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Although the Miami Dolphins' regime wouldn't admit it, they will nervously keep one eye on how things progress with the offense of the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is where quarterback Matt Flynn will resume his NFL career after a four-year stint as a backup with the Green Bay Packers. The same Matt Flynn the Dolphins didn't think highly enough to come up with a three-year, $26 million contract he received in Seattle.

The Dolphins had every opportunity to land Flynn. Miami had the strong connection of Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, who helped develop Flynn in Green Bay. Miami also had the perfect offensive system for Flynn and even had him in for a visit last weekend. The Dolphins could've made sure Flynn didn't leave their facilities without becoming Miami's next starting quarterback. Instead, the Dolphins let Flynn slip away.

Miami's regime, led by owner Stephen Ross, general manager Jeff Ireland and Philbin, didn't think Flynn was worth the investment. That's fine, but they better be right.

Miami supposedly knows Flynn better than any team outside the Packers. If Flynn turns out to be the next great starting quarterback, that stain will stick with the Dolphins. Miami should have been the last team fooled by this. The Dolphins have intimate knowledge of what Flynn can and cannot do.

With just two career starts, Flynn may become the next Matt Schaub (a top-12 quarterback) or the next Kevin Kolb (a bust). The Dolphins can only hope it's the latter.

Remember Drew Brees? He became a free agent in 2006 and was looking for a team after injuring his shoulder late in the season with the San Diego Chargers.

The Dolphins were considered the favorites to get Brees and were very close to making it a reality. But after sending Brees through a round of physicals, Miami was scared away. The Dolphins instead traded a draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Brees later signed with the New Orleans Saints, his second choice behind Miami.

We all know how that turned out.

This offseason could be a case of history repeating itself in Miami, albeit probably to a lesser degree. After missing out on Flynn, who also came with risks, the Dolphins signed David Garrard. The 34-year old quarterback has been out of football since 2010 and will compete with Matt Moore for the starting job. This is a quarterback situation that is going nowhere fast.

Miami also has a good shot to add former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the mix. Miami holds the No. 8 overall pick and Tannehill played for Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Although Tannehill was once considered a late first-round pick, his stock is on the rise and seems like a logical fit for Miami. But Tannehill would most likely hold a clipboard next year if he goes to Miami.

The Dolphins have gone from a team of promise to a team of despair in a matter of weeks. The offseason began with the chance of landing the top coach on the market (Jeff Fisher) and one of the top free-agent quarterbacks (Peyton Manning or Flynn). It ended with Miami coming up empty-handed at both. The Dolphins also gutted the roster by trading Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall for pennies on the dollar and cutting leading tackler and safety Yeremiah Bell.

Miami looks like a team that is not only rebuilding, but tearing down the walls from within thanks to head-scratching decisions. The draft remains, but the Dolphins appear hard-pressed to better last year's record of 6-10. An 8-8 season would be considered a big upset with the way this roster currently stands.

Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Dolphins ownership made this offseason was selling their fans on false hopes and empty promises. Ross has very deep pockets and wanted to make a splash. But all we've seen is belly flops.

Who knows if Flynn could have solved Miami's quarterback dilemma and prevented this tailspin. The Dolphins obviously pegged Flynn as a big question mark, and their evaluation better be more accurate than the injury concerns six years ago with Brees.

Maybe this time the Dolphins dodged a bullet. Or maybe they shot themselves in the foot once again.

If Flynn proves to be a good quarterback in 2012 -- while Miami is still toiling with the David Garrards and Matt Moores of the world -- the Dolphins have no one to blame but themselves.

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

• New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum says he feels good about giving a five-year extension to starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Morning take: This certainly stops all the Peyton Manning rumors in New York. Sanchez also is confirmed as a locker-room leader in 2012, while the Jets get much-needed cap room.

• While chasing Manning, the Miami Dolphins must remember quarterback Drew Brees.

Morning take: Brees was the last elite quarterback to hit free agency, and the Dolphins had a good shot at him. They ended up with Daunte Culpepper instead, and you know the rest.

• Free-agent receiver Brandon Lloyd continues to talk up the New England Patriots.

Morning take: Although I think Mike Wallace is a better option, Lloyd isn't a bad fit for the Patriots. He is very familiar with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and New England needs a deep threat.

• The Buffalo Bills re-signed linebacker Kirk Morrison.

Morning take: This is another solid signing by Buffalo, which continues to keep its own players. Morrison has a chance to compete next season at outside linebacker.

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.

"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.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez?

The tie between the head coach and his quarterback is paramount in the NFL. The Ryan-Sanchez tandem needs to grow together now if the New York Jets want to win a Super Bowl anytime soon.

Ryan and Sanchez are the two most important people in the Jets' organization. If one is failing, both will fail.

Ryan is doing his part. In his first two years as head coach, he's led the Jets to back-to-back AFC title games despite inconsistent play from his starting quarterback.

