The Arms Race in the AFC East Takes on a New Look


The quarterback place has habitually been the most significant place for any NFL team. Having a assured area general is absolutely crucial for any group that likes to proceed deep into the playoffs. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the AFC East.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have overridden the partition since Brady took over for Drew Bledsoe three sport into the 2001 season. Now the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills are all endeavouring to find that precious gem in the uneven like the Patriots did when they chosen Brady in the sixth around of the 2000 draft.


Daunte the Dolphin

Miami is approaching off a 9-7 time of the year and has some value ability place players. The Dolphins' large-scale difficulty the last couple of times of the year has been at quarterback. Miami has had immortals for example A.J. Feely, Jay Fielder, Gus Frerotte and Sage Rosenfels taking breaks in the last three seasons.

Now the Dolphins believe they've explained their problem. The Dolphins swapped for previous Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper and previous Detroit pointer caller Joey Harrington this off-season to certain up their weakness. The difficulty is, both QBs are gigantic inquiry marks. Chances are, Miami will be seeking for responses at the QB place afresh this season.

Culpepper will be the starter if he's healthy. The 6’4’’, 260 lb veteran was in the midst of his poorest time of the year as a pro when he endured a disastrous knee wound throughout the seventh game of the 2005 season. He had hurled just 6 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at the time of his injury. The time of the year before, although, Culpepper was an All-Pro as he tossed 39 TDs and just 11 INTs while posting an outstanding 110.9 quarterback rating. He would have been association MVP had it not been for Peyton Manning's record-breaking season.

Back-up Plan

Culpepper is hopeful that he'll be finished with rehab and prepared for the start of the time of the year, but that's wishful thinking. Miami will likely open the time of the year with Harrington at the helm and that could depart the Fins in a large-scale aperture right off the bat.

The previous University of Oregon celebrity has not ever fulfilled the pledge of being the No. 3 general choose in the 2002 NFL draft. Despite having gifted broad receivers and running backs round him, Harrington floundered in his 4 years with the Lions, throwing two more interceptions than touchdowns while premier the Lions to just 18 triumphs in 51 starts.

The Dolphins have another intriguing choice in their camp: Marcus Vick, the worried junior male sibling of Atlanta QM Michael Vick. The odds are better that Vick will be in policeman custody other than a Dolphins consistent arrive September, but if Nick Saban and the advising employees can find a way to hold Vick on the area, he could offer Miami some protection in case Culpepper and Harrington falter. Vick will most expected be made into a broad receiver anyhow, but he could end up being utilised in some functions alike to the initial slash, Kordell Stewart.

Still Searching

The Jets and Bills extend to gaze for responses at the QB location as well. New York's QB job is up for catches as incumbent Chad Pennington missed most of last year after undergoing rotator cuff surgery. Pennington has a annals of wounds and may not ever be the identical after his newest setback. The Jets furthermore came by veteran Patrick Ramsey in a trade with the Washington Redskins in March. Ramsey has been a frustration in Washington where he lost his job to Mark Brunell last season.

New York's best wish may be rookie Kellen Clemens.Clemens was having a outstanding older time of the year at Oregon before pain a season-ending ankle junction injury. He has good dimensions, pace and quickness, and could be the quarterback of the future that the Jets have been looking for.

Buffalo, on the other hand, has finished not anything to improvement its flaw at quarterback. The Bills had a awful preliminary and will proceed into the time of the year with Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman vying for the beginning job again. Neither are a very appealing choice and the Bills gaze to be going nowhere again.

The Standard

In alignment for Miami, New York or Buffalo to make the playoffs, they will have to proceed through New England. The Patriots gaze to be even better than last time of the year, having made a draft running back Laurence Maroney and broad receiver Chad Jackson to add to Brady's arsenal of weapons.

The Patriots are still the monarchs of the AFC East and are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl again. Should the Patriots retrieve the championship, it would be their fourth Super Bowl in six years and will cement their location as one of the utmost dynasties in the annals of the league.

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