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Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for the Miami Dolphins entering next week's draft. They addressed the need Tuesday by signing veteran receiver Legedu Naanee.

The former Carolina Panthers receiver caught 44 passes for 467 yards last season. Naanee will be added to a thin group of receivers that includes projected starters Brian Hartline and Davone Bess.

Dolphins rookie head coach Joe Philbin is installing a new West Coast offense in Miami that doesn't focus on any one receiver. The Dolphins traded talented Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, in part, because they didn't want one player dominating the football.

Naanee also spent four years with the San Diego Chargers and caught 107 receptions in that span.

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.

Although the Miami Dolphins' regime wouldn't admit it, they will nervously keep one eye on how things progress with the offense of the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is where quarterback Matt Flynn will resume his NFL career after a four-year stint as a backup with the Green Bay Packers. The same Matt Flynn the Dolphins didn't think highly enough to come up with a three-year, $26 million contract he received in Seattle.

The Dolphins had every opportunity to land Flynn. Miami had the strong connection of Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, who helped develop Flynn in Green Bay. Miami also had the perfect offensive system for Flynn and even had him in for a visit last weekend. The Dolphins could've made sure Flynn didn't leave their facilities without becoming Miami's next starting quarterback. Instead, the Dolphins let Flynn slip away.

Miami's regime, led by owner Stephen Ross, general manager Jeff Ireland and Philbin, didn't think Flynn was worth the investment. That's fine, but they better be right.

Miami supposedly knows Flynn better than any team outside the Packers. If Flynn turns out to be the next great starting quarterback, that stain will stick with the Dolphins. Miami should have been the last team fooled by this. The Dolphins have intimate knowledge of what Flynn can and cannot do.

With just two career starts, Flynn may become the next Matt Schaub (a top-12 quarterback) or the next Kevin Kolb (a bust). The Dolphins can only hope it's the latter.

Remember Drew Brees? He became a free agent in 2006 and was looking for a team after injuring his shoulder late in the season with the San Diego Chargers.

The Dolphins were considered the favorites to get Brees and were very close to making it a reality. But after sending Brees through a round of physicals, Miami was scared away. The Dolphins instead traded a draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Brees later signed with the New Orleans Saints, his second choice behind Miami.

We all know how that turned out.

This offseason could be a case of history repeating itself in Miami, albeit probably to a lesser degree. After missing out on Flynn, who also came with risks, the Dolphins signed David Garrard. The 34-year old quarterback has been out of football since 2010 and will compete with Matt Moore for the starting job. This is a quarterback situation that is going nowhere fast.

Miami also has a good shot to add former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the mix. Miami holds the No. 8 overall pick and Tannehill played for Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Although Tannehill was once considered a late first-round pick, his stock is on the rise and seems like a logical fit for Miami. But Tannehill would most likely hold a clipboard next year if he goes to Miami.

The Dolphins have gone from a team of promise to a team of despair in a matter of weeks. The offseason began with the chance of landing the top coach on the market (Jeff Fisher) and one of the top free-agent quarterbacks (Peyton Manning or Flynn). It ended with Miami coming up empty-handed at both. The Dolphins also gutted the roster by trading Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall for pennies on the dollar and cutting leading tackler and safety Yeremiah Bell.

Miami looks like a team that is not only rebuilding, but tearing down the walls from within thanks to head-scratching decisions. The draft remains, but the Dolphins appear hard-pressed to better last year's record of 6-10. An 8-8 season would be considered a big upset with the way this roster currently stands.

Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Dolphins ownership made this offseason was selling their fans on false hopes and empty promises. Ross has very deep pockets and wanted to make a splash. But all we've seen is belly flops.

Who knows if Flynn could have solved Miami's quarterback dilemma and prevented this tailspin. The Dolphins obviously pegged Flynn as a big question mark, and their evaluation better be more accurate than the injury concerns six years ago with Brees.

Maybe this time the Dolphins dodged a bullet. Or maybe they shot themselves in the foot once again.

