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

• Is Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby elite?

Morning take: Dansby believes he's the best linebacker in the NFL. I wouldn't go that far, but he is very good. Miami needs another healthy and productive year out of Dansby in what should be a solid defense.

• Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey says former teammate Tim Tebow will be a starting quarterback with the New York Jets at some point.

Morning take: Whether injury or performance, Tebow-mania will put a lot of pressure on quarterback Mark Sanchez. Maybe that's for the best. Sanchez hasn't been challenged by a backup his entire NFL career.

• Former Buffalo Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Morning take: Parrish had some good moments in Buffalo, but he was too injured to sustain any success. Perhaps a change of scenery will help.

• New England Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco looked good in an offseason workout.

Morning take: Patriots coach Bill Belichick wants to give Ochocinco one more chance in his system. He's had one of the most productive careers for a receiver in recent memory but never seemed to fit in New England.

The AFC East blog continues its rankings of the top 40 players in the division.

Here are Nos. 9-12:

No. 12: Logan Mankins, G

Team: New England Patriots

Stats: 15 starts

Analysis: Mankins, a perennial Pro Bowler, is a grinder. He is relentless in the running or passing game. His style can get under some opponent's skin. Members of the New York Giants defense called Mankins and New England's offensive line "dirty" and "cheap" leading up to the Super Bowl. Mankins responded that it was a compliment. I also like Mankins' toughness and durability. He missed one game this season, when other Patriots offensive linemen were dropping left and right. Mankins has missed just seven games in his seven-year career at guard.

No. 11: Karlos Dansby, LB

Team: Miami Dolphins

Stats: 103 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception

Analysis: Dansby isn't the best linebacker in the NFL, as he proclaims, but he's still very good. Dansby and fellow linebacker Kevin Burnett (No. 39) set the physical tone for the Dolphins on a weekly basis. Teams struggled to run on Miami, because the team was stout up the middle. Dansby is a sure tackler and takes on blockers well. I think he's Miami's most consistent defensive player. Dansby has recorded 100 tackles or more in three of the past four seasons.

No. 10: Fred Jackson, RB

Team: Buffalo Bills

Stats: 934 yards, 6 touchdowns, 39 receptions

Analysis: Jackson was probably the hardest player to rank in "Walker's Fab 40." Based on the eye test and players I saw in person, Jackson was without a doubt one of the top players in the AFC East. But he also turns 31 next week and is coming off a season-ending leg injury. How well will Jackson bounce back in 2012? Will he be the same player we saw for 10 games this past season? No one has the answers yet to these questions. But Jackson's skills are plentiful. He's a powerful runner who always falls forward and has surprisingly great hands for a player his size. Jackson also was one of the best bargains in the NFL in terms of salary. The Bills plan to give him a well-deserved raise.

No. 9: Aaron Hernandez, TE

Team: Patriots

Stats: 79 receptions, 910 yards, 7 touchdowns

Analysis: I'm not sure many know how talented Hernandez truly is, given that he plays in Rob Gronkowski's shadow. Hernandez, who is a better pure athlete than "Gronk," might be a top-five tight end if he wasn't playing second fiddle in New England. Hernandez is versatile. He is the team's best vertical threat and could also play a little running back if needed. Hernandez is elusive and difficult to tackle. The Patriots are very fortunate to have both tight ends playing together for the next couple of years. There's a very good chance that one of them -- probably Hernandez -- bolts in free agency when the time comes; the Patriots can't pay both Pro Bowl-type money. Gronkowski is a Pro Bowl player now, and Hernandez has that potential with more opportunities.

The 2011 season was an interesting one filled with ups and mostly downs for the AFC East. Only one team finished with a winning record.

But that doesn't mean the AFC East lacked great individual performances. For example, the division produced an MVP candidate at quarterback who threw for more than 5,000 yards and another stellar season from the best cornerback in football.

