AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Compared to the massive hype surrounding him, Dolphins first-round QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s debut on Sunday was quite understated. Miami didn’t really need a big game from the rookie after jumping out to a big lead with touchdowns on defense and special teams. But they’ll need more going forward than just 12-22 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown. 

“Some good plays, some bad plays,” Flores said via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “A lot of things we can get fixed. First time out, some good, some bad. Hopefully we see some improvement next week.”

• Miami is expected to promote WR Antonio Callaway from the practice squad to the active roster after trading away WR Isaiah Ford, as he’s practiced well and been attentive in meetings while serving his seven-game suspension. (Jackson) 

Jets

Jets’ HC Adam Gase is still in control of the team for now, despite the fact that the team remains winless so far this season.

“I’m doing this job to win,” Gase said, via Manish Mehta of NY Daily News. “Not to go out there and get my face stomped in. We’ll go back to work. On Monday, we’ll get things corrected.”

• Ian Rapoport reports that QB Sam Darnold underwent a precautionary MRI on his right shoulder which showed reaggravation that he will attempt to work through.
• Darnold spoke about the MRI: “It turned out really good. The shoulder is stable, so that’s good. I woke up today feeling really good, honestly a lot better than I thought I would. So that’s a good sign.” (Rich Cimini)
• Jets GM Joe Douglas acknowledged this is not the season the Jets were expecting: “We’re all frustrated with where we are right now. But everyone in this building has to own it. … I certainly take my fair share of the responsibility.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• He added he didn’t think the team would be at 0-8 halfway through the season: “I wasn’t being disingenuous about my optimism of where we were going. Unfortunately it hasn’t played out the way we all thought it would.” (Vacchiano)
• Douglas says he needs to do a better job of building the team around Darnold: “My thoughts on Sam are the same now as they were then. Sam’s an ultra-talented quarterback. I really can’t say enough about his grit and his toughness. Ultimately I’ve got to do a better job about putting talent around Sam.” (Vacchiano)
• Douglas said the same is true for Gase: “This is not all on Adam. I have to do a better job of surrounding him with better players and better weapons. We’re in this together. I’m thinking of everything I can do to try to help Adam. The goal is to get this fixed together.” (Vacchiano)
• Going forward, Douglas added he’s still optimistic about Darnold: “Look, we’re trying to get through the next eight games. My feeling on Sam hasn’t changed. We have to do a better job surrounding him with talent.” (Vacchiano)
• He called Gase “part of the solution” and Darnold “our quarterback of the future.” (Connor Hughes/Rich Cimini)
• Douglas admitted he made a mistake in how he handled WR Robby Anderson, saying he signed for less with the Panthers than he thought he would: “We would all love to see Robby here doing what he’s doing.” (Hughes)
• Douglas pointed out that although the team has a significant amount of cap space you don’t see NFL teams “buy their way out of” struggles usually. (Hughes)
• Douglas mentioned they were not shopping and did not get calls on TE Chris Herndon: “No, we were not shopping Chris. We received no calls on Chris. There was some misinformation on that.” (Hughes)
• Douglas denied that they “shopped” DL Quinnen Williams in trade talks leading up to the deadline: “We were not shopping Quinnen. He plays a premium position of Dline. He’s an interior pass rusher that has gotten better every week. And he’s not a good person, he’s a great person. The focus is to keep as many of those people around as possible.” (Ralph Vacchiano)

Patriots

• Per NESN’s Doug Kyed, Patriots HC Bill Belichick confirmed the goal is for New England to roll over most if not all of its current cap space to 2021: “That’s definitely an accurate perspective you’ve identified.”
• NFL Media’s Michael Giardi notes it’s a not well-kept secret that Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore thinks he’s underpaid and his restructure earlier this year was just an advance that leaves his 2021 salary very low. 
• Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald says nothing ever got close regarding trade talks for Gilmore, who also has a legitimate if not serious knee injury.