AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Tanking rumors have persisted around the Dolphins with a roster that on paper is among the league’s worst and an owner that already seems to have given up on 2019 based on his public comments. However, new HC Brian Flores has consistently said the team doesn’t plan to lose games on purpose. 

“I say what I’ve said since Day One and in every conversation I’ve had with him, which is we’re going to go out and try to win every game,” Flores said via the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero. “That’s the goal. That’s the objective, really, every week. That’s my thought. If you don’t have that approach, then you’ll never reach your goals.”

• Attorneys for Dolphins RB Mark Walton are claiming due process violations to dismiss weapons charges against him, according to Charles Trainor Jr. of the Miami Herald. 
• Allegedly, Walton was pulled over for speeding and weaving between cars, then fled from police despite being tased. Police found a fully-loaded rifle that had been legally purchased and charged Walton with not having a conceal carry license.
• However, Walton’s attorney’s are arguing police violated due process by turning off their body cameras and the case should be thrown out. 
• This arrest, which was Walton’s third of this offseason alone, led to the Bengals releasing the runner less than a year after spending a fourth-round pick on him. 
• By keeping DT Kendrick Norton on the reserve/non-football injury list, the Dolphins can still pay Norton’s $495,000 salary and give him access to medical insurance. (Albert Breer)

Jets

• The NY Daily News’ Manish Mehta mentions the Jets targeted C Hjalte Froholdt and OL Dru Samia to address the center position but lost out by trading down too much. 
• Mehta says the Jets’ plan, for now, is to rely on C Jonotthan Harrison as the starter. 
• Mehta adds that WR Jamison Crowder could play a big role the first four weeks of the season with the absence of suspended TE Chris Herndon. 
• According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets first-round DT Quinnen Williams wants his entire $21.7 million signing bonus paid out in the first year of the deal, while the Jets want to defer part of it to the second year. 
• Per Cimini, the proposed deferment would be the largest of this year’s top-five draft picks. The Jets also gave last year’s first-round pick QB Sam Darnold, also selected No. 3 overall, his entire $20.1 million signing bonus 15 days after he signed his deal. 

Patriots

As the first round of the NFL Draft drew to a close, Patriots WR N’Keal Harry wasn’t expecting to get a call from New England. Harry thought if he went in the first round it would be with the Ravens, Raiders or Seahawks, all who picked before No. 32. 

“Once they got to pick 32, we were watching the TV and I heard the announcers talking about wide receivers and how they don’t traditionally go wide receiver, how (HC) Bill (Belichick) has never picked a wide receiver (in the first round),” Harry said via FS1’s Kristine Leahy. “So I was like, ‘It’s over. Let me just get ready for Day 2.’ And then the call came in.”

• NBC Sports’ Tom Curran says the Patriots could look into signing WR Allen Hurns following his release from Dallas, though there would likely be cheaper options available.