This was expected to be the year Sanchez, in his third season, made the necessary strides to take the pressure off his head coach and other areas of the team. Instead, Sanchez has been inconsistent, and the Jets are 6-5 with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

"I think until he wins the whole thing, he's going to be criticized just like I'm going to be criticized until we win it," Ryan said this week. "That's fine. It comes with the territory."

Ryan needs Sanchez. Sanchez needs Ryan. There's no way around it.

The Jets and Ryan hedged their bets on Sanchez in 2009 when New York traded up to the No. 5 overall pick and made Sanchez its franchise quarterback. Ryan, also in his first season, started Sanchez right away. Including playoffs, Sanchez has made 48 starts and the pair is 29-19 (.604 percentage) together. Sanchez missed one game in his rookie season.


By comparison, Belichick and Brady are 32-13 (.711), McCarthy and Rodgers are 36-11 (.766) and Payton and Brees are 35-11 (.761). The numbers don't seem too far off. But consider that Brady, Rodgers and Brees are the most valuable players for their respective teams. Sanchez, for the most part, has been along for the ride while experiencing growing pains.

Ryan and the Jets will have a hard time winning a Super Bowl unless Sanchez becomes capable of carrying the team.

"I just don't think he's close to being good enough," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "Every step of the way, the Jets had to do things in spite of their quarterback. It shows up all the time.

"But I think the best thing he does is play his best football when it matters most. That's shown in the playoffs, it's shown against the Patriots at times and it shows in the red zone. I think he has those qualities where he steps up and that's tremendous."

Jets fans are getting impatient. It was evident by their constant booing of Sanchez in last week's 28-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium.

Sanchez started last week's game by completing just 8 of 20 passes for 66 yards in the first half. But he woke up later in the game with a clutch, fourth-quarter touchdown drive that potentially saved New York's season. Sanchez was 7-for-9 for 65 yards and a touchdown on New York's final drive.

Ryan gushed about Sanchez after the game, calling him "The Sanchise" and "a stud." He saw a glimpse of what Sanchez could be if he were more consistent.

But, as Williamson mentioned, erratic play and inconsistency are hurting Sanchez the most. He is ranked 30th in Total Quarterback Rating (38.6), which is an indication of the type of season Sanchez is having.

The only starting quarterbacks with a lower QBR are Tim Tebow (34.6), Kevin Kolb (33.1), Sam Bradford (29.5), Curtis Painter (23.4) and Blaine Gabbert (20.2). Players like Tarvaris Jackson (39.0), Colt McCoy (44.4) and Rex Grossman (44.8) are all having better seasons than Sanchez, according to Total QBR.

Sanchez recently admitted he's not playing his best. Sanchez also knows the Jets are a veteran team built to win now and needs him to produce.

"I feel good, physically and mentally," Sanchez told ESPN Radio 1050 in New York on Tuesday. "I'm just so focused [because] I want this to go right, because I don't want to miss an opportunity like this, with this kind of talent and this kind of coaching.

"I'm usually -- 'bubbly' is not the word -- but I smile a lot more. We're short on time here, and there's no time to mess around or smile or even laugh, in my opinion."

Is Sanchez getting too much of the blame? To his credit, Sanchez has already set a career high in touchdowns (18) and is on pace to set new career highs in yards (2,513) and passer rating (80.9). Other areas of the team are failing, particularly on offense.

With the exception of last week, the offensive line has been terrible with run blocking and pass protection. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer probably is having his worst year calling plays. And Jets running backs Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson have disappeared for long stretches.

Leaks are springing up everywhere, but this is where franchise quarterbacks lift their teams. Brady, Rodgers and Brees all have kept their clubs in title contention despite injuries and weaknesses in other areas. At least Sanchez has New York's eighth-ranked defense on his sideline. That is a luxury Brady, Rodgers and Brees could only dream of.

"To say he's not going to be Aaron Rodgers is not to say he can't be successful," Williamson said. "But Sanchez has to be a complementary option, where they have the fantastic running game and the defense. He has to be Matt Cassel or Kyle Orton, and to me that’s not good enough for him, especially with the draft pick the Jets used."

Sanchez still has five games remaining to write his story of the 2011 season. The Jets are in must-win mode. If Sanchez gets them into the playoffs and makes another run, most will forget his uneven regular season. Ryan, more than anyone, hopes that is the case.

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.

You know who aren't locked out? ESPN.com's fantasy football folks.

Undeterred by the fact we haven't had free agency or an official workout yet, our intrepid rotagonists have put together their initial top 200 player rankings for 2011.

AFC East fans will be disappointed to find one player among the top 47.

The first AFC East player on the list is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at No. 20. He's the fourth quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick and Drew Brees.

