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Buffalo Bills

For many rookies, opportunities for playing time will be limited if the lockout drags into the summer because they won't have time to learn what they need to know, writes Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News.

Safety Donte Whitner is leaving the door open for a return to Buffalo.

Miami Dolphins

Former Dolphins coach Don Shula feels for the current NFL coaches who are trapped in the labor dispute.

The Sun-Sentinel's Andrew Carter looks at some veteran quarterback options for the Dolphins, including Matt Leinart, Vince Young, Brady Quinn, Carson Palmer and Tarvaris Jackson.


New England Patriots

Although there were some questions about Ryan Mallett in the run up to the draft, none of them concerned his throwing ability.

Mallett's father said his son wants "payback" after the Dolphins traded up in the draft but did not take the Arkansas quarterback.


New York Jets

Rex Ryan explained his reasoning for turning the week leading up to the Jets' AFC divisional playoff game against the Patriots into a matchup between himself and Bill Belichick.

Seventh-rounder Greg McElroy joined Mark Sanchez's "Jets West" camp to work out with teammates.

Brett Favre intends to extend his streak to 292 games started.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback expects to start Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, he told ESPN's Ed Werder.

Favre spent much of the week in a walking boot and missed significant practice times because of a broken left ankle.

"My expectations are to play and play well enough for us to have a chance to win this game," Favre told Werder.

But we don't know if Vikings head coach Brad Childress shares that sentiment. Childress has stated he will make the final decision Sunday morning whether Favre or backup Tarvaris Jackson will play.

There were a lot of topics to sort through in this week's edition of "Bruschi's Breakdown" of Sunday's game between the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots.

In his weekly sitdown with ESPNBoston.com reporter Mike Reiss, former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi delivered his opinions on how Brett Favre's status has affected preparations over the past week, the return of Randy Moss to Gillette Stadium, various matchups on both sides of the ball and what it means to wear the Patriots' throwback uniforms, as they will do Sunday.

Bruschi has predicted Moss will score a touchdown against the Patriots on Sunday, but he had a recommendation for the best way rookie cornerback Devin McCourty could remove Moss from the game:

I think what you're looking for is physical play at the line of scrimmage. I think you want to jam him at the line of scrimmage and get him as discouraged as possible. I like McCourty in that matchup. He's more of a physical corner, and he's also very quick. He isn't afraid to mix it up.

Bruschi also gave his take on the chaos surrounding Minnesota and coach Brad Childress:

I always felt the best way for a head coach to get his message across was through the team meetings. Calling out a player in front of his peers is the most powerful way a coach can get his point across. The more I study this team, the more I feel it is Favre who is calling the shots. I think there is a simple way that Childress can regain control of this struggling team. Bench Brett Favre. He's not playing very well and he's hurting. Do what's best for your team and end this nonsense. Start Tarvaris Jackson and let the old man get some rest.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 8:

Tom Brady should emerge Sunday night with his streak still intact. There are contradictory reports about whether Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. But it's safe to say Favre's incredible streak of 291 games (315 counting the postseason) has never been in more jeopardy. Brady is working on his own streak. He has won 23 straight home games. A victory over the Vikings in Gillette Stadium would put him one away from Favre's NFL record set from 1995 to 1998.

It's time for the Dolphins to give Sean Smith another shot at right cornerback. Smith started 16 games as a rookie last year. But after a shaky camp and preseason, he lost his job to veteran reserve Jason Allen before the regular season began. Smith obviously lost his swagger. Allen occasionally makes a big play and has three interceptions, but he's clearly a target. Steelers receiver Mike Wallace singed Allen for a 53-yard touchdown last week. The Bengals are a tough opponent to help Smith back on track, but as a player who thrives on confidence, a solid performance Sunday could get him going again.

