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

• Are the Buffalo Bills "very interested" in Alabama safety Mark Barron?

Morning take: In the week of the draft, this has smokescreen written all over it. Buffalo has two starting-caliber safeties and other needs, such as left tackle, receiver and corner. This sounds like drumming up interest for the No. 10 overall pick.

• New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light was officially put on the team's reserve/retired list.

Morning take: Light made up his mind that he's calling it a career. The Patriots are well-prepared after taking first-round pick Nate Solder in 2011.

• New York Jets are expected to part ways with college scouting talent evaluator Jerry Clinkscales after the draft.

Morning take: Clinkscales had his hits (Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis) and misses (Vernon Gholston) in New York. But it appears he is taking his talents to the Oakland Raiders.

• Miami Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake was the only no-show for Tuesday's start of voluntary minicamp.

Morning take: Wake's show/no-show routine might get interesting. It appears things will get resolved. But I don't think this issue goes away until Wake gets a new contract.

With the stench of last year's late-season implosion still fresh, the New York Jets got together as a team for the first time in 2012 for the start of the offseason workout program.

The workouts Monday were voluntary and not open to the media. But three members of the Jets were available for a conference call. The key theme was last year, and this is the start of something new.

"We made some mistakes in 2011, but we are focused on 2012," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said of the team's fresh start. "We are excited. ... When you don't meet expectations it kills you."

Ryan went on to address the chemistry issues and eventual implosion that took place during the final month of last season. The Jets were 8-5 and on the cusp of another playoff bid before losing three straight games.

At the center of the internal issues were Jets No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez. The pair were not on the same page on or off the field, and things blew up in the season finale. The pair have since talked things over and recently worked out together in Florida to make amends.

Holmes also praised Sanchez on Monday for coming out to Florida and helping get key members of the offense together.

"[Sanchez] is portraying those leadership qualities," Holmes said on the conference call. "We are both looking forward to bigger and better days."

Holmes, in his first public comments since the end of last season, didn't care to address all that went wrong down the stretch.

"That was too long ago," Holmes said, while also repeating the team-wide sentiment that last season was last season.

With a talented and veteran team, it's hard to know which way the arrow is pointing for the Jets. Was last season simply a one-year misstep or the beginning of a downward spiral? The Jets are not far removed from back-to-back AFC title games in 2009 and 2010. But last year New York looked like an aging team that lost its edge.

Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold says the "future is bright" for New York. The Jets will have a lot of detractors this season that think otherwise, especially if this group cannot stay together in the locker room. The important team-building process for New York starts now.

New York Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis is in Bristol to do the media rounds at ESPN headquarters. Revis provided an interesting but not-so-surprising comment about the state of the team.

When asked to describe New York's locker room, Revis said it was in "disarray right now." It was a candid but accurate response, based on the happenings late last season when the team imploded and missed out on a third consecutive playoff bid.

Although it's not Revis' fault the locker room is in disarray, I think it is up to Revis to step up his game as a leader in 2012. Revis is the best corner in the NFL and the best player on the team. Individually, he's more than done his part.

But the Jets as a team need more from Revis than just on-the-field feats. He needs to grab players by the collar, at times, even if that's not in Revis' personality.

That also goes for players like Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jets need leaders to step up now more than ever. Although it's hard for a backup quarterback, maybe even Tim Tebow can come in and fill that role.

But Revis, first and foremost, should be at the top of the list to improve locker room chemistry. He's the best thing the Jets have going right now. Players will follow and listen to the soft-spoken Revis. He just needs to speak up.

The New York Jets will search for a new wide receiver, a new right tackle, a new safety (or two) and probably more pass-rushers.

But where will the Jets find leadership in 2012? That is the most difficult question facing New York this offseason.

The Jets' implosion last season was well-documented. New York was 8-5 with the playoffs in sight. But poor performance on the field, combined with combustible personalities and a lack of leadership, led to a three-game losing streak and an even uglier fallout.

By the end of the season, there was a wide rift between Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez and leading receiver Santonio Holmes. There also was tension between New York's 25th-ranked offense and its fifth-ranked defense, because the offense wasn't pulling its weight. Jets backup quarterback Greg McElroy said it was the most selfish and divided locker room he'd ever seen.

