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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady spent time with teammate Wes Welker last weekend at the Kentucky Derby. Between the schmoozing and excitement of horse racing, Brady should have given his top receiver a subtle message and said, "Buddy, it's time to get back to work."

There is one thing for certain about the Patriots: You do not fight the machine.

Welker is facing an uphill battle he cannot win. Many have tried before him and failed. Welker is not the exception.

Welker has yet to sign his franchise tender and hasn't decided how long he's going to protest New England's one-year, $9.5 million offer. The potential distraction has been held to a minimum thus far, but it would only grow stronger if Welker continued to skip New England's offseason program.

The Patriots' mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 12. The best advice is for Welker to have his mind made up by that time. Missing New England's current voluntary program is not a big thing. But if Welker also chooses to skip the Patriots' three-day veteran minicamp, that is when he's hurting the team in the eyes of the coaching staff.

At that point the gloves may come off -- and Welker doesn't want that.

New England is emotionless and shrewd in negotiations. Just ask three-time Super Bowl winner Willie McGinest, who apparently still carries some level of bitterness about how he was handled by the Patriots at the end of his career. McGinest recently got into a Twitter spat with Welker about his contract situation and delivered this stern message.

"We're all expendable at Patriot Place," McGinest tweeted to Welker.

McGinest is right. NFL players in general are expendable, but even more so in New England.

Welker needs to be more mindful of how the Patriots often treat players like replaceable and interchangeable parts. It happened to McGinest, who spent the final three years of his career with the struggling Cleveland Browns. It happened to Richard Seymour, who was great for eight seasons with the Patriots and suddenly shipped to the Oakland Raiders for a first-round draft pick. The Patriots also traded future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings when Moss grew unhappy about his contract.

Welker should know better. No one player is above the team in New England. That is the Patriot Way.

This is not to say Welker hasn't worked hard and doesn't have a point about long-term security. This is more about wisely navigating the cruel business side of the NFL. It's all about leverage. Welker has little. New England has plenty. Sometimes it's best to accept your fate and move forward.

Welker remains steadfast in shedding the franchise tag for a long-term contract.

"Through my body of work, through the past five years, I think what I've done I've earned a long-term deal,” Welker recently told ESPN Boston Radio. "It's what I am looking for and what I want. Hopefully that's the case and hopefully we come to something where we can make that happen."

Do not think for one second that New England is not prepared for the worst. All the Patriots have done this offseason is sign wide receivers.

New England signed receivers Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Gonzalez and Donte’ Stallworth in free agency. All are productive veterans who have a chance to add something to the offense. The Patriots also re-signed veteran Deion Branch, backup Matthew Slater, and drafted rookie receiver Jeremy Ebert. Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman also remain on the roster.

New England will have an elite passing game next season with or without Welker.

If Welker decides to stage a lengthy holdout, Lloyd and Gaffney would be the starters, while Branch, Gonzalez, Stallworth and Ochocinco compete in training camp for backup roles. New England also runs a lot of two tight-end sets with Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. This is still a very deep and talented group of targets for Brady, who also has a knack for making everyone around him a couple of notches better.

Despite 122 receptions and 1,569 yards last year, the Patriots have found a way to make Welker replaceable. But that's only if Welker chooses to be and doesn't sign his franchise tender.

The next move should be the best move by Welker. He should sign the franchise tag, take the $9.5 million and see if anything changes over the next several months at Patriot Place.

Because there's always a chance the Patriots could have a change of heart between now and August. New England has the salary-cap room to extend the 31-year-old Welker and give him the long-term security he's seeking. But it's going to be on the Patriots' terms, not Welker's.

We have another interesting poll this week in the AFC East, and it's on one of the hottest topics in the division.

The question: What kind of career will Miami Dolphins first-round pick Ryan Tannehill have in the NFL? Tell us what you see for Miami's newest franchise quarterback.

Is Tannehill a future bust? Many scouts wondered about his lack of experience and just 19 career starts. His stock skyrocketed in the offseason after showing his physical abilities in workouts. But that's always dangerous. Miami's track record drafting quarterbacks hasn't been great. They haven't had a franchise player at the position since Dan Marino retired.

