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

• Is Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby elite?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Buffalo Bills took a hit to their receiving corps Tuesday. Veteran receiver and return specialist Roscoe Parrish will be out for the remainder of the 2011 season with an ankle injury, a league source tells ESPN.com's AFC East blog.

Here are some thoughts on the injury:

• This isn't a big surprise as Parrish was carted off the field Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Things looked grim from the start. But Bills coach Chan Gailey said he was holding out hope Parrish would be able to return at some point this season.
• More than anything, this hurts the team's depth. The Bills run a lot of three- and four-receiver sets. So they need healthy players. Parrish only had one reception for 16 yards in two games. But he would have received more opportunities in the event another receiver went down. Starting receiver Steve Johnson also is dealing with a groin injury. He expects to play Sunday against New England. But Buffalo cannot afford more injuries at an important position for the Bills.
• This is the second straight year Parrish suffered a significant injury. He missed the second half of 2010 with a wrist injury. He's played 10 games the past two seasons.
• The Bills also will need to add help for punt returns. Parrish returned five punts this year for 46 yards. His longest punt return was for 28 yards.

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

• New England Patriots tight ends Rob and Dan Gronkowski will have a homecoming in Buffalo when they face the Bills, Jeff Howe of NESN writes.

Morning take: Aaron Hernandez's knee injury should provide more responsibility for both Gronkowskis. Will they be the difference in the battle of undefeated teams?

• Steve Serby of the New York Post writes that Jets receiver Plaxico Burress is fine with zero catches against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Morning take: Burress, 34, no longer needs to be the No. 1 option. He's in New York to win and the Jets are doing pretty well at that.

• Linebacker Kevin Burnett tells Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the Miami Dolphins must simplify things to turn the team around.

Morning take: The Dolphins definitely have to play smarter. Miami is counting on some young players in big roles, and it's showing with mental errors and lack of execution at key moments.

• The Bills are hurting at receiver, writes Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.

Morning take: Roscoe Parrish (ankle) could be out for an extended period. That hurts depth and special teams. Steve Johnson's groin injury also is a concern.

All five panelists asked to pick the AFC East have the Bills finishing fourth. Here's my intelligence report on Buffalo:

Five things you need to know about the Bills:

1. Optimism on D: With Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, the Bills have an exceptional foundation for their defense. Many thought this would be a 3-4 defense, and Buffalo is sure to employ that scheme plenty this year. But with Dareus, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, and Williams, who is among the very best interior defensive linemen in all of football, Buffalo finds itself in the extremely enviable position of having two exceptional players at defensive tackle for the 4-3. As described in this blog post, Dareus is an extremely versatile defensive lineman who is capable of impacting a game in many different ways. But as high as I was on Dareus a few weeks back, the preseason made me even more of a believer. He is a great addition to this team.

2. Spiller on the spot: The Bills used the ninth overall pick in the 2010 draft to select C.J. Spiller. Spiller was the third first-round running back Buffalo has selected since 2003, when it picked Willis McGahee, with Marshawn Lynch being the other in 2007. First off, that is just bad business. Running back is the easiest position to find in this league. And simply put, if you are using first-round picks to acquire them, then you are neglecting other positions -- and the Bills have done plenty of neglecting over that time frame. But back to Spiller. He did little during his rookie season. The Bills need him to break out. A potentially dynamic playmaker who can excel on the perimeter or as a receiver, he could become a matchup nightmare for defenses and a huge big-play threat. That needs to happen ASAP. Although he still offers little between the tackles, Spiller has looked quite dynamic this preseason.

3. O-line offensive: Buffalo is weak at both tackle positions. The strength of its front five was the interior three. Now the Bills are shuffling bodies on the inside in what looks like an attempt to get bigger. But in the process, they are putting lesser players on the field. Overall, I see Buffalo's offensive line as one of the worst few in the league. Ryan Fitzpatrick came back to earth as the 2010 season progressed. For this offense to be successful with Fitzpatrick behind center, the line will have to be quite strong. I just don't see that being the case in 2011. And the Bills' quarterback of the future is not currently on the roster.

4. Questions at receiver: Steve Johnson was tremendous last season and is clearly the Bills' No. 1 option in the passing game. Although I personally expect Johnson to fall back to earth once he is the focus of every defensive scheme, I cannot discredit what he is capable of. As noted above, Spiller can pick up some of the slack in the receiving department, but the Bills really don't have tight ends who frighten the opponent. There are a few wide receivers here, though, who are intriguing -- and dealing Lee Evans will enable young players such as Roscoe Parrish, Donald Jones, Marcus Easley or David Nelson to get much more live game activity and potentially develop into starting-caliber weapons. Buffalo needs one or two of the aforementioned players to make that next step.

