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

• Massachusetts police searched the home of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in connection with a homicide investigation.

Morning take: The important thing is that Hernandez is not a suspect. However, it’s hard to tell how serious a matter this will be until all the facts are released.

• It looks unlikely that the Miami Dolphins will sign defensive tackle Randy Starks to a contract extension.

Morning take: Although you can’t completely rule it out, leaving Starks with the franchise tag makes sense for the Dolphins. Miami spent more than $200 million in long-term contracts and can’t tie itself up further with big extensions.

• Will there be any movement in talks between the Buffalo Bills and safety Jairus Byrd?

Morning take: There’s no reason to worry just yet. Byrd is obviously unhappy with the franchise tag. But the Bills have the cap room to work out an agreement, so it’s always possible the sides can reach a deal by later this summer.

• New York Jets defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis is hoping for a big 2013 season.

Morning take: Ellis will be coming off the bench and needs to bring quality depth to the trenches. Injuries often occur on the defensive line, so Ellis must stay ready.

The offseason workouts are officially in the books. Let's chat about it.

Join me at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday for our weekly chat on the AFC East. We will discuss all the latest with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. We can also discuss the wildly-popular topic of new Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow. Or we can keep this chat a Tebow-free zone. The choice is yours.

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

The New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady dominate the NFL on first down.

The rest of the AFC East? Not so much.

If there was ever one stat to clearly explain the large gap between the Patriots and their three AFC East rivals, it's how all four teams perform on first down. New England was immensely successful in 2012 and led the NFL in first-down offense, while the rest of the division finished no higher than 15th.

It is no secret that success on first down makes it much easier for offenses to convert on second and third downs. The Patriots were able to have success on first down both through the air (2,151 yards) and on the ground (1,198 yards), making New England's offense very tough to defend.

Here are the total yardage numbers on first down according to ESPN Stats and Information:

• No. 1: Patriots, 3,316 yards

• No. 15: Buffalo Bills, 2,424 yards

• No. 20: New York Jets, 2,314

• No. 23: Miami Dolphins, 2,268

New England’s offense gained 892 yards more on first down than Buffalo, which finished second in the division in first-down yardage. Those yards add up over the course of a season and one reason why New England was the only AFC East team to finish with a winning record.

The Patriots were very balanced on first down. New England called 277 pass plays and 273 run plays on first down in the regular season, according to ESPN Stats and Info, which made its offense unpredictable. The Patriots also were sacked just five times on first down all last season, which kept the offense out of bad spots.

Not surprisingly, New England led the NFL in total offense in 2012. The Patriots made a lot of changes at wide receiver and have injury concerns at tight end entering this season. But it’s clear that play calling under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is not a concern.

The AFC East division has two competitive quarterback competitions heading into training camp this summer. Buffalo Bills rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel and New York Jets second-round quarterback Geno Smith are both involved in close races to determine who will be the Week 1 starter for their respective teams.

But which rookie quarterback is more likely to win the starting job right away: Manuel or Smith? Both players have the same opportunity. But who will take advantage?

Is Manuel further along in his first-year development? The Bills really like Manuel and took him No. 16 overall in the NFL draft. There was no pre-draft chatter about Manuel being a first-round pick, but Buffalo fell in love with his size, mobility and arm. Can Manuel beat out veteran quarterback Kevin Kolb in training camp and start right away?

Or will it be Smith under center for the Jets in Week 1? He is battling with Jets incumbent starter Mark Sanchez, who has led the NFL in turnovers the past two seasons. The Jets are looking for a fresh face at quarterback. But Smith must first beat out Sanchez, who has been to back-to-back AFC title games. Will Smith start in New York before Manuel in Buffalo?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on which AFC East rookie quarterback will start first between Manuel and Smith. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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

• The New York Jets still have three unsigned draft picks remaining.

Morning take: First-round picks Dee Milliner, Sheldon Richardson and second-rounder Geno Smith are not under contract. But there’s little reason to panic with the rookie wage scale. Things will work out.

• Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley says cornerback Stephon Gilmore is ready to make the jump in Year 2.

Morning take: Gilmore played better as his rookie season went on. He’s a fearless and competitive player who must step up as Buffalo’s top corner this year.

• New England Patriots tailback Shane Vereen said the offense “slipped up” in the AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Morning take: New England only scored 13 points in its last game of the season. It’s the playoffs and it happens. This is why the Patriots’ defense must improve to pick up the team if the offense has a bad game.

