AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Dolphins HC Brian Flores raved about LB Charles Harris, who’s struggled so far in his young NFL career. 

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Flores said via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “He’s the kind of guy we want in the building. Honestly, I don’t care about his past. I care about right now. That’s where I’m at. … He’s really doing a good job for us in the classroom, on the field. He’s smart. He’s hard-working. He’s got a lot of ability.” 

Jets

Jets DT Steve McLendon is very confident the union between former Steelers teammate RB Le’Veon Bell and the Jets will go well. 

“I can say this, and it might be speaking very loud right now, but I think (Le’Veon Bell) probably will retire a Jet because of the fact that him and Jamal [Adams] together, on opposite sides of the ball, they’re going to make each other better. He’s going to make everybody better,” McLendon said via ESPN’s Rich Cimini

• Per Cimini, Jets GM candidate Joe Douglas, who works as the VP of player personnel for the Eagles, has a reputation as a “scout’s scout” from a former associate. Douglas reportedly knows Gase better than any of the other candidates, making him the favorite for the job. 
• Seahawks’ co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer is seen as ready to make the jump to general manager and as an expert in college scouting, per league sources: “(He) doesn’t have a big personality, but I think he has enough moxie to handle the New York scrutiny.”
• Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly is seen as a target for the Jets as either GM or a close assistant to Douglas if he’s hired because of his charisma, with one scout saying, “You’re not going to find a better person. He’ll know everybody’s name in the building after a week.”
• Saints director of pro scouting Terry Fontenot is considered a long shot for the Jets GM job.  
• Cimini says sixth-round CB Blessuan Austin will likely start the season on the PUP list. 
• The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin says the Jets were turned down by at least one general manager candidate before they fired Mike Maccagnan.

Patriots

Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum was impressed with the Patriots’ pick of WR N’Keal Harry.

“I thought that was a really smart pick,” Tannenbaum said via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. “He was really good at making contested catches. He actually reminded me a little bit of Anquan Boldin — this guy is physical, and he can run better than Boldin. The way Brady is so accurate where he could throw guys open, I think [Harry] has a chance to be more productive than usual as a rookie receiver. I think this guy’s size is going to be a great complement to what they already have. I suspect he has a chance to contribute right away.”

Harry will play a big role as the Patriots move into a post-Rob Gronkowski era on offense. Rather than find a replacement for the Hall of Fame tight end, the Patriots are expected to adjust their strategy. 

“It’s an offense that shifts and morphs to the talent of its players. Josh McDaniels is not stuck in his ways of how he’s going to play this game, or call each game,” former Patriots RB Shane Vereen said via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Every game, every week is different. They have different matchups. Different schemes per defense, for each week. That makes the offense difficult to learn, but very difficult to stop because you never really know how they’re going to attack you each and every week. With that being said, with Gronk out, they will have guys to come in to fill his spot. They won’t be Gronk, don’t get me wrong. There is not another Gronk. We won’t see another Gronk for a very, very long time, if we ever see another one. But they have enough talent on that team and they have enough wherewithal to figure it out and still be successful. They’ve done it for years.”

• Reiss mentions that the Patriots have given first-round WR N’Keal Harry some looks as a punt returner, where he had some success at in college despite measuring 6-2 and 228 pounds.