AFC East Blog

Jets running back Mike Goodson was taken into custody early Friday morning, charged with drug and weapons possession, according to News 12 New Jersey. Goodson, who turns 26 next week, and a companion were "found intoxicated" by New Jersey state police in an SUV stopped along a highway in Denville. USA Today's Mike Garafolo later reported Goodson has been charged with marijuana possession, possession of drug, paraphernalia, handgun possession, loaded gun and possession of hollow-point bullets.

The ongoing buzz regarding Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was that a fourth surgery on his forearm would be required. At this point that surgery is scheduled for Monday and barring any infection that would require a fifth surgery, Gronk is expected to be ready for Week 1. However, new reports state the fantasy football stud will "probably" also go under the knife for back surgery 3-4 weeks after Monday's procedure.

Obviously the Jets liked Geno Smith enough to draft him, even if they passed on the WVU passer in the first round. Now that the team has been around the 22-year-old for a little bit, like is turning into love. From Brian Costello with the NY Post: "You can tell from talking to people around the team during this weekend's rookie mini-camp that many in the organization are smitten with new quarterback Geno Smith. It's beginning to look more and more like the starting job is his to lose."

The rumors continue to swirl that the New York Jets are weighing their options on what to do with quarterback Mark Sanchez. Peter King of Sports Illustrated said he "wouldn't be remotely surprised if the Jets traded [Sanchez] for a low-round draft pick or cut him before Week 1." As has been discussed, the problem in moving on for the Jets is Sanchez's contract. Brian Costello of the New York Post thinks the Jets could agree to pay a large portion of his salary, which includes $8.75 million guaranteed.

Buddy Nix, 73, stepped down as general manager of the Bills on Monday. He will now transistion into the role of special assistant.
"I've made the decision to step away from the general manager's position because I feel it is the right time," Nix said in a statement. "By the "right time," I mean I think we have a good young roster, an excellent head coach with a good staff, and it's time to let someone else handle these responsibilities and move forward together."
The Bills did not immediately name a replacement, but assistant general manager Doug Whaley is expected to get the promotion.

Bills wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers has the physical attributes to be a force at this level -- 6 feet 3, 205 pounds, and he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the combine. As a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, he gave trouble to some of the best collegiate defenses in the nation, leading the Volunteers in catches, yards and touchdowns.
Just based on talent, Rogers should have been an early round selection in the most recent draft. But he fell out of the draft entirely because off his off-the field baggage.. He was suspended from the team last summer for testing positive for marijuana three times. He finished his college career at Tennessee Tech, where he was productive again. But given his history, Bills head coach Doug Marrone is not going to put up with any nonsense from this rookie.
"It's a one-shot deal," Marrone said last week. "Either you've learned your lesson and you've grown up and you're going to go forward and mature, or you haven't learned your lesson and you're going to be out on the street. It's that simple."

With Jets owner Woody Johnson telling the NFL Network that Mark Sanchez will compete for the starting job, NFL.com's Kimberly Jones reports one NFL executive predicts David Garrard will be New York's Week 1 starter. Rookie Geno Smith is also in the QB battle.

A source told the Boston Herald that New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will need "a fourth operation to change the plate that's securing the broken bone in [his] forearm." The team hopes this will be his final surgery before recovery. For those unfamiliar with Gronk's situation, he may need an additional fifth surgery if the infection in his arm has not been completely flushed out. That scenario would jeopardize his ability to participate in the start of the season. If the infection is gone, they can remove the plate and he can begin his final recovery period.