Will Tannehill be an average starter? The AFC East already has two average starting quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills. Will Tannehill have a career comparable to those two?

Or Will Tannehill rise above that level and become a solid franchise quarterback? That would be great for Miami to have their long-term solution and a player who can hold the position for the next seven years. This is for quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Joe Flacco and Jay Cutler, who are all solid starters at the position.

Finally, will Tannehill become an elite quarterback? Is he a future Pro Bowler at the position?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on Tannehill's NFL future. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Leave it to Rex Ryan, Mike Tannenbaum and the New York Jets to roll the dice. After the first two days, it's obvious the Jets are going all or nothing in the 2012 NFL draft.

New York's first two picks -- enigmatic defensive end Quinton Coples and inconsistent wide receiver Stephen Hill -- make a statement. It says the Jets are targeting raw talent over consistency and production.

That's always a risky move, particularly coming off a year when the Jets underachieved and imploded down the stretch.

The Jets have locker room issues. They may have a contract issue with Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis. And there's a potential quarterback controversy hovering over the team.

The least New York could do was make safe draft picks. But that clearly wasn't the case.

The Jets are swinging for the fences with Coples and Hill. They may hit two home runs or they could strike out on both. The difference is the Jets are not the rival New England Patriots or crosstown New York Giants. The Jets cannot afford to whiff on top draft picks.

The Jets traded up four spots to take Hill. He was taken with the No. 43 overall pick, which is a solid value if he pans out.

Hill is a physical marvel with a rare combination of size and speed for the position. He averaged 29.3 yards per catch last season but had only 28 receptions. If Hill can put it all together, he could be a steal and a good deep threat in New York's "ground-and-pound" offense.

Coples is a top-10 talent whose stock fell dramatically because of questions about his motivation. There is speculation that he (at worst) quit on the Tar Heels last season and (at best) was on cruise control.

The production from Coples' junior year to senior year certainly shows something happened. Now, the Jets have to handle the fallout.

"I think that's a fair question," Ryan said of Coples' motor. "The guy did have seven sacks as an interior lineman, that’s pretty good numbers-wise. But I think expectations going into the season, he might’ve been behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III; he’s probably the highest-rated player going into the season based on the previous season, with the 10 sacks. You don’t see that from an interior lineman, a guy that's 6-6 and 285 pounds. So, I think maybe [he] did not meet those [expectations] as a player."

The rookie did not want to address his motivation issues in college with the media and just wants to look forward.

"I've been working hard, to be the best I can be and be the best Jet I can," Coples said. "What happened last year is what happened last year. I’m looking forward to being one of the best pass-rushers."

What matters most is what Coples and Hill do in the pros. The past can be an indication of things to come or a learning experience, depending on the person.

New York did make a seemingly safe pick in the third round with linebacker Demario Davis. But it's going to take good coaching and leadership in New York to get the best out of Coples and Hill. Ryan is a good defensive coach, so no worries there. Leadership with the Jets is a much bigger issue.

Last year proved that someone needs to step up and take hold of the team. Earlier this offseason, I wrote that top players in New York such as Revis, quarterback Mark Sanchez and Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold have to do a better job of keeping everyone in line.

Like their top draft picks this year, the Jets are a boom or bust team in 2012.

It's usually an event when a former New England Patriot rips a current Patriot. It always seems odd, considering how tight-lipped players are when under Bill Belichick's umbrella. Suddenly a player retires, is given an open forum and is very vocal about current events in New England.

Former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, who works for the NFL Network, is the latest example. He called Patriots Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker a "diva" for not signing the franchise tag and considering skipping the team's mandatory mini-camp in June.

"I just don't like the diva attitude," McGinest said on the NFL Network. "Let's keep it real. Prior to the Patriots, this is a guy who played three years, had 96 receptions, never had a 1,000-yard season."

McGinest continued to rip Welker.

