AFC Notes: Bengals, Jets, Patriots

Bengals

• Per ESPN’s Ben Baby, Bengals HC Zac Taylor dismissed any questions about turning to fourth-round rookie QB Ryan Finley after QB Andy Dalton struggled with three interceptions in Sunday’s loss: “That’s not something I’m going to talk about right now.”

Jets

• According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets started this offseason with around $100 million in cap space and are now down to under $5 million. 
• Jets coach Adam Gase says the team is trying to free up some space for RB Le’Veon Bell, who has faced a loaded box more often than anyone else in the NFL this year: “Hopefully, we can open it up a little bit for him. We’ve seen a lot of loaded boxes. He’s had a lot of tough runs. He’s made the most out of what he’s had and probably gotten us more than we should have.”
• Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports the Jets could continue to fine G Kelechi Osemele for not practicing or playing and eventually will be able to suspend him without pay for conduct detrimental to the team if fines continue. 
• Osemele has reportedly exercised his right to a second opinion regarding his shoulder injury that he’s seeking to have surgery on. Even though team doctors cleared Osemele, if the second opinion does not clear him, Osemele is within his rights to seek surgery.
• Florio says either the Jets are ignoring the conflict between the first and second medical opinions, or there is no conflict and Osemele medically can practice and play but prefers to have the surgery before the Jets presumably cut him next year.
• Florio adds this situation will likely be resolved via a grievance filed by Osemele and subsequent arbitration. 

Patriots

After being released by the Patriots following the conclusion of his four-game suspension a couple weeks ago, Patriots TE Ben Watson said he received some interest from other teams to come play for them this season. However, Watson said given his circumstances with his family, it was the Patriots or no one this season, and that helped his decision to re-sign with New England. 

“There were some other teams that called,” Watson said via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “But at this point, it would have been very difficult for me to go somewhere, no matter where it was, and have them be here. We just moved, and we weren’t going to move anywhere else. There are some other organizations I have a lot of respect for, but at this point, being that the season has started, school has started, we weren’t going to move. My desire to play wasn’t going to trump the commitment we made as a family that we were not going to be separate for two months.”