AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• Per WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio, Bills RB Frank Gore said he’s undecided about returning for another year in 2020. 
• Gore said his body still feels good but he wants to take some time to see if he wants to keep playing. He also mentioned his son in college next year. 

Dolphins

• According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Dolphins HC Brian Flores‘ top target at DB coach is Curt Kuntz, who is the head coach at Struthers High School in Ohio. 
• CFL DE Willie Jefferson is optimistic about signing a futures deal with the Dolphins. (Ted Wyman)

Patriots

While the Patriots’ end-of-season slump and wildcard loss to the Titans added fuel to the fire of speculation surround QB Tom Brady‘s future in New England, the groundwork for that was laid in the offseason when Brady secured the ability to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019 season. Brady in anything but a Patriots jersey seems unimaginable, but team owner Robert Kraft acknowledged the possibility of Brady’s tenure with the team coming to an end in 2020 is very real. 

“Before the season started,” Kraft said via NBC Sports’ Peter King, “it was very important to Tom that he be free to do whatever he wanted at the end of the year. You know what I said to myself? That any person who plays 20 years for this team and helps us get to six Super Bowls, and been really selfless, has earned that right. I love the young man like he’s part of my family. Blood family. Anyone who’s done that has earned the right to control his future after 20 years. And you know, my hope and prayer is number one, he play for the Patriots. Or number two, he retires. He has the freedom to decide what he wants to do and what’s in his own best personal interest.”

For his part, Brady seems less interested in retirement, emphasizing that he still believes he can play football in 2020, whether it’s with the Patriots or someone else. 

“I’ll explore those opportunities whenever they are,” Brady said. “If it’s the Patriots, great. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know. I just don’t know. I love playing football. I still want to play football. I think I still can play at a championship level. I’ve just got to go do it. I’m motivated to get back to work and training.”

• According to the Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Patriots ST coach Joe Judge has emerged as a strong contender to become the head coach at Mississippi State. 
• In addition to his elbow injury, Brady also picked up a foot injury in December. (Michael Giardi)