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

• New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will be Penn State's next head coach, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.

Morning take: I smell a Josh McDaniels reunion in New England. He most likely would come back to the Patriots after a poor year in St. Louis.

• Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin reportedly is next in line to interview with the Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: If Miami can't get Jeff Fisher, the team will have to start looking at assistants. Philbin has done a great job with Green Bay's offense and may be able to lure pending free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

• Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey says the team needs to learn how to finish.

Morning take: Buffalo is still a young team learning how to win. I think talent and adding impact players are bigger issues.

• Former New York Jets teammate Kris Jenkins criticized quarterback Mark Sanchez's photo shoot in GQ magazine and not saying what backup Greg McElroy said about the team.

Morning take: Sanchez is being criticized for a lot of things. But I’m not sure the photo shoot has much to do with anything. But I agree Sanchez could have been more vocal internally to get things under control, at least on offense.

I recently discussed with Kris Jenkins his reasons for retiring from the NFL. Jenkins, who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets, was named to four Pro Bowls during his 10-year career.

ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini reflects on the defensive tackle's career after the former Panther and Jet announces his retirement.

Former Panthers and Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins just announced his retirement on his Facebook page.

“Wanted to let you all know that I have loved the support and respect that you all have given me throughout my career,’’ Jenkins wrote. “But it is time for the torch to be passed to the younger players. I am going to hang up the cleats! The mind is always willing to play but my body deserves the rest. Thank you for the opportunities to play Carolina and New York.’’

Jenkins is 31 and played seven seasons with the Panthers and the last three with the Jets. I had the chance to cover Jenkins throughout his time with the Panthers when I was the beat writer for The Charlotte Observer and can honestly say he might be the most unique player I ever covered.

For a time, he also was one of the best players I covered. Jenkins had a stretch as the dominant defensive tackle in the league, but injuries and the fact he wasn’t happy in Carolina got in the way and might have prevented what could have been a Hall of Fame career. Jenkins didn’t like the locker-room atmosphere in Carolina and felt he was an outcast because he was outspoken and didn’t like to play by what he viewed as corporate rules.

Jenkins could be loud and immature at times and he could be downright mean, especially to reporters named “Stan’’, who tried to interview him moments after he’d backed a golf cart over the leg of a team employee.

But there was another side to Jenkins that few got to see. He wasn’t particularly liked by the Carolina media or fans. My opinion of Jenkins began to go in another direction early in his career when his agent approached me about doing a training camp diary.

My first reaction was that it was a dangerous proposition because my early impressions of Jenkins were that he wasn’t all that reliable. I told the agent that, if we were going to do the diary, I would need to be absolutely certain Jenkins showed up and was ready to talk on the days we designated. He gave me his word and Jenkins came through.

He showed up every time he was supposed to, sometimes with little notes to remind him what he wanted to talk about. More often than not, Jenkins just talked off the top of his head.

He talked about football, but he could talk in-depth about a lot of other things and he frequently did. I remember coach John Fox walking by one day and seeing Jenkins talking into my tape recorder.

Later that day, Fox saw me in the cafeteria and said, “Who thinks it’s a good idea to let Jenks to a diary?’’

I got Fox’s point of view. He was a coach who liked to keep his players quiet and free of controversy. Jenkins didn’t fit that profile, but he did provide some fresh air in a locker room that often was stale.

Whether coaches, the front office or fans liked it or not, Jenkins always said whatever was on his mind. There are a lot of other things beside football in that mind, and I hope Jenkins gets to fully enjoy them now.

Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson looks at AFC East players on the verge of a breakout in 2011.

Picking a budding star wasn’t easy with this team. The Jets have a very top-heavy roster that features some truly exceptional players who clearly already qualify as stars. But I don’t see a ton of young emerging talent. The 2011 draft could net two very valuable rookies in defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, New York’s first-round pick, and Kenrick Ellis, another big body with a lot of ability who could project to nose tackle or defensive end in New York’s odd front. In time, coach Rex Ryan might makes stars of both players. He already has gotten a ton of production from the unheralded Mike DeVito at end.

But my choice for this story is starting nose tackle Sione Pouha, who really already established himself on the inside after Kris Jenkins once again was lost to injury early last season. But Pouha needs to be recognized as one of the better nose tackles in all of football. And slowly incorporating Ellis as Pouha’s backup could help the veteran maintain his stamina.

Pouha has the perfect build for the position and is extremely powerful with the ability to handle the double team and allow inside backers Bart Scott and David Harris to run more freely to the ball carrier. Pouha has only 2.5 career sacks, and that will never be his forte, but he now consistently makes everyone around him much better and is an extremely key cog in the Jets’ exceptional defense.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

The New York Jets didn't have a second-round draft choice, giving them a looooong wait between their first-round announcement Thursday night and their next selection Friday night. With the 94th pick in the draft, they took Hampton defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis.