The Jets will continue adding talent to their roster via the draft and free agency. But how will they fix their poor chemistry?

You cannot just draft leadership or buy it in free agency. There's also no instruction manual to get 53 professional athletes back on the same page. But the Jets must find a way to make it work next season if they want to get back to being contenders.

"I do believe in the fabric of our team and the backbone," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said at the NFL combine. "The D'Brickashaw (Fergusons), the (Nick) Mangolds, the (Darrelle) Revises, we have a lot of good players that care deeply about our team. All we can try to do is add to that."

New York has playoff-caliber talent but 4-12-caliber leadership. Perhaps that is why the Jets finished 8-8 in 2011.

Here are some candidates who must step up for New York next season:

• Jets Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis is the best cornerback in the NFL. But he's never been the type to grab a person by the collar and keep everyone else in line. Revis leads by example. He will work harder than anyone else, and most of the time he plays better than anyone else. Revis is rapidly putting together a Hall of Fame résumé on the field. For most teams, that is enough. But the Jets need more vocal and forceful leadership from their best player, who is 26 and in his prime. When Revis speaks, people will listen.
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AP Photo/Bill KostrounThe late season dust-up between Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes highlighted the poor chemistry within the Jets' locker room.
• Leadership in the NFL must always come from the quarterback position. It's time for Sanchez, who is entering his fourth season, to grow up on the field and in the locker room and meeting rooms. Sanchez had it rough coming to the big stage of New York as a starting quarterback from Day 1. He handled the pressure well in his first two years, when Sanchez could hide behind the "young quarterback" label and play a complementary role. But the Jets needed more leadership and better play from Sanchez last season. The late-season feud with Holmes was an example of Sanchez's lack of assertiveness. The quarterback doesn't always need to be the best player on the team. But he must be a natural leader who is able to inspire teammates and keep everyone focused.
• In addition to the best corner in football, the Jets also have arguably the best center. Four-time Pro Bowler Nick Mangold is as tough as they come. He played on a bad ankle for long stretches last season and still performed at a high level. He also has the rugged persona to challenge teammates when they get out of line. But how much teamwide leadership can truly come from the center position? Jets left tackle and three-time Pro Bowler D’Brickashaw Ferguson also can help. The offense was in shambles last season, and these two players need to step forward.

Not all the blame falls on the players. Jets head coach Rex Ryan admitted he needs to do a better job of having the pulse of his locker room. Ryan didn't understand the level of dysfunction within his team until it was too late. Ryan said he plans to do more team-building exercises and events to improve chemistry.

"I don't see ... that we got completely off the track," Ryan said. "I think we kind of got in the gravel a little bit, we've just got to right it. And we can't knee-jerk reaction and we'll roll it the other way. So you know, there's ways of handling this type of thing. I think our football team is a little closer than people give us credit for. But again, I'm excited about the challenge."

The Jets are at a crossroads. Is 2012 the time to rebuild or simply tweak?

One year ago, New York played in its second straight AFC Championship Game. But the team finished without a winning record this past season for the first time under Ryan. New York also is expected to lose veterans such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Plaxico Burress, Jim Leonhard and potentially Bart Scott, who was recently given permission to seek a trade. The Jets will replace the talent, but it will be harder to replace the lost leadership.

The Jets better get their act together soon, because the AFC East will be very competitive next season. The New England Patriots were just a touchdown short of winning the Super Bowl, and the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are expected to improve.

There is also the looming prospect of Miami's landing future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who is expected to be released this month by the Indianapolis Colts. That would leave most football observers picking the Jets to finish third in the division, especially if they can't resolve their internal issues.

We are down to the very best players in the AFC East.

Here are our rankings for Nos. 5-8:

No. 8: Brandon Marshall, WR

Team: Miami Dolphins

2011 stats: 81 receptions, 1,214 yards, 6 touchdowns

Analysis: Marshall said it himself: If he had an elite quarterback, he would be mentioned among the best receivers in the game. I didn't like how he virtually threw Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore under the bus, but you can't disagree with his rationale. Besides a penchant for a few drops, Marshall has rare attributes for a receiver. He has size, strength, decent enough speed and he competes hard all the time. The Dolphins started 0-7 and Marshall never quit. He was dedicated all season and put up great numbers with Moore and Chad Henne as his quarterbacks. Marshall also lit up the Pro Bowl with a record four touchdown receptions. It's further proof of how dangerous Marshall can be with a great quarterback. The Dolphins are searching for one this offseason.

