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Things are looking up for New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. He completed his fourth arm surgery this week, and most importantly he no longer has an infection.

Gronkowski is now on the mend and must also decide on back surgery. But he is slated to return at some point during training camp this summer.

Join me at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday for our weekly chat on the AFC East.

I am wrapping up my day at Miami Dolphins’ organized team activities. I will share my observations from practice, as well as plenty of thoughts on the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Here is the link. Don’t miss the AFC East party.

The AFC East blog continues its "Show and Prove" series for the division in 2013.

Next up we take a look at Buffalo Bills defensive end Mark Anderson.

2012 stats: 12 tackles, one sack

What he must prove: Anderson must prove that he is worthy of the free-agent contract he received from the Bills in 2012. Anderson, who came off a 10-sack season with the New England Patriots in 2011, signed a four-year, $19.5 million contract with the Bills last year but had an injury-plagued season. He played in just five games due to a knee injury in 2012. This is a make-or-break year for Anderson. If he cannot produce halfway through his four-year contract, the Bills could be forced to go in another direction.

Walker’s 2013 outlook: Anderson was a risky signing from the beginning for Buffalo. His 10-sack season with New England in 2011 had "flash in the pan" written all over it. Anderson only registered eight sacks in his previous four seasons combined. Buffalo needs as many pass-rushers as possible under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. But I am not sure Anderson is the type of player the Bills can consistently rely on this season. Despite his big contract, Anderson is probably best suited as a pass-rusher off the bench and a part-time starter if there are injuries on Buffalo’s defense.

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

• Updating a previous story, starting safety Reshad Jones reportedly changed his mind and plans to show up to the Miami Dolphins OTAs Tuesday. It was previously reported that he would not show unless there are discussions about a contract extension.

Morning take: Jones is still playing on his rookie contract and wants a raise in his final year. Miami spent a lot of money this offseason on other free agents and it will be interesting to see how the Dolphins handle Jones’ contract.

• After successful arm surgery, New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski will decide in about a month whether to have back surgery.

Morning take: Gronkowski is on the mend and will need about 10 weeks to recover from his fourth arm surgery. The back is another issue but not as serious. The key is to get Gronkowski ready for the regular season.

• New York Jets owner Woody Johnson says the team is in fact-finding mode with running back Mike Goodson.

Morning take: Goodson is in hot water following last week’s arrests. It’s not looking good for his situation, considering new general manager John Idzik must set a tone for the organization.

• The Buffalo Bills are working rookie wide receiver Robert Woods on the outside and in the slot.

Morning take: Woods is an NFL-ready player who should contribute immediately for Buffalo. Expect Woods to see plenty of playing time, but his best position is probably outside.

We have bad news to report for the rest of the AFC East division: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is feeling really good about his arm and mechanics heading into the 2013 season.

The best player in the division and one of the top quarterbacks of all-time told Peter King of Sports Illustrated that he is more confident than ever about his play, which isn't what the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets want to hear. Brady is the one player who has kept New England on top of the AFC East for the past dozen years.

"Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football," Brady said. "I've never felt better throwing the football."

Those are bold words for a 35-year-old quarterback. But Brady rarely is one to boast about his skills. So you have to take Brady at his word when he says something of this nature.

Fittingly, the Patriots certainly need Brady at the top of his game this year. New England lost a lot of production on offense by letting go of starting receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, who combined for an astounding 192 receptions, 2,265 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The Patriots also have major injury concerns with tight ends Rob Gronkowski (arm, back) and Aaron Hernandez (shoulder), who both had major surgeries and will miss a majority of the offseason.

Brady will be working with an entirely new cast of wide receivers. Free-agent pickup Danny Amendola will be one starter, while veteran additions Michael Jenkins, Donald Jones and Lavelle Hawkins compete with rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce to fill other roles.

It will be vital for Brady to quickly develop chemistry with his new receivers in New England. And Brady feeling at the top of his game going into training camp this summer can only help matters.

Former New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson turned himself in to Florida police on Monday. A warrant for his arrest was issued earlier this month for violating terms of his probation stemming from a domestic incident with his former wife, Evelyn Lozada.

Johnson's bond was set at $1,000 and he will be ordered to return to court for a hearing on June 3.

