henne had four years with the Dolphins to show what he could do and finished with more career interceptions (37) than touchdowns (31). In fact, Henne has never had a season in which he threw more touchdowns than interceptions. Henne was robotic, a below-average decision-maker and didn't have natural leadership ability. Four years is enough time to see that. But there's still a section of people, like Rick, who defend Henne and think he should have been the long-term solution in Miami. But, Rick, it’s the last statement that makes you our AFC East Homer of the Week. Henne will not lead the Jaguars to the playoffs this year. He might not even be the starter, because the team is invested in Blaine Gabbert. Congrats on being our Homer of the Week.

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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.

DAVIE, Fla. -- There is no bigger boom-or-bust prospect in the 2012 draft than former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Is he the next prolific NFL quarterback, or simply a product of pre-draft hype that led to becoming a top-10 pick?

Opinions vary. But the Miami Dolphins believe they have the answers to the Tannehill question. Miami has more inside knowledge on Tannehill than any other team and drafted its quarterback of the future with the No. 8 overall pick Thursday night.

Tannehill will rejoin Dolphins offensive coordinator and former Aggies coach Mike Sherman, who says Tannehill is a star in the making. There are many critics who believe Tannehill is fool's gold, but the Dolphins are very confident they made the right choice.

"This was an all-in decision," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said firmly. "From the football side, our scouts, our coaches ... we all felt very, very good about it."

Ireland hit the nail on the head. The Dolphins are betting the foreseeable future of the franchise on Tannehill -- for better or for worse.

If Tannehill develops into an upper-echelon quarterback, the Dolphins finally have the biggest piece to change their misfortunes. If Tannehill is a bust, it will set Miami back another three or four years.

"We're excited and thrilled," Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said of their first-round pick. "I've always said you need to be strong at the quarterback position, and now that's one of the strengths of this team. So I couldn't be happier."

The pick doesn't come without pressure. It's been 29 years since the Dolphins drafted a quarterback in the first round: Dan Marino in 1983. Those are some big shoes to fill.

It's also no coincidence Miami hasn't had a legitimate, franchise quarterback since Marino retired in 2000. The list of mediocre starting quarterbacks since included Cleo Lemon, Joey Harrington, Trent Green, Jay Fiedler, A.J. Feeley, John Beck and most recently Chad Henne. Tannehill will try to avoid being the next name on this infamous list.

Tannehill had only 19 career starts in college. There is a learning curve with Tannehill that isn't as steep for other top quarterback prospects like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, who went No. 1 and No. 2 to the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins, respectively.

The good news is Tannehill is not expected to play in 2012. Barring unexpected injuries to Miami veteran quarterbacks Matt Moore and David Garrard, Tannehill probably will hold a clipboard next season. This will provide Tannehill ample time to learn the NFL game.

Dolphins rookie head coach and former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin kept Aaron Rodgers on the bench for several years before he became a starter and it worked out fine. But that wasn’t what Tannehill wanted to hear on draft day.

"I want to compete, that's just the competitor in me," Tannehill said in a conference call with the South Florida media. "Obviously with competition comes learning. It doesn't have to be a hostile competition. It's just competing."

Ireland said he’s going to leave Tannehill's playing time next season up to the coaching staff. But chances are, we won't know much about Tannehill until 2013. The boom-or-bust talk will have to wait for at least a year.

But Tannehill's ceiling is high if things go right in Miami. It also doesn't hurt that the quarterback competition in the AFC East is not very stout. It's pretty much Tom Brady, and then there's everyone else.

Tannehill has the physical ability to potentially rise above the struggling quarterback pile in the division that includes Mark Sanchez, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tim Tebow. If Tannehill becomes the second-best quarterback in the AFC East over the next two or three years, that's a huge advantage for the rebuilding Dolphins.

Remember this day, Dolphins fans. Tannehill is the draft pick that will either change Miami's misfortunes or extend the team's misery for several more years. The Tannehill mystery won't be solved overnight, but Miami feels it found the piece to eventually build this struggling franchise into a winner.

"I don't know if this energizes the fan base. What energizes the fan base is winning," Ross said. "I'm looking to field a winning team, because energizing a fan base only lasts a very short period of time.

"We're talking about winning in the long haul."

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

• Former New York Jets great Joe Namath says the Jets can't land Peyton Manning because they don't have their act together.