Here is our All-AFC East Team for 2011:

Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Analysis: There is no question about this one. Brady set a new career-high with 5,235 passing yards, which surpassed Dan Marino's old record. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (5,476) finished with more yards and has the new record. Brady is the single biggest reason the Patriots are 13-3 and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. His performance carried New England through injuries and inconsistencies in other areas. Brady will be chasing his fourth Super Bowl title in the playoffs.

Running back: Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Analysis: This might be a controversial pick, because two other running backs -- Reggie Bush and Shonn Greene -- had 1,000-yard seasons. But Jackson was the best running back I watched this season. He simply had some bad luck, suffering a season-ending leg injury. He was on his way to making his first Pro Bowl. Jackson rushed for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He had an additional 442 yards receiving. His numbers would be off the charts if he'd played the final six games.

Fullback: Charles Clay, Dolphins

Analysis: Clay was one of the surprise rookies from Miami's draft class. He was a good blocker for Bush, has great hands and knows what to do with the football. Clay caught 16 passes for 233 yards. He averaged 14.6 yards per reception, which is astounding for a fullback. John Conner of the Jets is the best blocking fullback. But Conner is not a receiving threat.

Receivers: Wes Welker, Patriots; Brandon Marshall, Dolphins

Analysis: The best receivers in the AFC East this season are a pair of Pro Bowlers. Welker had an unbelievable year. He set a new career high with 1,569 yards. He also caught 122 passes and was one of the league's most sure-handed receivers. Marshall, in contrast, wasn't sure-handed. He had plenty of big drops, but still had a good season. Marshall caught 81 passes for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns. What's even more impressive is that Marshall put up big numbers despite Miami's in-season quarterback switch from Chad Henne to Matt Moore.

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Gronkowski showed flashes as a rookie. But no one knew he would explode the way he did in his second season. "Gronk" set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdowns. He averaged more than one per game, despite many teams' focus on stopping him late in the season. Gronkowski finished with 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and made his first Pro Bowl. Considering he's only 22, it will most likely be the first of many Pro Bowls.

Center: Nick Mangold, Jets

Analysis: Jets head coach Rex Ryan says a lot of things. But we believe him when he says Mangold is the best center in the NFL. Mangold fought through an ankle injury but had another solid season. He was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. The Jets' offensive line was up and down but completely fell apart when Mangold missed two games. New York's entire running game and blocking scheme is built around its center -- and for good reason.

Guards: Logan Mankins, Patriots; Andy Levitre, Bills

Analysis: Mankins, who made his fourth Pro Bowl, stayed healthy right up until the end and played 15 of 16 games. He should be ready for the playoffs. Levitre was one of my favorite players to watch because of his versatility. He's a very good guard, a solid offensive tackle and struggled at center. Levitre was forced to play all three positions in Buffalo this season because of injuries.

Offensive tackles: Jake Long, Dolphins; Matt Light, Patriots

Analysis: Long played through injuries all season. His back bothered him, and he ended up on injured reserve after tearing his biceps. But Long at 80 percent is still better than most left tackles, and he was good enough to make his fourth Pro Bowl in four years. Light gets our last tackle spot over New York's D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The Pro Bowl nod went to Ferguson. But Ferguson struggled at times this season and didn't play up to his usual standards. I think Ferguson got in on reputation and name recognition.

Defensive ends: Andre Carter, Patriots; Mark Anderson, Patriots

Analysis: No one flinched when the Patriots quietly signed a pair of veteran defensive ends in free agency to bolster their pass rush. Most of the focus was on big-name acquisitions such as receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But two of New England's best signings were Carter and Anderson. Each finished with 10 sacks, and Carter made the Pro Bowl despite a late, season-ending quad injury. For all of New England's issues on defense, arguably its biggest strength was rushing the passer. The Patriots registered 40 sacks, and Carter and Anderson combined for half of that total.