• Will Miami Dolphins rookie kicker Caleb Sturgis unseat veteran Dan Carpenter in training camp?

Morning take: You have to assume Miami drafted Sturgis for that reason. Carpenter struggled last season and is being paid about four times more than Sturgis this season. It makes sense for Miami to go with the rookie if it’s a close race.

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

• Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel plans to continue to work hard during this off time before training camp.

Morning take: Manuel is behind veteran Kevin Kolb in the quarterback race. The rookie will have to do all he can to master Buffalo’s offense and put in the work before he returns to the Bills on July 28.

• Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker will be out for revenge in Week 12 against the New England Patriots.

Morning take: This should be a marquee game in the AFC late in the season. But there’s a lot of football to play before both teams get to that point.

• New Miami Dolphins right tackle Tyson Clabo is trying to get acquainted to his new team.

Morning take: Clabo was released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, which opened the door for Miami. The Dolphins needed an offensive tackle, and Clabo has plenty of starting experience.

• The New York Jets plan to blitz more this season with head coach Rex Ryan running the defense.

Morning take: Ryan is in a must-win year and being extra aggressive is one of the few ways he can try to save his job. But talent is the biggest issue, and the Jets can't fix that in one season.

The Buffalo Bills have signed first-round quarterback EJ Manuel to a five-year contract, the team announced. Manuel was the No. 16 overall pick of the Bills last April.

Manuel was the final unsigned draft pick for the Bills. Buffalo now has its entire 2013 draft class under contract before the team takes about a six-week break before training camp.

Manuel will compete with veteran Kevin Kolb for the starting quarterback job in Buffalo this summer. Kolb is the favorite in the short term, but the Bills expect Manuel to eventually become the long-term solution.

In other draft-related news, the Miami Dolphins also signed third-round pick and offensive lineman Dallas Thomas to a four-year contract Friday.

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

The major question facing each team in the AFC East as summer break looms.

Buffalo Bills: By all accounts, the Bills had a productive minicamp. But a huge question remains about the future of Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd. He was a no-show this week in a clear display of displeasure over receiving the franchise tag. Byrd also skipped all organized team activities and has yet to sign the tag. Because of his refusal to sign, the Bills could not fine him for skipping mandatory minicamp. The Bills have plenty of cap room and Byrd is one of their core players entering his prime, so it makes sense for both sides to reach an agreement. However, time is running out, as training camp is coming up at the end of July.

Miami Dolphins: I’ve spent a lot of time at Miami’s practice facility for the past month during minicamp and OTAs. The Dolphins met my expectations in improving their passing game and defensive playmaking, but here is a question I didn’t get answered: Is the running game better in 2013? Miami lost tailback Reggie Bush in free agency, and I thought I would see more big plays from running backs Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee. However, they were rather pedestrian this week. That being said, Miami’s run defense is stout and players aren’t practicing in pads, so it’s hard to gauge fully the progress of the running game until there’s live hitting in training camp.

New England Patriots: The wide receiver position is still a work in progress. Outside of free-agent pickup Danny Amendola, New England still hasn’t figured out its No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. These are important positions for the Patriots, who led the NFL in total offense in 2012 but lost Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker and veteran Brandon Lloyd. Unproven veterans, such as receivers Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins and Lavelle Hawkins, are competing with rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. It will take a full training camp to pick the best two or three options from this group. Also, the Patriots need Amendola to play all 16 games this season, which is a risky proposition. I fully expect New England’s passing game to take a step backward in 2013. The receivers aren’t as talented, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have injury concerns.

New York Jets: Can the Jets win this season with Mark Sanchez as the starter? It’s early, but it appears New York is heading in that direction. Sanchez relied on his experience to win the quarterback battle this week in minicamp over rookie second-round pick Geno Smith. Heading into training camp, Sanchez is the favorite to win the starting job in Week 1. New York already is discussing whether to implement a read-option offense for Smith, which would get him involved in the game even if he’s not the starter. All in all, there are not a lot of reasons to be confident in New York’s offense this season. Sanchez is winning a lukewarm quarterback battle but must improve from the last two seasons.

We have a video chat extravaganza coming up this afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. I will join NFC East blogger Dan Graziano and NFC West blogger Mike Sando to discuss a variety of topics around the NFL.

Here is the link to join the party via Spreecast.

