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

• Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix likes what backup quarterback Vince Young brings to the team.

Morning take: Expect Young to have a package in the offense, which could present another thing for opponents to prepare for. He still has the athleticism to pose a threat.

• Josh McDaniels is happy to return as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator .

Morning take: McDaniels' stint as a head coach fizzled out, but he was great as an offensive coordinator. Look for New England's offense to continue to thrive under McDaniels and quarterback Tom Brady.

• Former New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson says he's pretty much done with football.

Morning take: Tomlinson is putting his Hall of Fame career to the side. But the right opportunity with a title contender could yet make him change his mind.

• Here are 10 lingering questions on the Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: I want to know which quarterback is the best fit for head coach Joe Philbin's West Coast offense. Matt Moore played well last season, but David Garrard is better versed in the system. They will battle it out in training camp.

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

• The Buffalo Bills' website reports they will host New England Patriots defensive end Mark Anderson for a visit.

Morning take: Anderson recorded 10 sacks for the Patriots last season and could fit opposite Mario Williams. Buffalo is wisely working hard to improve its pass rush.

• NFL.com says New England got one of the best bargains in free agency with receiver Brandon Lloyd.

Morning take: Lloyd knows offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel's system and adds a deep threat to New England. It should be a good fit with the Patriots' other offensive stars.

• The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins are not interested in Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Morning take: There are conflicting reports on Tebow, but it's early. This will sort itself out in time. I think chasing Tebow would be an awful idea, but I won't put anything past the Dolphins at this point.

• The New York Daily News reports the Jets are in the Tebow race.

Morning take: Tebow would be an interesting fit in New York. Unlike Miami, I think it makes some sense from an Xs and Os perspective. We will have more on this today.

The New England Patriots only had one weakness on offense last year: They couldn't get vertical and behind the defense.

Consider that problem solved Saturday, after the Patriots agreed to terms with veteran big-play receiver Brandon Lloyd. The move was expected for weeks, as Lloyd reunites with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The pair were very successful during their stint together with the Denver Broncos.

Lloyd joins a dangerous cast of receivers and tight ends that include Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker, Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski and up-and-coming tight end Aaron Hernandez. Lloyd averages 15.4 yards per reception for his career and gives future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady the deep threat he's been missing since Randy Moss. The Patriots' offense will be a matchup nightmare for opponents next season.

New England also has depth behind the starters with former Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman and newly-signed receiver Anthony Gonzalez. There may be a small question with the experience of New England's stable of running backs. But look for New England to air it out anyway to set up the run.

Lloyd is a typical Patriots free-agent signing. He was not the biggest name on the market, but Lloyd should be very productive.

New England no longer has to worry about any facet of its high-powered offense for 2012. Now, the Patriots can use the rest of their resources in free agency and the draft to focus on their 31st-ranked defense.

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 in the market for a big-play wide receiver to bring the deep ball back to their offense. The reigning AFC champions have several options in free agency.

In our latest edition of "Poll Friday," we want to know which receiver the Patriots should chase in free agency to pair with Wes Welker and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Should the Patriots sign Brandon Lloyd? There is certainly a connection, as Lloyd thrived in Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' offense while together in Denver. Lloyd said he owes his career success to McDaniels and the pair could reunite in New England.

What about Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace? His situation is tricky as a restricted free agent. Pittsburgh is expected to place a first-round tender on Wallace. That would require the Patriots to give up one of their two first-round picks and sign Wallace to an expensive contract Pittsburgh couldn't match. Is it worth it for the 2011 Pro Bowler?

There is also the wild card of Randy Moss. He was once a great deep threat for the Patriots and wants to return to football at the age of 35. Moss' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says there are teams interested. Should New England consider it? Finding a receiver in the draft also is an option.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on which receiver New England should pursue in free agency. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

There is one game remaining, which is the Super Bowl. But for the other 30 teams it is time to start rebuilding for 2012.

Teams around the league are deciding on which pending free agents to target. The AFC East blog is happy to offer the division some free advice.

Based on need, here is one free agent for each team we think should be on the radar:

Miami Dolphins (6-10)

Free agent: QB Matt Flynn (Packers)

Age: 26

2011 stats: 518 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions, 124.8 passer rating

Analysis: The Dolphins have made it no secret they are looking for a franchise quarterback. The most realistic option is Flynn, who came from new Miami coach Joe Philbin's system in Green Bay. Flynn would have a seamless transition running Philbin's offense. Flynn showed he can put up big numbers in limited playing time. His six-touchdown performance to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 17 was one of the top games for any quarterback this season. Peyton Manning's health is still an issue and Miami doesn't have the right draft pick to select Robert Griffin III. Despite limited experience, Flynn's price tag won't be cheap. He might be the next Kevin Kolb or the next Matt Schaub. But it's a worthy risk for the Dolphins.

Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Free agent: DE/LB Mario Williams (Texans)

Age: 26

2011 stats: 11 tackles, five sacks

Analysis: Buffalo needs somebody to get to the quarterback, and Williams could be the most qualified pass rusher on the market. Williams had five sacks in five games this past season before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. Houston has a plethora of good pass rushers and was No. 2 in total defense without Williams. The Texans don't need to throw the money truck at the former No. 1 overall pick, who is looking for a huge payday despite his injury. But the Bills can definitely use Williams. The biggest question is could the team convince Williams to come to Buffalo? That could be a long shot, but if the Bills are willing to spend more than anyone else, that would help their chances. Buffalo general manager Buddy Nix said the Bills will spend to the cap this year.

New York Jets (8-8)

Free agent: S Michael Griffin (Titans)

Age: 27

2011 stats: 75 tackles, two interceptions

Analysis: There is no way around it. The Jets need two starting safeties next season. Jim Leonhard is a free agent coming off a season-ending knee injury and Eric Smith struggled last season. New York must patch up this weakness, which continually was exposed last season. One could come from the draft and the other in free agency. I think Griffin is the best veteran safety on the market, although some may argue for hard-hitting LaRon Landry of the Washington Redskins. It's a valid debate. But Griffin is more consistent and a better all-around player, and versatility is needed in New York's defense. Griffin also is durable. He's never missed a game for Tennessee in five seasons. I would assume the Titans will try to keep Griffin. But I think the Jets should make a push to outbid for the unrestricted free agent.

New England Patriots (13-3)

Free agent: WR Brandon Lloyd (Rams)

Age: 31

2011 stats: 70 receptions, 966 yards, five touchdowns

Analysis: Lloyd would be a great fit and a classic Patriots free agent. Similar to 2011 additions Brian Waters and Andre Carter, Lloyd is not the sexiest name on the market, but he could make a big impact. Lloyd put up solid numbers despite being traded from the Denver Broncos to the Rams during the season and dealing with different quarterbacks. Two seasons ago Lloyd led the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards. Lloyd had his best seasons under Josh McDaniels in Denver and St. Louis, and McDaniels is taking over as New England's offensive coordinator in 2012. Chad Ochocinco is a non-factor and Deion Branch may be on his last legs. Lloyd would happily join the reigning AFC champions and provide the deep threat New England is looking for.

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

• Miami Dolphins defensive tackle and pending free agent Paul Soliai was added to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement.
• The New York Jets hired former Dolphins offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo.
• New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks about the dynamic of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien working with future offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
• The Buffalo Bills look back at tight end Scott Chandler's best game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Here is a recap of this week's AFC East chat, covering a variety of topics.

The good news for the New England Patriots is offensive assistant Josh McDaniels recently drew up a game plan this season against the Baltimore Ravens. McDaniels is the only coach in the building who faced the Ravens this season as offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.

The bad news for New England is McDaniels' game plan didn't work. The Ravens crushed the Rams, 37-7, in Week 3. St. Louis' offense only registered 244 yards of total offense.

With that said, can McDaniels make an impact in the AFC Championship Game? The former Denver Broncos head coach was a big story in the divisional round. McDaniels received credit for providing valuable intel on his former team. New England played a near-perfect game against the Broncos.

The Patriots last played the Ravens in 2010. Where McDaniels can really help New England is with input on defensive changes under first-year Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. In that way, McDaniels will have some input. But don't expect the same impact as last week.

For the record, the New England Patriots did not break any rules by hiring assistant coach Josh McDaniels this week.

The move was announced shortly after McDaniels' former team -- the Denver Broncos -- advanced to face New England in the divisional round. That gave the impression the Patriots were trying to get the upper hand on an upcoming opponent.

That has forced the NFL to look into the matter. ESPN is reporting the Patriots may prompt a rule change for hiring coaches in the postseason.

This is simply a case where the Patriots' not-so-great reputation with rules -- "Spygate," anyone? -- preceded them. (It's also the 10th anniversary of the "Tuck Rule" game, where the rule worked to New England's advantage.) Would it be a big to-do for the NFL if McDaniels were hired this week by the Houston Texans or New Orleans Saints?