If Flynn proves to be a good quarterback in 2012 -- while Miami is still toiling with the David Garrards and Matt Moores of the world -- the Dolphins have no one to blame but themselves.

Former Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams began his free-agent tour in Buffalo. But that will not be his last stop.

ESPN's John Clayton reports Williams will continue to visit other teams before making his decision. The Buffalo Bills put the full-court press on Williams during the first day of free agency Tuesday. They reportedly picked up Williams via a private plane in North Carolina and spent the entire day with him in Buffalo. The Bills also plan to spend some time with Williams today.

The Bills are hoping to make Williams one of the NFL's highest-paid defensive players. Williams, a former No. 1 overall pick, is a game-changer who will add an immediate pass rush to Buffalo's defense.

Bills general manager Buddy Nix said the team will be aggressive in free agency, and he proved it by starting top shelf with Williams. It's in Buffalo's best interest to sign Williams before he visits other teams.

The Bills already lost out on free-agent receiver Robert Meachem, who agreed to terms with the San Diego Chargers while visiting Buffalo. The Bills have to hope they don't suffer the same fate with Williams.

It would be a major surprise if the Miami Dolphins made a last-ditch effort to keep starting defensive tackle Paul Soliai. After more than a year of negotiations, neither side has come close to an agreement on a long-term extension.

The franchise tag was put on Soliai last year, but all indications are he will hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent in March. Soliai was a good nose tackle in Miami's 3-4 defense. But the Dolphins are expected to either switch to a 4-3 full-time or at least implement a lot of 4-3 concepts under first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

That leaves Soliai, and his high price tag, as the odd man out in Miami. But ESPN.com AFC West blogger Bill Williamson believes Soliai may find a home out west with the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams play 3-4 defenses, which is where Soliai is more valuable and more comfortable.

Miami's defense is talented and should be fine without Soliai. He will cash in somewhere in free agency, just not with the Dolphins, who have bigger needs.

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

• In addition to receiver Santonio Holmes, the New York Jets guaranteed the 2012 salary of right tackle Wayne Hunter.

Morning take: This move was a surprise. Hunter allowed the most sacks on the team, and I thought quarterback Mark Sanchez would get injured at times from that side. Will Hunter start again in 2012?

• Ex-New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison says Rob Gronkowski partying after the Super Bowl wasn't right.

Morning take: This is "Gronk" being "Gronk." If you don't know by now, the guy beats to the tune of his own drum. But what's most interesting to me is how nimble he was on the dance floor. I didn't see that from Gronkowski and his injured ankle a few hours prior against the New York Giants.

• Could the Buffalo Bills go after San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson?

Morning take: The Chargers have no plans to franchise Jackson, so it looks like Jackson will hit the open market next month. If Buffalo doesn't re-sign Steve Johnson, Jackson may be a fallback option.

• Here is a look at the Miami Dolphins' depth chart on defense.

Morning take: The Dolphins defense was solid last year but could take some losses, particularly on the defensive line. Jason Taylor retired and defensive ends Paul Soliaia and Kendall Langford are both unrestricted free agents.

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

• New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis wants to end the team's internal conflict next season.

Morning take: If I had one criticism of Revis, it's that he could use improvement in the leadership department. Revis leads by example with his stellar play. But sometimes that's not enough, particularly in a combustible locker room.

• New England Patriots players are speaking very highly of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Morning take: Manning's second Super Bowl run is putting him up there with the top quarterbacks. If he beats Tom Brady in his second Super Bowl, you have to consider Manning elite.

• The Miami Dolphins reportedly are in talks with Mike Sherman over their vacant offensive-coordinator spot.

Morning take: The move would make sense. Sherman runs a West Coast offense and has ties to Green Bay. So does new Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin.

• Are the Buffalo Bills interested in San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson?

Morning take: Jackson says he hasn't talked with the Chargers, which might be a sign he's will hit the market. Buffalo has to decide what to do with its own No. 1 receiver: Steve Johnson.