5. A lot rides on Merriman: What version of Shawne Merriman are we going to see for the Bills in 2011? The answer to that question is absolutely crucial for this team, as the Bills are deprived of frightening edge pass-rushers. The past few seasons, Merriman has been a shell of what he was early in his career, but he flashed his former impact ability during the preseason. And he now has a lot to prove. Arthur Moats is another outside linebacker I am quite fond of, but it is Merriman who is the key here.

Buffalo Bills

Speaking at a concussion-awareness event, former Bills and Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie said he suffered three concussions where he had memory loss during his career and that he avoided recovery testing. "I intentionally blew off the testing so I could get back on the field," Flutie said. "I was really playing with fire."

Tonight's preseason finale against the Lions will serve as a final audition for several players hoping to make the final roster.

The Bills have approached receiver Roscoe Parrish about a contract extension.

Miami Dolphins

During the team’s kickoff luncheon Wednesday, coach Tony Sparano quoted "Gladiator" in a fiery talk with invited fans and players. “If you win the crowd, victory belongs to you. ... This group will win the crowd. They’ll win the crowd. There’s no doubt about it. This team will win. And you should enjoy the journey,” Sparano said.

The Dolphins have a long list of players on the bubble.

In a video interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly, running back Reggie Bush admits he's on mission with Dolphins. "I definitely think coming into this organization I have something to prove,” Bush said. “I’ve been told plenty of times you can’t do this. You can’t do that. I definitely feel like there’ something to prove on a personal level and from a team standpoint.”

New England Patriots

Veteran wideout Chad Ochocinco is struggling to learn the Patriots' system.

Working his way back from shoulder surgery, Matt Light needs more repetitions to shake off the rust.

New York Jets

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is trying to sell his San Diego-area house for $5.2 million.

Rex Ryan is psyched up by the energy and motivation his defense has shown this preseason.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Nick Barnett knew bad news was coming this summer, and he still couldn’t fully accept it. Despite his eight seasons with Green Bay, the speculation was that the Packers had to trade or release him this offseason. Barnett had been placed on injured reserve in both the 2008 and 2010 seasons, and his heir apparent, Desmond Bishop, already was in place. It was a no-brainer move to most observers, even though Barnett was still thinking about the possibility of helping the Packers repeat as Super Bowl champions. “If you read my tweets,” he said, “that’s all I kept talking about.”

These days Barnett is talking about something different -- how he can help the Bills transform one of the league’s worst defenses into a sturdy, reliable unit. No team in the NFL was worse against the run in 2010 (Buffalo allowed 169.6 yards per game), and that was one key reason the team signed Barnett so quickly after the Packers released him in late July. At 30, he still has the quickness and playmaking ability that allowed him to amass 787 tackles, 15.5 sacks and nine interceptions during his Green Bay career. He’s also aware that his energy and leadership will be invaluable to a team that lost its top tackler, Paul Posluszny, in free agency.

Bills assistant head coach and linebackers coach Dave Wannstedt said Barnett already is the team’s best linebacker. Head coach Chan Gailey has raved about his new player’s approach. “He brings experience and speed to this defense,” Gailey said. “He’s a guy who always plays fast.” Added Barnett: “I’m just trying to be myself. I haven’t played since Week 4 [a dislocated wrist ended his season] so I’m still finding my way. But the biggest thing I wanted to bring to this team was an attitude. I want to help the younger guys relax and have fun out there because that’s what I do.”

Though Barnett needed some time to accept his release from the Packers -- “I’ve never been fired from anything before,” he said -- he quickly sensed that Buffalo was the right place for him. He liked the team atmosphere, the family environment and the die-hard fans who are the city’s trademark. In many ways, Barnett felt like he was going to a place quite similar to Green Bay. “The talent level is there,” Barnett said. “But like everything, it’s going to come down to communication and attitude. If we do those things, we’ll be productive.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Ryan Fitzpatrick be better? Yes. Fitzpatrick was a decent quarterback in 2010 -- 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions -- especially considering that he was basically thrown into the job after the Bills gave up on former starter Trent Edwards. Fitzpatrick also has far more advantages coming into this season, despite not having an entire offseason to work with coaches. The major areas that he needs to improve? Accuracy and consistency. What he doesn’t have to worry about any longer? Proving to his teammates that he can lead this team and knowing whether the job is his alone. “Last season was interesting, but my whole career has been about being ready to show what you can do when the opportunity comes,” said Fitzpatrick, who spent his first five NFL seasons as a backup before getting his shot as a full-time starter three games into 2010. “One of the good things we have as an offense is that we have a lot of guys who’ve spent an entire season playing together and getting familiar with each other. When you look at the offenses in New England and Indianapolis, that continuity is what makes them so successful, and now we’re one step closer to that.”