Morning take: This is no surprise, as Namath has been arguably the Jets' biggest critic. He does have a point about New York's in-house issues, but it's unknown if that's a huge deterrent.

• Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino thinks Manning would be a good fit in South Florida.

Morning take: The Dolphins haven't had a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback since Marino. Manning has a friendship with Marino and respects his opinion, which could help.

• Contract extensions for starting tight end Scott Chandler and receiver Steve Johnson prove players want to stay with the Buffalo Bills.

Morning take: This is a good sign that Buffalo could be onto something. The Bills are keeping their young talent. But the bigger challenge is convincing top outside free agents to come to Buffalo.

• Could the New England Patriots show interest in free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan?

Morning take: Finnegan is arguably the top free-agent corner on the market, but I'm not sure he's a good fit. For starters, he will be pricey. But I also think the Patriots want more athleticism in the secondary.

MIAMI -- I know from personal experience that Miami has great selling points. There's great weather, sandy beaches and unlimited entertainment.

That was more than enough to convince your AFC East blogger to jettison out of Cleveland last year. But that alone won't be enough to snag future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning from Indianapolis this upcoming season.

The Dolphins need football-related selling points. They need to convince Manning why Miami is the best place for him, as opposed to New York, Arizona, Seattle, Washington or San Francisco.

That is why the Dolphins would be wise to ask Dan Marino to play a chief role in the recruiting. Manning is a football historian, particularly when it comes to quarterbacks. He grew up watching Marino and has tremendous respect for one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

Marino can relate to Manning in ways Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland cannot. Ross can tell Manning how much money he could make in Miami. Ireland can boast about the talent Manning would have around him. But recently the pair tried that approach with St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher and it failed.

Marino is the only person with Dolphins ties who has a firm grasp on what makes Manning tick. Marino knows what Manning is thinking at this stage of his career. At one point, Marino was Manning -- an aging, future Hall of Famer chasing a championship late in his career. Marino never reached that goal. Manning is trying to do it for a second time.

If Manning joined the Dolphins this offseason, he would be the greatest quarterback in Miami since Marino. That alone is enough for the Dolphins to try to use Marino as a resource in pursuing Manning.

The good news is former Miami Dolphins quarterback and Hall of Famer Dan Marino is influential in Miami and wants Bill Cowher to be the team's next head coach.
The bad news is Marino, who works closely with Cowher as a fellow CBS football analyst, doesn't think it will happen.

"I would love to see (Bill Cowher) be the Dolphins coach or if he wanted to coach again because that would be great for the NFL,” Marino told Dolphins.com on Wednesday. "But I don't think his mindset is that he wants to coach again. And he may change that over time but my feeling is that he's a pretty straightforward guy that tells the truth all the time and he said on TV that he doesn't have any plans to come back (to coach) and I believe him."

The Dolphins fired former head coach Tony Sparano Monday after a 4-9 record and securing his third consecutive losing season. Owner Stephen Ross has deep pockets and wants to make a splash. So there's been a lot of speculation that Miami will go after the big names, such as Cowher and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden.

But getting an "A-list" coach could be an issue.

The Dolphins didn't handle the Sparano situation well and that will not look good among the coaching community. Miami also plans to retain general manager Jeff Ireland, doesn't have a franchise quarterback and has to compete with winning programs like the New England Patriots and New York Jets in the AFC East. Top coaching candidates may see other jobs around the league as more attractive.

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

• Could linebacker Aaron Maybin be an X factor for the New York Jets?

Morning take: Bryan Thomas' season-ending Achilles injury opens the door for Maybin to get more playing time. Maybin performed well in the preseason. But this week's game against the New England Patriots is the biggest of his young career.

• Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork talks about his potential meeting with Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold.

Morning take: This is a key matchup, as the Jets have made it known they want to run the football this week. The best way to beat New England is to try to run a lot behind Mangold, who missed two games with a high-ankle sprain.

• The Miami Dolphins have had 15 starting quarterbacks since Dan Marino retired.

Morning take: Backup Matt Moore is expected to be No. 16 when the Dolphins play the New York Jets on Oct. 17. Some of the names include Cleo Lemon and Joey Harrington. Maybe No. 17 will be Andrew Luck.

• When will Buffalo Bills receiver/quarterback/kick returner Brad Smith make an impact?