No. 7: Jake Long, LT

Team: Dolphins

2011 stats: 14 starts

Analysis: When healthy, Long and Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns are the NFL's two best left tackles. Both have similar skills, but Long had arguably his most inconsistent year in 2011. Long didn't complain about his various injuries, but it certainly affected his play all season. He eventually tore his biceps muscle in December and was knocked out for the season. Long is the complete package as a left tackle — talent, work ethic and smarts. The only thing holding him back lately is health, which makes you wonder if injuries are becoming chronic with Long.

No. 6: Vince Wilfork, DT

Team: New England Patriots

2011 stats: 53 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 entertaining interceptions

Analysis: Wilfork, 30, is starting to get up in years. But the eight-year veteran is coming off arguably the best season of his career. He set a career high with 3.5 sacks, something not typically asked of him, and he also had the two most exciting interceptions in the NFL last season. Wilfork had a chance to return both picks and ran through a few tackles along the way. For all of New England's issues on defense, Wilfork is certainly not one of them. He is the best overall defender the Patriots have and one of the best defensive players in the division.

No. 5: Nick Mangold, C

Team: New York Jets

2011 stats: 14 starts

Analysis: It's debatable if Long is the best left tackle in the NFL. But in my book there's no debate that Mangold is the league's best center. Mangold has all the attributes you want in a center. He's physical, smart and has enough athleticism to move in open space. New York built its entire offensive line around Mangold. That's part of the reason why the group fell apart when Mangold missed two games with an ankle injury. Mangold played with a bum ankle nearly the entire second half of the 2011 season and still played at a Pro Bowl level. He's one of the toughest and best offensive linemen in football.

The 2012 Pro Bowl will take place Sunday at 7 p.m.

Here is a list of players to watch from the AFC East:

Miami Dolphins

• WR Brandon Marshall
• DT Paul Soliai

New York Jets

• OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson
• C Nick Mangold
• G Brandon Moore
• CB Darrelle Revis

No Buffalo Bills made the Pro Bowl. The New England Patriots led the AFC with eight Pro Bowl players. But the Patriots will be playing in the Super Bowl Feb. 5, and none of their players will participate.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly backed Mark Sanchez, just one day after the New York Dailey News reported several teammates and team sources were unhappy with the third-year quarterback.

Johnson, appearing on MSNBC, shot down the notion that Sanchez is "lazy," as one unnamed teammate described the quarterback.

"I've never heard that," Johnson said. "He's the first guy in the building every morning and the last guy to leave."

Other teammates, such as Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold, have also come to Sanchez's defense.

Johnson agreed that there was too much inner turmoil inside the Jets' locker room this season. That is something the team is working this offseason to clean up. New York hired new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano this week, in large part, because he is widely respected in the NFL by players and coaches.

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.

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

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 19
Preseason Power Ranking: 7

Biggest surprise: Guess who led the Jets in sacks this season? Aaron Maybin. Yes, that Aaron Maybin. The same Maybin who was a draft bust for the Buffalo Bills and cut before training camp. The Jets saw potential in Maybin and invited him to training camp. With a change of scenery and scheme, Maybin showed some of the things in New York that he showed in college to make him a first-round pick. Maybin briefly made New York's 53-man roster out of training camp. Then, he was released. When the Jets picked Maybin up again during the season he was ready. Maybin helped the Jets with a team-high six sacks, which should put him in consideration for the NFL's Most Improved Player.

Biggest disappointment: This was the year New York's coaching staff thought quarterback Mark Sanchez would make major strides. This was the year the offense would be put in Sanchez's hands and would finally catch up to New York's talented defense. But that plan didn't pan out. Sanchez wasn't ready to take the next step in his third season and coach Rex Ryan pulled back the reigns. The Jets went back to their ground-and-pound offense and tried to protect Sanchez. The offense was bland, predictable and Sanchez struggled. New York's offense was ranked No. 25 in the NFL. Sanchez's numbers slightly improved. But the team still had to protect him in his third season, and that's not acceptable for a top-five draft pick. Sanchez needs to make a lot of improvements next season to be considered among the upper-echelon quarterbacks in the NFL.

