AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer checked with 12 teams about former Bills P Matt Araiza to see if they were aware of the gang rape allegation. Nine weren’t, while three had some level of knowledge but not to the degree of severity known now. 
• The NFL background report on Araiza also didn’t have info on this case, per Breer. 
• He adds the reason Araiza slipped to the sixth round and was the third off the board at his position and not the first was because that was the NFL’s consensus evaluation. Araiza has a strong leg and that earned him some notoriety, but special teams coaches cited a lack of hang time and some other technical glitches that pushed him down their board. 
• The Bills’ initial statement said they had done a “thorough” investigation and knew about the civil lawsuit against Araiza in late July. Bills GM Brandon Beane was asked why they still cut veteran P Matt Haack and gave the job to Araiza: “That’s a tough one. You can second-guess whether that was the right move. And we’ll definitely look at that going forward if a similar situation happens.”
• Bills S Jordan Poyer on if he expects to be ready for Week 1: “Yeah, I expect to be out there, as long as there are no setbacks. It feels really good right now, I’ll continue to work every single day to try to get to 100 percent for the first game.” (Katherine Fitzgerald)
• Poyer was also asked about getting a new contract in Buffalo: “Like I said, I’m just here — I want to continue play football and continue to play my best football here in Buffalo for as long as I can, for however long that may be. But, I’m here with the guys right now and ready to attack this season.” (Joe Buscaglia)

Dolphins

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel has a tough decision to make on seventh-round QB Skylar Thompson, who he says has done “quite literally everything you can to be a part of this team” but still wouldn’t say that Thompson will be part of the 53-man roster.

“I think he’s opened eyes with the way he’s played and you know, it’s made that situation very tricky in terms of whether or not you can try to have them on the practice squad or keep them on the 53,” McDaniel said, via Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post.

Jets

• Mims told reporters that his trade request was a decision between him and his agent: “I love the Jets. It is what it is. I have nothing but respect for the coaching staff.” (Andy Vasquez)

Patriots

• The Athletic’s Chad Graff writes there’s reason to believe Patriots QB Mac Jones and the Patriots offense aren’t ready for the start of the season after their struggles during camp and the preseason. 
• If Patriots RB Ty Montgomery‘s ankle injury ends up being serious, it could make room on the roster for RB J.J. Taylor, per Graff. 
• Graff thinks Patriots WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey has done enough to make the team and can provide additional help at tight end and on special teams. 
• Graff notes young players like DL Sam Roberts and LaBryan Ray have made good cases for a roster spot and those could come at the expense of veterans Henry Anderson and Carl Davis.
• There are also some tough decisions to make in the secondary, and Graff has the Patriots keeping a fifth safety in Joshuah Bledsoe and cutting CBs Shaun Wade, Terrance Mitchell and Justin Bethel. He also has New England hanging onto safeties Cody Davis and UDFA Brenden Schooler, but points out they’ll primarily play special teams. 
• Patriots HC Bill Belichick on where his team is heading into Week 1: “I don’t think you really know where your team is at until midseason, October, Weeks 5, 6, 7.” (Chad Graff)
• Patriots coach Matt Patricia is satisfied with the team’s depth at offensive tackle and called OT Isaiah Wynn “a solid, steady rock of a player.” (Zack Cox)