2. Can Shawne Merriman return to an elite level? As long as he’s healthy. Right now the three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker thinks that the strained Achilles that limited him to only three games last season won’t be an issue. The bigger challenge for him is finding a comfort level after registering only four sacks over the past three seasons. The Bills are banking on his getting up to speed in a hurry. For a team that tied for 27^th in the NFL in sacks last season (with 27), having a rejuvenated Merriman harassing opposing quarterbacks would be a much-needed blessing. “I don’t feel like I need to respond to people who’ve been counting me out over the last couple years because all you have to do is watch me practice,” said Merriman, who had 43.5 sacks in his first 60 career games. “It’s definitely been hard [not playing] but I also feel like I’ve done everything I’ve needed to do to get back. I can see good things happening this season.”

3. What role will C.J. Spiller play in the offense? One of the more disappointing aspects of the Bills' offense in 2010 was the lack of productivity from Spiller. Drafted ninth overall in last year’s draft, he was supposed to bring breathtaking speed and elusiveness to the Bills. Instead, Spiller wound up with only 283 rushing yards and 24 receptions in his rookie season. Those numbers should increase now that Buffalo has a less crowded backfield (the team traded Marshawn Lynch to Seattle midway through last season) and a greater sense of urgency about involving Spiller. “We need to get him more touches,” Gailey said. “We need to find more ways to get him in space so he can use that speed. He’s already grown as a runner because he’s better at running inside, and he’s shown more patience. The one thing I’d really like to see him improve on now is ball security. He had some problems with fumbles last year [Spiller had five fumbles and lost three], and we can’t have that.”

WELCOME SIGHT

Roscoe Parrish: The Bills' offensive players know that Parrish has developed into a valuable receiver after being used mainly as a returner early in his career. They realize it even more now that he’s healthy. After missing the last eight games of 2010 with a broken wrist, Parrish has been impressing teammates with his trademark speed and quickness. The explosiveness he brings to the offense after sitting out half a year also hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Now that he’s back, you remember how much he means to this offense,” Fitzpatrick said. “He really adds another dimension.”

PLAYER TO WATCH

Brad Smith: Don’t be surprised if Smith becomes a more dangerous playmaker in the Bills’ offense. He made his name as a kick returner/wide receiver/Wildcat quarterback with the New York Jets, and rule changes should allow him to increase his playing time in Buffalo. The NFL agreed to abolish the rule requiring teams to determine a third quarterback on game-day rosters -- that player could participate only in emergency situations, and his presence would prevent the team from using any other quarterback during a game. Now a player like Smith can be used far more often in Wildcat situations. Even if Smith appears as a quarterback in three or four plays a game, his involvement won’t limit his coaches’ options. “We were going to use him in a similar role anyway, but that rule really helps,” said Gailey, who has gained a reputation for finding creative roles for versatile players. “Now you don’t have to wonder about whether he needs to be listed as a third quarterback who can only play in emergency situations or if he can be used as a Wildcat quarterback whenever we like. It’s going to make a big difference.”

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesFirst round draft pick Marcell Dareus has impressed his coaches in training camp.
  Rookie defensive end Marcell Dareus hasn’t needed much time to make a strong impression on his coaches. Wannstedt called him a “special kid with the right approach to the game,” and Gailey thinks it shouldn’t take long for Dareus to prove why he was worthy of the third overall pick in this year’s draft. “He’s a big, physical guy and he’s got an edge to him,” Gailey said of Dareus, who's 6-3 and weighs 323. “You have to like that about him.”

• Even though the Bills lost their second-best tackler from last season -- strong safety Donte Whitner -- the loss may not be as troubling as it looks. Though he was a strong presence in run support, the team thinks strong safety George Wilson can help the Bills more in the playmaking department. When Whitner was injured two years ago, the tandem of Wilson and Jairus Byrd gave the secondary a bigger boost with their pass defense skills.

• The emphasis on stopping the run is going to put more pressure on the Bills cornerbacks this season. Gailey believes he has the personnel to handle the increased responsibility, and Terrence McGee is essential to this approach. He has spent more time covering slot receivers in training camp, which will allow Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence to handle outside receivers when the defense faces three-receiver looks.