Why the Jets took him: Jets head coach Rex Ryan sees a potential gem in Ellis, a 6-foot-5, 346-pound lineman with a checkered history. Ellis ended up at Hampton after South Carolina suspended him three games and then kicked him off the team for reported drug usage. The Jets need depth up front, especially if they don't re-sign nose tackle Kris Jenkins.

How it affects the roster: Last year's starters at defensive tackle, Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito, will be back. Ellis will push them for snaps.

Scouts Inc. says: Plays a little too high but rarely gives ground in one-on-one situations and can clog up the middle by occupying multiple blockers when plays with sound technique. Also shows ability to hold ground working against double team if maintaining proper pad level. Thick, powerful arms. Can reach out and latch onto ball carrier with one hand when teams run at him. Plays with too narrow of a base and lacks adequate balance redirecting. Does not possess elite instincts and can be a quarter-count finding and reacting to the ball. Also can bite on misdirection.

Kris Jenkins doesn't think it's in his best interests to return to the New York Jets.

The mammoth nose tackle, rehabbing from his second serious left knee injury in 11 months, told Metro New York reporter Kristian Dyer he wants to resume his career on a grass field to prolong his vitality.

Unless Jenkins changes his mind, that would eliminate the Jets as a possibility and pretty much the rest of the AFC East -- even though they all deploy 3-4 schemes. The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills also play on artificial turf.

The Miami Dolphins have the division's only grass surface, but theirs is partially covered by a baseball infield for much of the year and regularly is rated by the players to be among the worst in the NFL. Plus, the Dolphins already have invested franchise-tag money on nose tackle Paul Soliai.

Jenkins told Dyer he was offered a one-year contract to return to the Jets before the lockout froze all player transactions.

"I'd be interested if [the Jets] had grass on the stadium field, but right now that's the big thing, and they don't," Jenkins told Dyer on Tuesday. "I've played here long and loved it. I love this team. I love the fans, and I've bonded with this team. I feel like I have a connection with this city."

Jenkins added: "[FieldTurf], it ain't my friend. Just as far as my health is concerned, I need to think about that and how my body can and will respond. New York would be a major possibility. We'll have to see, but at this point in time, I want to take care of me, too."

Jenkins twice has been an All-Pro, and he's been a Pro Bowl selection four times.

The New York Jets were busy Tuesday. They officially released three players with a combined 11 Pro Bowls and placed provisional qualifying offers on nine free agents.

They might be active again Wednesday, too.

New York Metro writer Kristian Dyer, citing an unnamed source, reported the Jets will try to re-sign nose tackle Kris Jenkins at a reduced salary.

The Jets cut Jenkins, outside linebacker Jason Taylor and right tackle Damien Woody as part of a roster organization before the collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that free-agent safety Bob Sanders will visit the Jets. The former Indianapolis Colts star previously met with the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders has played only nine games the past three seasons, but the thought of a healthy Sanders in Rex Ryan's defense must sound dreadful to opposing quarterbacks.

Also of note, the Jets have not announced a roster move for defensive end Vernon Gholston. He reportedly was to have been released along with Jenkins, Taylor and Woody.

The New York Jets reportedly are on the verge of releasing four notable players.

New York Daily News beat writer Manish Mehta writes the Jets will cut right tackle Damien Woody, outside linebacker Jason Taylor, nose tackle Kris Jenkins, and defensive end Vernon Gholston.

Woody confirmed his move with a tweet, thanking the Jets and their fans.

The moves will help New York navigate the salary cap once a new collective bargaining agreement is in place. Contracts will expire for 17 Jets this week. Among that group the Jets want to re-sign are receivers Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Brad Smith, and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Each player the Jets are about to cut was significant in his own way. Three of them combined for 11 Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro selections. The other will go down as one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.

Woody started for one of the NFL's best offensive lines, but he also missed the final three regular-season games to rest his right knee and the final two playoff games because of an Achilles injury that required surgery.

Taylor was a strong veteran presence. The six-time Pro Bowler, 2006 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year recorded five sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries.

Jenkins played only one game. A left knee injury ended his 2009 campaign after six games. He returned only to suffer a repeat injury six plays into the season opener.

Gholston was the sixth overall pick of the 2008 draft. He was supposed to be a monstrous pass-rusher and entered the league with a contract that included $21 million in guarantees.

But Gholston didn't record a single sack in his three seasons. He started only five games as a Jet, and occasionally was a healthy scratch.

Buffalo Bills

Mary Owen, the new executive vice president of the Bills, started with the team as an intern in 1997.

NFL.com's Vic Carucci says the Bills must fix past draft mistakes before they can think about returning to the postseason.