We can even discuss Tim Tebow's signing with the New England Patriots if you like, or we can keep it a Tebow-free zone. The choice is yours. But do not miss out on all the fun.

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

• According to USA Today, receiver Mike Wallace turned down a $76 million contract offer from the Minnesota Vikings to play for the Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: The Dolphins still paid Wallace $60 million, but I think it shows that Wallace wasn’t only thinking dollar signs when he chose Miami. He wanted to play for an up-and-coming team.

• New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was voted No. 25 among the NFL Network’s top 100 players.

Morning take: This is a solid ranking for “Gronk,” but injuries probably kept him from landing a little higher. Gronkowski, who’s had offseason back and arm issues, must stay healthy for the Patriots this season.

• New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan expects rookie quarterback Geno Smith to make a rapid improvement.

Morning take: It’s been an up-and-down spring for Smith, which is to be expected. But the second-round draft pick is falling behind in the quarterback competition with Mark Sanchez and needs to do more in training camp to make up ground.

• The starting left guard position for the Buffalo Bills is now a two-man race between Colin Brown and Doug Legursky.

Morning take: Brown has a head start on Legursky, who just arrived. But Legursky does have playoff and Super Bowl experience from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The spot was left open after the exit of Andy Levitre via free agency.

The 2013 mandatory minicamps are in the books in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets all wrapped up their three-day sessions on Thursday. The Patriots, in fact, cancelled their third and final practice as a reward for the team’s hard work.

But there were several interesting developments throughout the division this week. Here are four things we learned during AFC East minicamps:

No. 1: Jets QB Mark Sanchez has a slight edge

Analysis: The Jets' quarterback job is there for the taking. Incumbent veteran Mark Sanchez led the NFL in turnovers the past two years, but he is doing enough for now to hold off rookie second-round pick Geno Smith, who still has a lot to learn. Smith’s inexperience in the NFL and running a West Coast offense continued to show this week in minicamp. He’s going to have to do extra to supplant Sanchez, who now enters training camp as the favorite to win the quarterback job and start in Week 1.

No. 2: Tim Tebow’s role still up in the air

Analysis: Tebow-mania made its New England debut this week with plenty of media in Foxborough. However, Patriots coach Bill Belichick remained tight-lipped on how the team plans to use Tebow this season. Is Tebow simply a third-string quarterback? Will New England insert a Wildcat package for Tebow and take Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady off the field? Can Tebow play another position for New England, such as tight end, running back or special teams? The Patriots did not answer any of these questions this week. Expect plenty of speculation and debate on Tebow until training camp.

No. 3: Dolphins’ defense has improved

Analysis: The Dolphins spent a lot of money and resources to upgrade the defense. Miami signed free agents Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler to upgrade the linebacking corps and cornerback Brent Grimes to fix the pass defense. The Dolphins also drafted defensive end Dion Jordan No. 3 overall to fix the pass rush. It was evident in minicamp this week that this is an improved defense with much more speed and the ability to force turnovers. For example, Miami’s defense had four interceptions on Wednesday, including two against Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins are already good at stopping the run. If they can rush the passer and force turnovers, this will be a tough defense to handle in 2013.

No. 4: Bills’ offense still work in progress

Analysis: Buffalo’s offense struggled this week, and particularly the passing game. Quarterbacks Kevin Kolb and EJ Manuel did not perform well against the various and complex blitz packages of new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The pass protection also was shaky. Pettine is bringing the same formula that’s worked for the Jets the past several years, and Buffalo’s defense certainly had the advantage this week. New Bills offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has about a month to fix some of their issues from minicamp.

Minicamps are in full swing this week.

Let’s take a look at whose stock is rising and falling in the AFC East.

Falling

1. Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills safety: Buffalo's Pro Bowl safety was a no-show this week for mandatory minicamp. That certainly does not help his standing with the team and its coaching staff. Byrd was not fined because he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tag. He’s holding out for a long-term extension and both sides have until later this summer to work something out. Byrd is a very good player and deserving of an extension. But I’m not sure skipping the entire offseason is the best way to go about it.

2. Geno Smith, New York Jets quarterback: The highly-touted second-round pick has not created any separation with struggling incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez, and that’s a bad thing. New York’s lukewarm quarterback competition this offseason hasn’t done much to inspire hope for the Jets this year. Smith is struggling with the difficult transition from a wide-open spread offense at West Virginia to a precise West Coast scheme in New York. Sanchez will enter training camp as the favorite, and if the season started today, Sanchez probably would be the starter. But the good news for Smith is the season doesn’t start for another three months.