• Wide receiver Donald Jones is another player worth watching. When asked about teammates who have caught his eye early in training camp, Fitzpatrick said Jones had elevated his game in his second season. An undrafted rookie in 2010, Jones was a nice surprise in camp and finished with 18 receptions. This year he’s using his size and strength to make himself a tough receiver to handle at the line of scrimmage.

• The Bills recognize that their biggest challenge this season will be learning how to change expectations. Gailey has talked about the difference between hoping to win and expecting to win, and his players believe they can make great strides. Fitzpatrick agreed that last season, too many players were worried about losing their jobs as the team transitioned into Gailey’s tenure. This year, there is far more comfort and a sense of purpose on a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 1999. “We definitely need to take the approach that we deserve to win,” Fitzpatrick said. “And we have a chip on our shoulders. We hear all the people talking about how tough the AFC East is, and nobody mentions our name. That can be fuel for our fire, and we have to believe we can surprise people.”

Buffalo Bills

Receiver Lee Evans is trying to ignore rumors that the team might trade him. Evans said he is happy in Buffalo and wants to stay with the team, but anything involving a trade is "out of [his] control."

Receiver Roscoe Parrish injured his leg in practice Wednesday night was ruled out of the team's first preseason game against Chicago.

Miami Dolphins

After a portion of a team practice ended up onYouTube, the team is asking fans to not post practice videos online.

Reggie Bush is unlikely to return punts for the Dolphins -- at least for now. Bush isn’t listed among the three punt returners on the team's initial depth chart, but coach Tony Sparano said Bush "may do it at some point down the road."

New England Patriots

Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth have restructured their contracts, presenting low-risk, high-reward scenarios for the team, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.

Reiss counts off the main things he'll be looking for in the Patriots' preseason opener against the Jaguars.

New York Jets

Former defensive lineman Sean Gilbert, who just a year ago played a prominent role is Darrelle Revis' holdout -- is serving as a Jets coaching intern.

All eyes will be on wideout Plaxico Burress at practice Thursday, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini. "If Burress doesn't practice Thursday, following a day of rest, we'll know the ankle injury is more serious than the Jets are letting on."

ESPN.com's eight divisional bloggers were asked to name who we thought was the most underrated player on each team we cover. Our pieces ran Friday at noon, followed by senior writer John Clayton's league-wide All-Underrated squad.

None of the players I selected -- Buffalo Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish, Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford, New England Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton or New York Jets right guard Brandon Moore -- made Clayton's roster.

But Clayton did include one AFC East representative: Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

I briefly considered Vollmer for my divisional piece, but I eliminated him because he was honored as a second-team All-Pro last year. In fact, I bypassed any player who had been selected All-Pro or for a Pro Bowl -- Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, for example.

While Vollmer and Williams still might be thought of as underrated, being recognized among a handful of players at their positions does indicate they're highly thought of.

» NFC Underrated Players: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the most underrated players in the division.

Buffalo Bills

Roscoe Parrish, receiver/punt returner: For five years, Parrish practically begged to be thrown the ball. He made the most of his touches, becoming one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL and setting franchise records.

But his listed position was wide receiver, and in the Bills' passing game under head coaches Mike Mularkey and Dick Jauron, the undersized Parrish always seemed to be an afterthought.

That changed last year under new coach Chan Gailey. He played just eight games because of a broken wrist, but Parrish caught 33 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage was the most of his career. His touchdowns tied a career high. Two more receptions would have matched a career high.

Miami Dolphins

Kendall Langford, defensive end: On a defense with sack master Cameron Wake, the NFL's highest-paid linebacker in Karlos Dansby, franchise-tagged nose tackle Paul Soliai and Pro Bowl defensive end Randy Starks, a guy like Langford can get overlooked.

Langford, a 2008 third-round pick out of Hampton, has been a starter since his rookie season. Last year, after he gained national fame for being the sap who lost a $50,000 earring on the Dolphins' practice field, Langford produced a quality season for one of the NFL's better defenses. He notched 47 tackles, three sacks, six tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed.

Langford is adept at controlling blockers and was a major reason the Dolphins ranked seventh in run defense (100.1 yards per game) and third in average allowed per carry (3.6 yards).

New England Patriots

Gary Guyton, linebacker: Guyton started only eight games at linebacker last season, and half of those were necessitated by Brandon Spikes' four-game suspension. Even so, Guyton made a mark on the Patriots' defense. The undrafted third-year pro from Georgia Tech recorded 63 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), six passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery (returned for another touchdown).