Morning take: We've been asking this question for a few weeks in Buffalo. The Bills made Smith one of their big free-agent signings. But Smith seems lost in the shuffle with other productive players on offense.

Welcome to our first installment of "Remember the offseason?" It's a look back at some of the zany comments and incorrect predictions made from our AFC East community.

This time, we're not going to name names (warning shot). But occasionally we will run this post as a way to keep everyone accountable in the AFC East.

Enjoy.

New England Patriots

• "I have New England in third place this year...a patched back together D and an O-line full of grannys."
• "You only have to wait five weeks for the proof the Patriots are overrated in the East. You're off to a bad start Walker."
• "The Pats are also overrated. I look forward to seeing how well the Bill Belichick's system holds up as [Tom] Brady ages."

Miami Dolphins

• "Someone copy and save this: If Dolphins O-line gels and plays solid, Fins win AFC EAST."
• "Dolphins have a top defense and if we can get our offense clicking we should be able to make a run at the playoffs."
• "[The Dolphins] have an improved OL, and their defense was top 7. They have a new OC that has tailored to offense to Henne's strengths, who consequentially has played excellent in the preseason. It just doesn't make any sense. Miami is at worst a 9-7 team."

New York Jets

• "Yes the debate should be Sanchez vs. Marino, cause Sanchez has already crushed Henne."
• "My cousin says our Jets are in really BIG trouble! We make CRAP moves while the rest of the division Improves! Boy! Do we STINK!" (I think most people know who this is.)
• "The Jets will go 8-8, they will not get those 3 gift OT games like they did last year."

Buffalo Bills

• "NE 10-6, NYJ 8-8, BUF 3-13, MIA 2-14."
• "Rebuilding would imply that the Bills have been previously built."
• "To talk about the Bills for a bit, the offense will be abysmal this year. Fitz will come back down to earth, Spiller will be exposed as I think Gailey will foolishly try to play him more than Freddy. Steve Johnson will be disappointing without Lee Evans drawing double teams all day, and the O-line is the worst it's been in a while and that's saying something."

Remember the offseason?

Buffalo Bills

If the Bills want to, they are in position to be players in free agency once the market opens.

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly was at the Lehigh Country Club on Monday, throwing his support behind the second annual Andre Reed Celebrity Classic.

Miami Dolphins

Will Allen puts on his analyst hat and breaks down the Dolphins' cornerbacks.

Continuing its countdown of the top 10 moments in Sun Life Stadium history, MiamiDolphins.com cites Dan Marino breaking the team touchdown mark as the No. 5 moment.

New England Patriots

ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss takes an in-depth look at the Patriots' depth chart at offensive tackle.

Tony Massarotti of The Boston Globe: "... the Patriots are now far closer to the end than the beginning of the [Tom] Brady-[Bill] Belichick era, and replacing one -- let alone both -- is a daunting proposition. Translation: the clock is ticking more loudly than ever."

New York Jets

Rich Cimini examines the impact the reported elimination of two-a-days during training camp will have on the Jets. Cimini: "For obvious reasons, the Jets haven't released their training-camp schedule, but you have to figure the two-a-day ban will cost them about 13 practices -- including several special-teams practices. Special teams honcho Mike Westhoff isn't going to be happy about that; he could lose valuable teaching time."

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.

Examining the most crucial event in the history of every team in the division.

Who made who?

That was the question readers had to answer to determine the key event that shaped the New England Patriots. Is Bill Belichick the reason for their success, or was it Tom Brady who turned his head coach into a genius, or was it Robert Kraft's decision to hire Belichick in the first place that made all of the above possible?

Among the AFC East clubs in ESPN.com's "Flash Points" series, the Patriots' poll generated the most votes and the closest race.

Readers went with Brady, claiming the Patriots' decision to select him 199th in the 2000 draft was the moment that most impacted the franchise's fortunes.

But Brady was the only AFC East winner not to collect a majority of the votes. He received 46 percent of the nearly 60,000 cast. The decision to hire Belichick was second at 34 percent.

Kraft's purchase of the team received 10 percent, and the 1993 combo of hiring Bill Parcells as head coach and drafting Drew Bledsoe first overall got 8 percent.

Sportsguy1236 reasoned: "Whats more important to a team? Best QB in the league or best coach in the league? I think Kraft and Belichick make a close tie for second behind Brady. Reason being, I think Brady would have been successful anywhere, but Belichick and Kraft rely on each other. Belichick wants full control and Kraft gives it to him."