"This $9 million-plus that they're offering is half of his last contract. That's a lot of money," McGinest said. "Let's not forget that they signed Brandon Lloyd...they signed (Deion) Branch back, they got the two tight ends; they have weapons on that offense.

"So look, Wes, it's time to take off the leopard-printed cowboy boots, get off the party tour and get back to work."

Ouch!

Welker is slated to make $9.5 million for 2012 if he signs the franchise tag. Welker, who turns 31 next week, prefers long-term security.

But calling Welker a diva seems out of line. Welker has never had that reputation. Like McGinest, Welker is a very hard worker who got the most out of his abilities with the Patriots. Sometimes the business of the NFL can get dirty, but that shouldn't override Welker's character.

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.

It's only March, but the Miami Dolphins have a long way to go to fielding a respectable offense.

Miami was ranked 22nd in total yards last season and was expected to make upgrades at quarterback, receiver and the offensive. Instead, all Miami has done so far is trade Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears and sign 34-year-old quarterback David Garrard to compete with Matt Moore.

Here is a look at Miami’s current offensive depth chart:

• QB: Moore or Garrard
• RB: Reggie Bush
• FB: Charles Clay
• WR1: Brian Hartline
• WR2: Davone Bess
• TE: Anthony Fasano
• RT: Lydon Murtha
• RG: Nate Garner or Artis Hicks
• C: Mike Pouncey
• LG: Richie Incognito
• LT: Jake Long

It's not a group to get excited about. It has to be especially tough for Dolphins rookie head coach Joe Philbin, who had a very talented cast to work with as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

Bush is really the only playmaker who poses a threat to the defense. There are not many good receivers left in free agency, which means Miami probably will look to the draft to address this need. But the Dolphins can still help the right side of their offensive line in free agency.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Miami Dolphins lost a solid player Saturday in starting defensive end Kendall Langford. He agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract with the St. Louis Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Langford was a four-year starter in Miami and one of the team's best run stoppers. But the $6 million per year price tag was too much for the Dolphins. Miami just paid Pro Bowl defensive tackle Paul Soliai $6 million per season, which comparatively looks like a bargain.

In addition, the Dolphins already have Langford's replacement ready. It is now Jared Odrick’s time to shine in Miami. Langford's exit propels Odrick, a 2010 first-round pick, from a part-time starter to a full-time starter. Odrick has eight starts the past two seasons.

Odrick has done a good job of steadily improving. He recorded 22 tackles, a career-high six sacks and one interception last year. He's only 24 and showed a good mix of pass-rushing moves and holding the point of attack against the run.

Odrick's ceiling appears high entering his third season. Now, he will get the playing time to prove it under new Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

The Miami Dolphins are playing a high-stakes, cat-and-mouse game with the NFL's two biggest free-agent quarterbacks.

Miami wants Peyton Manning, clearly its Plan A. But the Dolphins don't want to sit idle, either. So they reportedly began negotiations with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn Tuesday night, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald.

We explained this scenario this morning in the AFC East blog. Miami is in the running for Manning and has no choice but to wait on his decision. But the Dolphins also don’t want to be held hostage.

By entering contract negotiations with Flynn, the Dolphins run the risk of turning off Manning. How committed to Manning could the Dolphins be if they’re already looking to sign another quarterback? The Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, for example, are not chasing other quarterbacks.

The Dolphins also traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall Tuesday to the Chicago Bears for two third-round picks. It's unknown if that makes Miami more or less attractive for Manning. But the early reaction to the trade isn't good.

Manning is not expected to make his decision for at least a couple more days. He still has to meet with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.

Many New York Jets fans are torn on the decision to sign starting quarterback Mark Sanchez to a five-year, $58.25 million contract. It essentially ensures Sanchez is New York's franchise quarterback for at least the next two seasons.

But for better or for worse, the Jets have made their decision. Now it's time to maximize on their investment. This offseason for New York should mostly be about helping Sanchez become the best quarterback he can be during the life of this contract.