"Gary is someone that fits in our system very well no matter what that role is," Patriots linebackers coach Matt Patricia said during the playoffs. "He's a very [versatile] player for us. He does an excellent job in whatever avenue we ask him to prepare and play. I think he is a guy who is active and plays for us every Sunday, and whatever that role is, he's going to go out and do it to the best of his ability. It’s something that we have a lot of confidence in."

New York Jets

Brandon Moore, right guard: The Jets' offensive line has had remarkable star power over the past few seasons. Nick Mangold is an All-Pro center. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson went to the Pro Bowl last season. Right tackle Damien Woody has been to the Pro Bowl and owns Super Bowl rings. Alan Faneca, the Jets' left guard in 2008 and 2009, went to nine straight Pro Bowls.

Then there was Moore, an undrafted and often-overlooked workhorse. "Meat," as he's affectionately known by his teammates, has started 105 straight regular-season games. He was a third alternate for the Pro Bowl last year but still hasn't made it to one. In the Jets' locker room, he's respected enough to be a union representative.

"It's a shame that Brandon doesn't get as much of a nod as he deserves," Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said last season. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a better guard than him in all of football."

In the weekly AFC East chat I just wrapped up, Scott from Northglenn, Colo., inspired me to put together this item.

In response to ESPN.com's positional power rankings (they debuted this week with wide receivers), Scott asked me to rank the division's best receivers.

Those who read my take on Tuesday's wide receiver power rankings already know I rated Santonio Holmes 10th on my ballot and omitted Brandon Marshall and Wes Welker.

So let's sort them out, shall we?

This is a snapshot of where I see them based on last season and heading into 2011. I'm including free agents until they sign elsewhere. I'm also going 12 deep on this list to include three receivers from each club.

1. Santonio Holmes, New York Jets
2. Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins
3. Wes Welker, New England Patriots
4. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills
5. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets
6. Deion Branch, New England Patriots
7. Davone Bess, Miami Dolphins
8. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills
9. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets
10. Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills
11. Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins
12. Brandon Tate, New England Patriots

ESPN.com will announce another position's power rankings each Tuesday. Expect to see my divisional breakdown on the blog that afternoon.

The NFL long has been a quarterback-dominated league.

But quarterbacks will be more important than ever in 2011 if a protracted labor stoppage wipes out offseason workouts or encroaches on training camps.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton wrote a column on the topic, stressing teams with stability at quarterback could emerge way ahead of those that do not once a new collective bargaining agreement is brokered.

Several clubs, two in the AFC East, are evaluating their quarterback situations and are open to addressing their needs through free agency, trades or the draft.

We have no idea when free agency will commence or player trades will be permitted. The longer teams must wait on those options, the less time there will be to learn playbooks and develop chemistry with receivers.

With that in mind, let's rank each situation in the AFC East based on how much its quarterback and infrastructure (stability of his supporting cast) will be able to withstand NFL dormancy.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have one of the NFL's most consistent situations. Tom Brady is the reigning MVP, guided his team to a 14-2 record and has all of his receivers coming back.

He and Deion Branch have an eerie chemistry that resurfaced immediately despite 3 1/2 years apart. I don't think Brady and Wes Welker need to worry about getting on the same page, but I wouldn't be shocked if they worked out regularly again like they did last summer, while Welker was rehabbing from his knee injury. Brady proved how quickly he can integrate new blood by the way he used rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien will call the plays for the third season. The Patriots, like the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning, will be just fine if there's a lengthy lockout.

New York Jets

Fact: Mark Sanchez has the second-most NFL starts of any No. 1 quarterback in the AFC East. He's only 24 years old, but Sanchez has started 37 games, one more than Ryan Fitzpatrick and 10 more than Chad Henne.

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh have been with Sanchez from the beginning. Sanchez also is a self starter in the offseason. He convened a "Jets West" camp for his receivers last summer in California.

A potential problem is that Sanchez will have trouble gathering receivers this offseason because they don't know if they'll be back. Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are free agents. But receiver Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller are on the roster.

Buffalo Bills

Even if the Bills draft a quarterback, a long lockout probably would ensure Fitzpatrick remains the starter by wiping out rookie camps and other critical orientation time. Fitzpatrick is a savvy veteran, a calming influence for the Bills' offense. He incorporates head coach Chan Gailey's concepts and has the support of his locker room.

Based on how Fitzpatrick played as the season wore on, there's no reason to believe the Bills suffered from a lack of chemistry. When receivers Roscoe Parrish and Lee Evans went down with injuries, Fitzpatrick had no trouble getting undrafted rookies David Nelson and Donald Jones involved.