Biggest need: There are several reasons the Jets were inconsistent, but the biggest reason was the offensive line. The Jets need to upgrade the right tackle position immediately. Wayne Hunter draws too many flags and struggles in pass protection. The front office needs to find a better front-side protector for Sanchez. The offensive line as a group played a notch or two lower than it was capable of. The Jets need to add depth and competition at guard. Center Nick Mangold was fine, but D'Brickashaw Ferguson wasn't as good as previous years. Both made the Pro Bowl, although Ferguson made it more on name recognition.

Team MVP: I know it's early. But I feel pretty safe in saying that Darrelle Revis will be an all-time great. Revis put together another Pro Bowl year and is easily the team's MVP. Revis is dominating a position that is nearly impossible to dominate. The rules are tilted in favor of the offense and receivers to promote scoring. But Revis has found a way to consistently shut down opponents from the cornerback position. His ability to stick to and frustrate receivers is fun to watch. His hand-eye coordination is the best in the NFL. It's considered an event when a receiver catches a couple passes on Revis. Perhaps the biggest shame is that Revis, 26, is a unique talent in his prime, and the Jets are wasting those prime years by fumbling around in other areas.

Free-agent watch: The Jets have several interesting free agents. Offensively, New York has to decide whether to bring back starting receiver Plaxico Burress and/or backup tailback LaDainian Tomlinson. Burress was signed on a one-year rental to see if he has anything left after spending time in prison. Burress showed flashes, particularly in the red zone. But he will be 35 in August and struggles to get vertical. The Jets may need an upgrade opposite receiver Santonio Holmes. Tomlinson's role was reduced this year and he is considering retirement. Defensively, New York has to decide what to do with starting safety Jim Leonhard. He's an underrated player. It's evident as the defense fell apart this season when he was out of the lineup. Leonhard suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the year and has a long rehabilitation process ahead. That could impact and delay whether the Jets pursue him.

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: The New England Patriots not only led the AFC East in Pro Bowl players, but they led the entire conference with eight players. New England tied with the San Francisco 49ers with the most players to make the Pro Bowl. As expected, New England's offense led the way with five players. Quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski were all deserving skill players. Two New York Jets players -- cornerback Darrelle Revis and center Nick Mangold -- also were no-brainers.

Made it on rep: There are very few stud left tackles in the NFL, and it showed again in this season's Pro Bowl voting. Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins and D'Brickashaw Ferguson of the Jets had their most inconsistent seasons, and both made the Pro Bowl. Long has battled through injuries and hasn't been his usually dominant self this year. But Long playing at 80 percent is still better than most NFL left tackles. He will miss the Pro Bowl with a biceps injury. Ferguson also underachieved compared to past seasons. The Jets are ranked No. 27 in total offense, and a major reason is Ferguson and the rest of New York's offensive linemen couldn't pass protect or run block consistently over a 16-game season.

Got robbed: For a division that most likely has just one playoff team and maybe only one team with a winning record, it's hard to complain about 13 Pro Bowlers. But if I want to get greedy, there's two additional players I thought should have made the cut. Punter Brandon Fields has been terrific for the Dolphins. Fields averages 48.9 yards per punt. His longest punt was 71 yards, and he's kicked 31 inside the 20 this season. But in the AFC, it's hard to beat Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler, who is arguably the best in the NFL. Jets linebacker David Harris also had a good year. Harris has 84 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). But he is one of the more quiet Jets players and doesn't get the recognition he deserves.

Sorry, Bills: There were zero Buffalo Bills players who made the Pro Bowl. Starting running back Fred Jackson was probably their best chance. But Jackson broke his leg after 10 games and is out for the season.

Click here for the complete 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

Reason No. 20. Bills, Jets still in playoff hunt: With the way these two teams have played lately, both are fortunate to still have a chance at the postseason. One team's hopes will end when Buffalo plays at New York this Sunday.

Reason No. 19. Tony Sparano: Say what you want about Sparano, but the embattled head coach has the Dolphins playing their best football. Miami made the right choice to stick with him the rest of this season.

Reason No. 18. Andy Levitre: Buffalo's Mr. Versatile has started at guard, offensive tackle and center. Levitre struggled at center, but the Bills put him in a bad spot.

