ESPN.com presents AFC East http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast 60 en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 19:08:33 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 All this week the AFC East blog posted its "Show and Prove" series for 2013. This highlighted eight players in the division with a lot to prove this season. You can see the full lineup here. But let’s take a look back at the “Show and Prove” Class of 2012 and see if they flopped or graduated with flying colors.   Nate Solder #77 OT New England Patriots No. 1: LT Nate Solder, New England Patriots What he must prove: “Solder has huge shoes to fill,” I wrote before the 2012 season.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59423/reviewing-show-and-prove-class-of-2012 Sat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 EDT 59423 The New England Patriots signed rookie receiver Josh Boyce to a four-year contract, the Boston Herald reports. The total value of the contract reportedly is worth $2.637 million. Boyce was New England’s fourth-round pick and will compete with several receivers for the No. 2 and No. 3 receiver roles with the Patriots. New England now has five of its seven draft picks under contract. Second-round pick Aaron Dobson and seventh-round pick Michael Buchanan are the two unsigned picks remaining for the Patriots.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59456/patriots-sign-fourth-round-pick-josh-boyce Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:03 EDT 59456 The AFC East blog continues its "Show and Prove" series for players in the division in 2013. Next up, we take a look at Miami Dolphins left tackle Jonathan Martin. 2012 stats: 16 starts What he must prove: Martin has to prove that he can make the switch full-time from right tackle to left tackle, which is one of the toughest transitions in the NFL level. Fortunately for Martin, he played left tackle most of his career at Stanford University protecting college teammate Andrew Luck.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59385/show-and-prove-dolphins-jonathan-martin Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:45 EDT 59385 This month, a couple of fringe New York Jets -- Cliff Harris and Claude Davis -- were arrested for marijuana possession. The Jets swiftly cut both players without hesitation and without letting the legal system run its course. Last week, potential starting running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug and weapons charges. Yet Goodson will return to practice next week, as the Jets allow the legal system to run its course. Are the Jets being hypocritical?]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59446/jets-being-hypocritical-with-mike-goodson Fri, 24 May 2013 12:40:25 EDT 59446 How does each AFC East team look at running back, and what still needs to be done? Buffalo Bills: The Bills have one of the NFL’s strongest duos in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. They complement each other very well. Spiller is a dynamic home run hitter, while Jackson runs hard between the tackles. Both players are also versatile enough to catch out of the backfield. Former Bills head coach Chan Gailey could never figure out how to effectively use both players.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59390/eight-in-the-box-running-back-situations Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:34 EDT 59390 We have an interesting topic in this week’s "Poll Friday" blog in the AFC East. So often we discuss which team will win the AFC East. But which team will finish last in 2013? Will it be the New York Jets? The Jets are beginning a long and arduous rebuild under first-year general manager John Idzik. New York traded away its best player (Darrelle Revis) and still has many questions at quarterback. Will the Jets finish in last place during a must-win season for head coach Rex Ryan?]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59398/poll-friday-last-place-in-afc-east Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:36 EDT 59398 Here are the most interesting stories Friday the AFC East: Miami Dolphins second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill is an under-25 player on the rise. Morning take: The Dolphins are expecting big things from Tannehill in Year 2. Miami’s front office put a lot of weapons around him this season and expects Tannehill to make the jump and lead the Dolphins into playoff contention. Is New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski a sure thing for Week 1?]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59414/morning-take-ryan-tannehill-on-the-rise Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:34 EDT 59414 The AFC East blog continues its "Show and prove" series for the division in 2013. On Thursday, we take a look at New England Patriots starting cornerback Alfonzo Dennard. 2012 stats: 35 tackles, three INTs What he must prove: Dennard has to prove that the strong finish to his rookie season wasn’t a fluke. Dennard took over the starting cornerback job about midway into the 2012 season and never let up. The rookie fit in well with the Patriots and was tied for third on the team with three interceptions.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59246/show-and-prove-new-england-patriots-alfonzo-dennard Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:30 EDT 59246 Cue the circus music and get out the clown suits. The zany New York Jets are at it again. This time, the annual backbiting is occurring earlier than usual. One anonymous Jets player told Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com that “80 to 90 percent” of the locker room does not want quarterback Mark Sanchez under center. That's a strong statement, especially considering Sanchez is in a four-way quarterback competition. "Everyone on the team likes Mark personally,” the Jets player said.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59404/jets-are-backbiting-already Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:46 EDT 59404 DAVIE, Fla. -- Dannell Ellerbe had to travel more than 1,100 miles south to escape Ray Lewis' large and overwhelming shadow. Coming off a Super Bowl victory, Ellerbe had a tough decision to make in free agency: He could either be heir apparent to Lewis -- the legendary Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker who retired in February -- or aim to build his own legacy at middle linebacker with the Miami Dolphins. Ellerbe opted not to spend the rest of his NFL career trying to fill Lewis' shoes in Baltimore.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59361/dannell-ellerbe-starting-new-legacy-in-miami Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:36 EDT 59361