But the Bills still could benefit from informal practices during a work stoppage. Top receiver Steve Johnson told me this week they have none scheduled.

Miami Dolphins

Henne created a stir when he divulged he had been, against the NFL's wishes, going over the playbook with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and new quarterbacks coach Karl Dorrell. The NFL declined to pursue, and that was doubly good news for the Dolphins. They avoided punishment and got a head start before the league turned into a pumpkin.

But Henne would appear to be at a disadvantage despite the extra help. The Dolphins have declined to give him any kind of legitimate public endorsement. He's entering his fourth season, presents more questions than answers and is working with a new playbook. Top receiver Brandon Marshall suggested after the season he had more chemistry with third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen than Henne.

Henne also revealed the Dolphins have informal workouts and a location arranged. That's much easier to do in Broward County than, say, Western New York. Good thing, too, because Henne can use all the help he can get to morph into the franchise quarterback the Dolphins hoped he would be.

Plaxico Burress is scheduled to get out of the pokey June 6.

That would give the former New York Giants receiver plenty of time to get on a roster and play a full season. If a labor standoff doesn't compress the summer workout schedule, Burress also would have a good chance to learn the new offense by opening day.

Would Burress be a fit in the AFC East?

Before we consider each team, let's project the kind of receiver Burress will be.

His 34th birthday is in August. He hasn't caught an NFL pass since November 2008. Even before he went to prison after accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub, his average yards per catch diminished four straight years.

Still, he's 6-foot-5 and always a threat to sky over defensive backs.

"When you look at him on the field, the guy is tall," ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck said Monday. "He's got long arms. One of the things the Giants loved to do is they'd get on [the opponent's] 45 and take a shot. With the way the rules are set up in the National Football League, it's absolutely perfect for a guy like Plaxico Burress, whose got the long arms, got the reach, who understands how to use his body.

"He's not as fast as he was two years ago. He can still be effective and still can help somebody out if that team ends up trusting him."

Hasselbeck said Burress' employment prospects could be helped by Michael Vick's successful return from prison. Vick seemed to have grown from the experience. Maybe Burress did, too.

Next to Hasselbeck on the "NFL Live" set was former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, who claimed prison might have helped Burress in another way. Pierce won a Super Bowl ring after Burress caught the decisive touchdown to deny the New England Patriots' perfect season.

"He was in jail for two years, and that's a lot of time for that body to heal up," Pierce said. "Plaxico had some ankle, some knee injuries. You sit around for two years, your body starts to heal.

"There's some teams out there ... that would love to have his services."

The AFC East could be a destination. I reached out to Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson for his thoughts on the four rosters and whether or not there would be room for a receiver like Burress.

"I really don't know what he will be able to provide," Williamson said. "He obviously will be the same size when he returns and should continue to use his big frame well, especially near the goal line. It is speculation as to what he will be like athletically, but I have to think that his big play ability and suddenness will be greatly compromised."

Buffalo Bills

Their receiving corps looks solid, but it can be upgraded. Lee Evans has been a disappointment, but defenses must account for him at all times. Steve Johnson had a breakout season with more than 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns. Roscoe Parrish had the best season of his career even though a broken wrist sidelined him after just eight games. Undrafted rookie David Nelson stepped up late in the year when injuries provided an opportunity. Interest in Burress: Low.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have invested heavily in Brandon Marshall, and Burress probably offers a similar skill set at this stage. They are tall, possession receivers who don't stretch the field (anymore). The Dolphins also have their slot receiver in Davone Bess. While Burress could help the Dolphins' woeful red-zone offense, what they need is a speedster who can help Chad Henne blow the top of coverages on occasion and loosen things up for Marshall and Bess underneath. Interest in Burress: Medium.

New England Patriots

The Patriots, as Williamson noted, are in a similar situation as the Dolphins. The Patriots have Wes Welker and Deion Branch plus tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Their greatest need in the passing game is a lightning bolt to help Tom Brady keep defenses honest. Brandon Tate and Taylor Price are burners, but they are young and haven't established themselves as capable. Interest in Burress: Low.

New York Jets

The Jets seemingly present the greatest possibility for Burress in the AFC East. "That could be a fit," Williamson said. "I could see them taking the risk. And after free agency departures, Burress might be attractive. Plus, they are in win-now mode." Points well taken. The Jets might not be able to re-sign all of their free-agent receivers: Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith. General manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan have shown with Holmes, Edwards and Antonio Cromartie they're open to second chances. Interest in Burress: High.