Sticking with quarterbacks, you'll need to scroll down to No. 122 to find Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, the 19th-best fantasy quarterback on the list. Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick comes in at No. 173, which makes him the 25th quarterback. Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne doesn't make the cut.

I'm not sure what's more surprising for the Dolphins: how many receivers are listed ahead of Brandon Marshall or how highly rated rookie running back Daniel Thomas is.

Marshall is the top Dolphins player at No. 60. That makes him the 23rd receiver on the chart. Thomas, without a single NFL snap to his credit, is just seven slots behind Marshall. Thomas is considered the 28th running back in the league from a fantasy standpoint.

Dolphins free-agent backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are 119th and 165th overall, respectively. What a falloff.

The New York Jets are well-represented in terms of volume, but their highest-rated player is free agent Santonio Holmes at No. 49. He's the 18th receiver. Braylon Edwards is No. 85 overall and the 33rd wideout.

The Jets' backfield features Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson at Nos. 62 and 102. That makes them the 26th and 42nd fantasy running backs.

Wide receiver Steve Johnson is the highest-rated Buffalo player at No. 52. Running back Fred Jackson is only six slots behind him. Sophomore running back C.J. Spiller is No. 92. Receiver Lee Evans is No. 191.

For the Patriots, BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the highest non-Brady at No. 48, making him the 28th running back. Danny Woodhead is No. 141, or the 48th running back. Patriots receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch are 55th and 112th. Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are 134th and 195th.

The NFL Network is filling some of the lockout downtime with a countdown of the top 100 players, revealing 10 at a time every Sunday night.

The first AFC East players were mentioned in the most recent group, Nos. 71 through 80, as voted on by their league peers.

New York Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson came in at No. 79. Jets receiver Santonio Holmes was No. 76.

Sunday night's recap show featured analysis from former New England Patriots outside linebacker Willie McGinest and reporter Jay Glazer. During the show, host Lindsay Soto mentioned 12 quarterbacks are among the top 100 and asked the experts to give their rankings.

McGinest's list:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, Colts
3. Drew Brees, Saints
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers
6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
7. Michael Vick, Eagles
8. Eli Manning, Giants
9. Matt Schaub, Texans
10. Matt Ryan, Falcons
11. Tony Romo, Cowboys
12. Donovan McNabb, Redskins

Glazer's list (with a tie for 12th):

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, Colts
3. Drew Brees, Saints
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers
6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
7. Michael Vick, Eagles
8. Matt Ryan, Falcons
9. Eli Manning, Giants
10. Tony Romo, Cowboys
11. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
12. Matt Schaub, Texans, and Sam Bradford, Rams

What do you think?

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?

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix and vice president of college scouting Tom Modrak held a draft media luncheon Tuesday at the team's facility.

Some of the highlights:

Nix reiterated the Bills don't want to trade out of the No. 3 pick.

"I wouldn't rule out anything, but there'll be a guy there we really want, I think," Nix said. "Probably wouldn't move down. It would have to be a rare situation, I think."

The Bills love Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

One of them should still be on the board when the Bills pick. Nix and head coach Chan Gailey have praised Newton for the past couple months, but the front office talked up Gabbert a little Tuesday.

Nix said Gabbert didn't shoot up the Bills' draft board after the season -- as he did in many mocks -- because Modrak had Gabbert rated highly since a few games into last season.

"His stock hasn't risen with us," Nix said. "It's always been high."

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett still is on their draft board.

The Bills own the 34th pick, territory where Mallett could be taken. They claimed they aren't (totally) scared off by Mallett's vague off-field concerns.

"There are issues that we've talked about," Modrak said. "They're there. We interviewed him at the combine. We've done our due diligence. We know [the issues] are there. Are they a deal-breaker? Not necessarily. It's not cut and dry, where 'You're outta here.' But it is a part that we've talked about.

"We'll see how we feel about it. We're reasonably OK with it, but that's as vague as I can think of. ... But I don't know if it's a game-changer."

Said Nix: "We think we know some people there [at Arkansas], like everywhere else when you've done it this long. We think we got pretty good information on him."

The Bills didn't bring Mallett to One Bills Drive for a visit like they did Newton, Gabbert and Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder.

Nix offered another version of his quote about drafting a quarterback when you already have one.

The Bills consider quarterback a priority even with incumbent starter Ryan Fitzpatrick on the roster. Nix was in the San Diego Chargers front office when they acquired Philip Rivers even though they already had Drew Brees.

"We think we're in a good position," Nix said. "Actually, as hard as it is to say that when you got other needs, it's probably a perfect time to take a guy.

"I go back to San Diego, and I have to draw from that. But if you can do it that way, with the way we did it, with Drew Brees ... That makes it easier if you got Drew Brees, now. But if you can take a guy and sit him a year or two until he's hungry and knowledgeable and ready to play, the success rate is going to be pretty high."

