AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Dolphins OL Jesse Davis said the team tracks their individual workout at home through a heart rate monitor and app on their phone. 

“We have the whole morning to do workouts and get that done. And that’s tracked through a heart rate monitor and an app. That’s our own little thing, make sure we’re doing something,” said Davis, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. 

Davis added that their individual home workouts allow each player to hold themselves accountable and their progress is easily tracked. 

“It’s weird doing this on our own. You’ve got to hold yourself accountable, use the program, make sure you’re following on track. If not, they are going to see it.”

Davis mentioned that their virtual sessions have been a bit difficult to process. 

“We just started meetings on Monday [April 27] through Zoom, which is totally bizarre,” Davis said. “When coach is teaching and they have a question from a player, it’s kind of hard to pinpoint who asked that question.”

As for Dolphins’ first-round QB Tua Tagovailoa, Davis said he is excited to work with the “most accurate quarterback in college history…”

“He’s the most accurate quarterback in college history or something like that and it will be great to have him in the room,” Davis said. “It will be great to joke with him a little bit.”

Jets

For the first time in 20 years, the AFC East looks wide open for the taking. It’s not a huge jump to suggest the Patriots might experience a drop off in 2020 going from legendary QB Tom Brady to 2019 fourth-round QB Jarrett Stidham. However, other division rivals have been careful not to be too presumptuous when talking about the coming season. 

“For us, every single game in the NFL is a tough one, and I think any player can attest to that,” Jets QB Sam Darnold said via Bob Glauber of Newsday. “So we’re not going to take anyone more or less lightly just because — even though one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player of all time, left the organization. We’re not going to take them any more lightly.”

• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes writes the Jets placed WR Quincy Enunwa on the PUP list, which will end his 2020 season, in order to spread out his cap hit. He will count $7.8 million against the cap instead of the $15.478 million in dead cap had New York released him. 
• Because this season will effectively be the third year he’s missed due to a neck injury since 2017, Hughes thinks it’s unlikely Enunwa’s NFL career continues. 
• SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano says it’s no surprise the Jets signed RB Frank Gore, as HC Adam Gase absolutely loves Gore as a player and wants to use multiple running backs to keep the whole bunch fresh. 

Patriots

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Patriots OC Josh McDaniels could still be a strong head coaching candidate this offseason if he helps New England have success on offense even with a young quarterback. 
• Breer adds it would have to be the right opportunity for McDaniels, but he’s not married to staying in New England.