Sports labor squabbles often are described as billionaires arguing with millionaires over money.

While that's a catchy rhyme that sums up fan frustration, the phrase is not entirely true.

Inspired by a blog entry from the minister of all things AFC South, Paul Kuharsky, I looked at NFL Players Association files to count up the number of AFC East players scheduled for $1 million base salaries in 2011.

Granted, up-front bonuses and incentives can make base salaries misleading. But base salaries are the only figures that create a common ground, player for player.

You'll see a vast majority of NFL players make much less than $1 million a year. Although many will make seven figures before they walk away from the game, careers are short and treacherous. They'll never see that kind of cash again for the rest of their lives.

That's why they're fighting for every dollar now.

Of the 226 players under contract in the AFC East, only 62 of them (27.4 percent) will make base salaries of $1 million or more.

The NFLPA hasn't acknowledged any franchise tags that have been signed. Those players are marked with an asterisk and not factored into the totals.

Buffalo Bills

• Receiver Lee Evans, $3.275 million
• Cornerback Terrence McGee, $3.2 million
• Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, $3.195 million
• Defensive end Spencer Johnson, $3 million
• Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, $2.75 million
• Defensive end Dwan Edwards, $2.6 million
• Center Geoff Hangartner, $2.55 million
• Outside linebacker Chris Kelsay, $2 million
• Running back Fred Jackson, $1.75 million
• Defensive lineman Kyle Williams, $1.75 million
• Kicker Rian Lindell, $1.45 million
• Punter Brian Moorman, $1.425 million
• Cornerback Reggie Corner, $1.2 million
• Receiver Steve Johnson, $1.2 million
• Safety Bryan Scott, $1.15 million
• Linebacker Andra Davis, $1.1 million
• Receiver Roscoe Parrish, $1.025 million
• Safety George Wilson, $1.025 million
• Cornerback Leodis McKelvin, $1 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 19

Players under contract: 54

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 35.2

Miami Dolphins

• Nose tackle Paul Soliai, $12.47 million*
• Tackle Jake Long, $11.2 million
• Receiver Brandon Marshall, $6.5 million
• Tackle Vernon Carey, $4.15 million
• Safety Yeremiah Bell, $3.7 million
• Defensive end Randy Starks, $3.625 million
• Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, $2.7 million
• Inside linebacker Channing Crowder, $2.5 million
• Tight end Anthony Fasano, $1.9 million
• Cornerback Benny Sapp, $1.9 million
• Inside linebacker Tim Dobbins, $1.7 million
• Cornerback Will Allen, $1.5 million
• Safety Tyrone Culver, $1.25 million
• Fullback Lousaka Polite, $1.25 million
• Receiver Davone Bess, $1.013 million
• Kicker Dan Carpenter, $1.005 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 15

Players under contract: 55

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 27.3

New England Patriots

• Quarterback Tom Brady, $5.75 million
• Cornerback Leigh Bodden, $3.9 million
• Tackle Nick Kaczur, $3.4 million
• Defensive end Ty Warren, $3.1 million
• Center Dan Koppen, $2.9 million
• Safety James Sanders, $2.8 million
• Tight end Alge Crumpler, $2.4 million
• Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, $2.3 million
• Receiver Deion Branch, $2.2 million
• Receiver Wes Welker, $2.15 million
• Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, $1.7 million
• Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, $1.2 million
• Offensive lineman Dan Connolly, $1.025 million
• Inside linebacker Gary Guyton, $1 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 14

Players under contract: 60

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 23.3

New York Jets

• Quarterback Mark Sanchez, $14.75 million
• Inside linebacker David Harris, $10.1 million*
• Cornerback Darrelle Revis, $6 million
• Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, $5.615 million
• Inside linebacker Bart Scott, $4.9 million
• Outside linebacker Calvin Pace, $3.855 million
• Outside linebacker Bryan Thomas, $3.2 million
• Guard Brandon Moore, $2.75 million
• Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, $2.425 million
• Center Nick Mangold, $2.26 million
• Defensive end Mike DeVito, $2.125 million
• Safety Jim Leonhard, $1.95 million
• Receiver Jerricho Cotchery, $1.8 million
• Defensive tackle Sione Pouha, $1.28 million
• Quarterback Mark Brunell, $1.25 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 14

Players under contract: 57

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 24.6

The regular season officially ended when the clock expired in Seattle at 11:28 p.m. Eastern time. That's when the first 20 slots of the 2011 draft order were finalized.

At 10:29 a.m. ET, Todd McShay posted his first top-five mock draft on ESPN Insider's draft blog.