Nix indicated stopping the run was more important than rushing the passer.

They need help in both areas. Only three teams recorded fewer sacks than the Bills last year, but they also ranked dead last in run defense.

"The highest-paid guys are the ones that rush the passer," Nix said. "But with us, it's more important probably to stop the run. I don't think you're going to get where you want to be unless you stop the run. Then you rush the passer."

Nix dismissed the notion the Bills won't draft an outside linebacker at No. 3 because of money.

The Bills already have invested a lot of dollars in the position, giving Chris Kelsay a new deal last season, Shawne Merriman an extension and, of course, Aaron Maybin his lucrative rookie contract.

Nix said there was "no merit" to speculating they would steer away from using a premium pick on another outside linebacker. Texas A&M's Von Miller perhaps?

"You can't have too many good players," Nix said. "If you go into a year -- and I've had this happen a lot of times -- where you think 'This is a strong position. We don't need anybody here.' And you wind up with two or three injuries and you're always glad you got the guy."

Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kyle Williams' position isn't set.

I asked Nix and Modrak where they envision Williams and how it will affect what other D-line positions to focus on in the draft. The answer was ambiguous.

"No matter how many [defensive linemen] we get, Kyle will find a place," Nix said. "He's a good football player for us, and he was every Sunday. He'll be in the 3-technique. He'll be shaded on the nose sometimes. He'll be in there on nickel. He won't get out much.

"If the best player was a defensive end or a guy that could play first or second down at defensive end and then you move him inside on nickel on third down, he'd be one and Kyle would be the other."

In a column for ESPN Insider, draft savant Mel Kiper examined some of the more prominent quarterbacking situations around the league and speculates how much time they have left.

Kiper wrote:

The bottom line is that at some point, teams must consider who the heir will be to a star quarterback (or even a merely decent one). So with a lot of talk that both the Patriots and Colts could draft a quarterback as early as Round 1, let's take a look at the places around the league where this mindset could come into play, and what the urgency should be on a 1 to 10 scale.

Among the nine players on Kiper's checklist are Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tony Romo.

Kiper scored the Patriots a 4 on the urgency scale because of Bill Belichick's "resourcefulness" with backup quarterbacks. Kiper still can see the Patriots drafting a quarterback early because they have so many picks, and there's value in grooming an asset -- even if they have to trade him eventually.

I doubt Danny Woodhead will pout about it.

He's not the type.

Woodhead's quest to be on the cover of "Madden NFL 12" is over. The New England Patriots running back had fun with the campaign but received only 44 percent of the votes in his head-to-head matchup with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis took three out of every five votes against Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles and advanced to meet Rodgers in the final four.

On the other side of the tournament bracket, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick got 61 percent of the vote to eliminate San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson collected 62 percent against New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead advanced to the quarterfinals in the "Madden NFL 12" cover tournament, and if he can make it to final four, then you have to like his chances to win it all.

Woodhead received 57 percent of the fan vote in his tournament matchup against New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks and advanced to face Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the elite eight.

Rodgers is a difficult foe in a popularity contest, but Woodhead is a fan favorite, too. Woodhead's drawing from the Boston and New York markets because he endeared himself to Jets fans before the club cut him last year.

A victory over Rodgers would allow smoother sailing ahead. Woodhead would face either Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles or Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis -- each of them advanced with just 51 percent -- in the final four.

Woodhead is the last AFC East representative still alive in the bracket.

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was annihilated by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who received 61 percent of the votes.

How will New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's involvement in suing the NFL impact his sterling image?

Ian R. Rapoport examined that question Monday with an interesting piece for the Boston Herald.

Brady is but one of 10 players involved in the lawsuit. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning are on it. So are Patriots guard Logan Mankins and Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller.

But Brady is listed as the first plaintiff alphabetically -- down to the third letter ahead of Brees. The legal custom is to shorten the case name by mentioning just the first plaintiff, so the lawsuit will commonly be known as Brady v. NFL.

Analysts believe the lawsuit will taint the all-universe quarterback's marketability.

"This dispute is going to, if it goes on much further, tar everyone involved with it," sports business consultant Marc Ganis told Rapoport. "And his name being first and foremost on what may turn out to be a divisive action is not a positive for him."

David Carter, the executive director of the Sports Business Institute at USC, noted the types of sponsors who'd pursue Brady will be turned off.

"Most people that would invest in Tom Brady, they don't want to have anything to do with anything that reminds people that sports is big business," Carter said. "They don’t necessarily want athletes to take personal branding risks."

But I doubt any of that matters to Brady.

He has more money than he'll be able to spend in a lifetime. He's a transcendent athlete who appeals to an international audience as a celebrity, partly because of his supermodel wife, and probably won't be desperate for sponsorship dollars.

As Ganis and Carter pointed out, Brady's street cred among fellow players is respect you can't put a price on.