The Miami Dolphins got a head start on their coaching search by firing Tony Sparano Monday. Ownership realized it will have some stiff competition for a top coaching prospect and decided the time is now to look to 2012.

So let's examine Miami's competition this offseason. Here is how the AFC East blog ranks the league's current and potential openings:

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)

Fired coach: Jack Del Rio

The good: New owner Shahid Khan should infuse some fresh energy and ideas into this struggling franchise. He seems committed to winning.

The bad: Lack of fan support makes the Jaguars an unstable organization. The team plans to stay in Jacksonville now. But if support doesn't improve long term, that can always change. The Jaguars' roster has a lot of holes and question marks, including quarterback.

Job quality (1 to 10): 3

4. St. Louis Rams

Current coach: Steve Spagnuolo

The good: St. Louis has a former No. 1 overall draft pick at quarterback (Sam Bradford) and a former Pro Bowl running back (Steven Jackson). Those are decent building blocks. St. Louis also plays in a weak division overall.

The bad: Other than Jackson and Bradford, this team lacks talent and has a lot of holes to fill via the draft and free agency. In addition, Bradford is getting beat up and hasn't looked the same this year.

Job quality: 5

3. Miami Dolphins (4-9)

Fired coached: Tony Sparano

The good: The roster has some talent. The defense is just a couple players away from being elite, and Miami has some playmakers offensively. Owner Stephen Ross has deep pockets and is willing to spend money to improve the team.

The bad: Jeff Ireland remains as general manager and could scare off top coaching prospects. Miami still needs to find a long-term solution at quarterback. The Patriots and Jets are two strong franchises in the AFC East that aren't going away anytime soon.

Job quality: 6

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-8)

Fired coach: Todd Haley

The good: The Chiefs have a strong front-office setup led by Scott Pioli. The Hunt family is very well-respected and one of the best ownership groups to work for. The AFC West is wide open year to year.

The bad: Kansas City has a lot of money tied to quarterback Matt Cassel, who isn't good enough to lead a team to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have had some in-house turmoil this season that needs to be cleaned up by the next coach.

Job quality: 7

1. San Diego Chargers (5-7)

Current coach: Norv Turner

The good: San Diego is a team built to win now. The Chargers have a playoff-caliber roster and a franchise quarterback in Philip Rivers. Similar to Kansas City, the AFC West is an easy division that's wide open. Turner has underachieved with this group and the right coach could easily take this talented team back to the playoffs.

The bad: The Chargers have some stadium issues, which may make them a candidate to move. Other than that, this is a great job for a coach seeking to make an immediate impact.

Job quality: 9

Here are some thoughts on the San Diego Chargers' 37-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills:

What it means: The Bills continue to fall apart after suffering their sixth straight defeat. Buffalo is 5-8 and needs this season to end soon. The Bills had a chance to finish with a winning record after their fast start. But the team secured its seventh straight non-winning season with Sunday's blowout loss to San Diego.

What I liked: Buffalo receiver Steve Johnson had a big game. He caught four passes for 116 yards. It was Johnson's first 100-yard receiving game this season, but it didn't make much of an impact. Buffalo's offense was held scoreless in the first half and never had a chance in this game.

What I didn't like: Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had an awful performance. Fitzpatrick is very streaky and was 13 of 34 for 176 yards and an interception. Buffalo's franchise quarterback has failed to lift the Bills out of their funk. The defense didn't do much better. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns, and Buffalo allowed Chargers tailback Ryan Mathews to rush for 114 yards.

Road woes: Buffalo is now 1-6 on the road. The Bills' only win away from Ralph Wilson Stadium was in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What’s next: The Bills will host the Miami Dolphins in a rematch from Week 11. Miami won the first meeting, 35-8.

The AFC East blog is in a groove picking games in the division. We have hit seven in a row and look forward to Week 14.