I'm officially rooting for Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to stay hot. The Bills are 0-6 and don't have much to look forward to. Their national relevance is rooted in being winless, but Fitzpatrick's play has given Bills fans something positive to talk about. He's a career backup, an underdog who was overlooked by the Bills before taking over for Trent Edwards in Week 3. Fitzpatrick's 102.2 passer rating ranks second to Peyton Manning's 103.4. Fitzpatrick has played only four games, but he has 11 touchdown passes, the same as Brady and Tony Romo. Only six quarterbacks have more.

Jets rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson is playing his way off the field. At the news conference to discuss why they selected him 29th overall, Jets coach Rex Ryan declared Wilson would be their punt returner and nickel corner. As star cornerback Darrelle Revis' holdout dragged on, Wilson was in line to start and eventually did (three games) after Revis yanked his hamstring. But Wilson, who has committed three penalties for 54 yards, has been losing time to Dwight Lowery and Drew Coleman. "His role is shrinking," Ryan said of Wilson. "There is only one way to get a bigger role, and that's to show it on the practice field. When you do get your opportunities in the game, you have to step up. That's it."

The Patriots must stop Adrian Peterson if they're going to stop Randy Moss. It won't matter who Minnesota's quarterback is in this regard. Jackson has the ability to hang a ball in the air for Moss, too. The way to negate that possibility is keeping both Patriots safeties deep. That can't happen if the Patriots' front seven can’t contain Peterson, who has that rare combination of speed, strength and a knack for evading tackles.

In retrospect, the New York Jets would have loved it if Brett Favre's consecutive starts streak ended two years ago.

Maybe the Jets would've made the playoffs had Favre rested his torn biceps tendon. Instead, he threw two touchdowns and nine interceptions over the Jets' final five games, and they plummeted from 8-3 to out of the playoffs.

Favre is particularly haggard now. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback is in a walking boot because of a broken ankle that might prevent him from playing Sunday against the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.

His legendary streak very well could be snapped at 291 games, 315 counting the playoffs.

"I'm very proud of the streak, but it probably should have ended a long time ago," Favre told reporters Wednesday at the Vikings' facility. "Numerous injuries ... The only reason I would want to play, I don't want to go out there for one play. I don't want to go out there for three plays. If I'm able to play, I want to play the whole game and give us a chance to win.

"I know it makes for good TV, talking about the streak and will it end. 'Will this be the injury that stops him?' or whatever. Whether it ends this week or it ends at the end of the year, it ends, and I will always be proud of it. In the game of football, every week, it's a crapshoot with injuries, and I've been able to overcome a lot of injuries."

Meanwhile, in Berea, Ohio, Eric Mangini is grumbling.

The Patriots are preparing as though Favre will play, but they're mindful backup Tarvaris Jackson is a different type of quarterback.

"We've got to be ready for all those guys, whether they are the guy listed first on the depth chart or not," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "If they're on the 45-man roster, or even if they're on the practice squad, they can easily be elevated up to the roster and play against you. So you better know who they are."

The Vikings haven't made any revelations about Favre's status for Sunday. He spoke about always being a fast healer throughout his career and playing through injuries others wouldn't have attempted. Favre also said playing a quarter and a half after suffering the ankle injury bolsters his hope for New England.

Favre admitted he either has a freakishly high pain tolerance, "or I'm just completely a knucklehead, which a lot of people would probably agree with that anyway. My dad was always my baseball and football coach, and I was no different than most kids. You fall down. You start crying. You want attention. I never got it from him. It was, 'You're not hurt,' and 99 percent of the time he was right."

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who missed almost the entire 2008 season with a blown out knee, marveled at Favre's streak.

"It's phenomenal," Brady said. "I mean, it's unbelievable. I know how I feel after every game on Monday morning and trying to get up for a week of practice. You take a lot of pride being out there. And I've said before that a quarterback can't go out there and block or tackle or really display any toughness other than showing up every week.

"What he's done over the course of his career is remarkable. It's not like he hasn't gotten hit. You watch him play, and he plays a style of football where he does get hit. He is as tough a player that there's ever been."

Bad news for the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.

There was a chance Brett Favre's surgically repaired ankle would prevent him from being full-go at the start of the season. Based on developments Tuesday afternoon, Favre's ankle apparently is recovering quickly enough that he'll be the Vikings' quarterback and not Tarvaris Jackson.