Defensive tackles: Vince Wilfork, Patriots; Sione Pouha, Jets

Analysis: Wilfork, 30, continues to improve with age. He combines strength and smarts to play defensive tackle/nose tackle. Wilfork finished with 52 tackles and 3.5 sacks. But it was his two interceptions this season that were most memorable. Wilfork rumbled for 28 and 19 yards, respectively, on his two picks. The second defensive tackle was one of the most difficult selections. But we went with Pouha over Miami's Paul Soliai. Pouha's numbers were more impressive for a nose tackle. He recorded 58 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Soliai played well for Miami but registered only 27 tackles.

Outside linebackers: Cameron Wake, Dolphins; Calvin Pace, Jets

Analysis: It was a down year for outside linebackers in the AFC East. Wake and Pace were the best of a thin crop. Wake's sack numbers dipped from 14 to 8.5 this season. Teams put more focus on Wake, and he faced more double teams. Pace stayed healthy this season but recorded his lowest sack total (4.5) since 2006. Pace's backup, Aaron Maybin, led the Jets with six sacks.

Inside linebackers: David Harris, Jets; Karlos Dansby, Dolphins

Analysis: Harris continues to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Harris was the Jets' most consistent defensive player outside of Darrelle Revis. He was always around the football and recorded 86 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions. The second inside linebacker was another tough call. But we think Dansby had a slightly better season than New England's Jerod Mayo. A tailback getting 100 yards against the Dolphins' defense was rare, in large part due to Dansby. He established a physical presence in the middle for Miami and recorded 103 tackles and two sacks.

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Jets; Kyle Arrington, Patriots

Analysis: What more can you say about Revis? He had another great season for the Jets. He led New York with 21 passes defended, and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. One pick was returned 100 yards for a touchdown. Teams opted to attack Revis more this season, which allowed more chances for him to make big plays. Arrington was this year's version of Devin McCourty. New England gave up a lot of passing yards, but Arrington made the most of his interception opportunities. He led the Patriots with seven picks and had 88 tackles.

Safeties: Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins; George Wilson, Bills

Analysis: The safeties struggled in the AFC East this season. But Bell was probably the most consistent in the division. He led Miami with 107 tackles. He also had two sacks and one interception. Wilson played lights out at times, particularly early in the season. He set a career high with 106 tackles and tied a career mark with four interceptions. Wilson did all of this despite missing three games with injuries.

Punter: Brandon Fields, Dolphins

Analysis: Fields was spectacular this season. He averaged 48.8 yards per punt and had 32 punts inside the 20. Fields was the only Dolphins player exciting to watch during Miami's ugly 0-7 start. Fields had a Pro Bowl season. But Oakland Raiders punter and Pro Bowler Shane Lechler is probably the best punter in the NFL.

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Fantasy football players fell in love with Gostkowski this season. New England's high-scoring offense constantly put Gostkowski in position to rack up points, and he usually came through. Gostkowski led New England in scoring with 143 points. He made 28 of 33 field goals and all 59 extra points. The pressure of the playoffs always is different for kickers. But Gostkowski has shown no signs that he will be bothered by it.

Return specialist: Joe McKnight, Jets

Analysis: McKnight was a must-see because something exciting could happen every time he touched the ball. McKnight was fun to watch in the open field. He averaged 31.6 yards per kick return and is a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams. His longest of the season was a 107-yard touchdown return. The next step for McKnight is to develop as a running back. With LaDainian Tomlinson a free agent, McKnight could get a chance to backup Greene next season.

MIAMI -- The New York Jets lead the Miami Dolphins 10-6 at intermission.

Here are some notes at halftime:

• This was an ugly first half between two AFC East rivals. There were seven penalties total, including four false starts by the much-maligned Jets offensive line. But this game is being played at the Jets' tempo, which is plodding and not pretty.
• Matt Moore is not looking like the Dolphins' long-term solution at quarterback. He threw two bad picks in the first half and hasn't been able to move Miami's offense. Moore has filled in well most weeks. But he's not good enough to take the Dolphins to the next level.
• Jets rookie receiver Jeremy Kerley is making an impact in this game. He accounted for a long pass and reception in the first half. Kerley threw a 41-yard pass to tight end Matthew Mulligan on a trick play in the first quarter. Kerley also caught a nice sideline pass for 30 yards from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.
• Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby suffered a groin injury in the first half and hasn't come back in the game. His return is questionable.
• After a long drought, cornerback Antonio Cromartie made a big play for the Jets in the second quarter. Cromartie picked off a Moore pass on a great jump ball. The Jets needed more plays like that from Cromartie this season. It was his first pick since Oct. 9.

