AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard said he is happy the team views him as a long-term piece of their defense after signing a record five-year, $76 million extension.

“It means a lot to me,” said Howard, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “There’s a lot of stuff we can do. I’m just happy to be in this situation. I’m happy the deal got done.”

Howard believes there is still “a lot of things” he could to be the “top corner” in the NFL. 

“Man, it’s a blessing to be in this situation I am right now. I’m just focused on improving each year. Most definitely I can get better. A lot of things I can work on to help my game and become the top corner in the league.”

Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick has been working at safety in the absence of Reshad Jones, but the Dolphins plan to move him around once Jones returns. 

“I think you kind of answered it yourself,” Dolphins HC Brian Flores said via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “It may look like he’s playing cornerback, he’s playing safety, he could be playing linebacker. It depends. I’ll know what he’s doing. You guys probably won’t.”  

• Flores said he “expects” Jones to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp June 4-6 after missing the team’s voluntary workouts. 
• According to Jackson, although Dolphins GM Chris Grier said Jones hasn’t asked for a trade, Jones’ agent declined to comment on the situation. 

Jets

Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, who also ran the Miami front office the past three years with Adam Gase, said he was more surprised by the time of GM Mike Maccagnan‘s firing than the actual event. 

“Just very surprised by the timing of it,” Tannenbaum said via NJ.com’s Darryl Slater. “I’m not surprised that it happened, but I am surprised by the timing. It does seem to me if you’re going to do it, January — or at the latest February — makes the most sense.”

Tannenbaum said he got along with Gase when the two were in Miami, but that it’s imperative for the head coach and general manager to have a good working relationship. 

“Everything you do, you have to be on the same page,” Tannenbaum said. “That doesn’t mean you can’t disagree. My experience with Adam was good. He always had a sense of what he was looking for and why, and we’d always try to hash it out. He does not like distractions. He just wants to go to work and try to get the team better. I’m sure this isn’t exactly how he thought it would play out either.”

Patriots

• NESN’s Doug Kyed lists Elandon Roberts, Terez Hall, Calvin Munson and Christian Sam as on the bubble for the Patriots at linebacker. 
• Kyed thinks Roberts has a good chance to make the roster as a backup at inside linebacker to Ja’Whaun Bentley, leaving one spot for the other three to battle over. 
• Patriots signed LB Jamie Collins. (NFLTR)