AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn expects extensions for LB Matt Milano and CB Tre’Davious White to be among the Bills’ top priorities this offseason. 
• He also expects Buffalo to try and bring in help at wide receiver and pass rusher via free agency and the draft. 

Dolphins

• According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Dolphins RB Mark Walton was charged Tuesday with aggravated battery of a pregnant person, which sparked his immediate release from the team. 
• Walton allegedly pushed his girlfriend into a wall and punched her several times in the head and face after an argument. She had told him on Sunday she was five weeks pregnant with his child. 
• Walton was serving a four-game suspension stemming from three arrests earlier this year that prompted the Bengals to cut him after drafting him in the fourth round in 2018. 

Jets

The Jets have had a mini-resurgence on offense the past couple of weeks after looking dead in the water for much of 2019. Jets QB Sam Darnold attributed a lot of that success to a meeting he had with HC Adam Gase where he told the coach what plays he was most comfortable with. 

“I think it was really important for me at the time because I felt like I had a lot better understanding of the offense at that point during the season and I felt like I knew the offense well enough to go in and have a really good conversation with him about it,” Darnold said via Pro Football Talk. “That’s really all it was. As an offense, I feel like we’ve been able to find our rhythm and it’s been really good. Hopefully we can continue that this week.”

• ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes that with five sacks in the past two games, Jets S Jamal Adams has put himself within striking distance of the record for defensive backs (8, from former Cardinals S Adrian Wilson.
• Cimini adds that production plus Adams’ renewed energy and charisma will help his likely request to become the highest-paid safety at more than $14 million per season. 

Patriots

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski dealt a likely fatal blow to any speculation about a possible return to the field in 2019 with an announcement about a Super Bowl party he’ll be hosting this year, though he wasn’t blind to using that speculation to tease a “big announcement.” Gronkowski added that he wasn’t shutting the door on ever coming back, but acknowledged he feels good right now. 

“I wouldn’t say ‘never coming back,’” Gronkowski said via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I’m 30 years old. I’m young. I still stay fit, still watch the game whenever I can, still enjoy it. I’m feeling good, but you know, one year off could possibly be the case. Or maybe two years off, man. It’s always an option in the back of my head. It’s not like I’m not staying in shape and not doing anything. I’m never stressed over it.”

• Patriots HC Bill Belichick confirmed a scheme change and resulting lack of snaps prompted the team to trade DE Michael Bennett to the Cowboys: “Been a productive player had an opportunity to get more playing time than what we were able to provide and I think he’s probably given the Cowboys want they wanted from him.” (Calvin Watkins)
• The Patriots worked out S Tre Sullivan on Tuesday. (Aaron Wilson)