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

• Should the New England Patriots be concerned about the team's weak finish against the Indianapolis Colts?

Morning take: Fans booed the Patriots after they gave up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. But I'm not worried. New England took its foot off the pedal against a winless team.

• If the season ended today, the New York Jets (7-5) would miss the playoffs via tiebreakers.

Morning take: The Jets are the ninth seed and have losses to the Raiders (7-5) and Broncos (7-5). But winnable games coming up against the Chiefs (5-7) and Eagles (4-8) could help New York get in better position.

• Linebacker Karlos Dansby says the Miami Dolphins (4-8) are so good, it's scary.

Morning take: It's a shame this team started 0-7. It would be interesting to see how dangerous the Dolphins would be if they were still in the playoff hunt.

• Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller looked good in a loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Morning take: Buffalo, losers of five straight, need something good to build on. Spiller showed flashes of promise by leading the Bills in rushing with 83 yards and a touchdown.

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

• The New England Patriots won't face Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who is out indefinitely with a hand injury.

Morning take: New England's easy schedule gets even easier with the struggling Chiefs missing their starting quarterback. Enter Tyler Palko at Gillette Stadium on "Monday Night Football." Oh boy.

• Karlos Dansby of the Miami Dolphins says he's the best linebacker in the NFL.

Morning take: Those are big words from Dansby. I disagree that he’s the NFL’s No. 1 linebacker but I think it’s good that he feels that way. More importantly, Dansby needs to continue to play that way and help Miami win games.

• Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood will be lost for the year with a torn ACL.

Morning take: This is a big blow to the Bills, who already have injuries on the offensive line. Wood was the quarterback in the trenches who worked well with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

• New York Jets safety Brodney Pool (knee) is not sure if he will be available to play on Thursday.

Morning take: Pool definitely could have helped New York’s pass defense last weekend against New England. He’s the team’s most athletic safety.

We had a lot of great individual performances for Week 10 in the AFC East. Using our SportsNation poll, we want to know which player stood out the most.

The New England Patriots dominated the New York Jets for a 37-16 victory. New England's two stars were quarterback Tom Brady on offense (329 yards, three touchdowns) and defensive end Andre Carter (4.5 sacks) on defense. Is Brady or Carter deserving?

Linebacker Karlos Dansby led the Miami Dolphins to their second win in a row with a great performance. Dansby had 10 tackles, one sack and one interception. Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (114 rushing yards), and Jets receiver Santonio Holmes (93 receiving yards) also did well in losing efforts.

Cast your vote on the AFC East Player of the Week. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

How bad are things for the winless Miami Dolphins?

The two most talked about players in South Florida this week were Andrew Luck and Tim Tebow.

The latter plays quarterback for the Denver Broncos (1-4), who will visit Miami this weekend. The former might someday play for the struggling Dolphins (0-5) if they continue to lose and secure the No. 1 overall pick.

That brings me to this thought: Miami is much better off losing Sunday's "Andrew Luck Bowl" against Denver than winning it. The loser of this game will win in the long run by having the inside track to one of the best quarterback prospects of the past decade.

For the record, I am not a proponent of "tanking" games. Dolphins players and coaches, for the sake of their own professionalism and job security, should work as hard as they can to try to turn the team around.

But there is nothing wrong with those not associated with the team objectively looking at the big picture -- and that is where Dolphins fans are 100 percent correct. Miami already lost its first five games and will not make the playoffs this season. Therefore, the more the Dolphins lose in 2011, the better off they will be in 2012.

It's not what embattled Dolphins coach Tony Sparano wants to hear. But that is the sad reality facing Miami the rest of the season.

