AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Bills DL Quinton Jefferson‘s two-year, $13.5 million deal includes a $3 million signing bonus, base salaries of $3.75 million and $3.9 million, a $1 million roster bonus the fifth day of the 2020 league year and a $500,000 roster bonus the same day in 2021. (Aaron Wilson)
• $2.25 million of Jefferson’s 2020 base is guaranteed, while he has per-game active roster bonuses up to $750,000 in 2020 and up to $500,000 in 2021.
• Bills re-signed WR Isaiah McKenzie. (NFLTR)

Dolphins

• Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald believes the Dolphins won’t have an interest in Panthers QB Cam Newton when he’s released, as while he’s a better talent than incumbent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, he might not be as good a mentor as a bridge quarterback to whoever they draft. 
• A person who knows Newton well described him as “not much of a mentor” though another said he would be incentivized to do well in that role with his new team to prove himself. 

Jets

• Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News hears that Jets DT Quinnen Williams‘ court appearance for gun charges will be delayed.
• New Jets CB Pierre Desir tells Connor Hughes of The Athletic he was shocked over his release from the Colts, but still said: “It’s a blessing.”
• Desir also revealed that he was playing injured after not allowing a Week 3 hamstring injury to heal properly: “I was trying to do the best for my team. The coaches wanted me to play. I was trying to play. It was just one of those years. I was injured, but my team needed me. That injury is tough. You see why guys miss an entire season with hamstring injuries.”
• Jets re-signed LB Jordan Jenkins. (NFLTR) 
• Jets re-signed S Bennett Jackson. (NFLTR) 

Patriots

Long-time Patriots S Devin McCourty was open to the idea of trying something new this offseason with his deal set to expire. After winning multiple Super Bowls with New England, McCourty was ready for a fresh challenge that he thought would need to come somewhere else. Instead, the challenge is right at home in New England which suddenly faces an apparent rebuild. 

“Going into free agency, I was thinking that at this stage in my career, I was ready for a change,” McCourty wrote in the Players Tribune. “I mean, I love New England. But after 10 years and winning three Super Bowls, something inside was telling me that I was ready for a new challenge. And I thought I might have to go elsewhere to find it.”

“People are going to say that because Tom’s gone, the dynasty is over,” McCourty continued. “They’re already burying us, far as I can tell. And that’s fine. Let ’em. We’ve never listened to the noise, and we’re not about to start now. But the task is definitely taller this coming year than it has been in years past. There’s more work to do. And it’s not gonna be so easy this time around. That’s where the new challenge comes in.”

• Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, former Patriots QB Tom Brady said he made his final decision to leave New England when he stopped by owner Robert Kraft‘s house to tell him, adding he talked to HC Bill Belichick right after: “It was really the night that I had stopped by (Robert Kraft’s house). … We spoke and we had a great conversation. I just wanted to express what he’s meant to me in my life.”
• Brady didn’t want to answer a question about what it would have taken for him to re-sign with the Patriots: “I don’t want to talk about the past bc it’s not relevant …things in life can change. You have to be able to adapt and evolve.” (Michael Giardi)
• Brady added the transition has been, “very emotional…the relationships are what matters most to me.” 
• The Patriots had some interest in LB Jordan Jenkins before he re-signed on a one-year, $5 million deal with the Jets. (Manish Mehta)
• Patriots S Cody Davis‘ one-year, $1.5 million deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus and a $1.1 million base salary. (Field Yates)
• Patriots FB Danny Vitale‘s one-year, $1.3 million deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus and an additional $200,000 in playing-time incentives. (Mike Reiss)