InStint733 disagreed: "OK, Brady being drafted is not a flash point. Drew getting hurt and Tom coming in to take over is a flash point. Tom Brady's story is a great one, but I have to give Belichick more of the success pie than Brady. I'm a big believer that defense wins championships and Belichick always has a good top 10 D no matter who plays."

JETS: Namath chooses AFL over NFL

We go from the AFC East's closest poll to the most lopsided. Of all the candidates for the most seminal New York Jets moment, readers overwhelmingly went with Joe Namath's decision to spurn the NFL monolith and join the upstart AFL.

That received 69 percent of the vote, and rightfully so. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Namath 12th overall in 1964. But the Jets made him the top choice and gave him a mammoth contract he couldn't refuse.

It was the first flutter of a remarkable butterfly effect. Without that moment, Namath doesn't make the guarantee, the Jets don't win their only Super Bowl and Namath probably doesn't become a cultural icon. Nothing else in Jets history can compare to what Namath did for the organization.

A distant second was the 2008 hiring of Rex Ryan as head coach at 19 percent, followed by the 1997 hiring of Parcells at 7 percent and the formation of the New York Sack Exchange at 2 percent.

Bbarkz took exception with the choices in the poll: "I'm a big Jet fan, but if you were going to say defining moment for the franchise, the only possible option is the guarantee. It's not only the Jets defining moment, but you could argue it was the defining moment for the NFL as we know it."

That's true, but if Namath goes to the NFL, then the guarantee doesn't happen.

Eric5741 summed up the Ryan hire finishing second in the poll: "The team has been so bad for so long that Jets fans can't help but brag about two AFC Championship losses. ... So just give them a break. It's not their fault that their team has done nothing since most of them have been alive."

DOLPHINS: Undefeated in 1972

The Miami Dolphins generated the fewest votes among the AFC East polls, but readers were generally convinced their undefeated 1972 campaign was the most influential moment in franchise history.

I disagree with that verdict, but let's break down the percentages first.

The 1972 season collected 56 percent of the votes. The team's decision to hire head coach Don Shula away from the Baltimore Colts in 1970 came in second at 21 percent. Drafting quarterback Dan Marino in 1983 was third at 20 percent. The dramatic turnaround from a one-win team to division champs in 2008 took the other 3 percent.

The 1972 season is symbolic and keeps the Dolphins a topic of conversation every season a team can get off to a hot start. The comparisons will not go away until another team manages to win every game, including the Super Bowl.

The unbeaten feat makes Miami special. So I understand why readers chose it.

But my pick would be Shula's hiring. Without him as head coach two years earlier, can we assume the Dolphins would have run the table in 1972 and won back-to-back championships? No, we could not.

The initial exchange in the comments section under the poll ...

Gofins7933 wrote: "Everybody knows us for our perfect season in '72. That has to be the most defining moment for us."

Marek13brave replied: "Without the signing of Shula there is no perfect season in '72."

Gofins7933 countered: "Even my mom knows about the Fins perfect season. She doesn't know who Shula is."

BILLS: Norwood's kick sails wide

The Buffalo Bills went to four consecutive Super Bowls. Their best chance to win one and avoid the misery of being a perennial bridesmaid came at the end of their first appearance.

With eight seconds left in Super Bowl XXV and the Bills trailing by a point, Norwood lined up for a 47-yard field goal. We all know what happened next. The Bills still are looking for that first NFL championship.

In the "Flash Points" poll, 59 percent of readers voted for Norwood's miss. Then came Jim Kelly finally being forced to sign with the Bills after the USFL collapsed, followed by the 1985 promotion of Bill Polian to general manager at 8 percent, and linebacker Mike Stratton's "hit heard 'round the world" on San Diego Chargers running back Keith Lincoln in the 1964 AFL Championship Game at 6 percent.

Reader mdavila07 wrote: "It's definitely the Norwood miss. The Bills' legacy would be completely different if they won a Super Bowl. Not to mention, if you tell anyone you're a Bills fan, what do they bring up? Wide right and four straight Super Bowl losses. That is what the Bills are known for, their defining moment."