Chances were already slim that Johnson, 35, would get another chance in the NFL. This latest off-the-field incident most likely makes him too toxic for any team to touch the former Pro Bowl receiver.

For more on Johnson, click here for my take on his legal issues after football.

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

• New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will have his fourth arm surgery today with a recovery time of approximately 10 weeks.

Morning take: This timeline puts Gronkowski’s return right at training camp, although it would probably be wise to ease him in at that point. It’s unknown if Gronkowski has decided to also have back surgery, as well, this week.

• Speaking of injuries, Miami Dolphins rookie first-round pick Dion Jordan (shoulder) is expected to be ready by training camp.

Morning take: Miami knew of Jordan’s shoulder surgery and still took him No. 3 overall. Jordan has tremendous athleticism and should be 100 percent by August.

• Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel says his NFL offense is simpler than his offense at Florida State.

Morning take: I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. But Manuel is getting comfortable with the offense. Bills rookie head coach Doug Marrone is bringing his offense from Syracuse, which apparently is easier than Florida State’s.

• New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith says he’s not naïve and he’s not a diva.

Morning take: Smith has been one of the most critiqued prospects in this year’s draft, and that won’t stop now that he’s in New York. The best way for Smith to silence his critics is by going out and playing well.

New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to have his fourth arm surgery, which has a 10-week timeline for recovery. Gronkowski also may have additional surgery to fix a disc in his back.

ESPN NFL reporter John Clayton examines New England’s level of concern for its Pro Bowl tight end. Gronkowski is going in for his fifth surgery since 2012.

The New England Patriots need help at wide receiver after the departures of 2012 starters Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.

Patriots second-round pick Aaron Dobson will be one of those key players competing for a starting role with the reigning AFC East champions. Dobson comes to New England with a spectacular highlight reel at the University of Marshall.

The AFC East blog caught up with Dobson during a community event in this week's NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles to discuss a variety of topics.

Aaron, how good is it to spend time with NFL rookies this week who are going through the same adjustment?

Aaron Dobson: It’s definitely fun, just out here in LA. We’ve all known each other just going through this [draft] process, and now we’re getting to know each other even more and giving back to the kids.

Marshall was the only college to offer you a scholarship and now you’re a second-round pick for the Patriots. Were you a late bloomer?

Dobson: I really just think it was where I was playing high school football. West Virginia is not a highly-recruited state. I think it was more me being from there. But I got the opportunity at Marshall and I made the best of it. Now I’m in a position I wanted to be in my whole life. So I wouldn’t take it back for anything.

What’s your thoughts on catching passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and learning New England's offense?

Dobson: It’s just great to be in the league and catching passes from any quarterback. But it being Tom just makes it icing on the cake. It’s great and I’m exciting to be a New England Patriot. The offense is definitely something I have to learn. I have to put my mind to it and be focused. I’m taking it day-by-day to learn it and get comfortable with it.

How did you make so many one-handed catches at Marshall?

Dobson: It’s all instinct. I’m just going for the ball and I attack the ball very well. That’s how it happens. I can bring them in with one hand and I can catch with two hands. It’s just being focused, really.

Congrats on the graduation. How important was getting a degree before leaving school?

Dobson: Thank you. It was real important. I got out in three and a half years. I graduated in December, so it was great. My mom is real happy. She’s glad I got my degree and an NFL contract. So it’s just a blessing.

Rob Gronkowski is an elite tight end for the New England Patriots. He’s a big target who gets open, has strong hands and blocks well.

But it’s also fair to officially tag Gronkowski with the “injury-prone” label. The latest news comes from USA Today and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, who both report that Gronkowski could be headed for back surgery. It would be performed in the same time frame as Gronkowski's upcoming fourth arm surgery, which will sideline him for approximately 10 weeks.

Gronkowski's back issue is not considered serious. But the overriding theme is that Gronkowski, 24, is already becoming damaged goods. He entered the NFL with back problems, which is why New England was able to draft him in the second round. Gronkowski also had major ankle surgery in 2012 and three operations (soon to be four) on his broken left arm. New England's physical marvel is starting to look like a crash-test dummy just three seasons into his career.