"What bothers me about it most is that we have a lot of players in that locker room, every player in that locker room, every coach upstairs, every [public relations person] in this building ... with one agenda and that agenda is to win, period," Sparano said. "So we have no other agenda here. It's to win, and those players go out there every single week and they put themselves at risk. I think that part of it, yeah, that angers me a little."

Sparano's reaction is predictable. He's coaching for his job and his future with the team is in doubt. The quickest way to turn an organization around in the NFL is through a coaching and quarterback change. Sparano is on his way out, barring a miraculous turnaround. Now, the Dolphins have to find their franchise quarterback. One is clearly sitting there in the draft.

The "Suck for Andrew Luck" campaign is getting very popular in Miami. That has angered many players in the Dolphins' locker room, who are proud and paid a lot of money to do their jobs.

"It's ridiculous," Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor told the Miami Herald. "Acknowledging it is condoning the stupidity. It’s illegal for a player to throw a game whether it’s for pay or for a pick. People are talking about ruining the integrity of a game for a draft pick ... Nothing amazes me anymore. There is no tanking, no ‘Suck for Luck’ in this locker room."

Teammate Karlos Dansby's insinuation that Miami still has a chance to win 11 straight games and make the playoffs is preposterous. Yes, players have to think that way. But what have we seen in the first five games from Miami to believe a playoff run is possible?

What is possible is Miami winning its first game of the season on Sunday.

Denver is similar to Miami. The Broncos have a lot of problems. Denver is making a quarterback switch to the popular Tebow, who will make his first start of the season. Miami did the same thing last week with former backup Matt Moore, who threw two big interceptions in a loss to the New York Jets.

Denver currently has the worst record of any team remaining on Miami's schedule. If Miami can't beat Tebow and the Broncos at home, there isn't much hope for picking up wins the rest of the season.

Miami is an abysmal 1-11 at Sun Life Stadium in its past dozen games. The Dolphins lost their first two games at home to the New England Patriots and Houston Texans, then played increasingly worse during their three-game road trip.

When asked this week why Dolphins fans still should believe in this season's team, Sparano's answer was not inspiring.

"Well, the only thing I can say in that situation is the team is playing hard," Sparano said. "These guys are playing hard and they practice hard. If you want hope, I mean, they're playing hard, they're practicing hard, there's improvement in different areas. There really is."

As strange as it sounds, most Dolphins fans hope there isn't too much improvement this week. Losing to Denver could eventually provide the gateway to Andrew Luck -- and that's a good thing.

The "Suck for Andrew Luck" campaign in Miami is growing in popularity. Therefore, it was just a matter of time before it reached the Dolphins' locker room.

With Miami 0-5, many Dolphins fans already consider 2011 a lost season. Now, fans are rooting against the team so that it can land the Stanford quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.

Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby despises the idea.

"It's not right, bro. It's not right," Dansby said, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. " We put too much into this, man, to have the fans say that -- period, point blank -- or even promote that campaign. It's kind of sad."

"Tanking" has become a popular word in Miami. Dolphins fans see the writing on the wall that change is coming at head coach and there is a very slim chance of this group having a sudden turnaround.

But Dansby isn't giving up hope and ripped Miami fans who have given up on this year's team.

"Man, we got 11 games. What are you talking about?" Dansby said. "We can't look at next season. We've got 11 games. We can win 'em out, and then what? Then you'd be biting your tongue. Those guys that are saying that are fair-weather fans. They're not real Dolphins fans."

Is Dansby correct? Are fans who root for Miami to tank games real Dolphins fans?

Give us your take on Dansby's comments.

MIAMI -- A few thoughts on the Houston Texans' 23-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

What it means: The Dolphins fell to 0-2 by dropping their second home game to start the 2011 season. They're already two games behind every team in the AFC East. The New England Patriots (2-0), Buffalo Bills (2-0) and New York Jets (2-0) are off to fast starts in a deep division. Miami was 6-2 on the road last year and have to post a similar mark if it wants to get back in the race. The Dolphins have just one home game left in the month of September and October.