Dan_Daoust suggested another option: "Doesn't it have to be the Music City Miracle? The Bills had a Super Bowl-caliber team (or at least defense) that year, they got knocked out, and they've been a league doormat ever since. Wide right is an obvious choice, but it wasn't really a fortune-defining moment. The Bills made three more Super Bowls right after that, after all. The MCM, on the other hand almost seems to have had the effect of kicking the team in the groin and then standing on its neck."

I agreed with MattRichWarren's take: "It's going to be Wide Right, but that team doesn't exist without Polian's vision and drafting skill. I went with Polian because it's the right answer."

Sean McCormick of Football Outsiders studied the past 25 years to come up with a list of the NFL's 10 most disappointing teams for ESPN Insider.

Two AFC East clubs and a Bill Belichick team made the cut.

The 1995 Cleveland Browns were 10th. Belichick took Cleveland to the playoffs the year before and got off to a 3-1 start before owner Art Modell's shocking decision to move the team to Baltimore. Cleveland meekly limped to a 5-11 exit.

Ninth were the 1996 New York Jets. They'd gone an unpromising 3-13 the year before, but McCormick rattles off a list of expensive veteran acquisitions that were supposed to turn around Rick Kotite's squad: quarterback Neil O'Donnell, left tackle Jumbo Elliott and right tackle David Williams. The Jets also drafted receiver Keyshawn Johnson first overall. They went 1-15.

The 1995 Miami Dolphins came in fifth. That was Don Shula's swan song. They'd gone 10-6 the previous season, winning the AFC East with a healthy Dan Marino. They added tight end Eric Green, defensive end Trace Armstrong and cornerback Terrell Buckley. They got off to a 4-0 start but fizzled as a wild-card playoff team and a quick exit.

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.

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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, estimated by Forbes to be worth $3.1 billion, has decided to slash employee salaries.

Miami Herald reporter Jeff Darlington wrote the Dolphins are blaming the lockout and economic uncertainty for the decision to reduce pay by 20 percent for any team employee making more than $75,000, 15 percent for anyone making between $50,000 and $75,000 and 10 percent for anyone making under $50,000.

Pay checks will return to normal when the lockout is over.

This is another in a long line of unpopular moves Ross has made in the past year. His local Q-rating might be lower than Cam Cameron's or Pat White's.

The starry-eyed Ross has surrounded himself with celebrity investors and turned parts of Sun Life Stadium, including some of the press boxes, into nightclub-style suites that divert the focus from football. Ross last year predicted the Dolphins would go to the Super Bowl and suggested Chad Henne would become more successful than Dan Marino or Bob Griese in Dolphins history.

After a failed season in which the Dolphins won a single home game, Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland flew cross country to court Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, while still-employed head coach Tony Sparano twisted back in Davie, Fla. The episode was a national embarrassment for the Dolphins.

Two months ago, Forbes ranked Ross the 362nd-richest person on the planet and second among all NFL owners. He was behind only Seattle Seahawks owner and Microsoft c0-founder Paul Allen.

In 2010, the financial magazine ranked Ross 277th at $3.4 billion.

Miami Dolphins fans should be more comfortable than most with the idea of drafting Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Mallett enters the NFL with multiple question marks despite a rifle arm and prolific statistics in a pro-style offense. Drug rumors have been persistent. On the field, he's considered sloth-like in his movements.

All the same was said about Dan Marino. He's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame now, and the Dolphins still are searching for his replacement after a dozen years, an issue we explored Wednesday in a piece about Bill Parcells defending the Dolphins' decision to draft left tackle Jake Long instead of quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008.

Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson wrote about the Dolphins' interest in Mallett and the possibility they would draft him.

The Dolphins own the 15th overall pick. Mallett is expected to be on the board there and perhaps tumble into the second round, but the Dolphins don't have a second-round pick.

Jackson spoke with Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams about Mallett. Williams is draft-eligible and recently broke bread with Mallett, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano in Fayetteville, Ark.

At a 45-minute workout for the Dolphins, Williams said Mallett "put the ball on the money all day. You could see the coaches say, 'Wow!' We did everything -- rollouts, seven-step drops, the quick game."

Williams claimed Mallett came away from the sessions with a stronger vibe about the Dolphins than other teams.

"Usually, Ryan says, 'I don't know.' But he felt very comfortable about what the Dolphins' interest is," Williams said. "He was really good."

The Dolphins might have to take Mallett in a spot many draft experts consider a reach.

But if the Dolphins identify him as their man, then what should projections matter?