Reason No. 17. Joe McKnight: Every time he touches the ball, something exciting can happen. But the Jets' young running back needs to work on ball security to earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Reason No. 16. C.J. Spiller: Buffalo is fortunate to have its 2010 first-round pick now that starter Fred Jackson is out for the season. Spiller finally gets his chance after nearly two seasons as a backup.

Reason No. 15. Brandon Fields: Miami's punter is quietly having a Pro Bowl season. But the Dolphins' 3-7 record won't get him much attention.

Reason No. 14. Mike Pouncey: Miami hit on this year's first-round pick. The center has been one of the team's steadiest players in an unsteady season.

Reason No. 13. Nick Mangold: The Jets have the best center in the league. They wish they had two or three more Mangolds on their offensive line.

Reason No. 12. Patriots' defense improving: If New England's weakest link plays like it has the past two weeks, the Patriots will be dangerous in the postseason.

Reason No. 11. Miami is healthy: The Dolphins are fortunate to be so healthy late in the season. It's one of the reasons Miami is playing well in the spoiler role.

Reason No. 10. Kyle Arrington: The Patriots cornerback is this year's version of Devin McCourty. Arrington leads the NFL in interceptions and stays around the football.

Reason No. 9. Bill Belichick: New England has the best coach in the division and one of the best ever. Despite a flawed team, Belichick finds a way to keep the Patriots in Super Bowl contention.

Reason No. 8. MetLife Stadium: The Jets are 4-1 at home this season. That's a good thing, because New York must win its three remaining home games to stay in the hunt.

Reason No. 7: Wes Welker: New England's top receiver is having the best year of his career. He leads the NFL with 1,028 receiving yards.

Reason No. 6: Dolphins defense: Miami's defense finally looks like the dominant unit from a year ago. The Dolphins haven't allowed a touchdown in three games.

Reason No. 5: Patriots tight ends: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are the best tight-end duo in the NFL. I would put Gronkowski in my top five and Hernandez in or around the top 10.

Reason No. 4: Matt Moore: Despite only playing in seven games, Moore has to be in consideration for Miami's MVP. He's one of the biggest reasons for the Dolphins' late turnaround.

Reason No. 3: Patriots’ easy schedule: New England has to be thankful for the NFL's easiest remaining schedule. As a result, beware of New England if the road to the Super Bowl goes through Gillette Stadium.

Reason No. 2: Darrelle Revis: Health permitting, the cornerback will be an all-time great. New York has the rare luxury to shut down a star receiver or one half of the field every game. You just hope the Jets aren't wasting Revis' prime years by underachieving in other areas.

Reason No. 1: Tom Brady: For more than a decade, Brady has been the biggest equalizer in the AFC East. The Patriots can overcome many deficiencies because Brady is an elite quarterback. Until the Bills, Jets or Dolphins find a quarterback good enough to counter Brady, New England will remain the favorite in the division.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy the holiday.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Here are five nuggets of knowledge about Week 10:

Battle in the trenches: If you're looking for a big-time matchup in Sunday's AFC East grudge match, look no further than the battle between New York Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and New England Patriots Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. These are two of the best at their positions, and both have a lot of respect for one another. It's no secret the Jets want to ground-and-pound New England's struggling defense. The winner of the Mangold-Wilfork matchup will have a lot of say in who wins this game.

Greene picking up steam: One of the biggest reasons for the Jets' turnaround is the increased production of starting tailback Shonn Greene. The third-year player has 188 rushing yards in New York's past two games, wins against the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He averaged 4.82 yards per carry in those games, well above his season average of 3.8 yards. Greene, a power back, is known for having his best games late in the season. The Jets hope he turns it on again in November and December to help New York make a playoff run.

Another week, another Ryan: The Bills get another tall task in facing Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His twin brother, Rex Ryan, gave Buffalo's offense fits last week in a 27-11 trouncing by the Jets. Dallas also runs a 3-4 scheme with some similar concepts. The goal for the Cowboys is to pressure and confuse the quarterback. That happened last week to Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He had his worst game of the season against the Jets' defense, throwing for 191 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Homecoming for Jackson, Nelson: It will be a homecoming in Texas for two of the Bills' key players. Tailback Fred Jackson grew up a Cowboys fan and was raised in Arlington, Texas, where Dallas' new mega stadium was built. Jackson is excited to return home and play against his childhood team. Bills receiver David Nelson grew up Dallas. And here is an interesting wrinkle: Nelson's girlfriend is a Cowboys cheerleader.

