AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• According to Mike Rodak, CB Kevin Johnson‘s one-year deal with the Bills includes a $400,000 signing bonus, a non-guaranteed base salary of $2 million, active roster bonuses of $18,750 per game and a $300,000 workout bonus.  
• New Bills WR Cole Beasley said the final three teams he decided between were the Bills, Patriots and Cowboys. (Joe Buscaglia)

Dolphins

• According to Gil Brandt, several Dolphins coaches stayed behind to work out Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray instead of moving on to Clemson’s pro day.  

Rob Gronkowski

In an appearance on Peter King’s podcast, agent Drew Rosenhaus said his client, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, loves playing football but is weighing it against the other opportunities that have come available.

“He loves football,” Rosenhaus said via Pro Football Talk. “He loves playing with [quarterback Tom] Brady and [head coach Bill] Belichick and his teammates. He loves to win championships. But at the same time, the amount of pain and punishment that he’s had to endure, for somebody who can do something outside of football and be a huge success — whether it is broadcasting, or acting, or endorsements — Rob has so many opportunities. It is a tough decision. I am sure he would love to play football, but at the same time he has to consider where he is from a physical standpoint.” 

Patriots

New Patriots DE Michael Bennett says he used to “hate” the Patriots, but he loves having the opportunity to part of a winning organization. 

“I used to hate the Patriots. I’d hate it because they’d win so much. I’d hate it because Tom Brady‘s hair was long. I’d hate it that [Bill] Belichick would wear sweaters,” Bennett said, via Patriots.com. “But now that I’m here, I love it. I love Tom Brady’s hair. I love being a Patriot, obviously, because it’s all about winning. I think everything about the organization is about team-first. It’s just about doing what you need to do to get to where we want to go as a group. I think I love that.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says the Patriots could be handicapped in pursuing wide receiver help in free agency because of WR Julian Edelman‘s $5.5 million salary.  
• If the Patriots sign a receiver for more, they might have to rework Edelman’s contract, and offering less than $5.5 million restricts their options in free agency.  
• Breer expects the Patriots to turn to the draft for receiving help.  
• According to Doug Kyed, the Patriots have discussed re-signing T LaAdrian Waddle as a backup.