AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe lists Dolphins OT Julie’n Davenport as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 
• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says that while the Dolphins think there’s a stronger chance veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick starts the season, they don’t have strict plans to redshirt first-round QB Tua Tagovailoa. 
• Jackson notes sources say Tagovailoa appears confident and if he can grasp the offense quickly he’ll get his chance to play. 
• Jackson thinks the Dolphins envision their future starting offensive line as first-rounder Austin Jackson at left tackle, free agent Ereck Flowers at left guard, a future signing or draft pick at center, either Jesse Davis or Solomon Kindley at right guard and second-round rookie Robert Hunt at right tackle. 
• For Week 1, though, Jackson expects the starting five to be Davenport, Flowers, C Ted Karras, either Hunt, Michael Deiter or Danny Isidora at right guard and Davis at right tackle, unless Hunt adapts quickly.
• Jackson notes Dolphins WR Allen Hurns could lose the No. 5 receiver job if either Isaiah Ford, Gary Jennings or UDFA Kirk Merritt have strong camps. Those four are also fighting for 1-2 spots to round out the roster.  
• As for the No. 3 running back, Jackson says the Dolphins will give RB Kalen Ballage one last chance, but if he struggles again either Patrick Laird or Myles Gaskin could make the roster over him. 
• Seventh-round RB Malcolm Perry also has a shot to make the team as the No. 4 back, per Jackson. 
• Dolphins undrafted rookie free agent C Donell Stanley has the best chance to make the team according to Jackson as a backup. 
• Jackson mentions Dolphins FB Chandler Cox faces an uphill battle to make the roster given LB Elandon Roberts can play two ways. 

Jets

While Jets RB Le’Veon Bell only rushed for 789 yards, three touchdowns, and 3.2 yards per carry in his first season with the team, he is determined to return to a prime level and outperform the production he had with the Steelers.

“Everybody talked about the offensive line and everybody talked about me not getting the ball, but, damn, Le’Veon, were you at your best?” Bell told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I can literally look at myself in the eye and say, ‘No. No, I wasn’t.’”

• Brian Costello of the New York Post writes that a scout for an opposing team said new Jets WR Breshad Perriman should be able to replace Robby Anderson as a deep threat. He added, however, Perriman isn’t as good a route runner as Anderson. 
• The Jets gave Perriman a one-year, $6.5 million deal hoping he could build off the final five games of the season where he tallied 25 catches for 506 yards and five touchdowns. 

Patriots

In addition to his own quest to prove his career isn’t dead, new Patriots QB Cam Newton also faces the challenge of being the next quarterback in New England to follow Tom Brady. Newton acknowledged that dynamic, calling it “the elephant in the room,” but added he’s comfortable in who he is as a player and what he brings to the table — especially with the size of the chip on his shoulder he’s bringing this year. 

“You know who [you’re] coming after? I’m like, yeah, great. What he was, what he is, is great, needs no even talking about it,” Newton said in a roundtable discussion with other NFL players via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “But one thing about it though: Coach [Josh] McDaniels, you’re able to call some stuff that you ain’t ever been able to call now. You’re getting a dog. You’re getting one of these ticked-off dogs, too. And I’m looking at the schedule and I’m like ‘Who we’re playing? That team passed on me! OK, that team passed on me. They could’ve came and got me.'”

• Newton also admitted when he first learned of the Patriots’ interest, he wasn’t sure how he would mesh with HC Bill Belichick: “I said, ‘Hold on, how’s me and Belichick going to mesh?’ Because it’s like perception.”