Turning point: Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis went down early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. The Texans quickly took advantage. Houston quarterback Matt Schaub connected with Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson on a 23-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach. Schaub fooled Dolphins backup corner Nolan Carroll with a pump fake to free up Johnson in the back of the end zone.

Rookie producer: One of the few bright spots for Miami was the play of Dolphins rookie running back Daniel Thomas. He rushed for 107 yards on 18 carries in his regular-season debut. Thomas did well in between the tackles, which is needed in Miami’s offense. He missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury.

Injury watch: In addition to Davis, Miami linebacker Karlos Danby also suffered a groin injury in the second half and didn't return. For Houston, Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster re-aggravated his hamstring in the second half and didn't return.

What’s next: Miami (0-2) will travel to play the Cleveland Browns (1-1) in Week 3. The Browns won their first game of the season Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins are in must-win territory early in the season. It's going to be a long year for Miami if the team can't win on the road.

Of the five panelists asked to pick the AFC East, four had the Dolphins finishing third and I picked them to finish second. Here's my intelligence report on Miami:

Five things you need to know about the Dolphins:

1. Henne must improve: Chad Henne needs to play better in 2011 than he did a year ago. He just didn't convert enough big plays to throw as many interceptions as he did (19). Still, I do think he was slightly unfairly criticized and I think he can revive his career, especially since Miami was quite proactive this offseason in getting him a lot of help at surrounding positions. And as Football Outsiders so adeptly notes, Henne was the most "unlucky" quarterback in the league last year as far as interceptions -- no quarterback paid more for his mistakes. This offense also has to get more aggressive with play calling. But any way you cut it, the Dolphins will go only as far as Henne can take them.

2. Defense is elite: I love the Dolphins' defense. Led by a very deep but greatly underappreciated defensive line, I fully expect Miami to have one of the top three or four defenses in the league. Vontae Davis and Cameron Wake are budding superstars with a ton of big-play potential, but young complementary players like Sean Smith and Koa Misi are also quite effective -- and should only be getting better. This defense needs to do a better job of taking the football away, and I don't love its free safety situation, but all in all, there are only a couple of NFL defenses that I rank ahead of the Dolphins'. And Mike Nolan is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league.

3. The Reggie Bush effect: As a former second overall pick in the draft, many consider the often-injured Bush a bust. I am not going to say that Bush was worth such a lofty draft slot, but I will tell you that he can make a major difference in Miami. Bush is as much wide receiver as he is running back, which makes accounting for him extremely difficult when he is on the field. Do you play nickel or base defense when he is the lead back? If you chose the smaller, more athletic defensive personnel, Miami will run the ball with Bush. If you chose the heavier base set, the Dolphins can split Bush away from the formation and get a coverage mismatch against a linebacker. His stats are not extraordinary, but Bush's effect on the game can be. Bush and Brandon Marshall should quickly become Henne's best friends.

4. Offensive line rebuilt: Henne isn't very fleet of foot. He struggles against interior pass-rush pressure, which was a big problem a year ago. In turn, Miami used its mid first-round pick on the best interior offensive lineman in the draft, Mike Pouncey, who is penciled in as the starting center. Former right tackle Vernon Carey has moved to right guard. That move is a bit curious, though, as I have major reservations about now-starting right tackle Marc Colombo. The plan is that the revamped line should help an ailing running game while also providing better interior protection for the immobile Henne.

5. More team speed: Miami clearly made a concerted effort to become a faster team this offseason. On offense, the Dolphins added a burner at wide receiver, Clyde Gates, who should open room for the Dolphins' other skill positions. We touched on Bush's potential effect in this offense, but clearly he is an improvement just in terms of his pure speed compared to the running backs from a year ago. Miami desperately needs more big plays on offense. On defense, the addition that really sticks out is every-down linebacker Kevin Burnett, who is replacing the slower run-stuffing Channing Crowder. Burnett's athletic ability and extreme versatility should serve Miami very well, especially when dealing with the Patriots' wide array of tight ends and running backs who can torture a defense from a matchup standpoint. He should make a very formidable inside linebacker pair with Karlos Dansby in Miami's 3-4 scheme.