Miami Dolphins

Even though they need help on offense, could the Dolphins benefit from a draft that is well-stocked on the defensive side of the ball?

The dilemma facing Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, according to Armando Salguero, is doing the right thing versus doing what is popular.

New England Patriots

Central Florida running backs coach George Godsey is leaving his current position for a spot on Bill Belichick's staff.

Shalise Manza Young has the lowdown on other coaching moves the team announced Thursday.

Fans get a chance to see the lighter side of Belichick on the Patriots' “All Access” program.

New York Jets

Jets assistant offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren has reportedly left to take a job at Stanford.

Kris Jenkins is continuing to work his way back from another ACL tear.

Thursday is the eighth in a series of daily Jets' positional breakdowns by ESPNNewYork.com. Jets blogger Rich Cimini focused today on New York's defensive tackles.

Writes Cimini: "The big question involves the big fella -- [Kris] Jenkins, who is due a $1 million roster bonus and a $3.75 million base salary. Clearly, he will have to take a pay cut if he wants to return. Even then, there's no guarantee he'll make it back. He'll be 32 in August, and he's coming off back-to-back knee surgeries, but Jenkins says he wants to keep playing. Pryce indicated at the end of the season that he's leaning toward retirement. [Sione] Pouha, 32, is no spring chicken, but he can hold down the fort. The Jets would've backed up the Brinks truck for Ravens NT Haloti Ngata, but he received the franchise tag. They're high on Dixon, but this is a position that needs to be addressed in the draft or free agency."

Previously on ESPNNewYork.com: Analysis of the Jets wide receivers, center/guards, offensive tackles, quarterbacks, tight ends, fullbacks and running backs.

An important Super Bowl moment has been lost somewhat amid Aaron Rodgers' performance, Jordy Nelson's numbers, Charles Woodson's injury and even speculation about what Brett Favre was thinking.

In the first quarter, Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Howard Green plowed forth -- and almost through -- Pittsburgh Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu on his way to Ben Roethlisberger.

Green's pressure and hit forced an awful throw. Defensive back Nick Collins intercepted and returned it for a touchdown in a 31-25 Packers victory.

ESPNNewYork.com writer Rich Cimini caught up with Green after the game.

Green spoke about how redemptive the play was in light of the New York Jets releasing him twice this past season.

"One simple word: perseverance," Green said. "I had to deal with some tough things, some ups and downs. The Jets cut me for whatever reason. That's not an issue anymore.

"I appreciate them for giving me the opportunity, but I'm a Packer now and we just won the Super Bowl. That's all I need to say about that."

Green's time with the Jets in 2010 was tumultuous.

The Jets placed nose tackle Kris Jenkins on injured reserve and signed Green on Sept. 15 -- a day after they released running back Danny Woodhead.

Green was inactive for Week 2 and played in Week 3. Then the Jets released him for defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, who the Baltimore Ravens surprisingly cut in a roster-juggling maneuver.

The Jets re-signed Green and reinstated suspended receiver Santonio Holmes on Oct. 4. The Jets waived receivers Patrick Turner and David Clowney, the player the Jets needed to cut Woodhead to make room for.

Green played in Week 5, was inactive for Week 6 and was waived after the Jets' bye. He was so bewildered, he chose to drive home to Mississippi from New Jersey. Before he got home, the Packers claimed him.

He soon was on his way back to New Jersey because the Packers' next opponent was the Jets at the Meadowlands.

Back in my days covering the National Hockey League, "man games lost" were insightful stats we used frequently. The figures helped illustrate how injuries were impacting a team's season.

Man games lost aren't avidly tracked in the NFL. Rosters are more volatile than in the NHL, where fully guaranteed contracts generally cement a roster coming out of training camp.

NFL teams cut and sign players more frequently. Injured players can dress because there's one game a week, and they can be used situationally. In the NHL, you have to play offense and defense. There are no third-down specialists you can safely insert for a shift or two.

Football Outsiders managing editor Bill Barnwell has compiled a worthwhile chart for the NFL.

Better than man games lost, it's starter games lost.

The Indianapolis Colts led the NFL with 89. The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs were tied for fewest at 11.

In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins had the most with 62, ranking seventh in the league. They were banged-up all along the offensive and defensive lines. Receiver Brian Hartline, cornerback Will Allen and rookie defensive end Jared Odrick went to injured reserve among a few others.

The New England Patriots were tied for 10th with 54 starter games lost. Tom Brady played through a foot fracture, but they most notably lost cornerback Leigh Bodden and offensive linemen Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur.

The Buffalo Bills were tied for 21st with 42 starter games lost. That's a great development after what happened to them in 2009, when they finished with 21 players on injured reserve, including left tackle Demetrius Bell, right tackle Brad Butler, inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell, starting cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee and Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd.