Eleven hours was all it took, and for many of those you'd have to assume McShay was asleep. And even then he probably was formulating scenarios.

Anyway, the top five includes the Buffalo Bills. They own the No. 3 pick, which means I'll be feeding readers of the AFC East blog a steady diet of items related to a select handful of prospects.

McShay projects the Bills will select Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson. McShay writes "Peterson's combination of size, instincts and athleticism would be an instant upgrade for the Bills both on defense and in the return game."

Elite cornerbacks never are a bad idea, but I don't agree with McShay's reasoning. Although the Bills have made some peculiar first-round decisions, I can't see return skills factoring in when they have C.J. Spiller, Roscoe Parrish and Leodis McKelvin.

But you never know. By the end of April, various mock drafts will have a slew of names associated with the No. 3 pick.

When rookie receiver David Nelson signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, his primary objective was to do was gather some preseason game film for potential future employers and someday hope to prove Regis Philbin wrong.

Eight months later, Nelson is a starter with a touchdown in three straight games and a girlfriend who's a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Take that, Rege.

"If you'd have told me sixth months ago I'd be in the situation I'm in now, I'd have called you crazy," Nelson told me Thursday over the phone from One Bills Drive.

It's not often a high school kid gets called out by a lovable TV icon, but that's what happened to Nelson.

"My mom loves Regis," Nelson said.

Nelson was a blue-chip prep prospect from Wichita Falls, Texas. He committed to Notre Dame but changed his mind when Philbin's beloved alma mater fired coach Tyrone Willingham. Nelson switched to the University of Florida, drawing Philbin's ire.

"Big mistake for you, kid!" Philbin wagged his finger one morning on "Live! with Regis & Kelly."

"To make a decision you thought was best for your family and best for your future and then Regis Philbin comes out and calls it a mistake, that was kind of neat," Nelson said. "It was the first time a national celebrity mentioned our family.

"It's a funny story and feels good to make somebody eat their words."

For a few years, however, Philbin looked like he was correct. Nelson struggled at Florida. The Gators redshirted him as a freshman. He couldn't get on the field for a couple years. He was relegated to special teams.

"You start to think 'What might have been? Maybe Regis was right,' " Nelson said with a laugh. "Looking back now, it's easy to see I made the right decision."

Nelson helped the Gators win the national crown his junior season. He started the SEC championship game (Percy Harvin was too injured to play) and scored a touchdown to help beat Alabama. Nelson caught a famous Tim Tebow jump pass for a touchdown to knock off Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

Nelson had a strong senior season, too, but nobody drafted him. He was pursued by a few teams, but chose the Bills because he thought they afforded him the best opportunity to get started on the arduous journey of practice squads, waiver wires and tryouts.

"I thought it was going to be a long road," Nelson said. "I have a lot of friends that went the undrafted road. They said it can be discouraging at times, hard at times. You have to realize it's your dream, and if you want it bad enough you've got to stick to it.

"I was fully prepared, coming into this whole deal, to go to four or five camps, go to four or five different teams, practice squad for a couple months, get cut, practice squad again until you find your niche."

Nelson caught some breaks along the way and performed well enough that he found a home immediately.

Buffalo's new general manager and coaching staff showed they weren't beholden to high draft picks from previous years and cut 2008 second-round pick James Hardy. This year's fourth-round draft choice, Marcus Easley, went down with a season-ending knee injury in August.

Nelson made the roster. In-season injuries to veterans Roscoe Parrish and Lee Evans have given him greater opportunities to show what he can do.

He'll have the chance to extend his touchdown streak Sunday against the New England Patriots, another team that wanted to sign him after the draft. Of the dozen or so teams to contact him, only two calls came from head coaches: Gailey and Bill Belichick, a close friend of Urban Meyer, who coached Nelson at Florida.

"What he did with Florida is pretty much what he's doing with Buffalo in this league," Belichick said. "He's a big target. He's got great range. He can get to a lot of balls, excellent hands. He's not the fastest receiver, but he's deceptive, and he's got a good burst and good quickness.

"If the quarterback puts the ball away from the defender, he can adjust and make the play, that kind of thing. He's a very crafty guy, and he's a smart football player. He knows coverages. He knows how to get open, and it's obvious that [Ryan] Fitzpatrick has a lot of confidence in him."

Nelson seems to have done just fine for himself as a football player.

Oh, and Nelson's dating Kelsi Reich, an actual Cowboys cheerleader who has blogged about rooting for the Bills, too.

Not a bad testimonial for perseverance.