- Near The NFL Writer
- Published: June 7, 2016 at 6:17 p.m.
- Updated: June 7, 2016 at 08:47 p.m.
During these NFL dog days of summer, there is nothing better than unnecessarily stirring up controversy to help get us back into football season. We polled various owners, players and general managers and asked them to predict the 2016 order of finish for the AFC East as well as to pre-determine who would win some of the coveted 3-Guys Madden hardware at the end of the season. So, without further ado, let's start the debate.
Projected Final 2016 AFC East Standings
T1st - New England Patriots
T1st - Buffalo Bills
3rd - New York Jets
4th - Miami Dolphins
No respect for the defending AFC East and Super Bowl Champions. Apparently the losses of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (released) and fullback Roosevelt Nix (free agent) were enough for pundits to predict a free fall for winter's darlings from a year ago.
"I know you're trying to get us riled up man," safety Calvin Pryor said. "But I ain't taking the bait. We (are) in a good division, so honestly any team can win it this year; We have to come out hungry again (because) now we are the hunted."
With a healthy Tom Brady returning, the Patriots look poised to regain their place on the division throne.
"I don't have any thoughts on that poll," coach Bill Belichick said. "Waste of time if you ask me - it's 85-degrees outside, what are you doing?"
The division's other hall of fame signal caller is looking to bounce back from an injury a year ago to put his team back in the playoff hunt.
"It was a nice story for Miami last year," Buffalo quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "But you're not going to have every quarterback in the division go down with an injury (Brady & Rodgers) or benching (Cam Newton). I wouldn't call it a fluke what they (Miami) accomplished last year, but you can't undersell the fact that it was a fluky season."
The team that no one seems to be talking about, the New York Jets, quietly had an outstanding off-season and, if their rookies develop, have (on paper) one of the most talented defensive units the NFL has seen in some time.
"I like being under the radar," defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. "Let everyone else grab the headlines. We'll be ready to write our own when they visit the NYC."
Projected 3-Guys 2016 Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Buffalo)
Defensive Player of the Year: Defensive End Khalil Mack (Miami)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Wide Receiver Josh Doctson (Buffalo)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Linebacker/Safety Myles Jack (New York)
Although Buffalo's Todd Gurley ran away with many of the 2015 awards, all signs point to a more balanced Bills attack in 2016 with a healthy Rodgers back calling the shots.
Khalil Mack shared votes with Pryor from the vaunted Miami defense. Both players will look to continue to carry their team while the passing game gets settled with Jimmy Garoppolo version 2.0 (yikes).
For Rodgers to live up to this preseason hype, he will need to rely on his rookie pass catcher Josh Doctson out of TCU. Doctson' skill set fits perfectly with what Rex Ryan's crew wants out of a wideout: Ability to go get it and run. Doctson split votes in this category with the speedy and versatile Braxton Miller out of Ohio State. The New York Jets can cause matchup nightmares with Tavon Austin and Miller on the field at the same time (Miami still has nightmares about Austin's end around TD last season).
The young Jet defenders Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey were both mentioned in the DROY category and it wouldn't surprise anyone if either player ended the season in the Pro Bowl. If you get bored, search the potential starting 11 for New York's defense next year...I'll wait...Scary right?