The Dolphins will visit the Vikings in Week 2. The Vikings will play the Jets at the Meadowlands in Week 4 on "Monday Night Football."

Tuesday's developments don't impact the other AFC East teams as much because if Favre was going to play he likely would have been healthy for those games.

The Vikings visit the New England Patriots in Week 8 and host the Buffalo Bills in Week 13.

Looks like I'll have to change my preseason pick for the Super Bowl champ.

With Brett Favre at quarterback, the Minnesota Vikings were my prediction to win it all. Not with Tarvaris Jackson.

Similarly, schedules in the AFC East will get a tad easier if Tuesday's rumors Favre will retire hold true. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Judd Zulgad writes Favre has been informing Vikings personnel he won't play this year because his surgically repaired ankle remains a problem.

The AFC East plays the NFC North this year, meaning each team would have an easier game.

But don't discount the possibility -- even if Favre officially declares he's done today -- he returns once the season begins. As his ankle feels better, perhaps he decides to join the Vikings in the fall.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the Vikings' schedule against the AFC East. The later the game, the more time Favre will have to reconsider.

Week 2: Miami Dolphins

Week 5: at New York Jets

Week 8: at New England Patriots

Week 13: Buffalo Bills

Anybody have a problem with Brian Hoyer being a New England Patriots quarterback project?

Didn't think so.

Hoyer's performance in Thursday night's 38-27 victory over the New York Giants underscored the Patriots' decision to waive Kevin O'Connell four days earlier.

Hoyer took every snap for the Patriots, completing 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. The undrafted rookie from Michigan State finished with a 115.8 passer rating.

Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis made a strong bid for a spot on the 53-man roster with a great game. He rushed 29 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 22 yards.

But the real intrigue is at backup quarterback. Tom Brady is returning from reconstructive knee surgery and gave Patriot Nation a scare last weekend, when Washington Redskins behemoth Albert Haynesworth slammed Brady's throwing shoulder.

As impressive as Hoyer's complete game was, the significance might have more to do with the future of Andrew Walter. The Patriots signed the former Oakland Raiders quarterback four weeks ago, but haven't given him an opportunity to prove himself in exhibitions.

Walter didn't throw a pass in any of the Patriots' last three preseason games. He went 5-of-9 for 62 yards and zero touchdowns in the second exhibition. Not exactly a convincing audition.

So who will be Brady's backup? Hoyer seems more logical than Walter at this point, but acquiring a veteran via free agency or a trade is more plausible.

A few options exist. National Football Post analyst Michael Lombardi presented the going rates for possible candidates to join the Patriots. The list includes Tarvaris Jackson, Jeff Garcia, A.J. Feeley, Luke McCown, Tyler Thigpen and Joey Harrington.

	James Lang/US Presswire
	New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre throws a first quarter touchdown pass to Dustin Keller against the Washington Redskins during a preseason game Saturday at Giants Stadium.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Maybe the Minnesota Vikings wouldn't mind parting with their next three first-round draft picks for Brett Favre.

Then again, maybe that wouldn't be enough for the New York Jets anyway.

News out of Baltimore is that Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson injured his right knee in the first quarter of tonight's preseason game against the Ravens.

Speculation was plentiful about Favre heading to the Vikings when he un-retired and tried to squirm out of his Green Bay Packers contract. The Vikings wanted Favre, too. A proven quarterback is the last tool they need to be a complete team.

The Packers, of course, held firm and refused to release Favre -- mainly because they might have to face him at least twice a year, knowing he wanted to stay in the NFC North.

So when the Packers shipped him as far away as possible, to an AFC team they could meet this season only in the Super Bowl, they insisted on a clause in the trade to prevent a switcheroo.

The Jets, if they were to trade Favre to an NFC North team, would have to send the Packers three first-round draft picks as additional compensation.

Favre looked pretty sharp in his Jets debut, completing five of six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown on his two drives against the Washington Redskins.