We're going to pass on the video this week. But here are our latest picks:

Kansas City Chiefs (5-7) at New York Jets (7-5)

Skinny: The Jets are 5-1 at MetLife Stadium, and I would be very surprised if they blow this one. New York's defense makes Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko look bad in this one, as the Jets continue their playoff push.

Walker's pick: Jets, 24-7

New England Patriots (9-3) at Washington Redskins (4-8)

Skinny: The Patriots let up on another inferior team (Indianapolis) last week. But I think they learned their lesson. New England owns the fourth quarter to win this one.

Pick: Patriots, 30-17

Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) at Miami Dolphins (4-8)

Skinny: The Eagles are getting healthier and have plenty of talent. But the Dolphins have it going, and I'm riding this train at home until they lose.

Pick: Dolphins, 20-17

Buffalo Bills (5-7) at San Diego Chargers (5-7)

Skinny: The Chargers are coming off a short week, but it doesn't matter. The Bills ran out of gas weeks ago and won't have much for this long road trip.

Walker's pick: Chargers, 28-14

Last week's record: 4-0

Overall record: 8-2

MIAMI -- Here are some initial thoughts on the Miami Dolphins' dominant 34-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders:

What it means: Miami won its fourth game in five tries and continues to relish its role of spoiler. The Dolphins improved to 4-8 and will have their third consecutive non-winning season. But they continue to share their misery by beating other teams late in the season. This was Miami's most complete and impressive performance of the year. The Dolphins took advantage of their 10 days of preparation and looked very sharp offensively and defensively. It also came against an Oakland team (7-5) that is leading the AFC West.

Defense continues to dominate: The light has come on for Miami's defense. The group has been one of the league's better units for the past month. The Dolphins baffled and battered Oakland's offense Sunday. Miami held Oakland to just 14 points, which were scored in garbage time, and sacked Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer two times. Miami was the NFL's sixth-rated unit in 2010, but started slow this season during its 0-7 start. The group is finally rounding back to its expected form.

Bush continues to thrive: Dolphins starting running back Reggie Bush continues to have his most successful season running the football. Bush rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries. By the fourth quarter, Dolphins fans were chanting "Reggie! Reggie!"

Seymour Watch: A fine could be forthcoming for Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour. He was ejected in the third quarter after a half-hearted attempt to punch Miami guard Richie Incognito. Seymour has a reputation for questionable play and the refs wasted no time ejecting him. This was the second ejection in as many seasons for the former Pro Bowl player. Seymour also was ejected last season for a shot to the face of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the whistle.

What's next: The Dolphins will play their second consecutive home game next week when the Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) come to town. Miami is looking to win its fourth consecutive game at home.

Here are some thoughts on the Tennessee Titans' 23-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

What it means: The Bills' playoff hopes were hanging by a thread entering this weekend. Now, they are virtually over. Buffalo (5-7) lost for the seventh time in nine games. What's even more worrisome is the Bills haven't been competitive in most of those losses. Meanwhile, the Titans improved to 7-5 and remain in the AFC wild-card race.

What I like: Buffalo 2010 first-round pick C.J. Spiller showed flashes of being a lead running back Sunday. Spiller rushed for a career-high 83 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. This is a good opportunity for Spiller to showcase his talents with starting running back Fred Jackson (leg) out for the season.

What I didn’t like: Buffalo's defense needs to consider changes in the offseason. It's been, by far, the Bills' weakest link the entire season. Buffalo's front seven can't stop the run. Titans tailback Chris Johnson ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. And Buffalo doesn’t rush the passer well. There is really nothing the Bills do consistently on defense and that needs to change.

FitzWatch: Buffalo starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick put up decent numbers, but it wasn't enough. Fitzpatrick tried to rally a late comeback and threw for 288 yards and a touchdown. He also lost a fumble. But with the touchdown, Fitzpatrick reached 20 passing touchdowns for the second consecutive season.

What's next: The Bills will travel to play the San Diego Chargers next week.

TORONTO -- The AFC East blog made it safely across the border and through customs. Now we can prepare for Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.