The New York Jets lost starters 38 times, ranking 23rd in the league. Their biggest losses were nose tackle Kris Jenkins, safety Jim Leonhard and right tackle Damien Woody.

What do these numbers say, especially when four of the top five most injury-riddled teams (Colts, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles) made the playoffs?

It means that depth (or playing in the NFC West) is imperative to surviving.

Barnwell offered to break down the chart by upper-body and lower-body injuries, but I haven't gotten that file yet.

New York Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins can't play Sunday. He suffered a season-ending knee injury six plays into the Jets' opening game.

But he has been around the NFL and the Jets long enough to have plenty of opinions on how his healthy teammates can beat the New England Patriots on Sunday in Gillette Stadium.

Jenkins appeared on ESPN's "First Take" and gave his key bullet points:

• Control time of possession and keep Tom Brady off the field.
• Pressure Brady when he's in the game.
• Establish the run.

"All of these things center around the offensive line and defensive line," Jenkins said, "and in order for us to get the things accomplished that we need to get accomplished, that battle's going to have to be won up front."

Jenkins also refuted the notion Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis should guard Wes Welker the entire game because the Patriots have too many other weapons Revis will need to monitor.

"Revis can take one person out of a game, and I'll say I do feel confident he can do that," Jenkins said. "However, you have the two tight ends. You have Danny Woodhead. ... You have to win your matchups.

"Brady's going to make some plays. We can't miss tackles. And while we might not sack Brady, still, getting pressure in his face, clouding his vision and not allowing him to step up and follow through with his throws in the pocket. We need everything we can to disrupt this. ... We have to make sure we make him as uncomfortable as possible."

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

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Final Power Ranking: 8
Preseason Power Ranking: 9

Biggest surprise: LaDainian Tomlinson was supposed to limp into the sunset when he left the San Diego Chargers. The Jets were criticized for dumping their 2009 MVP, Thomas Jones, and picking up an older player with lower expectations. But Tomlinson showed he still had plenty to offer. He took over the lead duties from Shonn Greene and carried the Jets to a 5-1 record at their bye. He had 490 rushing yards with five touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards a carry at the time. But more importantly he took pressure off sophomore quarterback Mark Sanchez. When Tomlinson's production waned after the bye -- he hasn't rushed for more than 55 yards in a game since -- Sanchez became more of a liability. Tomlinson finished with 914 yards and probably would have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark had Rex Ryan not rested him for Sunday's game against the gracious Buffalo Bills run defense.

Biggest disappointment: If you drafted the Jets in your fantasy scandal league, then you ran away with the title. They led the league in NFL investigations, including Brett Favre's sexting scandal with Jenn Sterger, the Jets' admitted mistreatment of female reporter Ines Sainz and $100,000 in fines over setting up a sideline wall that led to strength coach Sal Alosi tripping Miami Dolphins gunner Nolan Carroll. They drew even more unwanted attention over Ryan's purported foot-fetish videos and Braylon Edwards' DUI arrest. ... Purely from a football standpoint, Ryan's defense didn't live up to the hype. Top cornerback Darrelle Revis' contract standoff and hamstring injury caused a negative ripple effect. Season-ending injuries to nose tackle Kris Jenkins and safety Jim Leonhard were damaging.

Biggest need: The Jets will have some difficult roster decisions to make over the offseason because so many players have expiring contracts. The biggest holes might not reveal themselves for a while, but upgrading the offensive line will be a priority regardless. Jenkins has undergone reconstructive knee surgery two years in a row. Sione Pouha was an admirable replacement. Overachiever Mike Devito was solid at defensive tackle, and Shaun Ellis was one of their better quarterback chasers. But Ryan's defense needs to be more dynamic up front, especially if Jenkins doesn't return. Ellis will turn 34 and Pouha 31 before next season. Their top backup at defensive end is Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall draft pick in 2008 who has zero NFL sacks.

Team MVP: David Harris, inside linebacker. Other Jets might have played like bigger MVPs for segments of the season -- Tomlinson through the first six games, Santonio Holmes in November -- but Harris was the most constant and consistent presence. Harris led the Jets with 119 tackles and 14 quarterback hits. He had three sacks, one forced fumble and one recovery. Harris also is one the Jets' quieter personalities, which earns him bonus points for 2010.

Yardage by committee: The Jets' offense features several decorated players, but none of them reached the 1,000-yard barrier and none scored more than seven touchdowns. Tomlinson came closest, but Greene appeared to supplant him toward the end of the season. The Jets had five players with at least 41 receptions, but none with more than 55. Tight end Dustin Keller, Edwards, Holmes and Tomlinson finished within three catches and two touchdowns of each other.