The truth is the Patriots were going to hire McDaniels whether they faced the Broncos, Texans or Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. New England brought in McDaniels to replace current offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, who is leaving for Penn State after the playoffs. Everyone quickly lost sight of that when Denver and quarterback Tim Tebow -- a McDaniels protégé -- became the opponent.

So, once again, it's all about Tim Tebow. (just kidding)

Earlier Tuesday we explained why New England Patriots assistant and former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels cannot lose this week. He is trying to help the Patriots win their first playoff game in four years, while facing a team he put together and was ultimately fired for.

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow was McDaniels' most controversial pick. Yet, this playoff run by Denver is vindicating McDaniels.

Earlier Tuesday, Tebow spoke on a conference call with Boston reporters about facing McDaniels, who was one of the few people who believed Tebow could be a starting NFL quarterback.

"I wish him nothing but the best. I'm happy for him and his new situation. I want to congratulate him. It's not about that. It's about the Broncos versus the Patriots and it's about us going into a hostile environment and trying to play a good game and playing a great team and playing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick — one of the teams that I watched over the last 12 years growing up. It's exciting, it's exciting for me because it's the next round of the playoffs, it's a big game, it's playing one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, one of the best coaches of all-time and playing in a big game. It's very exciting."

Someone has to lose Saturday's divisional-round playoff game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. But one person will smell like roses this weekend no matter the outcome: Josh McDaniels.

The formers Broncos head coach and current Patriots assistant has cleverly positioned himself in a win-win situation.

On one hand, McDaniels rejoins New England at the perfect time to help the team make a deep playoff run. McDaniels has plenty of inside knowledge on the Broncos' roster and would get a lot of credit if he helped New England win its first playoff game since the end of the 2007 season.

On the other hand, if New England (13-3) were upset by the Broncos (9-8), it would be in large part due to McDaniels' most controversial draft pick in Denver: Tim Tebow. McDaniels was heavily ridiculed for "reaching" to take the former Florida quarterback in the first round. One more win by Tebow would advance Denver to the AFC Championship Game and within one game of the Super Bowl. That would be the ultimate vindication for McDaniels, who believed in Tebow from the start when no one else did.

Obviously McDaniels would prefer the former outcome, not the latter. But both options have McDaniels sitting pretty in this AFC playoff game filled with interesting storylines.

After an ugly two-year stint in Denver, after which he was fired, and one year with the St. Louis Rams, McDaniels was welcomed back in New England.

"I have a lot of respect for Josh, not only as a coach, but as a friend," Patriots director of player personnel Nick Casario said this week. "I’ve known Josh a long time, it’s no secret. I think it’s great to have him back. It’s great to have him a part of our program and our system again. His goal and our goal is for everyone to work as hard as they can in preparation for this game, and that’s what we’ll try to do."

What is McDaniels' role during the playoffs with New England? Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been vague.

McDaniels' title is "offensive assistant." But this week, because of the opponent, McDaniels could serve as more a scout on both sides of the football.

McDaniels, who was head coach of the Broncos from 2009 to 2010, has great intel on many of their key players. He drafted Denver's building blocks on offense -- Tebow and receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. McDaniels also coached defensive stars Champ Bailey and Elvis Dumervil. This is priceless inside info that the Patriots could not get from simply studying tape.

McDaniels also should fit in seamlessly with New England's coaching staff. He spent eight seasons with the Patriots as an assistant and position coach, and three additional seasons as offensive coordinator. The system and terminology is virtually the same. This is a great way to ease McDaniels back into the fold to eventually take over for offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien when O'Brien leaves for Penn State after the playoffs.

"[McDaniels] is a person that I spent a lot of time with in a lot of different situations," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "I have a lot of confidence in him, he's smart, he's got great experience and background, and he knows our system. I’ve enjoyed our conversations the past couple days as we’ve gotten caught up on some things and moved forward into the playoffs here. I think that he'll be a good asset to our team for the remainder of the season."

McDaniels is reviled by Broncos fans. He was expected to be the next prodigy at head coach. Instead, he went 11-17 and didn't complete his second season. Joining New England's staff this week in an effort to end the Broncos' season certainly doesn't help his reputation in Denver.

Still, no one can deny first-year head coach John Fox is advancing through the playoffs with a roster McDaniels helped build. Starters Tebow, Thomas, Decker and offensive linemen Zane Beadles and J.D. Walton were all from McDaniels' final draft class in 2010. McDaniels' 2009 draft picks Robert Ayers, who had two sacks in last week's playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and safety David Bruton, also are contributors on defense.