Here are four ways the Jets can help their fourth-year quarterback succeed:

Move No. 1: Build a scheme that fits Sanchez

Former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's offense was a disaster last year. It was very bland and the play-calling was predictable, which led to Schottenheimer's resignation. New York's offense was ranked 25th in the NFL last season, despite some talented players.

There is no question Schottenheimer's struggles hurt Sanchez. We just don't know how much — until now.

New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano has a very important job with the Jets. It will be Sparano's responsibility to put together an offense that best suits Sanchez. Sparano most likely spent plenty of time this offseason studying tape of Sanchez to figure out what the quarterback does well and where he struggles. Similar to what the San Francisco 49ers did with Alex Smith last season, New York must maximize Sanchez's strengths and minimize his weaknesses.

Some feel Sanchez’s ceiling isn't very high and we’ve seen pretty much all he can do. But a new and improved offense could reinvigorate Sanchez and highlight some of the skills he couldn't show under Schottenheimer.

Move No. 2: Get Sanchez another WR

New York's feud between Sanchez and No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes last season was well-documented. The two didn't get along on or off the field and it finally boiled over in the regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

But the Jets this offseason should be less worried about Holmes and more worried about who will start opposite their leading receiver. Plaxico Burress wasn't the answer and will not return in free agency.

Sanchez needs a deep threat at receiver. Holmes is a good, all-around player. But he's not a speedster that's going to put fear in a defense to keep teams honest.

Right now Jeremy Kerley is the projected starter. Kerley is more suited to be a slot receiver at this stage of his career. If the Jets are serious about Sanchez improving, they need to get him a big-play receiver.

Move No. 3: Get a starting right tackle

It's hard to get a firm read on what the Jets thinks of Wayne Hunter. First, they guaranteed Hunter's contract for 2012 and general manager Mike Tannenbaum said he's the starter. Then, the Jets reportedly put Hunter on the trading block.

My take is Hunter was the worst starting offensive tackle I watched in the AFC East. Pass-rushers ran by him and through him too often. There were times when I thought Hunter would get Sanchez knocked out of the game with his inability to protect the edge. Sanchez was sacked a career-high 39 times in 2011.

New York's offensive line had three Pro Bowlers last season. This isn't a group lacking talent. But the right tackle spot is definitely a spot that needs to be upgraded if the Jets want to keep Sanchez upright and healthy.

Move No. 4: Add to the running game

I list the running game last, because that was probably the strength of New York's offense last season. Jets starting running back Shonn Greene rushed for a career-high 1,054 yards last year. Backup tailback Joe McKnight also showed flashes of being an exciting player. He may be ready for a bigger role next season.

But something is still missing with the Jets' ground-and-pound formula. Adding a blue-chip running back would be ideal. If Alabama's Trent Richardson somehow fell to No. 16, the Jets shouldn't think twice about taking him. But that doesn’t seem likely.

Perhaps the Jets need to sign someone in free agency who can simply add to the pile. There are some veteran free agents who are affordable options, such as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cedric Benson and Peyton Hillis. A solid stable of rushers is what Sanchez needs. One of his biggest strengths is play-action passing.

It remains to be seen whether Sanchez develops into a franchise quarterback or becomes a bust over the next two years. But if New York follows these four steps, the Jets would give Sanchez a better chance to succeed.

Two of Peyton Manning's most reliable weapons are now on the free-agent market. Former Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark -- both multi-time Pro Bowlers -- will wear new uniforms next season due to Indianapolis' big roster makeover.

Should the Miami Dolphins consider signing one or both players? This would be one sure way to appease Manning, who is considering Miami as one of several destinations.

Miami could use an upgrade at receiver opposite Brandon Marshall. Wayne is a good friend of Manning and lives in Miami, where he went to college. Wayne seems like a good fit. The Dolphins don't have a huge need at tight end. But Clark, 32, could make a decent tandem with Anthony Fasano. Clark does have an injury history the past two seasons that Miami needs to be careful of.

The Dolphins are expected to meet with Manning over the weekend, and Manning has all of the leverage. But this is a very fine line for Miami to walk with free agency approaching.

