AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

With CB Xavien Howard still on the sidelines recovering from minor knee surgery, CB Byron Jones spoke about having to take over the number one corner role in his absence.

“I feel great,” Jones said, via Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. “This is a big reason why I was brought here. It was to build on the already-good secondary. We have really good young players. We have good players who have been here in the past, so it’s really just, I’m just another piece to the puzzle in terms of a really good and just really excellent Dolphins secondary. Hopefully, we’ll have ‘X’ back. As soon as he gets back, we want to make sure he’s fully healthy first. We’re not going to rush him at all, but we’re good. We’re a good team up and down the roster, I’d say.”

• According to Aaron Wilson, CB Rashard Causey recently visited with the Dolphins.

Jets

• ESPN’s Rich Cimini lists wide receiver as the biggest position battle on the team, with second-round rookie Denzel Mims looking to unseat WR Vyncint Smith for the No. 3 role. 
• Jets DC Gregg Williams wished S Jamal Adams well with the Seahawks but says his focus is on the players still with the team: “Jamal’s a really good young man. I really enjoyed the time with him. I wish him the best. … I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve been through a lot of these scenarios before. Now the focus and energy is here.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Williams loves what the Jets were able to add by getting S Bradley McDougald back from Seattle in exchange for Adams: “He’s very very good. I love those kind of guys… that (have) to prove (them)selves. He carries himself with a nice healthy chip on his shoulder… He works extremely hard.” (Manish Mehta)
• Williams also likes what he’s seen so far from third-round S Ashtyn Davis: “He’s done very well in everything we’ve seen. He’s going to have to slow down mentally… But he is a sharp guy. He’s very sharp mentally. He’s extremely hard working and has a very good skill set.” (Mehta)

Patriots

Patriots cornerbacks Jason McCourty and Devin McCourty were only slightly concerned about opting out this season which would have put the team at a total of ten opt-outs for 2020.

“Me and Dev have both spoken a lot about our stance on everything that goes on — I don’t think either one of us ever thought about actually opting out,” Jason McCourty said, via Jordan Leger of NBC Sports Boston. “The opt-out itself just wasn’t worth it. I think for us, the love of the game and the ability to go out there — we didn’t really have a lot of issues that other people have, whether it was newborn kids, whether it was things that put them in high risk or close family members that put them in high risk. So for us, it was strictly from a family standpoint, we felt like it was worth it to give it a try and see what we were up against. And being able to come into the building, seeing the things that would be done [to protect players], I think we thought it was necessary to go through that process. And I think us, like anybody in our society right now, if it was something that was at an extremely high risk to you or your family, of course, you wouldn’t continue to do it if you could stop it. But I think for all of us right now playing that are in our building — I can’t speak for everybody, but I think we’re comfortable with the protocols and the measures that have been taken. I think all of us are in this thing together.”

• According to Field Yates, the contract RB Lamar Miller signed with the Patriots includes a $1.05M base salary, $200,000 of which is guaranteed, and $1.5 million in incentives.
• Patriots HC Bill Belichick mentioned the drive of the quarterback room including QB Cam Newton: “A lot of information has been transferred to all the players. He’s worked very hard…All the quarterbacks, at that position, those guys have been locked in, been focused, worked extremely hard. All four of them…Cam’s a hard-working kid. He really is.” (Phil Perry)