I've written numerous times that Gronkowski has the ability to be a Hall of Famer if he stays healthy. But the past two years have shown that that will be difficult. Gronkowski plays with reckless abandon, and it will be tough to change his playing style. At the same time, his body isn’t holding up to the physical pounding.

If Gronkowski does have back surgery next week, in addition to fixing his arm, it will be his sixth time going under the knife since early 2012. At some point, all of these injuries and subsequent surgeries will catch up to Gronkowski.

It may not be noticeable now in Years 1-4, but Gronkowski doesn’t appear to be the type of player the Patriots can expect to stay healthy and perform at a high level for a decade or more.

The AFC East blog concludes this week’s “Hope and Concern” series with the reigning AFC East champion New England Patriots.

Biggest reason for hope: improved defense

It is easy to point out the future Hall of Fame pair of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick in this spot. But they get the credit every year for keeping New England in the title hunt. What will get New England over the hump to end its nine-year title drought will be improved play by the defense. The Patriots’ offense has been a well-oiled machine for years, but it hasn’t resulted in a championship. New England was at its best during the dynasty years in 2001-2004 because the defense was one of the best in the NFL. New England was ranked 25th in total defense last year, including 29th against the pass. Belichick put a lot of work into strengthening that side of the football this offseason. The Patriots re-signed No. 1 corner Aqib Talib, in addition to adding former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and veterans such as defensive lineman Tommy Kelly. Second-year players like defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont’a Hightower are also expected to make the jump. If New England’s defense can get stops in big games, that will make a major difference.

Biggest reason for concern: wide receiver

The Patriots had the NFL’s top-rated offense and the highest-scoring offense in 2012. The offense certainly wasn’t broken, which makes it baffling why New England would make so many changes at wide receiver. The Patriots got rid of 2012 starters Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd and replaced them with a relatively unknown cast of receivers. Danny Amendola, who’s had a lot of injury concerns, will fill one stop. But the No. 2 and No. 3 receiver positions are wide open. Players like Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins, Lavelle Hawkins, Julian Edelman and rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce will all compete for playing time. The best two or three receivers will get roles in New England’s offense. Brady has worked with questionable receivers before and made them better. The Patriots need Brady to repeat that feat again this upcoming season. If Brady and the passing game takes a step back, New England will not be as good as last season.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at key players for each AFC East team who are coming back from injuries:

New England Patriots: There is no bigger injury concern in the AFC East this offseason than Rob Gronkowski. The Pro Bowl tight end has had three surgeries within the past year to fix his broken arm, and he is scheduled to have a fourth surgery next week. The timeline for Gronkowski’s return is approximately 10 weeks. That will put Gronkowski on pace for training camp if there are no setbacks. Gronkowski is arguably the best tight end in the NFL when healthy, and he’s certainly New England’s best red zone threat. After losing starting receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd this offseason, the Patriots really need a healthy and productive Gronkowski to thrive on offense this year.

New York Jets: It’s easy to forget about Santonio Holmes. Due to a serious foot injury, the former Super Bowl MVP was virtually nonexistent last season after playing just four games. The Jets’ passing game was in shambles as a result. But Holmes returns this season as New York’s No. 1 receiver and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. The Jets are rebuilding and don't have much talent on offense. There will also be a four-way quarterback competition between Mark Sanchez, rookie Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. Holmes is one of the few players the Jets have on offense who has consistently produced throughout his career. It’s unknown if Holmes will return to his pre-injury form, but he should be better than any receiving threat the Jets have.

Miami Dolphins: One year ago, cornerback Brent Grimes was coming off a Pro Bowl season and viewed as one of the up-and-coming stars at his position. But a season-ending Achilles injury in 2012 dropped his stock, and now Grimes is trying to get back to his Pro Bowl form in Miami. The Dolphins signed Grimes to a one-year “show me” contract this offseason. No team was willing to make a multiyear commitment while Grimes still recovers from his torn Achilles. The Dolphins are taking a risk that Grimes will be 100 percent before the start of the regular season. He’s projected to be Miami’s No. 1 cornerback. The Dolphins were ranked 27th against the pass in 2012 and desperately need him. He also will provide veteran leadership to Miami’s two rookie corners: Jamar Taylor and Will Davis.