But Tebow and Thomas are McDaniels' greatest parting gifts to the Broncos. The quarterback-receiver tandem connected for one of the greatest plays in Broncos' history last week.

Denver's playoff run probably will end this weekend in New England. The Broncos are nearly two-touchdown underdogs. The matchup is perfect for the Patriots, who won the regular-season meeting in Denver by 18 points.

But if the Broncos pull a monumental upset, players like Tebow, Thomas, Decker (if healthy) and Ayers will have a huge role. For that, McDaniels would still deserve a lot of credit.

Sometimes the stars align.

McDaniels simply can't lose this week.

Here are the latest happenings Monday in the AFC East:

• The NFL Network reports Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is scheduled to interview with the Miami Dolphins.
• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says he's excited for a reunion with offensive assistant Josh McDaniels.
• San Francisco 49ers safety and former Buffalo Bill Donte Whitner is on a roll. After ripping Bills coach Chan Gailey, Whitner also tweets his disapproval of McDaniels being allowed to go to New England before the end of the league year.
• Bills receiver coach Stan Hixon reportedly will join Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien at Penn State.
• Guess which player led the New York Jets in penalties this year?

Three things to know about Saturday's AFC divisional playoff game between the Denver Broncos (9-8) and New England Patriots (13-3):

1. Patriots get the easiest draw: Last week the AFC East blog did a poll asking readers which team they thought was the easiest opponent for the Patriots. Overwhelmingly, respondents selected Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos -- and for good reason. The Broncos are the easiest possible matchup of the four AFC teams playing on wild-card weekend. New England manhandled Denver in Week 15 and cruised to a 41-23 victory. The chances of Tebow outdueling Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the road in the rematch are very slim. I think this is as close to a free pass as New England can get in the postseason. The Patriots were close to hosting the reigning AFC champion Steelers, who beat New England in the regular season. But Denver did New England a big favor by knocking out Pittsburgh in overtime. Now, the Patriots have a much easier path to get to the AFC Championship Game.

2. Josh McDaniels factor: The timing for New England to rehire Josh McDaniels is impeccable. The former Broncos head coach will rejoin the Patriots' staff this week as an offensive assistant. McDaniels eventually will replace offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien next season when O'Brien goes to Penn State. But McDaniels will be key this week to help the Patriots better understand Denver's personnel. McDaniels coached Denver from 2009-10 and was responsible for Denver drafting Tebow. McDaniels should be able to provide plenty of inside knowledge on Tebow and many players on Denver's roster.

3. One-and-done pressure: Expect there to be a lot of talk of New England avoiding a third consecutive one-and-done postseason. The Patriots' Hall of Fame tandem of quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick were stellar in the postseason from 2001-07. But lately the pair are 0-2 in their last two playoff games and haven't won in the postseason since the end of the 2007 season. It's been a four-year drought for Brady and Belichick and there are no excuses this year. New England is playing well, healthy and has a favorable matchup in the divisional round. The Patriots could do themselves a huge favor by beating Denver and getting that one-and-done monkey off their back.

The New England Patriots need an offensive coordinator who understands the system now that Bill O'Brien is leaving for Penn State.

Josh McDaniels needs to get back in his comfort zone after three underachieving years with the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams.

The timing is perfect for a McDaniels-New England reunion. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Patriots are expected to land their former offensive coordinator and have him working immediately on staff.

For now, McDaniels will work under O'Brien for the playoffs. But next season, McDaniels likely will take over the same offensive coordinator job he held from 2006 to '08. The transition should be seamless for McDaniels. New England is running primarily the same offense.

The Patriots will be fine. Truth be told, quarterback Tom Brady -- not the offensive coordinator -- is the biggest key to making New England's offense work. Brady and the Patriots put up great numbers when McDaniels left, and they will continue to do so after O'Brien.

But familiarity is always key with New England. Usually, head coach Bill Belichick likes to promote from within. This pretty much falls in that category despite McDaniels' venturing off to try his luck as a head coach.

McDaniels learned two things in the past three years: The grass isn't always greener on the other side, and it's good to come home. Both McDaniels and the Patriots should benefit from these lessons.

With offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien agreeing to become Penn State's next head coach, New England now is expected to hire Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as an offensive assistant coach, according to an NFL source.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports McDaniels will likely succeed O'Brien as the Patriots offensive coordinator next season, but he was to begin working immediately for the Patriots this season, returning to the team he left to take a head coaching job with the Broncos in 2009, the source said.

O'Brien will work as the Patriots offensive coordinator for the remainder of this season.

More coverage to come.