But before that, here are the most interesting stories Sunday morning around the AFC East:

• The Bills (4-2) have a high-pressure game against a desperate Washington team.

Morning take: There is a big difference between 5-2 and 4-3 for the Bills. They do not want to lose three of four after their fast start. That could lead to doubt of whether Buffalo is legit and in the running for a postseason bid.

• The Miami Dolphins will be without starting corner Vontae Davis (hamstring) and rookie tailback Daniel Thomas (hamstring) against the New York Giants.

Morning take: I’m not sure if there’s a clear reason, but the biggest injury in Miami this season has been hamstrings. Perhaps Thomas and Davis need to take more games off to avoid re-injury.

• The New England Patriots put corner Ras-I Dowling on injured reserve and activated running back Kevin Faulk.

Morning take: I'm surprised the Patriots gave up on Dowling getting healthy with 10 games remaining. They need all the corners they can get for the long haul. Faulk has always been reliable and will join a crowded and talented backfield. I'm curious to see where he fits.

• New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace, who has a bye week, is off to a great start.

Morning take: Pace is staying productive this year after missing eight combined games the past two seasons. He is tied for the team lead with three sacks.

The Buffalo Bills lost outside linebacker Shawne Merriman for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.

Here are several thoughts on Merriman and the Bills:

• Going on the injured reserve for a second-straight year with Buffalo makes you question Merriman's future. Achilles injuries are tough for pass-rushers, who need explosiveness to get to the quarterback. Merriman clearly lost a couple steps from his prime days in San Diego. He had just one sack this season. A team may take a chance on Merriman to see if he has anything left in 2012, but he may have seen his last days in Buffalo.
• The Bills have been struggling to get to the quarterback and need someone to step up. Youngsters Arthur Moats and Danny Batten have been getting increased playing time in recent weeks. Moats has eight tackles in Buffalo's past two games. Batten recorded five tackles in a recent loss to the New York Giants. Neither have registered a sack. Getting back a healthy Chris Kelsay should add stability to outside linebacker for Buffalo.
• Overall, it's been a tough, four-year run for Merriman. He was once one of the NFL's most dynamic defensive players. Merriman registered 39.5 sacks from 2005-2007. But multiple injuries to his knee and Achilles stifled Merriman for more than half of his seven-year career. Merriman recorded only five sacks the past four seasons.

Update: Merriman issued a statement to the media through his publicist Tuesday evening:

"Due to the fact that I have recently been experiencing excessive aggravation in my Achilles tendon, which is a limitation that I have been dealing with for well over two years now, I sought the opinions of multiple medical specialists. After much consideration and unanimous professional recommendations stating that my Achilles is in danger of rupturing, I have been advised that it would be in my best interest to undergo surgery as soon as possible in order to prevent a major injury. I would like to thank all of my fans for their continued support on my road to a full recovery and am looking forward to getting back out on the field."

Tim Tebow wasn't the only quarterback who led a big second-half comeback in Week 7.

The New York Jets and quarterback Mark Sanchez rallied from 11 points down in the second half to take a 27-21 victory against the San Diego Chargers. The win was the second in a row for the Jets (4-3), who remain in the playoff hunt.

Here are some statistics on the comeback, courtesy of ESPN's Stats and Information:

17-0: The Jets outscored San Diego in the second half to pull off the win. New York's defense put the clamps on Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who had just one passing first down in the second half.

112: Jets running back Shonn Greene notched a season-high in rushing and gained more than 100 yards for the first time this season. Ground-and-pound was back. New York as a team rushed for a season-best 162 yards.

25: New York controlled the tempo offensively with 25 first downs to keep the chains moving. The Jets also were an efficient 8-for-13 on third-down conversions.

3: Jets receiver Plaxico Burress scored a trio of big touchdowns. All three scores were in the red zone.

4-0: The Jets remain undefeated this season at Met Life Stadium. It's just the second time in 25 seasons that New York won its first four games at home.