Buffalo Bills: Mark Anderson has become the forgotten defensive player in Buffalo. Just one year ago, the Bills made Anderson one of their big free-agent signings. But a knee injury forced Anderson to miss 11 games, and he recorded just 12 tackles and one sack. The Bills brought in Anderson to add a pass rush. He had 10 sacks with the Patriots in 2011 and aims to get healthy and return to form under new Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Buffalo needs as many pass-rushers as possible to assist Mario Williams, who led the Bills with 10.5 sacks last season.

 

Nine years ago I was a cub reporter covering the Cincinnati Bengals for the Columbus Dispatch. Chad Johnson was entering his fourth season and starting to come into his own.

I watched Johnson come of age with the Bengals and also covered his decline with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Now, Johnson has a warrant out for his arrest in Florida this week after skipping probation following last year’s domestic incident and divorce from former wife Evelyn Lozada.

Here is one person hoping this isn’t the beginning of a bad downward spiral for the former Pro Bowl receiver.

Full disclosure: I always liked and got along with Johnson. He’s not a bad guy, just a little left of center and very unpredictable. But as a person who interviewed him on a regular basis throughout his entire career, I always appreciated his originality and viewed him as mostly harmless and comical.

But in the back of my mind I wondered what life would be like for Johnson after football. Johnson is the kind of guy who craves the spotlight and loves being the center of attention. In a weird way, I think that was a large part of his motivation to become such a great receiver. It was never about Super Bowls or the fake Hall of Fame jacket he once wore. Johnson worked hard because he loved to entertain and welcome people to the “Chad Johnson Show” on Sundays.

However, this latest legal issue probably ends any chance of Johnson making an NFL comeback. He's become too toxic for teams to touch and Johnson, 35, isn't getting any younger.

Johnson stayed out of trouble his entire 12-year career but now has two run-ins with the law in the past nine months. I don't think that's a coincidence. Johnson must find structure and purpose in his post-football life -- before it’s too late.

 
Rob Gronkowski is officially on the clock.

The longer the New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end waited, the more likely he would miss the start of the 2013 regular season. That is why it was smart for Gronkowski to go under the knife now for a fourth surgery on his left arm.

Another procedure was essentially inevitable for Gronkowski. His arm was not healing properly, and he suffered an infection after his third surgery.

An already-rough offseason is about to get rougher for Gronkowski. Ten weeks of recovery await, and the “Summer of Gronk” will be spent mostly rehabbing his arm instead of his usual party adventures around the country.

Gronkowski can no longer afford room for error in his recovery. The post-surgery timeline takes him right into training camp. Another setback could result in Gronkowski missing preseason games or even a portion of the regular season.

New England is expected to rely even more on its tight ends this season since 2012 starting receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd are no longer on the roster. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady needs Gronkowski and fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez more than ever. Hernandez also is recovering from major shoulder surgery and aims to be ready for training camp.

The Patriots must take the field in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills with or without Gronkowski. His decision to stop delaying surgery greatly increases his chances of being on the field in Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 8.

New England’s title hopes the past two years were dashed, in large part, because Gronkowski could not stay healthy. He is a difference-maker New England cannot win a championship without.

Quarterbacks are the lifeblood of any NFL organization. With a franchise quarterback, a team can consistently contend. Without a quality quarterback, it's difficult to even make the playoffs.

Therefore, it’s never too early to take a look at 2014 quarterback rankings from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Here is an early projection of the top signal-callers in next year’s draft.

• No. 1: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
• No. 2: Tajh Boyd, Clemson
• No. 3: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

The 2014 quarterback class is stronger than this year’s -- assuming Bridgewater and Manziel indeed decide to leave school early. The top three are Heisman Trophy candidates with a lot of hype. If this trio stays healthy and productive, teams will be looking at each prospect as a future first-round pick.

The AFC East saw two teams draft top-rated quarterbacks this year. The Buffalo Bills selected EJ Manuel No. 16 overall in the first round, and the New York Jets took Geno Smith No. 39, near the top of the second round. If both players show promise this season, the entire division could be out of the quarterback market.

The New England Patriots are set at quarterback with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and young backup Ryan Mallett. The Miami Dolphins also believe they have a franchise quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. The 2012 first-round pick showed flashes as a rookie and is set to enter a crucial second season.