3. Miami Dolphins fullbacks: The Dolphins spent more than $200 million in contracts this offseason and $117 million in guaranteed contracts. However, the team is still looking to upgrade certain positions. It’s not good news for fullbacks Charles Clay and Jorvorskie Lane when Miami is exploring other options. The Dolphins claimed talented but troubled fullback Evan Rodriguez off waivers this week and also hosted a visit this week with Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach. Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin tried to put a good face on the fullback situation by saying it’s difficult to evaluate the position this time of year. But the actions of the front office speaks louder than words.

Rising

1. Kellen Winslow Jr., free-agent tight end: The Jets are desperate for playmakers, and first-year general manager John Idzik made a smart move to bring Winslow in for a three-day tryout at minicamp. By all accounts, Winslow looked impressive in practices and made an impact with the Jets this week. New York needs someone who can get open and make plays in its new West Coast offense. Winslow is a former Pro Bowler who caught 75 receptions in his last full season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011. The Jets don’t have much at tight end or wide receiver and would be smart to sign Winslow to their roster.

2. Brandon Gibson, Dolphins receiver: About a month ago when organized team activities began, Gibson looked like a receiver unsure of himself and his role as a slot receiver. But several weeks later, Gibson looks smooth and confident. Due to need, Gibson is playing inside full-time for the first time in his career after Miami traded Davone Bess to the Cleveland Browns. He made numerous explosive plays this week in Miami’s minicamp, displaying good hands and good routes. Gibson had a solid week, which should provide momentum heading into training camp.

3. EJ Manuel, Bills quarterback: Manuel had a tall task of beating out two veteran quarterbacks in training camp. But the Bills did the No. 16 overall pick in April’s draft a small favor by getting rid of Tarvaris Jackson this week. Buffalo’s quarterback competition is now a two-man race between Manuel and Kevin Kolb. The rookie is still the underdog, but Manuel’s percentages for playing at some point this year just went up.

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

• New England Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady says backup Tim Tebow will not distract him.

Morning take: That’s one reason why the Patriots thought they could bring in Tebow-mania. Brady is the unquestioned starter regardless of what happens on the field, and there will be no push for Tebow to take over.

• New York Jets receiver Santonio Holmes is unsure if he will be ready for Week 1.

Morning take: The Jets need Holmes, but it’s important for him not to rush back. Holmes should probably sit out most or all of training camp in an effort to get ready for a Week 1 battle against Darrelle Revis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• Buffalo Bills fourth-round pick Duke Williams is getting a golden opportunity for reps at safety due to Jairus Byrd’s holdout.

Morning take: This is a chance for Williams to show what he can do. Byrd has been absent all offseason and might not show up for the start of training camp unless a contract gets done. That’s more reps for Williams and others.

• Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle is excited about the team's offseason additions.

Morning take: Miami added linebackers Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler and cornerback Brent Grimes. These are all upgrades from a year ago. The Dolphins’ defense should be faster and more athletic.

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

• Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was impressive in the first day of minicamp for the New York Jets.

Morning take: New York is very thin at tight end after losing former starter Dustin Keller in free agency. Winslow has been a playmaker his entire career, and it would make a lot of sense for New York to sign him to a struggling offense.

• The Buffalo Bills defense got the better of the offense on the first day of minicamp.

Morning take: This is promising because Buffalo’s defense wasn’t very good last year. Stopping the run will be most important, because that is where the Bills mainly struggled in 2012.

• Miami Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace is looking to take a leadership role.

Morning take: Miami lost a lot of leaders in free agency, such as Reggie Bush, Jake Long and Karlos Dansby. Someone internally must step up and Wallace should be one of those players.

• Can New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow surprise people?

Morning take: Unless Tebow plans on playing another position, I don’t see how he could contribute at quarterback. Tom Brady should not come out the game for any reason other than injury, and if that happens second stringer Ryan Mallett is still a better option.

AFC East minicamps are underway this week. All four teams have full practices, so let's discuss.

Let's chat at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday on the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. We can even discuss the new and intriguing acquisition of Tim Tebow re-joining the AFC East and New England if you wish. I’m sure everyone in our community is excited.

Here is the link. Do not miss the AFC East party.