Bringing life to Sun Life Stadium: Will the Miami Dolphins finally win a home game? Miami is 1-12 in its past 13 games at Sun Life Stadium and hasn't won at home since Nov. 14, 2010. The Dolphins (1-7) have a winnable game Sunday against the struggling Washington Redskins (3-5). Miami plays three of its next four at home and has a chance to gather some momentum.

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

• Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson said the team has to rebound against the Dallas Cowboys.

Morning take: Winning in Dallas (4-4) isn't impossible, but it won't be easy. The Cowboys are 3-1 at home this season. We are going to learn a lot about these Bills with three consecutive road games.

• The New York Jets have improved their offense with a rejuvenated running game.

Morning take: Give Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold a lot of credit. The running game improved once he was back in the lineup from his ankle sprain. Tailback Shonn Greene also is playing much better than he did earlier this season.

• Are the Jets catching the New England Patriots at a vulnerable time?

Morning take: The Patriots have lost two in a row and playing their worst football of the season. So, I agree with this column. No one would have projected the Jets to be favored in this rematch several weeks ago. But that is the case.

• Here is an interesting question: Why can't there be a "Dolphin Way"?

Morning take: The team doesn't have an identity on offense or defense, and that's the problem. It will be up to the next coach to develop a winning formula and winning culture starting next season.

Scouts Inc. updated its Top 50 NFL players at the midpoint of the season. Every AFC East team was represented.

Here is Scouts Inc.'s list for the division:

• No. 2: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady
• No. 3: New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis
• No. 22: Jets C Nick Mangold
• No. 28: Patriots NT Vince Wilfork
• No. 38: Patriots WR Wes Welker
• No. 40: Miami Dolphins LT Jake Long
• No. 42: Buffalo Bills RB Fred Jackson
• No. 47: Dolphins LB Cameron Wake
• No. 49: Jets WR Santonio Holmes

Do you agree or disagree with these rankings?

Were any players too high? Too low? Did Scouts Inc. leave someone off in the AFC East that deserves to be among the top-50 players?

We'd like to hear your thoughts.

The bye weeks are complete in the AFC East. All four teams will be in action this weekend.

Here are four X factors to keep an eye on:

Buffalo Bills (5-2)

X factor: WR David Nelson

Analysis: Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis could be matched up a lot this week with Bills No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson. That means other receivers, like Nelson, have to step up for Buffalo to be successful. Neslon could see a lot of Kyle Wilson in the slot. Both are among the most improved players in the AFC East this year. Nelson's battles in the slot will be crucial on third down. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick often looks over the middle to Nelson and tight end Scott Chandler to move the chains.

New York Jets (4-3)

X factor: C Nick Mangold

Analysis: The Jets are back to their ground-and-pound ways and at the center of it is Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold. It's no secret New York will try to control the line of scrimmage against the inconsistent Buffalo defense. But the Bills are coming off their best game of the season -- a 23-0 shutout against the Washington Redskins. Mangold has a tough assignment against Buffalo No. 3 overall pick Marcell Dareus, who recorded 2.5 sacks last week.

New England Patriots (5-2)

X factor: CB Devin McCourty

Analysis: It's time to McCourty to step up. New England's No. 1 corner hasn't made any significant plays this year. He has zero interceptions and only three pass defenses. McCourty is suffering from a major sophomore slump. He recorded eight interceptions as a rookie in 2010. The New York Giants had a solid passing game but No. 1 receiver Hakeem Nicks is ailing with a hamstring injury. McCourty has to win his matchup with Giants receivers for New England's pass defense to be successful.

Miami Dolphins (0-7)

X factor: RB Reggie Bush

Analysis: Bush produced his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Giants. He rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries. It helped Miami control the game for three quarters. The Dolphins will need control the clock with their running game again to have a chance to beat the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have the NFL's 22nd-ranked run defense. Miami, despite its many struggles, actually has an underrated running game. The Dolphins are 12th in the league in rushing.