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players concludes here ...

About the choice: Tom Brady was the unanimous MVP and received every All-Pro vote after leading the New England Patriots to a 14-2 record and another AFC East crown. He had one of his finest seasons despite an overhaul of the offense. The Patriots traded No. 1 receiver Randy Moss, relied heavily on rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and found ways to help undrafted running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead thrive. Brady led the NFL with 36 touchdowns and threw just four interceptions. He threw an interception to New York Jets linebacker David Harris in the playoffs, but his NFL-record streak of 335 attempts without an interception technically remains intact heading into 2011. Also still intact is Brady's record of nine straight games with at least two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Brady became the sixth quarterback since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to throw a touchdown pass each game.

Key fact: Brady owns a 111-32 regular-season record, giving him the best winning percentage of any quarterback to begin his career in the Super Bowl era.

The complete rundown:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback
2. Darrelle Revis, Jets cornerback
3. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle
4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...

About the choice: Darrelle Revis is a superstar cover cornerback and the key to the New York Jets' defense. His lockdown skills allow the players in front of him to get creative in Rex Ryan's aggressive defense, but he's also solid against the run and is an efficient tackler. Revis has been voted to the Pro Bowl three years running and chosen first-team All-Pro the past two seasons, overcoming a hamstring injury that impaired him for the first two games and then forced him off the field until Week 5. But he rebounded to elite form. From Halloween through Thanksgiving, he limited Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens to nine catches for 74 yards.

Key fact: In their playoff game, Revis kept Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne to one catch for 1 yard.

Hint about No. 1: If you don't know by now, then you shouldn't be trusted with a computer.

Previous picks:

• 3. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle
• 4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
• 5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
• 6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
• 7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
• 8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
• 9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
• 10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
• 11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
• 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
• 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
• 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
• 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
• 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
• 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
• 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
• 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
• 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
• 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
• 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
• 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
• 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
• 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...

About the choice: Jake Long has lived up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft. The Miami Dolphins' left tackle has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of his three NFL seasons and was voted first-team All-Pro last season. Long played with an injured shoulder that hindered his effectiveness for the final seven games. STATS Inc. had him down for six sacks and eight penalties (both career-highs), but he has been the sentry on an offensive line the Dolphins have over-tinkered with since he joined the club.

Key fact: Long is one of only three players since the NFL-AFL merger to be drafted first overall and chosen for the Pro Bowl his first three seasons. The others are running backs Earl Campbell and Billy Sims. Campbell is the only one to make four straight.

Hint about No. 2: It's either Darrelle Revis or Tom Brady.

Previous picks:

• 4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
• 5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
• 6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
• 7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
• 8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
• 9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
• 10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
• 11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
• 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
• 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
• 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
• 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
• 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
• 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
• 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
• 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
• 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
• 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
• 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
• 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
• 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
• 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...

About the choice: Wilfork is the centerpiece of the New England Patriots' 3-4 defense. He's one of the NFL's elite nose tackles, but is versatile enough to move along the defensive line and give opponents fits, particularly in the run game. Wilfork has been chosen for three Pro Bowls over the past four seasons. Critics who like to rely on stats more than football sense have insisted on the AFC East blog that Wilfork is overrated because he doesn't accumulate many tackles (87 last season) or sacks (two). He'd have more, but he does his job so supremely well, he's almost always fighting off two or three blockers.

Key fact: Wilfork's teammates voted him a defensive captain each of the past three years.

Hint about No. 3: He broke his high school basketball team's record for shooting percentage in a season.

Previous picks:

• 5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
• 6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
• 7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
• 8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
• 9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
• 10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
• 11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
• 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
• 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
• 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
• 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
• 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
• 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
• 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
• 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
• 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
• 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
• 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
• 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
• 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
• 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end