On one hand, the Dolphins need to be careful not to let a player who may or may not sign with the team dictate how they operate with free agents. On the other hand, this is Peyton Manning -- one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. If going after Wayne and/or Clark is what separates Miami from the other potential Manning suitors, it's probably general manager Jeff Ireland's best interest to swallow his pride (and offseason game plan) and go for it.

Miami's front office has spent months analyzing the draft and free agency, and there is a good chance spending money and cap room on two 30-something pass-catchers wasn't in the plans. But chasing a player the caliber of Manning is a high-stakes game where just about anything goes.

There is a lot of debate in the AFC East blog about which division team is the better fit for free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning. The future Hall of Famer is available, and is expected to choose a new team within the next week.

But in our latest edition of "Poll Friday," we want our community to play the role of Manning. If you were the quarterback, which AFC East team has the best supporting cast: Miami or New York?

The Dolphins are considered one of the favorites, and have several good pieces on offense. They have a Pro Bowl receiver (Brandon Marshall), a Pro Bowl left tackle (Jake Long), and a 1,000-yard running back (Reggie Bush). The defense also is solid and would work well with a high-scoring offense.

Or do the Jets provide Manning with better players? New York has three Pro Bowlers on the offensive line, and a good receiver in Santonio Holmes (when he's not disgruntled). Dustin Keller is certainly an upgrade at tight end over Miami, and the Jets' defense ranked fifth in the NFL last season.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on which team provides the better supporting cast for Manning. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Memo to New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski: You may want to reconsider.

In a way that only "Gronk" can, the Pro Bowl tight end is petitioning Patriots fans online to be on the cover of "Madden NFL 13." Gronkowski is currently facing fellow Pro Bowler Wes Welker in the preliminaries to determine who enters the 32-player tournament. Here is the AFC East blog's "Madden" link from earlier this week.

Gronkowski wants Patriots Nation behind him, but there is bound to be some hesitancy. The "Madden Curse" is one of the strongest in all of sports. Last year it claimed Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who had one of the strangest and injury-riddled seasons in recent memory.

Gronkowski has enough on his plate following offseason ankle surgery. He was still on crutches in the video he posted. If Gronkowski doesn't want further injuries and problems next season, it's better that someone else gets the "Madden" cover.

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

• Former New York Jets great Joe Namath says the Jets can't land Peyton Manning because they don't have their act together.

Morning take: This is no surprise, as Namath has been arguably the Jets' biggest critic. He does have a point about New York's in-house issues, but it's unknown if that's a huge deterrent.

• Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino thinks Manning would be a good fit in South Florida.

Morning take: The Dolphins haven't had a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback since Marino. Manning has a friendship with Marino and respects his opinion, which could help.

• Contract extensions for starting tight end Scott Chandler and receiver Steve Johnson prove players want to stay with the Buffalo Bills.

Morning take: This is a good sign that Buffalo could be onto something. The Bills are keeping their young talent. But the bigger challenge is convincing top outside free agents to come to Buffalo.

• Could the New England Patriots show interest in free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan?

Morning take: Finnegan is arguably the top free-agent corner on the market, but I'm not sure he's a good fit. For starters, he will be pricey. But I also think the Patriots want more athleticism in the secondary.

Just hours after saying goodbye to the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning's first stop may be a telling one.

CBS Miami has an aerial shot of the future Hall of Fame quarterback landing in South Florida Wednesday afternoon. Manning will officially become a free agent as soon as the paperwork goes through the league office.

It is unknown at this stage if Manning will start his free-agent tour with the Miami Dolphins or is just going back to Miami to continue his workouts and rehabilitation. Manning, who owns a condo in Miami, recently trained with former teammate Reggie Wayne in South Beach a couple weeks ago, as well as Duke University last week.

But perhaps this is a good first sign for the Dolphins. I don't see any reason why having Manning in Miami can be a bad thing right now. The Dolphins are considered one of the favorites to land the quarterback.